Ask a forty something Atheist

[TheFriendlyAtheist]

Just so you know, this thread probably won't last long. I created one just like and the mods shut it down because they thought it would provoke a debate in the wrong place. Nevermind that it was posted in the discussion and debate forum and that it wasn't meant as a debate thread.

 

[Spikey]

Is it interesting that a teacher followed by some in every culture in the world taught this --

"Love your neighbor as yourself."

And also --
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
But I tell you, love your enemies..."

I have always heard that Christianity is mostly dead in Europe, but on forums I have met a few Europeans who were either currently or previously involved in churches that seem very fundamentalist or pentecostal. I suppose the forums I visit might attract that sort of person, but it has always surprised me.

So have you always been an atheist? In the US, the internet seems to have triggered an exodus from Christianity. I have heard that most Europeans quit Christianity in the 1960s, so has the internet had any effect on religion in Europe?

I've never bought into religion at any point in my life, as I've got older I've become interested in why people do buy into it and why some believe so strongly that they can love God more than their families, it's a very alien concept to me.
I think the internet has helped to open a lot of peoples eyes.

 

[Spikey]

Just so you know, this thread probably won't last long. I created one just like and the mods shut it down because they thought it would provoke a debate in the wrong place. Nevermind that it was posted in the discussion and debate forum and that it wasn't meant as a debate thread.

I only wanted people to ask me about my life, ah well.

 

[Halbhh]

I've never bought into religion at any point in my life, as I've got older I've become interested in why people do buy into it and why some believe so strongly that they can love God more than their families, it's a very alien concept to me.
I think the internet has helped to open a lot of peoples eyes.

Ok.

What do you think of: "Love your neighbor as yourself" ?

 

[Spikey]

Ok.

What do you think of: "Love your neighbor as yourself" ?

A nice concept, but rarely practical.

 

[Aryeh Jay]

I only wanted people to ask me about my life, ah well.

Right, Manchester or Arsenal?

 

[Aryeh Jay]

Bitters or Brown Ale?

 

[TheFriendlyAtheist]

I only wanted people to ask me about my life, ah well.

Same here... Hopefully this thread doesn't meet the same fate. These can be very productive exchanges for all involved.

 

[RaymondG]

Do you feel that believing in God and afterlife I'd the same as believing in no God and no afterlife? Basically, believe and find out if you see right after death?

What if there was a way to God whether there is a God and know whether there is life outside the body.....Would you be interested in that?

 

[Dirk1540]

Ask away

Is it true that atheists bathe in the blood of a bull once per year?

 

[Sarah G van G]

And
I never cease to be amazed at the arrogance of Christians like you who seem to think that nonbelievers live in a constant state of angst, unhappiness and unable to cope with life's troubles that we all experience from time to time.
I am a 70 something atheist and I don't recognize myself in any of what you said. I am on the last couple of laps of my life and a very happy life it has been and still is. I certainly don't feel any of the morbid sentiments you described. I have a loving family and have been married to a wonderful woman for 48 years. We may never have had a lot of money in the bank, but we have riches that no amount of money can buy.
Perhaps you would like to explain what you mean when you say that all atheists believe and invest in a dog eat dog reality.
In answer to the question you put to Spikey about wanting to believe, my answer to that is a resounding thanks, but no thanks, you can keep your belief to yourself.

I quite clearly said 'Many of the atheists I know or follow on social media'' not all atheists. I was (clearly to me) still referring to those friends when I talked about a dog eat dog reality.

I am glad for you that you are happy, dearest. It is fantastic that you do not suffer from morbid sentiments. It is lovely that you have been married for 48 years. I am sure that your wife is a very happy and lucky woman to have such a positive husband, content with the things money cannot buy. As Spikey started a thread inviting us to ask anything I figured he had a fairly thick skin and wasn't going to be easily offended. I had of course forgotten that other atheists might read my question and become offended. I am sorry that I caused you to become upset.

 

[Spikey]

Right, Manchester or Arsenal?

Manchester United

 

[Halbhh]

A nice concept, but rarely practical.

That's close to exactly what I thought.

But finally I decided to test it, and went and met both next door neighbors, total strangers, and treating them as if they were friends to love.

The results were surprisingly wonderful, and I actually gained a lot of unexpected benefits, including meeting through one of them soon one of the best friends in my life.

I think you should personally try out what Jesus of Nazareth said to do, instead of only having a theoretical hypothesis about what He said.

Test, objectively, and find out. Treat total stranger neighbors with the same love you have for a friend and see what happens.

If you dare to test your hypothesis.

 

[TheFriendlyAtheist]

Is it true that atheists bathe in the blood of a bull once per year?

That is a vicious and detestable lie!!! We use goats' blood.

 

[Spikey]

Do you feel that believing in God and afterlife I'd the same as believing in no God and no afterlife? Basically, believe and find out if you see right after death?

What if there was a way to God whether there is a God and know whether there is life outside the body.....Would you be interested in that?

If I knew 100% there was an eternal afterlife it wouldn't appeal to me anyway, it would be torturous to endure in my opinion, eternity is a very very very long time.
I prefer the though of my non existence after my death, just my personal preference.

 

[Spikey]

Is it true that atheists bathe in the blood of a bull once per year?

Of course it is

 

[Aryeh Jay]

Manchester United

Well, that is all I need to know.

 

[Motherofkittens]

Many of the atheists I am friends with (or follow on social media) are depressive, anxious, addicted and or seem to lurch from one existential crisis to another. When life's disasters strike, or even threaten to, they seem somewhat anchorless and are tossed around on the waves of this material, dog eat dog reality that is all they believe and invest in. So, my question is: do you wish you could believe? To have that comfort, peace, hope and joy that can come with faith in a higher power, to never cry yourself to sleep in fear that you are on the verge of death, bankruptcy, homelessness, perpetual loneliness. Do you ever envy the simple bliss of the believer? (okay, that's two questions, if there's a limit take the second one )

I know this wasn't directed at me, but I'd like to also answer. I think most people in unprogressive countries (for example, the Congo, the USA, Saudi Arabia, etc,) feel depressed, anxious, get easily addicted to things and so on, regardless of what they believe or don't believe. It is because of the general horrible society most people endure in these types of places.

I was born and raised a Christian to missionary parents. I was home schooled, read the whole Bible many times, I had to memorize a lot it, we were always praying and on our "spiritual guard" and all that. I understand for some people some religious beliefs can be comforting. And that is fine, so long as they know it really is just a belief. I wouldn't want to take anyone's comfort away if it helped them and didn't harm anyone else.

However, I care deeply about what is reality or as close as we can get to it. So I cannot accept anything as "real" or "truth" without good evidence for it. But I'm actually happier, at immense peace and more fulfilled and hopeful, than I ever was when I believed I had Jesus and the holy ghost within me. Although what one feels is not a good way to determine what is true and what is not. I have no belief in deities because no one can show they actually exist. If that happens, then I will accept whichever god and/or god's are shown to exist. Real easy.

While on a few occasions I am sad there is no perfect afterlife with our loved ones to be rewarded to us (although if you actually read holy books the afterlife talked about in them isn't very great). I am thrilled no one is going to be enterally tortured, punished with a possible ending to it, or in whichever way some writings say they will suffer. We can make heaven on Earth. That is what I try to do. We definitely have here and now.

 

[ToBeLoved]

Ok, so I have another question.

Do aetheists think that all the people who pray and says that God answers their prayers in whatever way (not audibly) think we are just bonkers and praying to air?

Because billions of people of all types of belief in a God, it seems to me is incredulous

 

[Kenny'sID]

PC or Mac?