The Ardent Atheist
Member
Hello.
As an atheist, I do not fear judgment from any deities because I am certain no deities exist.
This is arrogance, you say? Well, let me explain where I'm coming from.
If you're like most religious people, you believe that your particular deity or deities have instilled you with the "gift of reason." This reason, which allows us to function in our dangerous world, ought to be used in all inquiry, including religion. If your deity gave you reason, then what danger is there in examining said deity's religion? If the religion stands up to scrutiny, then congratulations; you've used your deity-given reason to strengthen your faith. And if your reason pokes holes through your religion--and, heaven forbid, through your deity--then congratulations for this, too; you've successfully saved yourself from a life of lies.
Our reason is our candle in the dark. If reason is truly deity-given, then it should be used. And if there is no deity, then using one's reason will lead one to atheism. In other words, it is wrong to avoid reason. When reason tells you that the earth is 4.2 billion years old and the Bible tells you that it's 6,000 years old, reason will tell you that the Bible is wrong. When the Bible presents four contradictory accounts of the life of Jesus--like the differences between birth narratives, crucifixion narratives, resurrection narratives, etc.--reason will tell you that none of it is reliable.
See how simple and awesome that concept is? The best part is that this can be applied to any religion!
Now, if you've read this far, you may be wondering why I, an ardent atheist, have registered on this forum. I am not "looking for religion," nor have I been inspired/moved/possessed by your particular deity or deities to convert to your particular religion. Rather, I come here with the same interest that, say, a virologist comes to the virus; a bemused fascination coupled with a worrying fear over the existence of religion in the modern world compels me to examine this living fossil known as religion, which taxes our species and hinders progress in many areas of life.
That's all.
Amen ~
As an atheist, I do not fear judgment from any deities because I am certain no deities exist.
This is arrogance, you say? Well, let me explain where I'm coming from.
If you're like most religious people, you believe that your particular deity or deities have instilled you with the "gift of reason." This reason, which allows us to function in our dangerous world, ought to be used in all inquiry, including religion. If your deity gave you reason, then what danger is there in examining said deity's religion? If the religion stands up to scrutiny, then congratulations; you've used your deity-given reason to strengthen your faith. And if your reason pokes holes through your religion--and, heaven forbid, through your deity--then congratulations for this, too; you've successfully saved yourself from a life of lies.
Our reason is our candle in the dark. If reason is truly deity-given, then it should be used. And if there is no deity, then using one's reason will lead one to atheism. In other words, it is wrong to avoid reason. When reason tells you that the earth is 4.2 billion years old and the Bible tells you that it's 6,000 years old, reason will tell you that the Bible is wrong. When the Bible presents four contradictory accounts of the life of Jesus--like the differences between birth narratives, crucifixion narratives, resurrection narratives, etc.--reason will tell you that none of it is reliable.
See how simple and awesome that concept is? The best part is that this can be applied to any religion!
Now, if you've read this far, you may be wondering why I, an ardent atheist, have registered on this forum. I am not "looking for religion," nor have I been inspired/moved/possessed by your particular deity or deities to convert to your particular religion. Rather, I come here with the same interest that, say, a virologist comes to the virus; a bemused fascination coupled with a worrying fear over the existence of religion in the modern world compels me to examine this living fossil known as religion, which taxes our species and hinders progress in many areas of life.
That's all.
Amen ~
