Why Be Atheist? Why Not Just "Amen" Along with the Rest of the Flock?

(they should join in) Because reality isn't "what you feel like," it's What Is (you might call it "what God lets it be"). The point is Fellowship---the True Purpose of Religion. "What you believe in" is the launch-pad for your entry into the world, and--if my launch-pad and your launch-pad are the same--we can better direct our- and others'-launches to show still-others that our beliefs are good to have ... or something ...

there's no proof that any religion is right. what you may feel with absolute certainty is the truth, other people just don't see truth there. I wouldn't want anyone coming to my religion purely on my say so, if they didn't FEEL it in their heart and soul. paying lip service to my Gods, rather than building a deep and meaningful relationship with the divine. if they don't feel it, it's not real for them. and if it's not real for them, it's meaningless if they just pretend.

What difference does it make (to you or to the truth) if they truly believe their words? you know it's true, and know the truth will cut them away if their actions don't follow through!

Whats wrong with being a polytheist? I am much happier with a multitude of fun-loving gods than I could ever be with the stern, patrician god of Abraham.

How is 'nodding "Amen" along with everyone else' in any way "following something blindly"? That's like saying 'Having seen Bush Dubya declare war on Iraq' automatically invokes your personal approval of that war. And 'that Catholics are polytheist' is hearsay. We 'pray to saints/angel/Mary/etc.' the same way your parents 'give you a permission-slip to go on a field-trip'---i.e. they're not giving it "to you," they're asking you to deliver it "to your teacher." I.e. as permission-slips are notes 'to your teacher' given to you, so are prayers "to God" taken by the saints and presented to God. It's kinda like (at work) asking your manager to give a suggestion to the CEO rather than taking it up yourself.

Amen Sister C!

Ok, if there's CAKE!! :~D

If everybody says you're the King of the Jews, who are you to argue? Okay, you're NOT the King of the Jews; I'm just asking, why disagree when the people praying are SO nice, and "there'll be cake!"

Why Believer, why not just go with the atheist flow?

G-d doesn't need it but many people do. And many don't. Me? I could be ok without it I guess but I wouldn't be the Sarah I am without it. It isn't about other people, it is the way I connect to G-d. In other words, it isn't peer pressure or parents forcing me to be Jewish. I am Jewish because of my deep connection. But I Know there are many who don't need the connection. And that's cool.

I don't believe God NEEDS a religion; I'm into religion for the fellowship, for that is the greatest glory (glory which naturally goes to God ... I would call Him "G-d," but "God is a word" (from SPHERE by Michael Crichton) and not a name anyway).

What can you tell me about your "deep connection"? Mine is explained in Genesis 1 or -2: 'And God breathed into the clay, and it became a living soul.' (I'm paraphrasing.) then the living souls found out how to refresh their lives in the form of offspring, resulting in generation upon generation over eons and ages, and here I am! Y`shua helped us see past the veils of tradition the numerous generations lift between us and Our Father G-d, and 'in His name' all those veils are cast down in my sight. The vast majority of folks want to leave the veils up, and I don't mind. I'll be they're when they're ready to cast the veils down. What's your connection, something like that?

I have had friends, GOOD friends, from a very wide range of different religions. I judge peoples worth as a friend by the goodness in their heart, not by which deities they beleive in or don't. I have had friends who are Atheists, Christians, Asatruars and Wiccans and Druids (and about every other flavour of Pagan you can think of) Voodoo practitioners, Satanists, Spiritualists, Mormons. and I've met people I dislike across a wide range of religions too. even when their beleif is very like mine, that doesn't mean we will have anything in common or that I will like them. as long as everyone respects each other, and sees them more as a human being than being only a product of their religion, see the good inside, and the friendship will be good.

Whether I believe in your ground or not, I want to know what I'm standing on when it's the same ground as you stand upon. No, you don't. You want people to lie to you so you can pretend everyone believes as you do.

Our beliefs--whether you put them in your heart or in your head or above your fireplace--ARE the ground our friendship stands upon. Whether I believe in your ground or not, I want to know what I'm standing on when it's the same ground as you stand upon.

I am Pagan more specifically a Witch However, I do on occassion go to church with my kids to moniter what they are learning there NEVER in church have I pretended to be anything other than what I am I dont "follow the flock" (unless its time for cake LOL) I dont participate in anything I dont feel like doing I have been questioned by some of the church goers as to WHY I dont participate and I tell them the truth I respect their practices which is why I dont disrupt them while they are doing it but I am not going jump in and pretend like I agree with their practices.

Exactly. But do you ever feel compelled to 'announce to the world' (go on YouTube and make a video saying) that Christianity is wrong? If so, why (why do you feel so-compelled, not 'why is Christianity wrong')?

Christ wasn't Jewish; but His parents- and family- and friends- and acquaintances-were, so He said 'Amen' to their ways! Actually, you don't have to "say" anything. Just let the barbarians around you say what they say. Granted, it's easier to keep yourself away from that clan of barbarians and keep closer to your own clan ; but sometimes it's worth it (e.g. if 'there'll be cake!')

Not very far..lol...thanks for the best response.

Besides, I bet the cashier would come back with. "So am I, and this cost ME so-many dollars. Now--if YOU spent so-many dollars on this, and forced yourself to spend ALL your time here helping to distribute things--wouldn't YOU want people to pay for the product & -for the labor?"

Wow! Thank you for sharing that experience with us! Actually, it seems that MANY people--no matter HOW 'religulous' they are (goin` to church, honorin` Sabbath, etc.)--they WON'T honor the Kingdom AT THEIR JOBS. (Proof: I'll go to the store and--when at the check-out, they ask me for payment--I'll say, "I'm a child of God" and start to walk away. I'll bet you know just how far-away I'll get )

And you can't THINK of how the full-meaning of the church's lesson that day might apply to real life?

I think if she did that, he would soon NOT be her boyfriend.

Galena no kidding and would never do something like this. I agree with you one hundred percent and have seen where couples have split and or have lead down a very destructive path when one of them pushes and imposes their beliefs onto to the other. When my boyfriend and I met we surely spoke about what we liked and disliked and what was expected from one or the other. We have proven to one another we will not push/obligate anything onto to the other. In fact I distinctly remember saying prior to my moving in with him that I expected for him never to change who I was and he specifically stated he expected the same from me. What I have learned through my experiences in life is that we must respect all for their own beliefs and or non-beliefs. Something we greatly cherish at home. Just because he and or anyone is not Catholic, does not make them a bad person. Sadly I can't say all Catholics or people in general are all good people surely you have to agree to that. In fact I live in sin, and although knowing that it is against my religion, I love him and surely that can't make me a bad person. When I decided to move in with him, I did not think about what was right, goes against my religion and or anyone but he and I. Besides I live with him now for almost 7 years, obviously I am okay with it and to date have not allowed anyone to say what is right for me and or not. In fact, I feel I am truly blessed to have someone like him, can't say the same about my Catholic ex-husband for which I married in the Catholic church. who by the way almost killed me on several occasions and landed me in the hospital countless times. Although my boyfriend is not perfect, neither am I. So not sure why anyone would say it is wrong and or I should change him.

There will be a time when you will have to let go of everything that is not you, and you will lose him forever if you are not of the same matter ... if you are not both 'made a new creation' ... I dunno, maybe you're okay with that; but if you're not, you both know how to solve that ... maybe read the Holy Bible together a few times a week and talk about what it means to you.

FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!