Its not bad I'm a Christian and i think we should all get along doesnt matter in your Beleifs we are all human
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It's not bad at all. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. However, don't go around waving it in people's faces. Just respect other people's opinions and they'll do the same.
It's not. People need to respect your beliefs, as well as others'. Don't let anyone tell you that what you do or don't believe in is bad. Just don't listen to them actually, but you need to give the respect back, the way that you would like to be respected.
I'm not a Christian, Agnostic, Pagan, or Atheist. I just have my own beliefs. I make up my own religion.
Look I am a catholic and I hope you respect all of my beliefs just as I hope other Christians will respect your beliefs. Two people of differing opinions don't have to be enemies and mock each other they just have to respect each other.
It's not. It's ok to be whatever your religion. What is your evidence that God does not exist?
If I told others you did not exist, and they believed you did, I would need proof. They might believe wrongly, but you don't convince them without proof.
Religion involves making a truth claim, usually exclusive of all others, about a truth for which there is little physical evidence. For atheists, the one thing lacking is devotional aspects, unless one makes science or materialism their god. They have a moral code and they have laws concerning human affairs, and they often derive them from natural theology.
2. By saying reality is consensuslly validated I mean this: if I say I see a pink elephant, you ask me where. I point. You look. You see no elephant, so you judge there is none, and either I am making things up, or have taken drugs.
Reality is not subjective, it is VALIDATED (not contingent, not dependent) by consensus. The consensus I follow is that which has a majority opinion: there is a god, based on natural theology (see here for an example: http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/history/paley.html ).
The case for Christianity is wholly built on revelation, not natural theology.
One must either point to evidence, logic or testimony in judging matters of truth. Our jury system uses this, and we accord the jury the right to judge truth by consensus. So, we put our truth claims up, marshall evidence, parade witnesses, make logical argument, and leave it to the jury to decide if we are convincing.
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Using a definition usually helps resolve an issue; in this case, you resort to solecism. Your contention is that atheism is NOT a religion. This is because (you say) atheists make no assumption about an afterlife. But atheists DO make statements about afterlife: the majority of then deny there is any, again on little or no evidence. This positive claim makes it a religion.
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Consensual validation is a concept advanced by the psychologist Sullivan, who stated we tend to rely on others to some extent in testing our view of reality. If you are deluded, but everyone else suffers from the same delusion, it's hard to get rid of the delusion. This is why some say theists and atheists are refractive to proof, as they find others to reinforce their delusions.
For a monograph on this see here: http://www.pep-web.org/document.php?id=ifp.003.0165a
Do try to keep up. This thread (as do some of my posts) requires you to at least attempt to use your intellect.
You wish for them not to be, I understand, but if it is not, it does not get 1st Amendment protections. The court ruled it gets them because it is a religion. Ruled by a court. And Obamacare's penalty is actually a tax.
But a better way to determine whether a worldview is a religion is to look for certain characteristics that religions have in common. The framework set forth by Ninian Smart, commonly known as the Seven Dimensions of Religion, is widely accepted by anthropologists and researchers of religion as broadly covering the various aspects of religion, without focusing on things unique to specific religions.
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The seven dimensions proposed by Smart are narrative, experiential, social, ethical, doctrinal, ritual and material. Not every religion has every dimension, nor are they all equally important within an individual religion. Smart even argues that the ?secularisation? of western society is actually a shift of focus from the doctrinal and ritual to the experiential. But religions will usually have these aspects:
1. Narrative: all religions have stories, and some explain the origin of things. As Dawkins says, "Darwin made it possible to be an intellectually fulfilled atheist." Atheism makes claims about origins.
2. Experiential: two aspects: experiences of religion's founders, and those of present adherents. Faith is a requirement for both. Atheism requires "faith" (using their own definition) that the laws of chemistry, physics and biology were once violated and life arose from non-life via chemical evolution.
3. Social: The social dimension of religion looks at the hierarchies and power structures present within the religion, such the Hindu caste system. In missionary religions, it also includes how people get converted and how missionaries go about their work.
Contemporary Atheism has been fueled largely by authors promoting their atheistic beliefs. In the preface to The God Delusion, Dawkins says,
?If this book works as I intend, religious readers who open it will be atheists when they put it down.? Clearly, he wishes the consensual validation of others. This is what fuels atheists to tell others they are "all wet" in believing. They want everyone to agree with them, just as evangelicals do.
In the essence of time, i leave this to you to read. The rest of the aspects are discussed here: http://creation.mobi/atheism-a-religion
It's not bad... it's what you happen to believe. I believe in God, but I also believe in everyone's right to their own personal beliefs.
To begin, many who profess to be atheist are in fact agnostic (someone who believes there is something bigger than us, they just aren't sure what that might be) . It's not that being atheist makes you a bad person (although some religious hypocrites might say it does); its that those who know you that are Christian, are probably concerned about your soul and damnation. Assuming you are young, my suggestion to you is that you read, research, and search your heart for what you believe to be true. Being Christian myself, my hope is that you will find the truth through God. In the end, this has to be your decision and doesn't necessarily come all at once. Don't allow others to influence your heart; this is a very personal matter and you only have to answer to yourself on this.
It's your choice. If you believe its okay, then it is. I'm a Christian, but if other people don't try to argue or criticize my beliefs, I don't judge theirs either.
-_-
What I said was applied towards religion, not having sex with kids, or anything else in particular.
It's not bad unless you choose to insult people who have different beliefs than your own. It may be tempting when someone has obviously insulted your own belief by saying it's bad to be an Atheist but really, responding back to them in a similar manner is just sinking to their level.
I'm a Christian but I think as long as you aren't harming anyone in ANY way (not just physical) than you have a right to choose your own path and beliefs. I do not like it when people insult my beliefs because I have done absolutely nothing to disrespect their own and yet you see it every day in almost all religious and no religious groups. The ones I don't see do this are the Buddhists that I know.
i'm one too in a familly of catholics who give me bibles for my birthday AND christmas. I just told my familly 'I'LL BELIEVE WHATEVER WHEN I DANG WELL FEEL LIKE IT." Love the way you are. Don't be given up.
IT IS WRITTEN:
John 14:6
Jesus saith unto them, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
This is the only way to get to paradise.
It isn't. Withholding belief until belief is warranted is the rational response to any claim.
Imagine a scientist in his lab trying to recreate conditions that accidentally brought about all the different life forms on earth. He uses earth for the land and water for the oceans but who does the scientist represent??
I'm going to let the word of God answer your question.=========THE [empty-headed] fool has said in his heart, There is no God.
They are corrupt, they have done abominable deeds; there is none that does good or right. (Psalm 14:1 AMP))))) I am just a mail man and delivered the mail. This is the other letter I am giving you God loves you and his arm are open to receive you at any time because=======For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. (John 3:16-19 KJV)
the breath of the Almighty within them,
that makes them intelligent. (Job 32:8 NLT)
If there is no God, we don't make sense, so how do we explain human longings and desire for the transcendent? How do we even explain human questions for meaning and purpose, or inner thoughts like, why do I feel unfulfilled or empty? Why do we hunger for the spiritual, and how do we explain these longings if nothing can exist beyond the material world?
You stated in your question you know its bad, why is it bad.. apparently you already know its bad.. Believe or not believe its your choice... you bad!
It's not. Some religious people will say it's bad though. To me, so long as you're a good person, that's enough for me. There are plenty of people who have a religion that are still very bad people. So, if you're a good person without a religion, that's a good thing. You don't need religion (I just would be a sad person if I didn't believe in the gods/goddesses of Egypt).
there is nothing wrong with being an atheist. you do not have to explain your beliefs nor do you have to have evidence for why you dont believe. if youre atheist then youre atheist. if you dont believe then you dont. thats all there is to it.
As stated many times above.... You can believe what ever you want, the problem is that you have chosen eternal separation from God ( whether you believe or not,God did created us and wants to spend eternity loving us) and that means that you will suffer after your time on earth is through. That's the bad part.
Doesnt anybody know where they are going when they die? There is only ONE way!!! Jesus said himself, i am the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE!!! There isnt other paths to heaven theres one!and his name is JESUS!!XD
Being "good" person is not enough!! it takes Jesus!!
Why have you came to this conclusion of being an atheist? Is it you or someone else has came along to persuade you? What would God himself have to do to make a believer out of you? What if all of this God stuff is real? Then what? What risk are you taking believing this? Hell, eternal death? Why not believe in a higher power other than yourself ? What is so bad about it? What will you say when you do become face to face with Jehovah? What then? You seem so young to have already came to this conclusion. Why not sincerely ask Jehovah God to reveal himself to you? Have you? God bless you I hope the best for you. That you do find the right path for you.
It's not bad. Many atheists think they are more intelligent-who could believe a bunch of stories written to control people? Religion can be messed up. Many atheists have set out to disprove the bible and become believers. It's not about avoiding hell. When you start to understand how truly incredible God is and how you matter to him- it changes you. When things that are just too much of a coincidence happen, you think "wow"!
Being a believing, and therefore practicing, Roman Catholic Christian, I think it's sad that you profess atheism, regrettable, lamentable, but I assure you're not constantly sinning, although your initial decision to become an atheist might have been a sin, even a serious sin, especially, if you had been a Christian, or more serious, a practicing Roman Catholic Christian, before. However, I suspect that you still do believe in God, if you're honest with yourself, but for whatever reason, have something against Him, and have professed atheism, to get back at Him, or get even with Him, or even to hurt Him , but let me again assure you that you haven't hurt Him, because it's part of His nature to be perfectly happy, and since He's unchangeable (immutable), His perfect happiness never changes. No entity can ever hurt God. I did make a mistake once, and this may be my second mistake. It's within the realm of possibility, that I'm completely wrong about you, but I pray not. I'll pray for you; and you pray, or at least, think long and hard, about this (praying is easier). May God give you all the best this life has to offer; and Heaven, in the next! Enjoy God's gift to you of this day; and the rest of your life!
Frank
If he had continued our discussion in comments, I would've asked him if he had been baptized or not, either way I would've told him about the benefits of the baptism he received, or should receive now, with proper preparation.
I'm still happy to do that if he wants.
Thanks for your comment!
I hope you check back.
Frank
yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! you don't have to be a atheist. you can still change!!!!!!!!!
There's nothing wrong with it in the slightest. Atheists ftw.
Is eating ice cream "bad"? What about eating a pint each night before going to bed? Why is anything "bad"? Are negative consequences "bad"? A concept of "bad" implies there is 'good'. Without a moral absolute, there is no good or bad that anyone would expect someone else to respect or care about. If I came from nothing and have no meaning for existence, why worry about 'good' or 'bad'?
Is it more logical to believe that everything came from nothing; or, that everything comes from something, or someone? Is atheism illogical? Does that make it "bad"?
If I say, "flamingoes exist" and you say, "prove it", all I have to do is find one flamingo in the universe; maybe as close as the local zoo.
If you say "flamingoes doe not exist" and I say "prove it", you may not find them in my neighborhood, but that is not enough; you must go to every corner of the universe before saying they do not exist.
Jesus Christ is sufficient proof of God's existence, but even the cosmological and teleological and moral proofs are sufficient to indicate beyond a reasonable doubt that a Supreme Being exists.
Your answer is in your question.
Because you don't believe in your creator and the creator of the universe and beyond.
I don't think it is "sinful", but I know that if you were to stay that way even after you found out that God is real, you wouldn't have much luck.
I'm an agnostic atheist. The only thing that makes sense, currently. So it's not bad at all. In fact, you are more rational than most people around.
Who says? You are one of the smart ones
Its not. Religions will try to make you feel bad as a method to convert you....then take 10% of your income once they got you. Dont fall for it..Save it for vacation ;)
Religious people will try to tell you it is bad, but you are right. If you feel threatened just pretend to be Christian.
Actually the most peaceful and progressive countries in the world are substantially more athiest. If anything you do a service to the people. American prisons are wall to wall religionists. All upper 90 percentile religionists. Statistically speaking you are less likely to be a criminal and I'd say thats not so would wouldn't you?
If you are happy and respect others I don't think it should matter whether you are an atheist. I wouldn't worry about it.
