Atheists and Agnostics - you're missing all the fun!!

[idea]

For some reason, I felt impressed to get online to ruffle up some non-believers. Don't worry, I'm not going to condemn you to hell or anything, but I will say that you're beliefs are causing you to miss out on a lot of fun in life... to me, not seeing the spiritual side of life is like playing in the mud when you could be a few feet over enjoying a beautiful beach, or like living outside in a garden shed, when you could be living inside/enjoying your very own mansion. Just so you know (and I've been on both sides of it) life is better over here on the theist side of the fence. (and I am not telling anyone which spiritual group to join, so this should not be breaking any rules here).

 

[McBell]

Ah, so you decided to strut your ability to count the hits and ignore the misses?

You go girl!

 

[robo]

For some reason, I felt impressed to get online to ruffle up some non-believers. Don't worry, I'm not going to condemn you to hell or anything, but I will say that you're beliefs are causing you to miss out on a lot of fun in life... to me, not seeing the spiritual side of life is like playing in the mud when you could be a few feet over enjoying a beautiful beach, or like living outside in a garden shed, when you could be living inside/enjoying your very own mansion. Just so you know (and I've been on both sides of it) life is better over here on the theist side of the fence. (and I am not telling anyone which spiritual group to join, so this should not be breaking any rules here).

Which theism should I convert into though? In Saudi Arabia, if I convert into the wrong theism I could get executed. So, that's no fun.

OR

Should I convert into any that I like privately but not make any noises about it publicly?

 

[idea]

Should I convert into any that I like privately but not make any noises about it publicly?

There are as many denominations as there are people - a relationship with God is like a relationship with anyone else, personal, with private elements

 

[idea]

Ah, so you decided to strut your ability to count the hits and ignore the misses?

You go girl!

As with any endeavor, there is a learning process, trail and error and practice before anyone gets it right.

 

[jonman122]

I don't see how any of those things are different from the other. Sure I could live in the mansion, but do I really need all that extra space and fancy things to be happy and have a good life? Sure, I could be playing on the beach and in the sand instead, but whats wrong with mud? it's just wet dirt and why is that any worse than sand? When I was a kid I didn't care if it was dirt or sand or mud or water, I'd have fun because I like fun.

I think you're looking too much in to the "things" that come with supposing you're spiritual instead of just living and loving life as it is, and as you are.

 

[robo]

There are as many denominations as there are people - a relationship with God is like a relationship with anyone else, personal, with private elements

How would being a Pastafarian theist be more fun than an atheist/agnostic?

 

[ImmortalFlame]

For some reason, I felt impressed to get online to ruffle up some non-believers. Don't worry, I'm not going to condemn you to hell or anything, but I will say that you're beliefs are causing you to miss out on a lot of fun in life... to me, not seeing the spiritual side of life is like playing in the mud when you could be a few feet over enjoying a beautiful beach, or like living outside in a garden shed, when you could be living inside/enjoying your very own mansion. Just so you know (and I've been on both sides of it) life is better over here on the theist side of the fence. (and I am not telling anyone which spiritual group to join, so this should not be breaking any rules here).

I'm not saying that your beliefs aren't fun, but there's no fun I think I could get out of religion which couldn't sufficiently be replaced by, say, watching a movie, or going down a slide, or hitting myself repeatedly in the head with a hammer. I just don't see what's "fun" about believing a bunch of things which aren't really true.

Perhaps you could explain it to me better. What, exactly, is it that makes being religious more fun than being non-religious?

 

[mycorrhiza]

For some reason, I felt impressed to get online to ruffle up some non-believers. Don't worry, I'm not going to condemn you to hell or anything, but I will say that you're beliefs are causing you to miss out on a lot of fun in life... to me, not seeing the spiritual side of life is like playing in the mud when you could be a few feet over enjoying a beautiful beach, or like living outside in a garden shed, when you could be living inside/enjoying your very own mansion. Just so you know (and I've been on both sides of it) life is better over here on the theist side of the fence. (and I am not telling anyone which spiritual group to join, so this should not be breaking any rules here).

I'd much rather live in a garden shed than a mansion. A garden shed is a much more appropriate size and closer to Nature. Why should I own a huge mansion by myself when other people don't even have a garden shed to live in?

When I stopped being a theist, I started to view the world through very different eyes. There was much more to discover, because I suddenly held very few answers. Instead of there just being a single beautiful beach just up next to the mud puddle, there were thousands of different beautiful areas, and mud was beautiful in itself. I had a new appreciation for life, because I no longer believed in an afterlife.

You might prefer to be a theist, but I got much more out of life by letting go of my beliefs.

 

[idea]

[FONT=&quot]

How would being a Pastafarian theist be more fun than an atheist/agnostic?

One-night-stand vs. experiencing an eternal soul mate
drugs and alcohol trips vs. spiritual awakening
superficial materialistic understanding vs. seeing beyond the physical
death vs. eternal life
meaning and purpose vs. Meaning and Purpose (capital M and P)
temporary joy and happiness vs. eternal Joy and Happiness (capital J and H)
seeing others as they are vs. Seeing others as they can eternally become
potential vs. Potential (capital P)


theists out there, care to add onto the list?
[/FONT]

 

[robo]

How would being a Pastafarian theist be more fun than an atheist/agnostic?

[FONT=&quot]

One-night-stand vs. experiencing an eternal soul mate
drugs and alcohol trips vs. spiritual awakening
superficial materialistic understanding vs. seeing beyond the physical
death vs. eternal life
meaning and purpose vs. Meaning and Purpose (capital M and P)
temporary joy and happiness vs. eternal Joy and Happiness (capital J and H)
seeing others as they are vs. Seeing others as they can eternally become
potential vs. Potential (capital P)


theists out there, care to add onto the list?
[/FONT]

I can not make sense of the above and how it answers my question.

 

[idea]

I'd much rather live in a garden shed than a mansion. A garden shed is a much more appropriate size and closer to Nature. Why should I own a huge mansion by myself when other people don't even have a garden shed to live in?

ok, I will agree with you there, I love nature too.

When I stopped being a theist, I started to view the world through very different eyes. There was much more to discover, because I suddenly held very few answers. Instead of there just being a single beautiful beach just up next to the mud puddle, there were thousands of different beautiful areas, and mud was beautiful in itself. I had a new appreciation for life, because I no longer believed in an afterlife.

You might prefer to be a theist, but I got much more out of life by letting go of my beliefs.

I'm not sure you understood the intent of spirituality then, because there are many more possibilities, and a much greater unknowns within the non-materialistic realms.

I know, there are those rigid pharisees who misrepresent the spiritual, but try to see those people like you would view a strict teacher - like my classical piano teacher who didn't want me to stray from the written notes, and was intent on my musical experience as being one of complete plagiarism rather than creative exploration - but I learned from her, there is a reason those classical musicians are famous, and there are things I would not be able to do without her strict background.

 

[idea]

I don't see how any of those things are different from the other. Sure I could live in the mansion, but do I really need all that extra space and fancy things to be happy and have a good life? Sure, I could be playing on the beach and in the sand instead, but whats wrong with mud? it's just wet dirt and why is that any worse than sand? When I was a kid I didn't care if it was dirt or sand or mud or water, I'd have fun because I like fun.

I think you're looking too much in to the "things" that come with supposing you're spiritual instead of just living and loving life as it is, and as you are.

ok ok, I need a better symbolic parable, but you have to admit, it's hard to express the non-materialistic side of things.

I love life as it is, and I agree that is a big part of it, but to be really alive is to seek to grow - stop growing, and you stop living in my opinion. There's a balance with it, to enjoy the journey, be content with not being at the final destination, but understanding that there is a glorious destination, that the journey has a direction and a goal, rather than just randomly wandering, or stagnating, or backsliding.

 

[idea]

I can not make sense of the above and how it answers my question.

Let's take just one of them. What is the purpose and meaning of life to a non-theist?
you could live for science - to invent the next car, or build a better refrigerator ... you could live for art, or music, to read all the books that were ever written... you could live to travel, or to be a humanitarian etc. etc. all good things, but all temporary.

I mean what's the point of it all if you don't believe in God? If you don't have hope in an eternal existence? We're just some little speck on a little piece of dust floating around in the void, ignorant of 99.9999% of what is out there, scraping along until the sun blows up, or the next extinction event occurs, and then it's all gone, and what's the point of any of it?

or, to see one another as being more than our physical body, and our existence as more than this short life. I was watching a show by Hawkins recently, he said "If there is one lesson my life can teach, is it that the spirit is stronger than the body." he talked about how his body was limited, but his mind was free - I think he recognized that we are all more than our physical make-up, and have a greater potential than this short life confined to this small physical world.

 

[ImmortalFlame]

You've not yet answered my question, so I'll ask you one instead:

Do you believe in Father Christmas?

 

[idea]

You've not yet answered my question, so I'll ask you one instead:

Do you believe in Father Christmas?

I believe that the universe is old enough, and big enough, that everything that can exist, does.

Do you believe in a small universe? with limited possibilities?

I'm going for a run...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQRYQMSmNoM

think big thoughts while I'm away, I love big thoughts!

 

[Revoltingest]

For some reason, I felt impressed to get online to ruffle up some non-believers. Don't worry, I'm not going to condemn you to hell or anything, but I will say that you're beliefs are causing you to miss out on a lot of fun in life... to me, not seeing the spiritual side of life is like playing in the mud when you could be a few feet over enjoying a beautiful beach.....

There's a lot to be said for recreating in the mud.
It's cool, comfortable, good for our skin, & a great way to relax after make'n bacon.....

We have other advantages over the various kinds of faithful too:
- We get to sleep in on Sundays.
- We may use cars, light switches, TVs, motorcycles & refrigerators on Saturdays.
- We may eat scallops, shrimp, beef & bacon. Did I mention bacon? We get bacon.
- We may imbibe spirits.
- We may conjure spirits.
- If we're charitable it's because we want to...not because we have to.
- We may tell priest & rabbi jokes without feeling guilty.
- We may make whoopee without no intention of procreation.
- We don't need to prevent anyone from having an abortion.
- We may wear big hats & fancy robes too if we want.
- We may believe that we're good people without blindly obeying a plethora of silly arbitrary rules.
- We don't have to kill our fellow man....or fellow gal.
- We don't have to tithe.
- We're allowed to defend ourselves.
- We may choose either gender for mates.
- We have no scripture to memorize.
- We've no master to order us around & threaten punishment.
- The Batmobile is way cooler than the Popemobile.
- We may embrace all of science.
- We needn't fear going to Hell.
- We don't condemn anyone to Hell.
- We don't have any unrealistic myths to defend as reality.
- We may enjoy all of your art, architecture, music & holidays.
- And we may still go to church to hit on your women & eat tasty pot luck dishes.

Did I leave out any? That's enuf for me.
I'd say that we be live'n the life of Riley!

 

[robo]

Let's take just one of them. What is the purpose and meaning of life to a non-theist?
you could live for science - to invent the next car, or build a better refrigerator ... you could live for art, or music, to read all the books that were ever written... you could live to travel, or to be a humanitarian etc. etc. all good things, but all temporary.

I mean what's the point of it all if you don't believe in God? If you don't have hope in an eternal existence? We're just some little speck on a little piece of dust floating around in the void, ignorant of 99.9999% of what is out there, scraping along until the sun blows up, or the next extinction event occurs, and then it's all gone, and what's the point of any of it?

or, to see one another as being more than our physical body, and our existence as more than this short life. I was watching a show by Hawkins recently, he said "If there is one lesson my life can teach, is it that the spirit is stronger than the body." he talked about how his body was limited, but his mind was free - I think he recognized that we are all more than our physical make-up, and have a greater potential than this short life confined to this small physical world.

Pascal's wager is not that interesting at all.

I was referring to Pastafarianism specifically. What teachings of FSM provide for all the above benefits you cite? Please backup with scriptural quote of FSM.

 

[Revoltingest]

PS
We don't have any goofy fella in a big tent telling us what to believe.

Any of us can have fun & be happy by doing what calls to us.
Elmer Gantry, whose shining visage you see here, is called to power & God.
For you it's your religion. For me it's heathenism, bacon & cranky old machinery.
Ain't it grand!

 

[jonman122]

ok ok, I need a better symbolic parable, but you have to admit, it's hard to express the non-materialistic side of things.

I love life as it is, and I agree that is a big part of it, but to be really alive is to seek to grow - stop growing, and you stop living in my opinion. There's a balance with it, to enjoy the journey, be content with not being at the final destination, but understanding that there is a glorious destination, that the journey has a direction and a goal, rather than just randomly wandering, or stagnating, or backsliding.

The thing is, if you are constantly trying to better your life and the lives of those around you, you'll constantly grow whether or not you're religious. You seek spiritual enlightenment and by contrast, I seek intellectual enlightenment. In the end, the result is the same, except I'll keep searching until the end of my life for the answers, not so I can complete my journey but because the universe is so full of wonder and mystery, it would take an uncountable many lifetimes to experience it all, so I'll do the best I can with the life I have, always moving forward for a better world for everyone.