OldMan&TheWeed

I don't like religious people knocking at my door, but I'd never knock on theirs attacking their fairy tale.

I don't get it.

I keep my skepticism of the supernatural to myself. What motivates others become so evangelical in theirs?

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Nintey-three percent of what I say is brilliant, factual information and seven percent is complete bullshit. Have fun deciding which is which.

OldMan&TheWeed

Urban Dictionary: evangelical atheist

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Nintey-three percent of what I say is brilliant, factual information and seven percent is complete bullshit. Have fun deciding which is which.

BibleGuy

If someone has the truth and everyone else is wrong and in danger, then it becomes very important to share the truth. Its a problem though when people think it's their "commission" to corner you and shove their truth down your throat with a plunger.

Jesus said "Who hath ears to hear, let him hear." He never forced anyone to listen (except for the exploiting money-changers in the temple).

When the JWs knock at the door they're probably just trying to be kind. Maybe they'll have a nugget or two that's worth listening to. If they act less than kind/caring just ask them to leave.

cantSEEme

why do ppl get mad over jw's coming to their door?

what's so hard about saying "no thanks"?

BibleGuy

I know someone who get's very mad, I think because she feels threatened by another perspective.

Mydriasis

I don't get mad at them. It's nice to talk to random new people about religion. Seems like whenever I talk about what I believe they just tell me what I should believe but I've had some decent conversations with some JW's.

Can't really blame them, if they convert someone they are promised the after-life. If that's what I'd believe I bet I would be on your door-step too.

Back on topic about "Evangelical Atheists", it's been stated above. But, yeah it's dumb to go around insecurely trying to convince everyone to your moral standards. I look at it as a battle of a person trying to control the world around them. Which is an insecurity/power issue.

I can't blame them either though. If I believed in nothing, and felt religion was ruining the world around me, and I need something stable to grab on to, I would probably do the same.

Personally I do my best to understand and embrace the world around me. Which includes the differing people on it as well .

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OldMan&TheWeed

When someone comes to my door to share their religious beliefs, I always aim to be polite.

I never share with them my skepticism. It would be rude and only serve to distress them.

I would never dream of telling any member of my family, it would only disturb the harmony.

If ever in a situation that I am asked to pray with someone, I just reverently bow my head and go with the flow.

Why would an atheist - or anyone one else - do anything else?

__________________
Nintey-three percent of what I say is brilliant, factual information and seven percent is complete bullshit. Have fun deciding which is which.

BibleGuy

I saw an Atheism float in a May Day parade this year and scratched my head. I thought... if there is no "god" then there is nothing or no one to care whether anyone believes or does anything at all, including whether or not the atheist spreads his/her (dis)belief. So what's the point?

I understand that a multitude of perceptions of "God" exist, but if there is no such thing at all then who or what then made Cannabis? Or cherries? Or air? Or the cosmos? Or the supposed green goop that produced the first amoeba? Or the stuff that the green goop was made of?

In any case, I respect their right to be atheists if that's what they choose.

Mercury

cause i'm busy smoking illegal drugs inside

OldMan&TheWeed

exactly

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Nintey-three percent of what I say is brilliant, factual information and seven percent is complete bullshit. Have fun deciding which is which.

Mercury

athiests just don't believe the bible is supreme. as an athiest i still believe in happiness and love and giving and helping and everything that makes life feel special. there doesn't have to be a god for me to believe in these things. and even if i don't believe there is a christian god I do believe that what I do matters on a universal scale. god is inside of me (not outside of me) and that is forever.

BibleGuy

Mercury, I find that facinating. That's not at all what I would have expected an atheist to say. Thank you for sharing your perspective.

So, if I may echo back what I think you're saying, you don't believe in "God" as he/she/it seems to be described by organized Christianity, that is, perhaps, an ancient wise old man figure sitting on a throne in a place called Heaven which is "out there" somewhere in or beyond the cosmos (or at least external from us). Is that correct?

If that's what you mean then I personally agree with you. IN the Old Testament God identified himself to Moses as "I AM THAT I AM", but that is an English translation of Hebrew hayah 'asher hayah which could be translated "exist what exists" or "I am what exists" which I understand to be the essense of one of my favorite expressions: Namaste! And according to Jesus: "The kingdom of God cometh not with observation (paratērēsis: inspection, that is, ocular evidence): Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within (entos: inside) you." (Luke 17:20-21)

I know that organized Christianity teaches that Heaven is a place that we go when we die and that that's where God is, but Jesus taught that it is within/inside.

Your thoughts?

OldMan&TheWeed

Of all the founding fathers, it is Benjamin Franklin whom I admire the most. Although he lived in an age where at best an an openly atheist would mean being outcast from society, he wrote:

- I have found Christian dogma unintelligible. Early in life I absented myself from Christian assemblies.

Yet he was no fool.

In the following letter, Frankln here tries to dissuade an atheist from writing an article attacking religion. Franklin makes the argument that while a rare few might be able to get along without the help of religion, the masses need religion to keep them straight.

TCravenstreet, Dec. 13. 1757

Dear Sir,

I have read your Manuscrit with some Attention. By the Arguments it contains against the Doctrine of a particular Providence, tho' you allow a general Providence, you strike at the Foundation of all Religion: For without the Belief of a Providence that takes Cognizance of, guards and guides and may favour particular Persons, there is no Motive to Worship a Deity, to fear its Displeasure, or to pray for its Protection. I will not enter into any Discussion of your Principles, tho' you seem to desire it; At present I shall only give you my Opinion that tho' your Reasonings are subtle, and may prevail with some Readers, you will not succeed so as to change the general Sentiments of Mankind on that Subject, and the Consequence of printing this Piece will be a great deal of Odium drawn upon your self, Mischief to you and no Benefit to others. He that spits against the Wind, spits in his own Face. But were you to succeed, do you imagine any Good would be done by it?

You yourself may find it easy to live a virtuous Life without the Assistance afforded by Religion; you having a clear Perception of the Advantages of Virtue and the Disadvantages of Vice, and possessing a Strength of Resolution sufficient to enable you to resist common Temptations. But think how great a Proportion of Mankind consists of weak and ignorant Men and Women, and of inexperienc'd and inconsiderate Youth of both Sexes, who have need of the Motives of Religion to restrain them from Vice, to support their Virtue, and retain them in the Practice of it till it becomes habitual, which is the great Point for its Security; And perhaps you are indebted to her originally that is to your Religious Education, for the Habits of Virtue upon which you now justly value yourself. You might easily display your excellent Talents of reasoning on a less hazardous Subject, and thereby obtain Rank with our most distinguish'd Authors. For among us, it is not necessary, as among the Hottentots that a Youth to be receiv'd into the Company of Men, should prove his Manhood by beating his Mother. I would advise you therefore not to attempt unchaining the Tyger, but to burn this Piece before it is seen by any other Person, whereby you will save yourself a great deal of Mortification from the Enemies it may raise against you, and perhaps a good deal of Regret and Repentance. If Men are so wicked as we now see them with Religion what would they be if without it? I intend this Letter itself as a Proof of my Friendship and therefore add no Professions of it, but subscribe simply Yours

B.F.

__________________
Nintey-three percent of what I say is brilliant, factual information and seven percent is complete bullshit. Have fun deciding which is which.

Mercury

Consider the alternative. I don't believe in Christianity, but I act like I do so that people will not resent me. I use "god" casually in sentences like "God willing" or "Only god knows". That way people assume I am religious. Or I even say God Bless You to people who have been very nice to me.

So I hipocritically keep the spirit alive.

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OldMan&TheWeed

I am a Humanist. Kurt Vonnegut wrote that "...being a Humanist means trying to behave decently without expectation of rewards or punishment after you are dead."

Humanism is nontheistic. I will not say that there is no God. Instead, I say that there is no proof for the existence of God, any gods, the supernatural or an afterlife.

Therefore, I take very seriously the idea that "No deity will save us; we must save ourselves." We are living the only life we'll have, in the only world we know about. The responsibility for the choices we make are ours and ours alone.

Are you a Humanist too?

__________________
Nintey-three percent of what I say is brilliant, factual information and seven percent is complete bullshit. Have fun deciding which is which.

OldMan&TheWeed

You are doing the wise, kind, and honorable thing.

Wise, because it would be foolish for you to try to persuade them to be rationalist.

Kind, because it may distress (if not alienate) your friends and family--if you out yourself.

And honorable, because we should be reverent of others beliefs. Reverence is about humility, tolerance and deference, not agreement.

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Nintey-three percent of what I say is brilliant, factual information and seven percent is complete bullshit. Have fun deciding which is which.

kamikazi89

i don't mind when they come knocking at the door or strew their litterature(JWs) but the endtime stuff is just plain annoying//

in my opinion it's not wise or honorable to pretend to be something you're not

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The Rev

Belief systems are a tricky thing. It's my opinion that any system that leads to side-taking was probably created for that purpose, whether the creator of said system realized it or not.



The Rev

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SmokeaJoint

The JW's that come by my place are usually really nice. Its always awkward for me cuz I hear a knock n go rushing to hide the bong, weed, etc. but either they don't notice or they don't care. They hand me a magazine, read a bible verse or something, then chunk deuces. There was a time another couple showed up, a lot more pushy than the older couple. They got a nice steel core door slammed in their face. But I really tried to be pleasant, just they didn't take "I'm sorry, I just don't subscribe to your beliefs" very well.

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kamikazi89

“The people to fear are not those who disagree with you, but those who disagree with you and are too cowardly to let you know”

Napoleon Bonaparte

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