Do Atheists need a church of their own?

[Keith P]

Originally Posted by Sexual Chocolate

If I'm wrong, I'm just dead. If you're wrong, you've died and you don't get a second shot (from the rules I understand on this plane).

I feel that such a belief holds people to their faith out of fear.

[Damnsammit]

Originally Posted by Keith P

I feel that such a belief holds people to their faith out of fear.

I thought the whole premise of religion was to bring peace to the question, "What happens when I die?"

Of course to conjure up fear of death would be to bring order as long as one plays by the guidelines of the scriptures. In sense religion was a very useful tool during the time it was invented. However, I don't think that we need God anymore, at least not in the US. People are now being raised more intelligently and can come to terms with right and wrong on their own accord.

God is getting phased out whether the believers want to accept it or not. We won't be around to see it but in the next few hundred years science is going to replace religion. But again we won't be able to see it because the world is going to end in 2012.

[Nyteshade]

Lol at this argument. No, atheism does not need it's own church. That kinda contradicts what atheism is all about.

Lol at measuring the wealth of only 44 nations and their religious beliefs and trying to say there's a relationship. There's only ~200 nations in the world, do the legwork. And the IQ/Religion graph? What's the methodology on that? Are we examining third world countries who get almost no formal education vs the US?

Lol at saying that if we all ditch religion, we can gleefully unite as one brotherhood in peace. Religion doesn't cause conflicts. People who feel their way is best cause conflicts and it's evidenced in this fucking thread. Look at both sides here. Both of you are spewing garbage like "lol at believing in an invisible man in the sky" and "lol at believing in some cataclysmic event in the nth dimension creating the universe". THAT'S how wars begin. By people taking something relatively insignificant and blowing it out of proportion until both sides start arming up when all it takes is some mutual respect.

I don't give a shit if you are religious or not. As long as your beliefs aren't causing other people harm (like say Catholics and their ideas of birth control, Africa, and AIDS), do as you will.

[Funkenstein]

Originally Posted by Damnsammit

You shouldn't question your faith, Brian.

God is frowning upon you from his box seat in the sky.

Atheists - 14
Theists - 10

Better play harder if you want to please your God.

I wish I could intonate the fact that this was a statement I threw out there, not one with a questioning lull to it. I'm not wavering in my faith in the Almighty, I'm letting you know where I stand on it.

Originally Posted by Keith P

I feel that such a belief holds people to their faith out of fear.

I'm not adhering to my faith through fear, Keith. I do this out of reverence and out of the balance that it brings me personally. I was raised up on it, but I've been exposed to other outside influences as well. I hold the Catholic model at my core, but also understand and accept some of the basic tenants of other religions as well.

Worst come to worst, I will have lived in a way that causes the least damning effect for others involved during the course of my existence. That I can live with it (pun intended).

Originally Posted by Nyteshade

Lol at this argument. No, atheism does not need it's own church. That kinda contradicts what atheism is all about.

Lol at saying that if we all ditch religion, we can gleefully unite as one brotherhood in peace. Religion doesn't cause conflicts. People who feel their way is best cause conflicts and it's evidenced in this fucking thread. Look at both sides here. Both of you are spewing garbage like "lol at believing in an invisible man in the sky" and "lol at believing in some cataclysmic event in the nth dimension creating the universe". THAT'S how wars begin. By people taking something relatively insignificant and blowing it out of proportion until both sides start arming up when all it takes is some mutual respect.

Well said and spot on.

[zerojunkie]

Originally Posted by Nyteshade

Lol at this argument. No, atheism does not need it's own church. That kinda contradicts what atheism is all about.

Lol at measuring the wealth of only 44 nations and their religious beliefs and trying to say there's a relationship. There's only ~200 nations in the world, do the legwork. And the IQ/Religion graph? What's the methodology on that? Are we examining third world countries who get almost no formal education vs the US?

Lol at saying that if we all ditch religion, we can gleefully unite as one brotherhood in peace. Religion doesn't cause conflicts. People who feel their way is best cause conflicts and it's evidenced in this fucking thread. Look at both sides here. Both of you are spewing garbage like "lol at believing in an invisible man in the sky" and "lol at believing in some cataclysmic event in the nth dimension creating the universe". THAT'S how wars begin. By people taking something relatively insignificant and blowing it out of proportion until both sides start arming up when all it takes is some mutual respect.

I don't give a shit if you are religious or not. As long as your beliefs aren't causing other people harm (like say Catholics and their ideas of birth control, Africa, and AIDS), do as you will.

I think you missed my point. I didn't say it was a stupid idea, just that without proof it requires some degree of faith to take anything but a neutral stance on the beginning of the universe, life, etc.

[Deff Gordon]

want a philosophy book on this shit... read this:

God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything
by Christopher Hitchens

[Damnsammit]

Originally Posted by Deff Gordon

want a philosophy book on this shit... read this:

God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything
by Christopher Hitchens

This is sitting on my desk but I haven't started reading it yet.

Maybe today is the day to start it.

[Arlen Specter]

Originally Posted by Damnsammit

I thought the whole premise of religion was to bring peace to the question, "What happens when I die?"

Of course to conjure up fear of death would be to bring order as long as one plays by the guidelines of the scriptures. In sense religion was a very useful tool during the time it was invented. However, I don't think that we need God anymore, at least not in the US. People are now being raised more intelligently and can come to terms with right and wrong on their own accord.

God is getting phased out whether the believers want to accept it or not. We won't be around to see it but in the next few hundred years science is going to replace religion. But again we won't be able to see it because the world is going to end in 2012.

Science is the most retarded ass thing mankind can come up with.

[Deff Gordon]

Originally Posted by Cicero

Science is the most retarded ass thing mankind can come up with.

so you still believe the world is flat? do you go dig your own water well and drink it and not the scientifically cleaned water the city supplies?

heck... you're typing on a computer across the internets... there was some science involved in that too.

[BradH]

Originally Posted by Deff Gordon

want a philosophy book on this shit... read this:

God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything
by Christopher Hitchens

Thanks! Ill have to check it out

[Damnsammit]

Originally Posted by Cicero

Science is the most retarded ass thing mankind can come up with.

I think golf is the most retarded ass thing mankind ever came up with.

[Arlen Specter]

Originally Posted by Damnsammit

I think golf is the most retarded ass thing mankind ever came up with.

No...it's definitely Science.

[Arlen Specter]

Originally Posted by Deff Gordon

so you still believe the world is flat?

YES!

Originally Posted by Deff Gordon

do you go dig your own water well and drink it and not the scientifically cleaned water the city supplies?

YES!

Originally Posted by Deff Gordon

heck... you're typing on a computer across the internets... there was some science involved in that too.

BLASPHEMY! BURN THIS WITCH!!!!!!!!!!!!1

[Deff Gordon]

LOLz

[Damnsammit]

Originally Posted by Cicero

No...it's definitely Science.

Science freed the slaves.