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BlackJill — Being an atheist...
Published: 2012-06-17 22:43:02 +0000 UTC; Views: 2592; Favourites: 97; Downloads: 9
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...does not mean that I don't believe in anything.--
I'm incredibly sick and tired of hearing Christians tell me that just because I don't believe in God that I must not believe in anything. Even if I argue that I believe in all the same things they do: peace, love, tolerance, etc., my beliefs are dismissed because they're my own.
We don't need to be told to be good people in order to be a good person. We don't need to be told to do good deeds in order to do something good. Atheists have the same beliefs as religious people do, the only difference is that what we believe in are things we believe in because it's simply the right thing to do rather than stemming from some fear of an all powerful, all knowing parent figure that'll split the skies in two just to shake a finger at us, nor do we need to read it from a book.
When they sit there and tell us that we're going to hell because we don't follow the word of their God and that we're bad people because they assume we believe in nothing, I have to wonder about all the Christian rapists, murderers, child molesters, thieves, corrupt politicians and corrupt cops, etc etc etc. I'm not saying atheists are saints, don't get me wrong, but it just pisses me off when Christians act like they're better than atheists just because they have religion and we don't.
So I was having a debate with someone a few hours ago on the separation of Church and state and how they really need to remain separated. We ended up getting into the Christian vs. atheist argument and I told him that I shared many of the same beliefs as he does. He seemed pleased that we agreed on something finally but as soon as I mentioned afterward that I was atheist...
Him: "Oh well, it doesn't count then."
Me: "What doesn't count?"
Him: "What you believe in. If it isn't coming from God, then it doesn't mean anything. Only God can make you a good person."
So, there you have it. Atheists don't believe in anything and if you don't believe in God you can't be a good person. We have to respect their rights to expression and belief but ours are invalid.
Go figure.
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Comments: 41
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Agreed. One who is intolerable of ones opinions and views are no better than the person they hate for having those views which thry are intolerable of. Hate is not the way. Now... lets all shut up and order a pizza. XD
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To anyone that sees this, what's your favorite ice cream flavor?
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Raspberry, liquorice, chocolate and banana.
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it makes me sick when overreligious people act so fucking superior. :/ like lmao what the fuck did the bible say that made you feel the need to go and shove it down everybody else's throats?
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I don'r really like discussing Politics and Religion in sites like DA, but, what the frog, let's do this, just for the sake of argument.
First off, I believe in God, and like to think of myself as a Christian. I don't know about other people, but my faith in God helps me understand myself and affirm my life and my moral values, which is the ultimate reason of being of religion as far as I can tell from my experience.
Obviously, I cannot expect anyone to believe in the same things as I do. I don't think I could handle being an atheist as you do, but that's just because we're different people with different ways of understanding the world. Ultimately, the one thing that brings us together is the fact that every human being needs faith. Everyone needs something to believe in: a God, a Being, a Force, Justice, Beauty, Mankind, their children, you name it. It is only the Mark of Man.
As for those so called 'Christians' that dare use the name of God in vane to label themselves as such when they are corrupt and evil... ugh, I'm sorry, really, but I'm actually kind of tired of saying that those people should be left out of the argument. Those are evil people, and Jesus Christ never once told his followers to be evil. Should we judge a religion by the actions of the people that label themselves as followers of that religion, or by the values, the philosophy behind it? Both, you may say. Well, yeah, perhaps. But the way I see it, the only way it really makes sense to me, Christianism is not its people, it is the message of Jesus of Nazaret. The Messiah who, rather than following the Jew l l becoming a general of the Israeli warriors in a ruthless battle against the 'enemies of God', gave us but one mission: 'Love one another, as I love you.' That's the core of Christianism and whenever you stop following that simple order, you are a sinner, and the one that allows himself or herself to not follow Jesus' little piece of advice, his claims of 'I am a Christian' is meaningless.
Maybe I'm too much of an idealist, but really, this is the only way I understand this matter. I think that when people nowadays hear a word that ends in -ism, they think of the people instead of the idea behind it all. My reflex is to do the exact opposite. When someone mentions Marxism, his listeners will think of Lenin, Stalin and Fidel Castro; I think of Karl Marx's philosophy. When someone mentions the US politics, people will probably start thinking of Barack Obama, George Bush, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton; I think of the Constitution of 1776. That is why I get exasperated when some of the people I talk to try to argue Christianism is evil because 'Christians' are evil. To those I say: 'If they are evil, they can't be "Christians". Call them "bad Christians" instead. It really helps. It's what I do.'
I hope I didn't cause you much distress with my argument. Unfortunately, this is a very sensitive matter to discuss (after all, it's only questioning the ultimate answer to our understanding of the real and existent!). But I think that allowing ourselves to let go of our beliefs for a few moments and try to understand each other perspectives by means of a rich and reasonable discussions... man, that is what really distinguishes the brave from the cowardly, don't you think?
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Should we judge a religion by the actions of the people that label themselves as followers of that religion, or by the values, the philosophy behind it?
I would like to agree with you, but so long as the religious keep using their beliefs, these ideas and philosophies as you say, to advocate for the denial of human/civil rights of persons based on their gender, sexuality, beliefs or lack thereof, then I simply cannot support them or their ideas. The bible's teachings don't change according to who is reading it, it's the same bible/religion regardless. And before you use the "no true Scotsman" rhetoric, if X person identifies as a Christian because of their beliefs, then regardless of how you or anyone may feel about it, that person is Christian. No one has any right to tell you that you aren't Christian simply because they don't like what you say or do, nor do you or anyone else have any right to say that of others. Whether or not you decide to abide by the bible's teachings 100% is your personal decision, but others are living by the bible's teachings completely and if we weren't 2016, no one would be arguing whether or not said person was a true Christian because their actions and behavior would be seen as acceptable by society for that particular era.
I understand that Christianity is not its people, but the people are Christianity. They live these ideas and philosophies, and because they do, I cannot support them, whether it's Jews, Muslims or Christians. I've stated in comments many years ago that I found certain religions to be fascinating, even beautiful, but now as I grow older and I see more and more what religion is doing to the world, I don't feel the same as I used to. I honestly believe that the world would be better if religion would simply pipe the fuck down and stop interfering.
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I understand what you mean. Still, I don't think people who label themselves as Christians and support evil ideas should be representative of Christianity. One of the reasons I prefer this religion over any other is because of the importance of the values of Hope, Charity, Faith, Forgiveness and of course, Love. I cannot conceive this religion without these cardinal virtues, so I have no name for those people who despite their actions of hatred still have the nerve to call themselves Christians. Yes, they are a problem, any sensible Christian will agree on that, but don't put the blame on Christianity.
I know that when it comes to faith, it's you either have it or not. There are some things more relevant than religion, though. As human beings, and I always quote Immanuel Kant at this point, we have the knowledge that it is our duty to always act 'only according to that maxim whereby you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law without contradiction'. This certainty is the basis our system of principles is built upon, and I only choose to be a Christian as far as my faith allows me to better understand my duty and my purpose in life. Our duty is always clear, and if someone does not act according to their duty, whether religious or not, they cannot be thought of as 'moral beings'.
I don't know if this comment was any help, I'm feeling a bit lazy right now. Sorry about that. I just thought I might as well say something. Anyway, catch you later.
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"I understand what you mean. Still, I don't think people who label themselves as Christians and support evil ideas should be representative of Christianity." - No true Scotsman argument.
They do represent your religion because they follow every part of your religion that you refuse to simply because it's either against the law or because it's no longer acceptable by societal standards. I would only accept your argument if the parts of your religion, or any religion really, that preaches killing homosexuals, apostates, sodomites, women who disobey their husbands/fathers/men, show their faces/skin in public, have children out of wedlock, are forced to marry their rapists, etc., didn't exist. But these things do exist in Abrahamic religion and those who follow these dogma literally are still representative of your faith. Again, if this had in any era besides ours, everyone would be arguing that these people are truly "God's" people because of their literal interpretations of those texts.
How convenient that you get to pick and choose what parts to believe in and what parts not to, and argue that you're not associated with these extremists even though you are, by association. Your religion is no different than the religion of the Westboro Baptist Church, the KKK, One Million Moms, the American Family Association, Pastor Steven Anderson or Jim Bakker. Again, I would only accept that argument made by the religious community if their religious beliefs were, in fact, very different than those of the extremists. Show me proof that your bible is different than theirs, that the texts that preach hate and violence exists in theirs but not yours. Because for as much as you can argue that you believe in hope, charity, faith, forgiveness and love, you also believe in killing apostates, sodomites, homosexuals, etc., by association.
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Well, I'm sorry to disagree with you, but I don't think Christianity is about killing anybody or anything you say. Yes, I know there's questionable stuff in the Bible, especially in the Old Testament, but 'pure' Christianity is based on the teachings of Jesus Christ, which have little to nothing to do with what you claim to be Christian dogma.
You think I'm picking and choosing, and you may be right, but I prefer to believe I'm following Jesus simple commandment to 'Love one another, as I love you'. Despite my faith I have a critical enough vision of the Bible to know it's not perfect and that there are some things, specially in texts written before the Gospel, which are difficult to accept. But Jesus' Commandment of Love is clear, and that's the unquestionable core of my faith, and the reason I still call myself a Christian, even when there are some people who claim Christianity to be something it is not
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I just hope you don't lose that faith.
It's hard to be faithful in times such as these, when in addition to anti-theists casting aspersions upon your beliefs, you also have to put up with theist groups making exclusive gentlemen's clubs out of their holy books, which completely does not help your case when you try to defend your views.
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Thank you very much, I hope so too.
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ugh i understand how u feel. i am myself a christian, but i know that the people who try to shove it down other people's throats are fake ass religious people. i mean half the christians i've met who judge others have done bad as well. talk about hypocritical. i guess what im trying to say is the people who try and pull that kind of shit aren't true christians. they're fake. because they're supposed to worry about fixing themselves, not other people xD so i understand how u feel. but christianity isn't meant to be like how u described. in fact people of any religion like that make me sick//
im not even straight but i believe in god and all that. gahh im rambling, my bad xD
but i hope you will meet a true christian someday who will accept you as you are :3
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This guy on youtube asked me whats the point of doing good and where I get the ability to know right from wrong -_-. Common sense is how I know and I do good because I can, I should do good so I can go to heaven? NO! People say no good deed shouldn't go unrewarded well I disagree it should go unrewarded! you do it because it's right, not to get something! they also asked what's the point in life if there is no god and I say just live it to it's fullest and do your part to make it better.
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What annoys me the most is that a condescending attitude is BUILT INTO most, if not all, religious teachings. They believe they are superior simply BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE in it. I know I can't (and I imagine most atheists can't) keep myself from being agitated when discussing ideas with a religious believer because of that attitude. Most of the time it's unintentional on their part because its what they have been taught. They just don't and cannot see our ideas as equal. Its not in their logic. I hate being pitied for believing something different.
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Oh, please make one for Creationists! So many atheists/evolutionists/ect. have bashed me or said I am stupid just because I believe that there is a God.
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I'm glad my Christian friends are not bible thumping retards. I say what I want and they don't bash me. Why can't all Christians be like that?
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oh yeah! I agree I sometimes feel awkward around Christians when it comes to talking about beliefs because I am afraid they will think less of me for being an atheist. I sometimes feel like i talk to them about religion as if i am talking about harry potter or pokemon. I say stuff as if its real but not really believe it.
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Not that I have anything against Christians, but any Christian I've ever known has been constantly "sharing" their religion and how great it is. However, when an atheist shares one tiny little thing about science, all hell breaks loose with the Christians.
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Nice stamp! 
But it's awkward when it stops in the end and doesn't repeat again, or it kinda doesn't make sense
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wow then it's my computer I guess o_o' . stupid computer always messing with my mind ><
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yhea, but now I recharge the page like 3 times and it fixes
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People actually backed away from me once they learned I'm atheist (though these were of course "excuse me, have you ever heard of Jesus Christ?" people).
They could not comprehend that I'm atheist, even though I read the Bible. They then started talking about how God's rules are fair and how atheists basically are doomed to go to hell because we follow the wrong rules. Alright.
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That's how society is these days. Intolerant.
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Now I need to figure out how to do that. lol...
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Might wanna fix the description to "does not mean that I don't believe in anything."
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Thanks for pointing out typo.
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"Only God can make you a good person." That is honestly where some Christians fail. Christians believe God gave free will to human beings, but they keep saying that only God can make you do the right things, or the devil makes you do the wrong things. No the devil just temps and people choose whether they follow him or not. The devil can't make anyone do anything. I assume God can, but God ultimately doesn't because God is the one who gave us free will. So how does that argument even stand? If you don't believe this it is fine, but I'm arguing against other Christians on a Christian standpoint. I don't know whether that is contradictory or not. XD
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