Why did you choose your religious view?

[AgnosticGuest]

This is perhaps not much of a discussion, but regardless I have a few questions for everyone that I would want to be answered.

(Disclaimer - These questions are NOT intended to discourage anyone's belief, I'm just interested in getting different answers from different people. My answers are not intended to offend anyone either, I've tried not to and hopefully, it doesn't.)

1. Why did you choose your view?
For example, if you are a Christian, why did you choose Christian over the so many religions in the world? If you are an Atheist, why so?

2. (Skip if this is already answered in the first question) What makes you certain of your beliefs, if you are?

3. What do you think of a) people of the other religions, b) agnostics and c) atheists? [Feel free to add opinions of other views or a specific religion as well, here]

4. Do you think others should join your view, and (both if yes and if not) why?

To make things fairer I'll answer these questions myself.

1. I was a Catholic as I was raised in a Catholic family but eventually doubted it, but I know there's no way to either prove nor disprove religion, and I did experience some weird things that didn't make much sense, so I became an Agnostic. It can't be either proved nor disproved that God and/or magic exists, and I don't know if the truth is they can actually be explained through science as well or not; I simply don't know, and though I take to consideration what others believe, I do not truly believe in them, as they cannot be proved. Agnostic is answering the questions like "Does god exist? Does magic exist?" with "I don't know." I can't claim that I actually know something unless it can be proved.

2. This is perhaps already answered in #1; because it seems clear to me that the claims can not be proved nor disproved, at least so far.

3.
a) What I think of religious people: I think there are several kinds of religious people. There are the respectable, open-minded ones that would gladly participate in a discussion with people with different views. It looks to me that there are many of these here in this forum which is why I came here.
There are also the second type of religious people, which seems the most common one that I see in my daily life though I could be wrong. These are the kinds of people that does what is to be expected from their religion (such as going to church), and they often accept people from different views as well, but they don't seem like they really think much of their beliefs, they don't take it too seriously. They don't ponder much, they just live life normally. I'm not saying it's a good or a bad thing.
Then there are the extremists who thinks everyone else are wrong and they are right. I don't think I need to talk of this one, pretty much everyone including people of their own religion dislikes them.

b) Agnostic is what I am so I don't have much to say.

c) Atheists. I can understand why they choose not to believe in God nor magic, as it can seem like the logical thing to do. Like everyone else I respect them as long as they don't go bashing the other beliefs without a proper discussion.

4. I guess everyone obviously won't mind if people join their views. I don't really mind if people have different views however as long as they are open-minded.

 

[Gottservant]

I just did what was right.

When my sin wasn't right, I repented.
When my righteousness wasn't right, I was silent.
When my judgment wasn't right, I waited.

Atheists renounce God, but in the process frequently abandon fundamentals such as inevitability, torment, injustice and pain, as such they have no way to cope with the world.

An agnostic is similar, but at least they retain their curiosity (through honesty about the legitimacy of their position).

Others will join my view, simply because I now enjoy myself, also because I am more capable, also because I create popularity, even also because I dispel the mystery about myself.

 

[Eudaimonist]

1. Why did you choose your view?
For example, if you are a Christian, why did you choose Christian over the so many religions in the world? If you are an Atheist, why so?

I never chose to become an atheist. I only chose to think about religious issues, and found Christianity lacking.

2. What makes you certain of your beliefs, if you are?

I don't claim cosmic certainty about my beliefs, only that they make the most sense to me. My certainty arises from philosophical examination and consideration of known evidence.

3. What do you think of a) people the other religions, b) agnostics and c) atheists?

I don't have any views that encompass all members of any of those groups. Some are good, some are bad, and most are in between. Think of a bell curve.

4. Do you think others should join your view, and (both if yes and if not) why?

Yes, when through rational examination they see that I am correct. No, when through rational examination they see that I've made a mistake. Why? To be rational and to get closer to understanding reality for what it really is.


eudaimonia,

Mark

 

[Paradoxum]

1. Why did you choose your view?
For example, if you are a Christian, why did you choose Christian over the so many religions in the world? If you are an Atheist, why so?

I didn't choose atheism. I wanted to continue in my Christian faith, but I nevertheless lost faith because I started to see that there wasn't sufficient reason to believe. The arguments are either insufficient or don't work.

2. (Skip if this is already answered in the first question) What makes you certain of your beliefs, if you are?

I'm not certain... I'm not really certain of anything. Maybe there is a God, but the evidence he has given of his evidence is pretty bad considering how important it apparently is. It all rather vague, and looks an awful lot like bias interpretation and psychology.

There are also things like the problem of great suffering in nature.

3. What do you think of a) people the other religions, b) agnostics and c) atheists? [Feel free to add opinions of other views or a specific religion as well, here]

Some people are nice, some people are not nice. Religious people can be loving, but they can also support immoral things. I don't think there is too much I can say about religious people in general.

Personally I use the terms 'weak atheism' and 'strong atheism'. Agnosticism is for people who aren't comfortable with the term 'atheist', or who are in some very mixed and vague position (ie: they can't tell if they lack belief or not).

I called myself agnostic for a while when I still wasn't sure if I lacked belief. Once I admitted to myself that I didn't believe any more, saying I was atheist seemed like the genuine thing to do.

4. Do you think others should join your view, and (both if yes and if not) why?

Yes.

"Anyone who has the power to make you believe absurdities has the power to make you commit injustices." ~ Voltaire

If you based your morals on incorrect premises, you will more likely make bad moral decisions. I also think the truth is of value.

1. I was a Catholic as I was raised in a Catholic family but eventually doubted it, but I know there's no way to either prove nor disprove religion, and I did experience some weird things that didn't make much sense, so I became an Agnostic. It can't be either proved nor disproved that God and/or magic exists, and I don't know if the truth is they can actually be explained through science as well or not; I simply don't know, and though I take to consideration what others believe, I do not truly believe in them, as they cannot be proved. Agnostic is answering the questions like "Does god exist? Does magic exist?" with "I don't know." I can't claim that I actually know something unless it can be proved.

Atheism can also mean you don't know.

I don't know if magic invisible gnomes exist, but I doubt they do, and I'm not merely sitting on the fence.

c) Atheists. I can understand why they choose not to believe in God nor magic, as it can seem like the logical thing to do. Like everyone else I respect them as long as they don't go bashing the other beliefs without a proper discussion.

Do you believe in God or not believe in God? I suppose you could still be in the position where you don't really know what you believe too.

Atheists renounce God, but in the process frequently abandon fundamentals such as inevitability, torment, injustice and pain, as such they have no way to cope with the world.

That doesn't apply to me, but why would you think such people wouldn't be able to cope with the world?

An agnostic is similar, but at least they retain their curiosity (through honesty about the legitimacy of their position).

Atheists aren't necessarily not curious. I still consider whether there is a God, it just always seems unjustified and unlikely to me.

I don't think you can really condemn atheists for not actively searching for God. I don't hear about many Christians searching for Zeus or magic gnomes. I'm not trying to insult your beliefs, I'm just pointing out that many atheists think the idea of God is equally as made up.

 

[Received]

I think this thread is great!

1. Why did you choose your view?
For example, if you are a Christian, why did you choose Christian over the so many religions in the world? If you are an Atheist, why so?

I chose my (Kierkegaardian, universalist) Christianity because, IMV, theism provides the most coherent metaphysical framework (which isn't to say that it resolves all metaphysical problems, but minimizes them), and Christianity makes the most aesthetic and intuitive sense when it's lived out in my life. The Christianity I believe in is heavily inspired by Kierkegaard and folks like Meister Eckhart, wherein God is the Logos that upholds the very structure of everything physical in the universe, but also (more importantly) provides subjective truth (or meaning) for a person's life, to such a point where personality is not exclusively a secular concept, and that through fulfilling the commandments of the Logos (which we basically call conscience, just not with the exclusively moral flavor), we become the people that we are. The seedlings of our selves are provided by God via the Logos, the fulfillment of which makes us most fully human and simultaneously most spiritual.

I chose this religion over others because I'm not a monist (as is the case with Eastern religions, although I practice meditation and Yoga), and basically because I think this conception of Christianity would bring the highest amount of happiness to anyone who practiced it. It's a very intuitive thing at the end of the day, as, I'd argue, any way of life is given the complications of articulating every single facet of a way of life.

2. (Skip if this is already answered in the first question) What makes you certain of your beliefs, if you are?

I'm not certain, or if I am certain I'm aware that certainty is a psychological state that doesn't necessarily correlate with truth. But I think that if happiness and truth aren't tied together (even speaking with an Aristotelean flavor here), we really wouldn't care for the latter.

3. What do you think of a) people the other religions, b) agnostics and c) atheists? [Feel free to add opinions of other views or a specific religion as well, here]

I think they're great. More particularly, the more their lives are lived by love and virtue, and especially self-actualization (whether or not God exists, there is clearly something about the existentialist, whether theist or atheist, exhortation to live life with subjective truth, meaning, or self-transcendence), the better. I have no qualms with the person who says that he can live a happy and loving life without God; my response is that living with God makes it much easier to find motivation to live in such a way, and makes it easier in general to more fully live in this fashion. In my view, it's much easier to live a fuller, happier, more virtuous, and more self-actualized life when there is a Person with whom you can relate who motivates these things, compared with relying solely on your own reasoning powers, beauty, and other people. God fills in the motivational cracks by his relational omnipresence.

4. Do you think others should join your view, and (both if yes and if not) why?

In a way, yes. Everyone should join my view, because everyone deserves to become the persons they are (this is not to say that nonreligious people have no selfhood, but rather that a Kierkegaardian conception of Christianity provides a theological framework wherein the way to selfhood is clearly set out before you). In a way, no, because everyone deserves to have the freedom to believe what they do, and I'm always open to the possibility of being wrong.

 

[ThinkForYourself]

1. Why did you choose your view?

I was raised Christian. At about age 12 I read the entire bible, and realized how evil the Christian god was. I couldn't support that, and quit believing.

2. What makes you certain of your beliefs, if you are?

An all-loving god wouldn't do what the Christian God did. Even at 12, I realized this was a complete contradiction, and that the Christian God was not all-loving.

3. What do you think of a) people the other religions, b) agnostics and c) atheists?

I'm OK with most.

4. Do you think others should join your view, and (both if yes and if not) why?

Yes. It would be much better if all the money and effort spent on religion went into bettering our society, rather than benefiting religious leadership.

 

[Gottservant]

Yes, when through rational examination they see that I am correct. No, when through rational examination they see that I've made a mistake. Why? To be rational and to get closer to understanding reality for what it really is.


eudaimonia,

Mark

To always live in fear of making a rational mistake... I don't know... it just doesn't seem tenable.

You honestly don't think forgiveness plays a role?

And it never occured to you to be forgiving back, to believers?

 

[Gottservant]

1. I was a Catholic as I was raised in a Catholic family but eventually doubted it, but I know there's no way to either prove nor disprove religion, and I did experience some weird things that didn't make much sense, so I became an Agnostic. It can't be either proved nor disproved that God and/or magic exists, and I don't know if the truth is they can actually be explained through science as well or not; I simply don't know, and though I take to consideration what others believe, I do not truly believe in them, as they cannot be proved. Agnostic is answering the questions like "Does god exist? Does magic exist?" with "I don't know." I can't claim that I actually know something unless it can be proved.

2. This is perhaps already answered in #1; because it seems clear to me that the claims can not be proved nor disproved, at least so far.

3.
a) What I think of religious people: I think there are several kinds of religious people. There are the respectable, open-minded ones that would gladly participate in a discussion with people with different views. It looks to me that there are many of these here in this forum which is why I came here.
There are also the second type of religious people, which seems the most common one that I see in my daily life though I could be wrong. These are the kinds of people that does what is to be expected from their religion (such as going to church), and they often accept people from different views as well, but they don't seem like they really think much of their beliefs, they don't take it too seriously. They don't ponder much, they just live life normally. I'm not saying it's a good or a bad thing.
Then there are the extremists who thinks everyone else are wrong and they are right. I don't think I need to talk of this one, pretty much everyone including people of their own religion dislikes them.

b) Agnostic is what I am so I don't have much to say.

c) Atheists. I can understand why they choose not to believe in God nor magic, as it can seem like the logical thing to do. Like everyone else I respect them as long as they don't go bashing the other beliefs without a proper discussion.

4. I guess everyone obviously won't mind if people join their views. I don't really mind if people have different views however as long as they are open-minded.

I found it hard to engage with this, it doesn't sound like there is any real enthusiasm about your world view.

One might have asked, why does it make you happy?

Am I being close minded, for questioning your drive to remain ambiguous?

 

[elephunky]

1. Why did you choose your view?
I wouldnt say that I chose it. My inquisitive mind just led to me atheist humanism/humanist atheism.

2. (Skip if this is already answered in the first question) What makes you certain of your beliefs, if you are?
Logic, science, research, experience, etc.

3. What do you think of a) people the other religions, b) agnostics and c) atheists?
a) I do not have a problem with people in other religions as long as they do not try to force it on anyone or use their religious rules to govern the general population. Some practices and beliefs are very attractive.

b) I have never had a beef/problem with agnostics as yet.

4. Do you think others should join your view, and (both if yes and if not) why?
I would prefer it if people did share some of my view (not necessarily all) based on my opinion of people in other religions (see previously question). I do not expect people to conform to my ideas though and unless I can prove my view with cold hard facts there is not point in putting this expectation on other people. Everyone has to reach their own conclusion.

 

[scraparcs]

I see my answers tend to be very similar to other secular respondents, but why not add to the mix?

1. Why did you choose your view?
For example, if you are a Christian, why did you choose Christian over the so many religions in the world? If you are an Atheist, why so?

I didn't. I chose to be Catholic. I found that a non-theistic approach was the only one I could live with, so I am here by default.

2. (Skip if this is already answered in the first question) What makes you certain of your beliefs, if you are?

I'm certain of uncertainty.

3. What do you think of a) people the other religions, b) agnostics and c) atheists? [Feel free to add opinions of other views or a specific religion as well, here]

Add another response to the "people are people" column.

4. Do you think others should join your view, and (both if yes and if not) why?

Mostly no. Faith is quite fulfilling and useful when done correctly, so if it works for you, don't lose it.

 

[Oafman]

Atheists renounce God, but in the process frequently abandon fundamentals such as inevitability, torment, injustice and pain, as such they have no way to cope with the world.

An agnostic is similar, but at least they retain their curiosity (through honesty about the legitimacy of their position).

These lines suggest that you misunderstand the definition of atheism.

 

[Eudaimonist]

To always live in fear of making a rational mistake... I don't know... it just doesn't seem tenable.

I don't live in fear of making mistakes. I live in love of finding truths and acting on those truths. My motivations are primarily positive.

You honestly don't think forgiveness plays a role?

Plays a role in what? I have no idea what you mean or why you are asking this.

And it never occured to you to be forgiving back, to believers?

No clue what you are going on about.


eudaimonia,

Mark

 

[steve_bakr]

This is perhaps not much of a discussion, but regardless I have a few questions for everyone that I would want to be answered.

(Disclaimer - These questions are NOT intended to discourage anyone's belief, I'm just interested in getting different answers from different people. My answers are not intended to offend anyone either, I've tried not to and hopefully, it doesn't.)

1. Why did you choose your view?
For example, if you are a Christian, why did you choose Christian over the so many religions in the world? If you are an Atheist, why so?

2. (Skip if this is already answered in the first question) What makes you certain of your beliefs, if you are?

3. What do you think of a) people the other religions, b) agnostics and c) atheists? [Feel free to add opinions of other views or a specific religion as well, here]

4. Do you think others should join your view, and (both if yes and if not) why?

To make things fairer I'll answer these questions myself.

1. I was a Catholic as I was raised in a Catholic family but eventually doubted it, but I know there's no way to either prove nor disprove religion, and I did experience some weird things that didn't make much sense, so I became an Agnostic. It can't be either proved nor disproved that God and/or magic exists, and I don't know if the truth is they can actually be explained through science as well or not; I simply don't know, and though I take to consideration what others believe, I do not truly believe in them, as they cannot be proved. Agnostic is answering the questions like "Does god exist? Does magic exist?" with "I don't know." I can't claim that I actually know something unless it can be proved.

2. This is perhaps already answered in #1; because it seems clear to me that the claims can not be proved nor disproved, at least so far.

3.
a) What I think of religious people: I think there are several kinds of religious people. There are the respectable, open-minded ones that would gladly participate in a discussion with people with different views. It looks to me that there are many of these here in this forum which is why I came here.
There are also the second type of religious people, which seems the most common one that I see in my daily life though I could be wrong. These are the kinds of people that does what is to be expected from their religion (such as going to church), and they often accept people from different views as well, but they don't seem like they really think much of their beliefs, they don't take it too seriously. They don't ponder much, they just live life normally. I'm not saying it's a good or a bad thing.
Then there are the extremists who thinks everyone else are wrong and they are right. I don't think I need to talk of this one, pretty much everyone including people of their own religion dislikes them.

b) Agnostic is what I am so I don't have much to say.

c) Atheists. I can understand why they choose not to believe in God nor magic, as it can seem like the logical thing to do. Like everyone else I respect them as long as they don't go bashing the other beliefs without a proper discussion.

4. I guess everyone obviously won't mind if people join their views. I don't really mind if people have different views however as long as they are open-minded.

That is quite a list of questions. I have explored many religions in my life. I even studied Islam and could recite the Quran in Arabic. I also studied the Bhagavad-Gita and forms of Buddhism, especially Zen. I was also a Protestant Christian before converting to the Catholic faith. I would say that none of my studies were wasted and they all led up to my acceptance of the Catholic faith.

In Catholicism today, it is believed that it is possible for members of other religions to achieve eternal life, and even agnostics or atheists as well.

As Pope Francis says, the conscience is sacrosanct. The conscience serves as our connection to God in our core identity. According to St. Thomas Aquinas, we are duty bound to follow our conscience. This is why Pope Francis advises atheists to follow their conscience.

Above all, we should love our neighbors as ourselves, and treat others as we would have them treat us.

 

[jayem]

1. Why did you choose your view?
For example, if you are a Christian, why did you choose Christian over the so many religions in the world? If you are an Atheist, why so?

I'm primarily a naturalist. Atheism--at least as it pertains to any kind of supernatural god--is a logical extension of this. I think I've always been skeptical of supernatural claims. I was taught the usual Bible stories as a child, but even then, deep down, I had a definite feeling they were just so much make-believe.

2. (Skip if this is already answered in the first question) What makes you certain of your beliefs, if you are?

I can't prove naturalism with absolute metaphysical certainty. But the human brain has evolved to seek patterns and causes. We've always invented supernatural reasons for things we don't understand. But as our knowledge has advanced, a supernatural explanation has never been shown valid for anything. So--by simple inductive reasoning--why should I accept the existence of supernatural forces or entities as causes for what I still can't explain?

3. What do you think of a) people the other religions, b) agnostics and c) atheists? [Feel free to add opinions of other views or a specific religion as well, here]

To paraphrase Pope Francis, if a person is seeking God, and has good will, who am I to judge?

4. Do you think others should join your view, and (both if yes and if not) why?

I don't expect others to agree with me, and I'm not trying to convert anyone. I enjoy a good intellectual discussion. It's good for all of us to be exposed to each others' views and to learn from them.

 

[stamperben]

This is perhaps not much of a discussion, but regardless I have a few questions for everyone that I would want to be answered.

(Disclaimer - These questions are NOT intended to discourage anyone's belief, I'm just interested in getting different answers from different people. My answers are not intended to offend anyone either, I've tried not to and hopefully, it doesn't.)

1. Why did you choose your view?
For example, if you are a Christian, why did you choose Christian over the so many religions in the world? If you are an Atheist, why so?

2. (Skip if this is already answered in the first question) What makes you certain of your beliefs, if you are?

3. What do you think of a) people the other religions, b) agnostics and c) atheists? [Feel free to add opinions of other views or a specific religion as well, here]

4. Do you think others should join your view, and (both if yes and if not) why?

1 & 2. I was born into an atheist family. Many of my family members had bad experiences with religion, especially the Catholic church. My grandfather was molested by a priest, a cousin was also. What with my mother being a Communist and my father being an anarchist I had no place for faith in a higher power in my way of thinking. I met and married a young woman who had a faith in God. However that meant nothing to me really, I was just attracted to her overall goodness. Then twenty some odd years ago my drug use as a young man slapped my upside my head and I found I had to do something to keep my life from falling apart. I ended up one lonely night falling to my knees crying out to this God I had seen my wife call on day after day. And low and behold the urge for drugs and an altered state of mind fell away.

I then became a Christian's Christian, throwing myself into this newfound faith. I let the leaders of the evangelical church do my thinking for me. Yes, I was a lazy Christian. But then after several moves and interaction with several Christian forums I saw that what was taught and espoused by these people, pastors included, didn't line up with what I had learned from reading the bible, from what Jesus taught.

Now I find myself a seeker, seeking out people who truly know what it is that Jesus told us on how to treat the poor, the downtrodden, the hungry.

3. I have found atheists hold my view on how the world works closer than many of those who profess faith in a God.

4. Of course I feel that all people should have the compassion for those who are without. There is much pain in this world, pain and suffering that can and should be alleviated.

Can a socialist also be a Christian? I've no doubt of it.

PS: I've found it funny to have been singled out for prayer as an atheist.

 

[essentialsaltes]

1. Why did you choose your view?

I certainly made no conscious choice. It actually came as something of a surprise (having been raised in a nominally Christian household) when I realized (that's how it felt to me at age 10 or so) that I didn't believe in God. Or any gods, for that matter.

2. (Skip if this is already answered in the first question) What makes you certain of your beliefs, if you are?

Further study and experience has only made my convictions stronger. Enough so to call myself a strong atheist -- that is, I don't just lack a belief in any gods, but I hold the positive belief that no gods exist.

I do not 'know' this and cannot prove this, so to that extent I am an agnostic atheist. But it's also true that I cannot prove that no fairies exist. I would feel silly saying that I was merely agnostic about fairies. I believe they don't exist. Similarly for gods. So I do not consider myself an agnostic, apart from the technical sense.

I could be wrong about gods existing. However, it's also clear to me that any gods that actually exist are not much more active or powerful than the god of the deists. I'm quite certain that the god of your average literalist young earth creationist does not exist.

3. What do you think of a) people the other religions, b) agnostics and c) atheists?

People of all kinds come in all sorts of varieties. However, I do think there's some truth to Steven Weinberg's statement, "With or without [religion] you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, that takes religion."

I would happily add "or other controlling ideology" to the end of that to account for certain evil things done in the name of Communism and other -isms.

4. Do you think others should join your view, and (both if yes and if not) why?

Certainly. I'm sure we've all seen the posts in these kinds of forums where religious people say something like, "If I stopped believing in gods, I would run out and rape and murder people." Possibly it would be dangerous for them to join my view, but I don't believe them. I personally know too many atheists (none of whom have murdered or raped people, AFAIK) to believe them. It's sad that there are religious people who are so brainwashed that they automatically assume that living without gods means living without empathy or kindness or control. They might be the ones who benefit the most from discovering that they can throw out the bathwater of nonsensical & harmful religious twaddle, without having to throw out the 'baby' of morality.

 

[quatona]

This is perhaps not much of a discussion, but regardless I have a few questions for everyone that I would want to be answered.

(Disclaimer - These questions are NOT intended to discourage anyone's belief, I'm just interested in getting different answers from different people. My answers are not intended to offend anyone either, I've tried not to and hopefully, it doesn't.)

1. Why did you choose your view?
For example, if you are a Christian, why did you choose Christian over the so many religions in the world? If you are an Atheist, why so?

2. (Skip if this is already answered in the first question) What makes you certain of your beliefs, if you are?

3. What do you think of a) people the other religions, b) agnostics and c) atheists? [Feel free to add opinions of other views or a specific religion as well, here]

4. Do you think others should join your view, and (both if yes and if not) why?

First off, I don´t think that people choose to hold the beliefs they hold. Rather, they can´t help it.

I don´t hold any religious view. I have heard many people talking about their god concepts but I either didn´t find them convincing or I didn´t see any reason to call "God" what actually already has a less obscure name ("everything", "nature", "force").

The stuff I don´t believe in doesn´t have any significance for me (that´s why I wouldn´t capitalize "atheist").

Since I hold no religious beliefs there is no religious belief that I am certain about. Agnosticism (when it comes to claims about the alleged "supernatural") goes without saying, as far as I am concerned.

So far I couldn´t manage to come up with a stereotyping opinion about people of certain religious beliefs (well, I didn´t try hard, to begin with). People are people.

I don´t think people should join my views. However, when their views are troubling them and/or when they ask I won´t hesitate to offer mine.

 

[Cearbhall]

Atheists renounce God, but in the process frequently abandon fundamentals such as inevitability, torment, injustice and pain, as such they have no way to cope with the world.

I suppose the idea of not having any answers may seem frightening to a person who thinks a benevolent, supernatural being holds all the answers (no mocking intended). I used to be Christian and am now an agnostic atheist, and I am constantly surprised by how comfortable I am with not having the answers or even knowing whether they exist.

I'm not sure what you mean by calling those concepts "fundamentals" or suggesting that we've abandoned such things as inevitability and pain.

An agnostic is similar, but at least they retain their curiosity (through honesty about the legitimacy of their position).

What makes you think that atheists have abandoned curiosity?

 

[OldWiseGuy]

1. Why did you choose your view?

I didn't choose. I was chosen.

2. (Skip if this is already answered in the first question) What makes you certain of your beliefs, if you are?

I've 'proved' this team of oxen.

3. What do you think of a) people the other religions, b) agnostics and c) atheists? [Feel free to add opinions of other views or a specific religion as well, here]

At this point I have no opinion either way about others.

4. Do you think others should join your view, and (both if yes and if not) why?

I believe they can be called by God if it is his will. I don't believe they can just 'join' on their own.

 

[Eight Foot Manchild]

1. Why did you choose your view?

I didn't. Disbelief is the default position, and I've never been convinced otherwise. Not in day one of Ms. Heflin's Sunday School class, and not today.

2. What makes you certain of your beliefs, if you are?

Most 'god' concepts are logically contradictory. Logically contradictory things cannot - and therefor, do not - exist.

As for the ones that are at least internally consistent, I cannot know for certain whether they exist or not, but I have no good reason to suspect that they do.

3. What do you think of a) people the other religions

I assume you mean 'people of other religions'.

Most of them keep it to themselves, so there is nothing to address. It's the relatively few who trespass philosophically or politically I take issue with.

b) agnostics and c) atheists?

There is a very common misconception that 'agnostic' occupies a sort of 'middle ground' between theism and atheism. It doesn't.

Gnostic/agnostic are distinctions pertaining to knowledge. Theist/atheist are distinctions pertaining to belief. They are not mutually exclusive, and can overlap.