The Atheism Thread - Part 6

[JJJ's Ulcer]

I find it interesting how many vehement atheists are from Catholic background. George Carlin, for example.

And Jewish backgrounds.

As a non-religious Jew, I've met waaaay more people of Jewish background who don't believe in God than do.

 

[Thundercrack85]

They're not all that vehement though.

 

[Feenix]

I don't think I've ever had a discussion about religion on any date I've been on.

But, then again, I'm Canadian and all we care about is hockey and beer.

 

[DarkSovereignty]

And syrup.

 

[JJJ's Ulcer]

And snow. You guys have lots of that.

 

[DarkSovereignty]

And moose.

 

[Feenix]

And beavers.


Wait, that's only the men.

 

[E-Man]

Have any of you had difficulty getting dates because of your atheism?

For me the problem isn't getting the dates. It's more along the lines of long term if I want to go that route. I was with one girl who blew my mind about four years ago. We really clicked on a lot of things, but she was one of those born again Christians. I'm not shy at all about my beliefs, and at some point in time we reached the part where it was basically her trying to reconvert me back to Christianity. Like with everyone else who tries to convert me I asked her for full, irrefutable proof of a god's existence in order for me to go back to being a part of any religion again. Needless to say it didn't happen, so we just faded away.

I'm in a bit of a bind though since I'm a black Texan that is mostly attracted to black women. Black females just love them some Jesus, and that almost always comes up if I decide to think about something long term. Sadly the two women who are black, female free thinkers I know are taken. It sucks because those two women had feelings for me, and I reciprocated, but cest la vie. I'm glad I don't just stick to black chicks, but it would be nice to see more black females free from religion.

 

[chaseter]

Sounds like you love being right more than being with a woman. My mother goes to church all the time and my dad does not step foot inside a church anymore. Sometimes you have to swallow your pride.

 

[Thundercrack85]

Well, I guess that's one perk to being white. You're a free agent.

Get to be rejected by girls of every color.

 

[Thundercrack85]

Sounds like you love being right more than being with a woman.

I have to say, from personal experience, living with someone who wants to convert you can be very tiring.

And I didn't even have to share a bed with them.

 

[E-Man]

Sounds like you love being right more than being with a woman. My mother goes to church all the time and my dad does not step foot inside a church anymore. Sometimes you have to swallow your pride.

Heh. Not even close to being true. Why would anyone have to swallow their pride? If two people disagree about something major then they peacefully end the relationship. I don't hate her, but if our entire relationship got to a point where I have to be a Christian again I'm not going to lie just to stay with someone. Besides there are plenty of ways to be with a woman without being in a relationship. Hence where I said long term.

 

[Piper Maru]

So fellow atheists, are you ready to wage war on Christmas?!

 

[regwec]

Have any of you had difficulty getting dates because of your atheism?

I don't think I've ever had a discussion about religion on any date I've been on.

But, then again, I'm Canadian and all we care about is hockey and beer.

Here in the UK, I think being actively religious would be a major impediment to getting a date. Religious people are widely seen as nuts.

I certainly wouldn't want a religious person in my apartment while I slept.

 

[KRYPTON INC.]

^I got too much **** going on now to give two craps to war on X-mas.

I am sitting here listening to my dad try to breathe with and O2 assist at 5am est. He was born in 1946. It's cancer and as of now the Doctors say, it's over. He is staring down mortality and besides wishing things were different, I wonder what is going through his mind as the clock ticks away? My father is not and never was a religious person. He used to say things like "The Church didn't put food on my table or a shirt on my back, so why should I care?" The odd part is that congenitally speaking he's pretty conservative politics wise, even though we were all shocked to learn that my father had always voted Democratic Party a couple of years back. Who knew? My mom is very much a woman of the 60's and is quite liberal, yet she is the one that wants to see the Shroud of Turin and has a belief in the after life and God, if not in a dogmatic way. She really raised me with the idea that if I tried to be a good person that was what was important to God's eyes. So my Atheism, like everyone's I guess, comes from a convoluted place. But I just can't believe in the Judeo-Chistian God any more for a variety of reasons. But now that my father is sick and he is going to die I have to admit that I would love to be able to accept something that is comforting and even inspiring at this moment. But I cannot. I just see that my father, whom I love, is going to leave this life and he is doing so in a long and painful manner, and in the end... I am not sure there was any point at all. I feel angry, and scared and old and tired myself. But again... I just can't see how a God of mercy, love and justice fits into this life. I would love to believe, for both my father's sake and my own. I just can't.

 

[regwec]

So sorry to hear that, my friend. Words don't suffice. I'd give you a hug if I could.

 

[KRYPTON INC.]

So sorry to hear that, my friend. Words don't suffice. I'd give you a hug if I could.

Ha... As crazy as it sounds that reaction actually gives me hope. Because... I mean, I am not the biggest fan of ALL STAR SUPERMAN, but... Maybe Luthor at the end there was right? Maybe we are all we have in this universe? Maybe even the simplest acts of empathy and compassion are more meaningful than any philosophy or cosmic world view that have come and gone in the many thousands and thousands of years we've been a "civilized" species?

At this point this is all emotional rambling of course, so I guess what I really meant to say is: Thank you.

 

[Breogan]

So fellow atheists, are you ready to wage war on Christmas?!

Lol, as pointed out about half the country celebrates the holiday as a secular holiday. Some christians can't handle that, and it's them who have declared it as a "war!".

 

[NickNitro]

Ironically, if my folks hadn't sent me to Catholic school, I might still be religious.

I mean, my faith still might have been done in, but that school sped it along exponentially.

See I never went to Catholic school. My parents weren't that hardcore. I just went to Sunday school and good ole public school on the weekdays.

 

[The End]

Sounds like you love being right more than being with a woman. My mother goes to church all the time and my dad does not step foot inside a church anymore. Sometimes you have to swallow your pride.

I think you're just trolling, and this whole trend of being contrary just for the hell of it is pathetic and transparent. He clearly said that this woman was trying to convert him. There's no reason why anyone should have to deal with that; its simply disrespectful. Obvious troll is obvious.

 

[Feenix]

^I got too much **** going on now to give two craps to war on X-mas.

I am sitting here listening to my dad try to breathe with and O2 assist at 5am est. He was born in 1946. It's cancer and as of now the Doctors say, it's over. He is staring down mortality and besides wishing things were different, I wonder what is going through his mind as the clock ticks away? My father is not and never was a religious person. He used to say things like "The Church didn't put food on my table or a shirt on my back, so why should I care?" The odd part is that congenitally speaking he's pretty conservative politics wise, even though we were all shocked to learn that my father had always voted Democratic Party a couple of years back. Who knew? My mom is very much a woman of the 60's and is quite liberal, yet she is the one that wants to see the Shroud of Turin and has a belief in the after life and God, if not in a dogmatic way. She really raised me with the idea that if I tried to be a good person that was what was important to God's eyes. So my Atheism, like everyone's I guess, comes from a convoluted place. But I just can't believe in the Judeo-Chistian God any more for a variety of reasons. But now that my father is sick and he is going to die I have to admit that I would love to be able to accept something that is comforting and even inspiring at this moment. But I cannot. I just see that my father, whom I love, is going to leave this life and he is doing so in a long and painful manner, and in the end... I am not sure there was any point at all. I feel angry, and scared and old and tired myself. But again... I just can't see how a God of mercy, love and justice fits into this life. I would love to believe, for both my father's sake and my own. I just can't.

Too many feels, Krypton


I know how you feel about wanting to believe. A close family friend of mine was killed in a car accident years ago (by a drunk driver). He was only 20. It was hard to know that there was no afterlife and that he was really "gone" in that sense, but I think it's more about the life the person lived. It's not the dead that care that they're dead, it's the living the person left behind. Your father probably lived a good life and he has seen and experienced many things. I think you can take solace in the fact that once he does pass, he will be free from any more pain.

There's no harm in not believing, it just means that you need to make the most of the one and only life you have.

 

[jaymes_e06]

Me accidentally coming to this thread.

 

[NickNitro]

Spoiler

^I got too much **** going on now to give two craps to war on X-mas.

I am sitting here listening to my dad try to breathe with and O2 assist at 5am est. He was born in 1946. It's cancer and as of now the Doctors say, it's over. He is staring down mortality and besides wishing things were different, I wonder what is going through his mind as the clock ticks away? My father is not and never was a religious person. He used to say things like "The Church didn't put food on my table or a shirt on my back, so why should I care?" The odd part is that congenitally speaking he's pretty conservative politics wise, even though we were all shocked to learn that my father had always voted Democratic Party a couple of years back. Who knew? My mom is very much a woman of the 60's and is quite liberal, yet she is the one that wants to see the Shroud of Turin and has a belief in the after life and God, if not in a dogmatic way. She really raised me with the idea that if I tried to be a good person that was what was important to God's eyes. So my Atheism, like everyone's I guess, comes from a convoluted place. But I just can't believe in the Judeo-Chistian God any more for a variety of reasons. But now that my father is sick and he is going to die I have to admit that I would love to be able to accept something that is comforting and even inspiring at this moment. But I cannot. I just see that my father, whom I love, is going to leave this life and he is doing so in a long and painful manner, and in the end... I am not sure there was any point at all. I feel angry, and scared and old and tired myself. But again... I just can't see how a God of mercy, love and justice fits into this life. I would love to believe, for both my father's sake and my own. I just can't.

Dealing with death brings upon many feelings. It's hard for us to wrap our heads around the thought of losing someone, and that's where I feel faith can give you strength. Instead of being bitter, and cold, you know that in the end, no matter what suffering he going through in his Earthly vessel, his soul will be taken care of. People often find God as an answer to the unasnwerable situations we go through. Whether it be for strength to move on, or courage to push forward. Putting your faith in something bigger than you sometimes has its benefits.

But, as often as people find faith, they lose it. Cursing God for taking away a son, a daughter, a father, a wife, a mother....a father. Not understanding why someone of infinite compassion and love could hurt you soo much. But they often don't look at the big picture, only the here and now. If you truly believe in a souls salvation, being on Earth is just the beginning. Once someone dies, you morn them because you'll miss them, but you cry tears of happiness because you know they are finally free.

I will be losing my Grandfather soon, he has Leukemia, and has been battling it for 2 years now. A man I've been very close to all my life. I have been re evaluating how I handle death, and its given me some comfort.

 

[moviedoors]

Have any of you had difficulty getting dates because of your atheism?

Not directly, and earlier this year, before I met my fiance, I had a devote Christian very aggressively pursuing a long term relationship with me. I'll just chalk that up to my devastating good looks and irresistible charm.

I will say that while I was still floating around on match.com, there were dozens and dozens of girls that put religion very high on their list of priorities so it wasn't even worth attempting to pursue them. And if you filtered your search to find atheists, the pool shrank from hundreds and hundreds of women to like less than 30.

 

[Feenix]

Not directly, and earlier this year, before I met my fiance, I had a devote Christian very aggressively pursuing a long term relationship with me. I'll just chalk that up to my devastating good looks and irresistible charm.

I will say that while I was still floating around on match.com, there were dozens and dozens of girls that put religion very high on their list of priorities so it wasn't even worth attempting to pursue them. And if you filtered your search to find atheists, the pool shrank from hundreds and hundreds of women to like less than 30.

That's crazy! I was on a dating website before, too, and not a single person had listed anything for their religious preference. It was just not important.

I know that when it would come to marriage and kids, different religious views can be a nightmare to deal with, but at the same time, if people have level heads and let their kids grow up to make their own decisions, then religion shouldn't be an issue. I personally wouldn't care if I had a kid grow up to believe in any god. As long as they treated everyone kindly and fairly and wouldn't judge them based on their different (or lack of) views, I wouldn't have a problem.

At least you know that those 30 atheist women are probably better conversationalists than the women who put religion as their top priority