I grew up Catholic. I was a little sweetheart, and I participated in everything I should have, up to my First Communion. After that, I started attending a Baptist church. That lasted a couple years. Now? I don't attend a church.
From the time I was a little girl, I never really believed in any god-like figure. I’m the type of person who thinks that everything has a “logical” explanation… Except for the fact that I believe in ghosts, but that’s my logic for the things that go bump in the night. See, what’d I tell you? I have my logic. Being that logical, I never really fell for* the whole Bible thing. I used to think it was a bunch of really great bedtime stories used to scare the crap out of us kids in order to make us behave. Not gonna lie, I still think it’s that. I mean, a giant whale that could swallow a human? Uh, most whales have something similar to a strainer instead of teeth – highly doubt they could open wide enough to get a guy inside of them. Besides, how could he live in the belly with all the acid sloshing around?
But yeah, I didn’t really want to get into a religious debate, even though I think that’s what this is gonna end up being.
My point is this: I’m an Atheist. I’ve been calling myself an Atheist for the past six or seven years. I’m very happy in my godless, sinful, hellfire of a life. I don’t want to accept Jesus Christ as my savior – I think he lived, yes, but I think he was a mortal who died because the public catapulted him to fame, and people higher up got scared and killed him off. Using my logic here, why would I place my life upon another human’s?
(I also don’t wish to become Buddhist, Muslim, or Jewish {to name a few} because I don’t know anything about them. Let me do my research, please, before you start asking me? Thanks.)
I’m not trying to start anything, I’m just saying: I have no urge to accept a religion. Please leave me alone. I know I’m going to be damned to your hell, and I’ve already tried reserving a room, but they don’t take Mastercard.
(It's a joke, I don't believe in a heaven or hell.)
Oh, this is a thing for fellow Atheists: it’s one thing to defend being an Atheist, but calling someone names because they choose to believe in a god(dess) is childish. Differing religious beliefs make us all unique, and I always see the Atheists who are up in the believers’ faces, telling them that they’re moronic, non-questioning sheep, that are the first ones to cry foul when the believers try to fight back. In the words of my peers, “If you can’t take it, don’t dish it.”
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but isn't atheism a religion? every religion answers some major questions, one of which is "What about God?" The atheist replies by saying "There is no God." So, thinking logically, atheists worship the absence of God. Therefore, by my logical thinking, atheism is a religion, albeit a loosely organized one.
I know people like to think this about atheists, but it is just wrong. Not believing something is not a religion. Just like silence isn't a genre of music. If atheists actually worshiped "the absence of God" then it would be a religion.
it's okay. I have a black gay friend.
I LOVE that analogy! May I have your permission to use it in conversation? This comes up a lot. If I ever use it on here, I will credit you.
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/ediblewoman
I saw someone else on here say that "atheism is a religion in the same way that actively not collecting stamps is a hobby." Can't remember who said it though.
it's okay. I have a black gay friend.
Atheism is a religion, though perhaps a more acceptable term would be "system of beliefs", though in my mind, there is no difference. A person who believes in the absence of a deity has just as much faith as one who believes in a god. Not every religion involves a god. If I am correct (please correct me if I'm not), Shintoism (Japanese faith) focuses on the spirits of nature and one's ancestors rather than an actual God(s)/ Goddess(es).
Having faith in something is not equal to not having faith in something. That is like saying the number 1 has the same value as 0
As Jenny Schecter would say, don't try to tell me that black is white.
it's okay. I have a black gay friend.
What I meant was, an atheist still has faith in something. That something is the absence of God, but it's still something. I do not believe in heaven or hell either, but I still count that "disbelief", if you will, a part of my faith because it contributes to my overall group of personal beliefs. Please don't think I'm criticizing atheism or anything, but would you say that an atheist has absolutely no faith at all?
*When I use faith, it is not in relation to a deity, but what you believe in*
I would not say an atheist has no faith at all but there are more things than deity to believe in. Atheism only refers to a lack of belief in a diety, so in that sense I would say an atheist has absolutely no faith.
*When I use faith, it is not in relation to a deity, but what you believe in*
If it's not in relation to a deity, it's not a religion. Anyone can have faith in something, but if that something is not a deity and a corresponding set of beliefs relating to that deity, it's not a religion.
I believe that Big Foot does not exist, that does not mean I have faith in regards to Big Foot.
but I still count that "disbelief", if you will, a part of my faith because it contributes to my overall group of personal beliefs.
Maybe it would be more appropriate to say a belief in heaven and hell has not contributed to your personal beliefs in stead of saying a disbelief has contributed.
it's okay. I have a black gay friend.
i appreciate the last paragraph especially. i'm a christian and have definitely encountered ignorant people like that.
my boyfriend actually doesn't believe in God, but he's incredibly supportive of my faith and encourages me in it because he sees how good it is for me and how i use it to love and help other people.
as far as the question in the title of your blog, it makes sense to me that there must be an absolute truth. even though you don't believe in something, it doesn't mean it's not there. that's logical right?
The problem with beliefs is they are beliefs. What IS, is. If you say you do not believe in gravity, you will still fall if you walk off a tall building.
One person's (or group's) perception of the truth does not change the truth. Whether or not you, or anyone, believes in God does not change what the facts are. If there is a God, you will be judged, whether you believe in Him, IT, or whatever. If there is not, what is there to worry about?
You must believe something or you would never even ponder this question.
The atheists with whom I am friends have all come to the conclusion that there is no god because there is no evidence for one. They do not believe that there is no god, they simply lack a belief in a god. That is a key distinction.
Saying that there is no god takes just as much faith as saying that there is one.
exactly. but if they believe there is no god because they see no evidence for a god, they seem to me like they're more agnostic than atheist.
It is really hard to tell the difference between Atheism and Agnosticism because their definitions are so close together, but here are the basic definitions for both. An Atheist believes that there is no god and the existence of a higher power is not possible. An Agnostic believes that there is no way of knowing if there is a god or if there isn't. Therefore, saying that you don't believe in god because there is no proof of him/her is more of a watered-down version atheism.
The word "atheism" simple means, "no theism." So, no belief in a deity. So, even if one is agnostic, he or she is still an atheist because they lack a belief in a deity.
I'm definitely the Atheist, and my boyfriend is Satanic (which means we enjoy quite a few little discussions, let me tell you). Both of us were raised Catholic, and, while he absolutely hates his church, I find la Lupita (the Virgin, México-style) to be a very beautiful character, and I have a little area of my room for her, because I find her story so beautiful and because I believe that she is beautiful. I don't believe she was a real person, and I know she was a blending of indigenous beliefs and the Church. Just because I'm an Atheist doesn't mean I can't have an appreciation for some parts of a religion, without following it.
I have a lot of religious friends. None of them try to convert me, or bring me back to the Church, and I don't try to tell them that what they think is wrong. We've had discussions, but it never affects our friendships.
I have faith in my parents that they can make, for me, the best decisions possible where I cannot. According to what some people have been saying, that means that I consider my parents a religion. I don't. I don't worship them; I have respect for them, but I know they didn't create the world; and I know that one day, I'm going to have to make my own choices.
I don't know why I decided to write this as a comment, and not another entry, but I did.