Evil Atheist Thread

[Eran of Arcadia]

Well, if you don't think dishonesty is a problem, then it causes no problems whatsoever.

I am not saying this is the worst thing ever. And if no one asks, you don't have to tell them. But if a religion asks that only its devout members do something (like communion) and you do it anyways so as to not upset someone, I don't think that's right.

 

[Mandeville]

Well, if you don't think dishonesty is a problem, then it causes no problems whatsoever.

I am not saying this is the worst thing ever. And if no one asks, you don't have to tell them. But if a religion asks that only its devout members do something (like communion) and you do it anyways so as to not upset someone, I don't think that's right.

Well perhaps Churchs shouldn't aggresively recruit any crack addict off the street.

 

[warpus]

Eran, dishonesty about atheism is remarkably common. I play Christian in front of my grandparents. The relationships I have with these people are more important to me then the truth.

I came from a fairly religious society & background and I can't even understand something like that.. Surely, if they love you, they will accept you for who you are? Even if you believe different things than they do? That's what family is supposed to be about, right?

I made my "stand" when I was 15 or so.. At the time it was taken by all to be a "rebelious teenage" stage.. but when it was seen by all that this is what I truly believe, it was just accepted and we all moved on..

Of course we joke about it from time to time, and I get sarcastic "you're the antichrist!" comments from my aunt.. but that's as far as it ever goes.

I can't imagine ever lying to someone about my core beliefs just for the sake of preserving a relationship. If the relationship is worth preserving, then lies would never enter the equation in the first place.. at least that's my philosophy and so far I haven't been disowned by anyone

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

Well perhaps Churchs shouldn't aggresively recruit any crack addict off the street.

What does that have to do with anything?

And anyways, are you saying these people should just be ignored? Half the point of religion is to help crack addicts.

 

[Bill3000]

Well, if you don't think dishonesty is a problem, then it causes no problems whatsoever.

I am not saying this is the worst thing ever. And if no one asks, you don't have to tell them. But if a religion asks that only its devout members do something (like communion) and you do it anyways so as to not upset someone, I don't think that's right.

It's not that dishonesty is not a problem, it's that there's a far worse problem if there's honesty.

 

[Mandeville]

What does that have to do with anything?

And anyways, are you saying these people should just be ignored? Half the point of religion is to help crack addicts.

Eran, there are so many people in the church who just don't give a .... well you know. What do you mean ignored? Why do crack addicts need a Church? For Food????? You should ignore them.

If the church recruited half less the crack addicts it recruits now it might be a slightly more tolerable institution to have around, tax free.

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

I know that there are a lot of religious people who aren't living as they should. But what does that have to do with my other comments?

And crack addicts need a lot of things . . . some of which, granted, churches can't provide, but they can help.

 

[Mandeville]

I know that there are a lot of religious people who aren't living as they should. But what does that have to do with my other comments?

And crack addicts need a lot of things . . . some of which, granted, churches can't provide, but they can help.

No. A crack addict would find "God" for about a week so when he leaves he can be just as high as he was the first time he did crack. Church would probably try to tell a crack addict that God will help him.

You and me both know that wouldn't help a crack addict.

 

[warpus]

And crack addicts need a lot of things . . . some of which, granted, churches can't provide

Like crack!

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

No. A crack addict would find "God" for about a week so when he leaves he can be just as high as he was the first time he did crack. Church would probably try to tell a crack addict that God will help him.

You and me both know that wouldn't help a crack addict.

Or, said crack addict would actually stick with God . . . which happens. He would need to seek medical treatment, probably, but the church can provide a support group, which is very helpful.

Do you think that everyone who has ever been addicted to crack has stayed that way? Or that no one who stopped using did so with the help of a church or other religious organization?

 

[Perfection]

I came from a fairly religious society & background and I can't even understand something like that.. Surely, if they love you, they will accept you for who you are? Even if you believe different things than they do? That's what family is supposed to be about, right?

Eventually, I'm pretty sure they would, but why go through the crap? I think of it as just another verion of "oh you look okay in that", "no, I don't think your worldview is completly screwed up".

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

Would you tell your family if you were gay?

 

[Mandeville]

I did Eran. I told them I was gay crack addict then they told me to go to Church.

 

[warpus]

Eventually, I'm pretty sure they would, but why go through the crap? I think of it as just another verion of "oh you look okay in that", "no, I don't think your worldview is completly screwed up".

I suppose it depends on how much time you spend with these people.. If it's a 2-5 times a year kinda thing, then I hear ya..

Do you really think there would be much crap? Sure, if you're a teenager (not sure how old you are).. if so, you got a point there

 

[Bill3000]

Would you tell your family if you were gay?

No, I wouldn't. I wouldn't tell them that I have aspergers, either. I'm talking about my extended family, by the way. I'm perfectly happy with the illusion of people who I meet a couple times a year that I'm someone to be proud of, not ashamed or a test of tolerance.

 

[GoodEnoughForMe]

I can't imagine ever lying to someone about my core beliefs just for the sake of preserving a relationship. If the relationship is worth preserving, then lies would never enter the equation in the first place.. at least that's my philosophy and so far I haven't been disowned by anyone

Well, welcome to my world! I'm in a position where only three people, two of my closest friends, know, and one teacher. Not my family, and none of my other friends, many of whom I would consider very close.

My senior year of high school (public) I was in a sociology class and two speakers came in to talk to us. Both of them, near the end of the speech said, and I quote, "you have to have God in your life. You're nobody without God. You're not human."

At the time, my teacher was the only one in the class who knew I was an atheist, and it would stay that way. We had marriage come up at anotehr time, talking about marriage between different faiths, and people didn't eprceive how an atheist could marry anyone. Lots of comments like "that would be weird," "how would that work" etc.

You leanr to learn with it. One of my best friends is a pretty die hard Christian; goes to church every Sunday, no premarital sex, doesn't say "God Dammit" or anything like that. We're really close, and I know that if I told her I was an atheist that she would still like me, but there would be a chism. Interestingly, I'm the only friend of her's who has never drank, had sex, etc., but who cares. I worry about my relationships if people knew, and I think that I am justified in that.

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

No, I wouldn't. I wouldn't tell them that I have aspergers, either. I'm talking about my extended family, by the way.

Even if they asked you straight out?

 

[Bill3000]

Even if they asked you straight out?

They wouldn't, so what's the point? Even if they did say it, there's no point in traumatizing them and thinking that I'm sort of wierdo whenever they think of me.

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

Do you think their psyche is so fragile that it would cause them severe anguish to know this about you?

And besides, as I said, I don't think it is right to take part in a religion's rituals if you don't believe in them, and they are the sort of rituals that require faith.

 

[Mandeville]

Well Eran tell that to everyone 12 and under who is forced to go.