I Feel free, Now I am an Atheist

[elshiva]

Any advice? Thanks.

[MichiganVote]

1. Join a nudist colony?

[elshiva]

6. Which do you recommend?

[MichiganVote]

7. I was hoping you could tell me

[elshiva]

12. How about this one? Warning naked elshiva:

[MichiganVote]

18. :) That should do it

[BlueIris]

2. elshiva!! Hey!

How goes it? You're better, I hope.

[elshiva]

5. Better, thanks. Feeling free!

[AteAlien]

3. Let others know that just because you are an atheist

it doesn't mean you no longer believe in people, their higher instincts, and abilities to transcend the today.

[elshiva]

4. That is great advice. I do believe people can be good.

:hug:

[Pale Blue Dot]

8. Be prepared to start seeing evidence of dogma EVERYWHERE.

It's amazing how much it infects our everyday lives without us even realizing it.

Oh, and NEVER stop asking questions. Never stop wondering. Your answers may change (because you're using logic and reason to find them now), but the questions will always be the same.

[elshiva]

10. Dear Finnfan thank you. But that's the problem.

I can not use logic or reason. I am stupid. All I know is there is no God. And that's the end of it.
I don't want to get into any philosophical discussions.

[Pale Blue Dot]

31. I don't think you're stupid. But I am worried about you.

If you are choosing atheism merely because you now "know" there is no god, then that is no different than choosing a religion because you "know" that it's right. That leaves you vulnerable to have your mind changed again and again.

As an atheist, I can honestly say that I don't want you to simply accept atheism blindly. You need to ask the difficult questions and follow them wherever they take you. (Unlike many theists, I'm not afraid of you asking the questions.)

As for thinking logically, I can recommend several sources. Al Gore's book is a good place to start, even if he claims that he is a theist. Dawkin's The God Delusion and Bryson's A Brief History of Nearly Everything are also great places to start. I would also highly recommend a podcast: The Skeptic's Guide to the Universe. While they don't cover religious topics generally, they do talk quite a bit about using logic and reason to uncover important truths. www.theskepticsguide.org.

[PassingFair]

48. Try THIS, elshiva!

"You are the product of millions of years of evolution.
That process has NOT been pretty. Billions of creatures
have tried to pass along their genes, and have failed.

But your ancestors did not fail.

You come from a long line of creatures that survived
enormous odds to create you.

You are descended from a long line of winners. So it
seems to me that you, too, must be a WINNER."

[Fox Mulder]

9. I would label myself an atheist, but...

to me, one can't prove that there isn't a God(or Gods) or that there is one.

That's why I'm an agnostic.

I respect your decision though. I'm glad you found a clear path. :hi:

[realisticphish]

17. ditto

I don't believe in God, but I also don't believe there ISN'T a God. I just try not to BELIEVE, but strive to KNOW :shrug:

But, in any case, good luck!

[Lorien]

32. That's about where I am

I was raised atheist, but I've always said that I was only 99% sure that there is no God. I can't prove that none exists, so it would be foolish of me to assert that I am absolutely POSITIVE and therefore an atheist myself.

[cemaphonic]

40. Atheist and agnostic are not really mutually exclusive though

One is a statement of belief - I don't believe in God just like I don't believe in Santa Claus, and I am pretty convinced of both of those beliefs.

The other is a statement of epistemology - The nature of God (for some category of God at any rate) is such that direct, experienced knowledge is impossible, so some higher power, may or may not exist beyond our abilities to perceive it. Many religious people in the industrialized world could well be categorized as essentially agnostic - American Christians generally do not expect to see burning bushes or wheels of fire, and those that claim to are usually considered insane. For them, God exists completely outside of the perceptible universe, and is unknowable, except through their faith.

I would consider you to be both an atheist and an agnostic, which is pretty much my metaphysical framework too.

[johnnie]

11. What do you call a person who doesn't believe in Atheists?

That would be what I am.

[elshiva]

14. A "johnnie" is someone who doesn't believe in Atheists.

So, that's what my grandmother meant when she left the table and said, "I have to go to the johnnie."

[Chan790]

15. "You can't see me! You can't see me!"

[Tektonik]

49. arrogant

[kentauros]

13. You shouldn't be free; you should be espensive!

Raise your rates :P

[elshiva]

16. $500 an hour, bub.

;)

[kentauros]

20. Fine by me.

Here ya go!

[Generic Brad]

19. Do not try to convert anyone to your point of view

I can't say all believers will return the favor. Hopefully, by respecting their right to believe otherwise they may cut you some slack and respect your beliefs. I wouldn't bet the farm on it, though.

Just shoot for peaceful co-existence without rubbing it in anyone's face.

[elshiva]

21. I think I've already lost a friend because I'm an atheist.

Oh well.

[Generic Brad]

22. I lost a family

Or rather I lost them. One should only have to put up with being repeatedly told they are going to burn for eternity unless they immediately prostrate themselves and beg for divine forgiveness for so long.

[elshiva]

24. Sorry.

[Generic Brad]

27. I don't respond well to "repent or leave and never return"

To this day I still think my mother never considered I would choose door number two.

[Critters2]

28. That is sad. Sorry, Brad. nt

[elshiva]

35. I am sorry Critters.

I did not mean to demean you as a person or your profession. My quarrel is with the theology and not the theologian as a respectable human being.

[zanne]

44. I think that some believers become offended by atheism because...

They think that you're belittling their faith. That's the impression I get, anyway.

[deathdog]

26. Because you tried to convert that person to your point of view,

or because you're an atheist? Or because of the way you expressed your atheism? The post above yours told you not to try to convert people, and you respond by saying you've lost a friend. That implies you tried to convert your friend. Now, early in your time as an atheist, would be the time to learn no one wants to be converted from a position they sincerely hold. And converting them, or being less than respectful of differing views, gains you nothing. But it can cost you friends.

Live and let live.

[Generic Brad]

33. My experience has been considerably different

I have found that there are some religious people who demand conversion and have no respect whatsoever for opposing beliefs. I avoided the topic of religion with my family for my entire adult life. It was only when they pinned me down and demanded I tell them if I believe in God or not that I stated I was an atheist. I have never tried to convert anyone to my way of thinking, but I have really been pressured by multiple church goers to see things their way.

I prefer to be left alone on the subject and let others believe whatever they want.

[deathdog]

37. I have few conservative Christian friends, and none of my family are.

My friends and family are UUs, Episcopalians, Buddhists, Baha'is, a whole range of mostly progressive religious people. Yet, when I first left my old faith, I felt the need to, if not get them to agree with me, make snarky comments about their faiths. I especially liked to call their faiths "crutches" or coping mechanisms or signs of weakness. It was terribly unkind of me, and it did indeed cost me friends. I was every bit as self-righteous as any conservative Christian.

I've actually move closer to a religious practice--a sort of Buddhist, non-theist kind of meditative practice--because of my behavior toward believers in the past. Many of them were very tolerant and kind toward me. I was the problem. I no longer behave that way, but I see it in others. I lost a lot with my attitude. I don't want others to make the same mistake.

[elshiva]

36. No, I am not trying to convert anyone.

I just expressed it in the wrong, stupid ass way. sorry.

[I Have A Dream]

23. Always follow what your heart tells you.

I hope that you are happy and that you live a fulfilled life.

:)

[swag]

25. Keep a good head and always carry a lightbulb.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxGrGaVipQc

[deucemagnet]

29. My advice, for what it's worth.

I think most atheists would be well advised to lose the label "atheist", since accepting the label is allowing yourself to be defined by something you don't even believe is real. I prefer just to say that I don't practice religion. After all, people who don't believe in fairies, gnomes, or ghosts aren't defined by their lack of belief in those entities.

[Longhorn]

45. I also say that I am "not religious."

But we're still defining ourselves by what we are not. Saying I am an atheist says, "I am not a believer." Saying I'm not religious could mean, "I believe but I don't go to church." And while I don't care what others think, I'm way past discussing it so the latter seems to invite less of that.

[Robeson]

30. Sure. Live your life as best you can. Adopt a humanist philosophy...

...which you probably already have, and open your world to the here and now, making the world a better place, for those who will follow. You truly are free now, in so many ways. :hug:

[Schema Thing]

34. Let the blessing flow

God loves people with the balls to reject Him, so you are going to live a blessed life indeed from here on out.

Turns out Hank never really wanted his ass kissed in the first place.


ps.... oh, and you should be receiving a toaster oven (it's been a huge hit with the lesbians) via UPS shortly. Enjoy!

[kentauros]

38. What, are you some kind of deviated prevert now?

You'll have to answer to the Coca Cola company for that, ya know :P

[The Animator]

39. I don't even take my Atheism seriously...

When asked, I usually just tell people I'm a Jedi, without any powers or the desire to do the right thing. When people are offended by this, and living in the big penis below the Bible belt this actually happens quite a bit, they tell me that I'll be going to Hell. I usually reply with "Well, okay... I'll save you a space on the couch."

Apparently they fail to realize that I don't fear Hell, because I don't believe in that either. Plus, I've already worked at Animal Kingdom, so even if it does exist it couldn't possibly be worse than that.

[cemaphonic]

41. Don't forget to dig some foxholes.

[MonkeyFunk]

42. I'm starting a new church

We worship down at the Piggly Wiggly. We're orthodox Pigglists. Give us a try!

[Blarch]

43. First stop.

You can realize that most people WORSHIP a god that wants you murdered for your non belief. You can stop showing these idiots respect.

[Longhorn]

46. I don't lie about my lack of belief but I don't often bring it up.

Since my cancer diagnosis, I've been getting lots of prayers, as well as positive thoughts, all of which I gladly accept without challenge. But one colleague decided to try to convert me (with logic, no less!) and said I must consider those who are praying for me "liars" since I don't believe what they believe. He thinks I should be a believer "just in case." I asked him, "You mean, I should lie and say I believe and God would be okay with that?" Well, no, I'd have to mean it. Some people just don't understand that if you don't believe, you don't believe!

However, the people who are praying for me are using prayer to cope with their concerns for me so just as I hate to be challenged, I'm not going to challenge them in their time of need. I think we should all take care of ourselves in whatever method brings us peace.

[riderinthestorm]

47. I felt this way too when I finally gave up trying to believe

It was like a big load lifted off when I decided I wasn't going to pretend that a faith experience would happen for me, or had happened, or was happening. I spent decades first growing up in an evangelical church, then trying on everything else from Unity to Native American drumming.

When I finally decided to just stop wasting any more time, energy or money on "faith", I finally found peace. Life actually became joyful and intensely interesting.

[Tektonik]

50. It's not smart to argue with family members about it

I used to argue with my sister (a devout Catholic) about religion and my atheism. The arguments went NOWHERE except we usually just got frustrated at each other.

[Lou Queb]

51. I consider myself an atheist because that's really what would describe me most for the moment

I know that I have something growing inside of me, something of a very own spiritual nature. It's still growing, I cannot for now define any spiritual belief other than a vague sentiment.

[Xipe Totec]

52. Oh, Thank God!