Okay, there's a lot of debate over the existence of a higher power/being/whatever, and what religion you should belong to, and all that jazz.

Here's how it works.

Religion is a state of mind. When you're religious, it adds a little bit of serenity to your life, because you know (and believe me, anyone can trick themselves into believing) that something bigger than you is watching over you and protecting you, and that if something bad happens, it was a lesson.

What religion you belong to is irrelevant, the only differences are nitpicky traditional and cultural things.

Some religions are hijacked by assholes for the purpose of killing people or being allowed to fuck six wives, but whatever. That isn't the point. They're fuck-ups that don't understand something that they've devoted their life to.

What I want you to pick up from this is: that you shouldn't try and impress religion on your kids, that you shouldn't count on God to do things for you (you make God real; God is a symbol), and that the sect you belong to isn't important, it's mostly just a byproduct of your family's culture and heritage (i.e. if you're from a French family, you'll probably prefer being a Roman Catholic to being a Bahai'ist).

Understand atheism if you're religious. Atheists are usually very intellectual people that are insulted by the idea of tricking themselves into believing that an invisible man in the sky, who is omnipotent,

guides the world.

Understand religion if you're an atheist. Try to use some of the lessons religion teaches and realize their purpose(s). Don't make fun of religious people, even if you strongly disagree with them. If they respect you, respect them back. If they're just plain assholes, let them have it.

Oh, and about agnosticism - agnostics are usually young men and women that wish to have the spiritual serenity of a religion, but don't want to be bound by the rules. This works well on paper, but the rules of religion create spirituality and encourage productive behavior that benefits everybody. In my opinion, a religiously educated atheist is much more serene and confident than a rebellious agnostic. Agnosticism is the only mainstream belief set that I openly mock, besides Radical Islam and Fundamentalist Mormons.

(If anyone's curious, I'm an atheist.)

If you have anything to say that contradicts or supports what I believe, please tell me. I'm not very articulate, and I may have said something incorrectly or in an offensive fashion.

Also, if you're an emo, please refrain from posting about why agnosticism is cool.

I agree with you on most points. However, before I became an atheist, I was hovering in the limbo-land of agnosticism for a long while. I think many people who are unsure about their religion ofter shift to vaguer (is that a word?) religion as a sort of middle ground. When I finally told my mother I was an atheist, her extreme reaction shook my beliefs. She of course relied on the more devious methods to "keep" me christian, such as saying "It just makes me so sad that when I die we won't be rejoined in heaven!" I admit, that scared me. I had to, for a while, recede back into the foggy world of agnosticism, because I wasn't really sure of anything at that time. After reading more atheistic texts, my former belief system was cemented back into place, so to speak. So, don't be so hard on agnostics (although I agree with the emo thing). I liked the way you said that theists should know about atheists and vice-versa. I should show that to my mother, who I think does cling to her religion out of more psychological reasons (insecurities, fears, etc.) than anything else. Of course, who goes into religion for anything else, even if they don't know it.

quote:Originally posted by Jesuisqui:

I agree with you on most points. However, before I became an atheist, I was hovering in the limbo-land of agnosticism for a long while. I think many people who are unsure about their religion ofter shift to vaguer (is that a word?) religion as a sort of middle ground. When I finally told my mother I was an atheist, her extreme reaction shook my beliefs. She of course relied on the more devious methods to "keep" me christian, such as saying "It just makes me so sad that when I die we won't be rejoined in heaven!" I admit, that scared me. I had to, for a while, recede back into the foggy world of agnosticism, because I wasn't really sure of anything at that time. After reading more atheistic texts, my former belief system was cemented back into place, so to speak. So, don't be so hard on agnostics (although I agree with the emo thing). I liked the way you said that theists should know about atheists and vice-versa. I should show that to my mother, who I think does cling to her religion out of more psychological reasons (insecurities, fears, etc.) than anything else. Of course, who goes into religion for anything else, even if they don't know it.

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abrahim_esker

think about this. if there was no hell, and you were garunteed to get a spot in heaven no matter what, even if you are a non believer, would you live life withoout chronic sins? no you wouldnt. if the bible said "do whatever the **** you want, you're still getting in" nobody would bother with going to servises. thats because hell is the driving forse that compels theists to believe, and bypasses atheist altogether. the sun is shining this morning, and god had nothing to do with it. you would realize it when you die exept for 1 thing, YOUR DEAD, not in heaven or hell. no time to think about all those wasted days in church, because once you're gone, you're gone for good.

atheist arguments from a verry inteligent man at http://www.flamewarrior.com

Nice post, NoSeriously.

I believe we are born agnostic, with a sense of wonder that is fulfilled by our cultural traditions and myths.

It is imperative for me to explore all the possibilities of what I might have been like had I been born in Egypt or Somalia, Rome or Arkansas. It's interesting to wonder how my observations would differ, if only the locale changed.

We are only forced to question our existence based on all of humanity before us who have voiced their own personal convictions on existence. We are bound by our own personnas to take a stance one way or another.

quote:Originally posted by Abrahim:

I'd like to add you to MSN Messenger, AIM, or Yahoo Messenger

abrahimesker@hotmail.com

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You have been added.