Atheist unite!!

[bellbird]

Here’s the thing - I wasn’t asking you questions.

But you haven’t “answered all my questions” because I didn’t ask you any.

Sorry, is that the secular Maori culture of NZ? Or the secular white inhabitants from the last 200years?

= questions.

Using ahteism as a basis for expressing contempt of those who happen to be religious

Sure.
Which is why I express contempt for religion itself and not those who practice it.

 

[somerandomguy]

?
Halt, please, everybody.
Let's show the religious people how tolerant we can be of each other, although we have differing opinions. We don't need to get all Judean People's Front and People's Front of Judea ?

 

[TruthSeeker]

= questions.

Sure.
Which is why I express contempt for religion itself and not those who practice it.

Wow, contempt is another word for hatred. Consider the heavy weight or baggage you carry from hanging on to this negative emotion. In my life, I used hatred to be a purposeful barrier between me and the people with whom I have an issue. It also aloud me to be really judgmental- and feel a sense of righteousness about it all. I have been hurt by religious individuals - My hatred was at the harm they caused me. I recognized after a while that hatred was harming me. You include all religions( and without believers, no religions would exist). I hope you find the peace, understandingb and contentment I suspect you are looking for.

 

[bellbird]

Consider the heavy weight or baggage you carry from hanging on to this negative emotion.

It's healthy for people to feel "negative emotions", in a controlled manner.

When I think of the treatment I endured from my abuser, I feel anger.

When I think of the tragic and untimely deaths of the two close friends that I have lost in recent years, I feel sadness.

And when I think of the countless innocent lives that have been wasted and ended in the name of religion,
the human beings who are tortured or imprisoned or killed, in the name of religion, merely because they love another human being of the same sex,
the poor children worldwide who are too young to think for themselves and yet are being brainwashed into believing that they sinful merely by existing,
and the lasting damage that religion has had on people whom I care greatly about, years... decades... after they have left their faith?
I do feel hatred toward religion.

 

[TruthSeeker]

It's healthy for people to feel negative emotions, in a controlled manner.

When I think of the treatment I endured from my abuser, I feel anger.

When I think of the tragic and untimely deaths of the two close friends that I have lost in recent years, I feel sadness.

And when I think of the countless innocent lives that have been wasted and ended in the name of religion,
the human beings who are tortured or imprisoned or killed, in the name of religion, merely because they love another human being of the same sex,
the poor children worldwide who are too young to think for themselves and yet are being brainwashed into believing that they sinful merely by existing,
and the lasting damage that religion has had on people whom I care greatly about, years... decades... after they have left their faith?
I do feel hatred toward religion.

Hatred can be an all -consuming emotion ( My personal experiences that landed me here at this site are a testament to that) and I think hating can be a powerful deterrent and barrier to healing. I’d like to believe that the world was full of all good people who all are do-goodness and grow in their personal beliefs-all with good intentions. We have learned otherwise- we have PTSD know abuse or other horrors. Just don’t let that emotion define who you really are.

 

[bellbird]

Just don’t let that emotion define who you really are.

Thank you, I can assure that I am much more than that single emotion.
But I appreciate your concern and will continue to be very careful to make sure it doesn't :)

 

[somerandomguy]

My parents just left after having spent the weekend. Ugh. Their Catholic religion shaped so much of their lives, and so of course it shaped mine too. They seem to have gotten a lot that was positive out of it. By contrast, I got nothing positive out of it.

Why was it ok for them but horrible for me? And why was I the only one to question it? I was literally the first person in my whole extended family to reject religion. I'm glad I did, but it made life incredibly difficult. My whole family was either angry at me or incredulous that I could reject religion.

I mean, am I really that much smarter or less gullible than them? Or did I question it just because I didn't get anything out of it and was in fact traumatized by it?

 

[TruthSeeker]

My parents just left after having spent the weekend. Ugh. Their Catholic religion shaped so much of their lives, and so of course it shaped mine too. They seem to have gotten a lot that was positive out of it. By contrast, I got nothing positive out of it.

Why was it ok for them but horrible for me? And why was I the only one to question it? I was literally the first person in my whole extended family to reject religion. I'm glad I did, but it made life incredibly difficult. My whole family was either angry at me or incredulous that I could reject religion.

I mean, am I really that much smarter or less gullible than them? Or did I question it just because I didn't get anything out of it and was in fact traumatized by it?

Catholic upbringing here. I didn’t understand why God needed us to say rote prayers- rosary. Why did I have to tell a priest my sins so God would forgive me ( seems like a real indirect approach when I could say I was sorry in a prayer) and How Can critical thoughts be sins?!I didn’t understand why we had to dip fingers in holy water before making the sign of the cross, and now there was genuflecting to a statue of Jesus/ alter- how low do I have to go down to do it right? Then mean nuns teaching love and patience- nope. The kicker for me was kneelers and all the movement. Stand, sit, kneel, stand, kneel, like a yoyo. I hated communion- wouldn’t drink wine- had drunks for parents- and I dare not let my backside touch the pew when kneeling... mother would be poking me to kneel up straight. Kneeling up straight was a sign of reverence- but it was painful after a while. I was an onlooker- there was nothing fun about church and the rules/ dogma often didn’t make sense. Since my father didn’t go, I didn’t understand why I had to. We NEVER talked about religion at home- but on special occasions- I recall some of the rituals as kinda neat. Catholicism didn’t fit my idea of spirituality.

 

[Chiqui]

@somerandomguy
I mean, am I really that much smarter or less gullible than them? Or did I question it just because I didn't get anything out of it and was in fact traumatized by it?

I would say, both. After suffering severe bulling at early school, I distrusted people very soon. No one defended me then.
In fact, they did blame me. I was a shy and lonely child.
It was my own experience with life, people, religion and spiritual beliefs which showed me evidences. And now I am happy and proud of being atheist.

 

[TruthSeeker]

I’m far from Catholic- but I am spiritual.

 

[somerandomguy]

@Wilbur - but are you an atheist? If not, we'd like to ask that you please don't post here.

 

[Chiqui]

Easter in Spain is coming. This time is more difficult than Christmas for me. Big cities, tvs channels, small towns, people...all goes mad for a week.
Is the time for me to scape to an atheist forest ??!!!