[Kazanne]

I wont even debate in here ,it's too hostile,all I know is what I believe is up to me,dont need to explain it so people can take the piss

[Nedusa]

I don't have a problem with religion which I consider a personal thing like spirituality something that shapes and defines our outlook on life. Different religions are just different interpretations of this. Providing these choices enrich our lives and the lives of people we meet then fine.

What I do have a problem with however is organised religion as it is responsible for innumerable crimes against humanity...

But that's another thread for another time...!!!

[Ammi]

Originally Posted by Nedusa

I don't have a problem with religion which I consider a personal thing like spirituality something that shapes and defines our outlook on life. Different religions are just different interpretations of this. Providing these choices enrich our lives and the lives of people we meet then fine.
What I do have a problem with however is organised religion as it is responsible for innumerable crimes against humanity...

But that's another thread for another time...!!!

..yeah, that's exactly how I feel about it, Nedusa...I'm not really religious as such but I think that for some, it's a good thing because they're believing in something that makes them better people and want to be better people.....

[Me. I Am Salman]

Why do some atheists expect everyone to act and think like them?

[Shaun]

Is there a term for "atheist who really cannot be arsed with telling others what to believe"? Because Ricky Gervais and threads like this are just really damaging atheism and making it seem so ****ing pedantic

[Livia]

Originally Posted by Shaun

Is there a term for "atheist who really cannot be arsed with telling others what to believe"? Because Ricky Gervais and threads like this are just really damaging atheism and making it seem so ****ing pedantic

Sense.

Originally Posted by Shaun

Is there a term for "atheist who really cannot be arsed with telling others what to believe"? Because Ricky Gervais and threads like this are just really damaging atheism and making it seem so ****ing pedantic

Yeah, a thread on a forum is really taking a hammer blow to atheism. Hopefully the belief that there isn't a god, can survive someone having and sharing opinions that you don't agree with on the internet. I don't agree with catweasels opinions in this thread either, but atheism is a broad church, and expecting a consensus amongst atheists is like trying to herd cats

Ricky Gervais also damages atheism? That's just nonsense. People believe whatever they like, and the fact that Ricky Gervais talks openly about it in a way that you and some other people don't like, is not going to have any affect on anything or anyone.

What does "damaging atheism" even mean?

[Me. I Am Salman]

^ that a the only type of atheism which should exist

[Jords]

I like the concept of 'praying' to channel inner strength and to think and support loved ones in time of need, if it helps an individual in their situation Im all for it.

In terms of for religion purposes, it doesnt affect me so I dont mind what people do.

[Ammi]

Originally Posted by Jords

I like the concept of 'praying' to channel inner strength and to think and support loved ones in time of need, if it helps an individual in their situation Im all for it.

In terms of for religion purposes, it doesnt affect me so I dont mind what people do.

..why can't I say it with fewer words like this.....but yeah Jords, you're right as usual...

[Jords]

We love all your words Ammi

[Ammi]

..also lol..I'm not directing this at anyone on this forum specifically, but a lot of atheists do often seem to speak with a feeling of 'superiority' over someone who has a belief and be quite insulting because they feel that those people are weak, or delusional or whatever... basically saying things that can only aim to make people who do have faiths and beliefs feel fairly stupid and rubbish about themselves, which is not a very 'superior' quality in people who don't have those beliefs..where is the value in trying to make people feel bad about themselves..where is the superiority in that...that doesn't make them 'better people', but a lot of people who do have a faith, gain very positive things from that faith which does make them better people and also much happier people than if they didn't have it...

...that isn't all atheists obviously, but there are some very intolerant ones.... and yeah, there are also some vey intolerant religious people as well but both of those types of people are very extreme because they don't allow for any views or beliefs other than their own....


..ok, I'm done lol...

[Crimson Dynamo]

Originally Posted by Ammi

..also lol..I'm not directing this at anyone on this forum specifically, but a lot of atheists do often seem to speak with a feeling of 'superiority' over someone who has a belief and be quite insulting because they feel that those people are weak, or delusional or whatever... basically saying things that can only aim to make people who do have faiths and beliefs feel fairly stupid and rubbish about themselves, which is not a very 'superior' quality in people who don't have those beliefs..where is the value in trying to make people feel bad about themselves..where is the superiority in that...that doesn't make them 'better people', but a lot of people who do have a faith, gain very positive things from that faith which does make them better people and also much happier people than if they didn't have it...

...that isn't all atheists obviously, but there are some very intolerant ones.... and yeah, there are also some vey intolerant religious people as well but both of those types of people are very extreme because they don't allow for any views or beliefs other than their own....


..ok, I'm done lol...

If you look at atheism and religion as a sort of 50/50 pov then you would be correct but its not. Ask any religious person about another religion and you will see their attitude change, ask them about people who believe in say aliens or dragons and watch them change.

Belief in gods and such is so baseless and so obviously a product of an age where man could not explain much, where life ended quickly and people were fearful. Go to any forum where a debate on religion occurs and you will quickly see that religious people can offer no reason for their beliefs, usually you get the "why are you attacking me angle" or the "well it works for me and thats all I know" - the main reason for this is because their parents brought them up like this and often when pushed they have no real reason for their belief.

No one cares what people believe but they do care when religion is in our schools and politics and stops getting privilege. Eradicate it from there and just like being a star trek fan no one will care what you think.

Also remember that every religious person is an atheist for every other god man has created so atheists are everyone.

[Ammi]

Originally Posted by Jords

We love all your words Ammi

..LOL.....

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Jords

We love all your words Ammi

we do

[Nedusa]

You started this thread by asking what was the point of praying but reading the latter posts perhaps this thread should have been titled what is the point of religion as it has become more of a debate about the usefullness or point of religion.

Yesterday I accused people who pray as being seriously misguided although I used stronger language than that and was roundly condemned as being offensive for likening the action of praying to a possible mental aberration. It seems like people do like to pray for a variety of reasons including personal faith and spirituality.

I think most if not all people are aware faith holds no logic and is at odds with science but as humans we still hold the ability to think beyond what we can prove and religion or faith is the way we aspire to be something beyond what we can touch.

I personally do not hold to any organised religion preferring instead to keep my religious and spiritual beliefs to myself.

The Atheist v Theist debate will continue and I for one hope mainstream religions will continue to decline as to me they are instruments of control,profit and manipulation.

[Kyle]

Originally Posted by Nedusa

You started this thread by asking what was the point of praying but reading the latter posts perhaps this thread should have been titled what is the point of religion as it has become more of a debate about the usefullness or point of religion.

Yesterday I accused people who pray as being seriously misguided although I used stronger language than that and was roundly condemned as being offensive for likening the action of praying to a possible mental aberration. It seems like people do like to pray for a variety of reasons including personal faith and spirituality.

I think most if not all people are aware faith holds no logic and is at odds with science but as humans we still hold the ability to think beyond what we can prove and religion or faith is the way we aspire to be something beyond what we can touch.

I personally do not hold to any organised religion preferring instead to keep my religious and spiritual beliefs to myself.

The Atheist v Theist debate will continue and I for one hope mainstream religions will continue to decline as to me they are instruments of control,profit and manipulation.

To me I find I personally have a conflict if interest with this. While I have no problem with people having personal faith I am also delighted to see the shackles of religious institution being lifted from the Western World and would be more than happy to see it gone for good.

[Crimson Dynamo]

Originally Posted by Nedusa

You started this thread by asking what was the point of praying but reading the latter posts perhaps this thread should have been titled what is the point of religion as it has become more of a debate about the usefullness or point of religion.

Yesterday I accused people who pray as being seriously misguided although I used stronger language than that and was roundly condemned as being offensive for likening the action of praying to a possible mental aberration. It seems like people do like to pray for a variety of reasons including personal faith and spirituality.

I think most if not all people are aware faith holds no logic and is at odds with science but as humans we still hold the ability to think beyond what we can prove and religion or faith is the way we aspire to be something beyond what we can touch.

I personally do not hold to any organised religion preferring instead to keep my religious and spiritual beliefs to myself.

The Atheist v Theist debate will continue and I for one hope mainstream religions will continue to decline as to me they are instruments of control,profit and manipulation.

The thread has no rules and can go which way. There seems to be no appetite to defend praying in terms of "how it works" and evidence thereof and as most people realise its a self medication process against the relentless tide of life and our insignificance.

As i stated we are all atheist really, religious people just have one god they are not atheist about. We are all atheist to dragons, fairies and goblins.

[Nedusa]

If you are a theist then you believe in at least one God although theism is now more commonly held as a monotheistic doctrine ie believing in just one God.

Atheism is a rejection of Theism (one god or many) so believing in just one God (whilst not believing in others) technically does not make you atheist....

But Dragons,Fairies and goblins well not sure if they qualify as Deities !!

[Crimson Dynamo]

Originally Posted by Nedusa

If you are a theist then you believe in at least one God although theism is now more commonly held as a monotheistic doctrine ie believing in just one God.

Atheism is a rejection of Theism (one god or many) so believing in just one God (whilst not believing in others) technically does not make you atheist....

But Dragons,Fairies and goblins well not sure if they qualify as Deities !!

How are you on Leprechauns?

[Kizzy]

Praying is just a bastardisation of chanting.... we all love a good chant.
As ye will it so mote it be, and so on and so forth.

[Crimson Dynamo]

I loved the story about that plane that ditched in New York in the Hudson River. As it was making its emergency landing the religious people were saying prayers

Meanwhile the atheists were reading the panel to see where the emergency exits were and putting on their life jackets......

[Livia]

Originally Posted by Catweazel

I loved the story about that plane that ditched in New York in the Hudson River. As it was making its emergency landing the religious people were saying prayers

Meanwhile the atheists were reading the panel to see where the emergency exits were and putting on their life jackets......

Maybe the religious people had already read the panel, like you're asked to do when you board.

Captain Sullenberger didn't ridicule passengers and crew for praying. He was very understanding about people's faith and their reaction to catastrophe. But hey... anything that gives you a laugh...

[Crimson Dynamo]

Originally Posted by Livia

Maybe the religious people had already read the panel, like you're asked to do when you board.

Captain Sullenberger didn't ridicule passengers and crew for praying. He was very understanding about people's faith and their reaction to catastrophe. But hey... anything that gives you a laugh...

Who said i was laughing?

Who said the captain ridiculed anyone?

Who said it was a catastrophe?

It was a remarkable example of a trained pilot using his skill to save a potentially devastating accident.

Imagine if he had put his head in his hands and prayed...

[Livia]

Originally Posted by Catweazel

Who said i was laughing?

Who said the captain ridiculed anyone?

Who said it was a catastrophe?

It was a remarkable example of a trained pilot using his skill to save a potentially devastating accident.

Imagine if he had put his head in his hands and prayed...

You didn't find it funny? That's not what your post implied - atheists being proactive - religious people not being proactive. No one said the captain ridiculed anyone, it's you who ridiculed people. I merely pointed out he was closer to the action than you and DIDN'T ridicule anyone. Sigh...

I imagine anyone involved would have thought it was a catastrophe, and it could have had a very different ending if it wasn't for the skill and bravery of the captain. Why would someone religious neglect their duty and pray at a time when their skill was needed? That's just silly.