Atheist unite!!

[Friday]

Más ateos que nunca

I getcha… but this is an English only forum

 

[BuildingSelf24]

I’m an atheist. Grew up Christian but eventually became agnostic in high school after a World Religions class. I found spiritual stuff after a friend on college introduced me to tarot readings on YouTube. I went down that rabbit hole Twin flame journey, ancestor, and talking to spirits. After a big breakdown when I realize no God or spiritual entity was protecting, I gave it up. I still use tarot as a tool to dive into my subconscious, really helps me identify cognitive beliefs that are possibly troublesome for me.

I personally dislike a lot of the magical thinking that comes with religion and spiritual beliefs. Kind of feels like a betrayal when reality doesn’t line up with a lot of the teachings. I especially detest rhetoric around being submissive or surrendering. It really reads like an abuser trying to develop the perfect doormats for their agenda.

 

[enough]

i recently did a detox to get away from a drug prescribed for severe PTSD symptoms, and was surrounded by alchoholics and AA. There is a lot of value to the AA and i applaud them! But, the big book is full of gray area religious dogma. It isnt required, but it would sure be easier to go to some meetings if you were christian, hell even catholisism would be better than atheist.
I go, i filter, i take what i get and even filtered it is enough to keep going. Very strange to meet in a church. I feel the cringe every time i enter the parking lot. and the smell is exactly what i remember, even if i cant identify it, could it be 40+ year old carpet that has never had mud boots or dogs on it? Like it is only decaying because it was installed during the Reagan era?

 

[mszl]

Hello my atheist friends, time for a thread bump. How is everyone?

I'd say ok... ish? Not worse that usual. Feeling good is such relative concept ... :)

 

[Chiqui]

Recientemente hice una desintoxicación para alejarme de un medicamento recetado para los síntomas graves de trastorno de estrés postraumático y estuve rodeado de alcohólicos y AA. ¡AA tiene mucho valor y los aplaudo! Pero el gran libro está lleno de dogmas religiosos de zonas grises. No es obligatorio, pero seguro que sería más fácil ir a algunas reuniones si fueras cristiano, incluso el catolicismo sería mejor que el ateo.
Voy, filtro, tomo lo que tengo y incluso filtrado es suficiente para seguir adelante. Es muy extraño encontrarse en una iglesia. Siento escalofríos cada vez que entro al estacionamiento. y el olor es exactamente lo que recuerdo, incluso si no puedo identificarlo, ¿podría ser una alfombra de más de 40 años que nunca ha tenido botas de barro ni perros? ¿Como si sólo estuviera decayendo porque fue instalado durante la era Reagan?

I have found literally impossible to stay inside a catholic church. The suffering of the statues, paintings, the atmosphere, plus the smell of betrayal, fear and manipulation, all the people who went there on need of comfort and support...and yes, I followed the 12 steps for a while, many many years ago. Its definitely easier if you are catholic !

 

[anthony]

Religion is a cult to me. If you look at this rationally, today, if a 13 year old girl told you she was a virgin, yet pregnant, would you believe her? We know what it takes to get pregnant. Mary, was 13 years old, claimed she was a virgin, so lets be honest, she lied through her arse, then the baby was raised in a cult and surrounded by cultist doctrine, to do whatever he did, Jesus, and nobody gave a shit about any of this until 100 years later, when some nobody trying to be somebody decided to write about Jesus, 100 years later, as though it was all fact.

So... society has progressed well in the last 100 years, yet we can't aptly note with accuracy the things that happened in world war one, yet thousands of years ago, someone recalled with accuracy the events of Mary and Jesus. Religion is a cult and just nonsense. More rationally, a narcissist came up with a good plan to try and control the world, and implemented it for generational control.

Now... I understand people feel warm and fuzzy in a belief system. No issue with the people who want to believe all this. Go for it. I simply despise those who try and shove it down others throat as though their belief system has merit or fact. Its all BS and the worlds largest, legal, cult, who only exist today because they have so much power from the past carried over into the modern Governmental system. As that power and influence continues to dwindle as more realise the nonsensical foundation, lies and total garbage that is the history of religion, then the better the world will be IMHO.

I don't know what exists before or after our individual life. I guess we find out when we die. I don't believe that it will be either suffering or peace as the only two options the religious cult propaganda machine purports to its believers. Other options exist, like nothing at all. Becoming a ghost on a different plane of existence. The options are plenty available other than the cults two.

 

[enough]

carried over into the modern Governmental system. As that power and influence continues to dwindle as more realise the nonsensical foundation, lies and total garbage that is the history of religion, then the better the world will be IMHO.

How many wars have been fought over differences in religious beliefs? how many soldiers have died believing god was on their side? To your point, how much energy has been wasted on unprovable beliefs, how many times has potentially good and benevolent leadership been cast aside in favor of the human need to follow a leader that claims an attachment to a higher power?
I want to add 2 points to what I think is a well written and to the point post you made Anthony, and a thank you.

1) never forget that the largest standing army to march into battle with a bible in their assigned kit was the third reich.
2) the worlds oldest profession was built on the human desire to procreate. The second oldest was built on the desire to live forever.

 

[Chiqui]

Yes. I believe all religions are cults too. Also I get a bit annoyed when someone says: you have to respect other people's beliefs.
Sorry, but I don't have to. Why I should respect all those nonsenses?

Also, I don't go into arguments any more. I have few spoons and I need all of them for my own recovery.
No my circus no my monkeys. But internally I know what I know.

 

[enough]

religion pushed me out again. Even when i prep myself and check my preconceived views at the door, entering a church is done with the knowledge that i may soon be searching hurriedly for the door i came in. I go there for the AA meetings, I go to hear the stories of other problems falling into other peoples lives that make it clear to me that not all the problems falling from the skies land on my head. I go because having other points of view on a common problem is always good and my addiction is more easily controlled when i know how other people have controlled theirs.
But today, religious dogma ruled the AA meeting and i nearly walked out, something i have never done. And tonight i wonder if i can go back.
those jesus freaks, their friendly but
that shit they believe has got their minds all shut
F. Zappa
My sobriety is not in danger, neither is my clarity on the subject of religion. My attempt to tolerate the religious dogma inherant to an AA meeting is probably doomed and may be coming to an end.

 

[mamachick]

enough, I would think there is enough people to have a group that feels like you do. I am agnostic at least...I know so many atheists and would think there would be enough people to form a group. I get really turned off by religion. Especially by those who look down at you as if you are going to hell for not believing.

 

[Chiqui]

enough, I would think there is enough people to have a group that feels like you do. I am agnostic at least...I know so many atheists and would think there would be enough people to form a group. I get really turned off by religion. Especially by those who look down at you as if you are going to hell for not believing.

Those who look down at you are The big ass@oles of the World. Hell.... Not believing on their nonsenses, what a liberation!!

 

[Chiqui]

Well, hapoy to share here with all of you that I am going to spend Christmas on my own. Relaxing...eating properly...trying to implement my new habits that are good for my mental health...meeting some friends here and there for a coffee and a chit chat. Away for ALL the stressed situations that eveybody else are in these days. Time has arrived, I have had enough.
(Now, the last challenge is that nobody around find out I am alone, so they will not feel that THEY NEED to adopt me
I wish you all a peaceful time, as peaceful as you can