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

[Alceste]

But it's not "fairy tales"

For a believer it is the Truth



Peace and all the best

It's not the truth though. I can't see any way to get around that problem. That's why I'm not a believer.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

But it's not "fairy tales"

For a believer it is the Truth

Well, it's either the truth for everyone or it's not. "Truth" is an objective property.

"Fun", OTOH, is very subjective, which makes me wonder why idea thinks, apparently, that everyone should find the same things fun. I really enjoy my hobbies, but I've seen people's eyes glaze over when I talk about them enough times that I know that not every one shares my idea of fun. idea realizes that not everyone finds her "God hobby" fun, but for some reason she sees this as strange or a problem.

BTW: if anyone feels that comparing religion to a hobby is inappropriate, they don't realize just how passionate people can get about their hobbies.

 

[idea]

What makes you think someone can't be spiritual without believing in a god?

Because without an understanding of the Father of spirits, there is an incomplete understanding of what is spiritual.

What makes you think someone can't see and enjoy all aspects of existence without believing in a god?

because all aspects of existence includes understanding the influence and presence of God.

What makes you think your failure to make non-belief work reflects on any other non-believers?

I have the ability to make non-belief work, but I choose to embrace more.

Here’s a parable – actually a true story...
One of my friends was telling me about her honeymoon – they were poor college kids, not much money, so their honeymoon consisted of going on a road trip across the US. Out in the middle of nowhere, the groom slams on the brakes of the car, pulls off the side of the road, and he’s yelling things like “I can’t believe we’re seeing this! This is incredible!!!” and he grabs the camera, jumps out of the car, and starts taking pictures. The bride looks around, only she doesn’t see anything worthy of taking a picture of. There are no animals, no rainbows in the sky, no other people in sight – all she sees is a vast dead wasteland with a few tumbleweeds blowing by… Long story short, the groom was a geologist. The point of it, is that it is possible for two people to see the same thing, and yet see two very different things. It’s a different world, a different existence for all of us, and we would all do well to listen to what others see, so that we too can see more than we did before.

 

[idea]

But it's not "fairy tales"

For a believer it is the Truth

"fairy tales" ... All of the greatest discoveries in life are received with skepticism and disbelief, if human nature had more faith and trust in one another, we would all be a much more advanced society.


it's the same old thing, over and over again. link

40 And now what evidence have ye that there is no God, or that Christ cometh not? I say unto you that ye have none, save it be your word only.
41 But, behold, I have all things as a testimony that these things are true; and ye also have all things as a testimony unto you that they are true; and will ye deny them?
... The scriptures are laid before thee, yea, and all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator.

 

[Iti oj]

Because without an understanding of the Father of spirits, there is an incomplete understanding of what is spiritual.

because all aspects of existence includes understanding the influence and presence of God.

I have the ability to make non-belief work, but I choose to embrace more.

Here’s a parable – actually a true story...
One of my friends was telling me about her honeymoon – they were poor college kids, not much money, so their honeymoon consisted of going on a road trip across the US. Out in the middle of nowhere, the groom slams on the brakes of the car, pulls off the side of the road, and he’s yelling things like “I can’t believe we’re seeing this! This is incredible!!!” and he grabs the camera, jumps out of the car, and starts taking pictures. The bride looks around, only she doesn’t see anything worthy of taking a picture of. There are no animals, no rainbows in the sky, no other people in sight – all she sees is a vast dead wasteland with a few tumbleweeds blowing by… Long story short, the groom was a geologist. The point of it, is that it is possible for two people to see the same thing, and yet see two very different things. It’s a different world, a different existence for all of us, and we would all do well to listen to what others see, so that we too can see more than we did before.

nice story but i think we differ on who is geologist in the story. your saying its the theist we would say its the atheist. god, your god, takes away from the beauty, magic, and love in our world view.

 

[Falvlun]

Believing that God saves mankind is only rewarding to those who already believe that God needs to save mankind. How exactly is such a belief rewarding to those who either don't believe that mankind needs saving or look around and think "Dang. God didn't do a really good job of saving mankind if that's what ya'll claim he did."

 

[WyattDerp]

"Spiritual" -- what does that even mean? To me that's just a vague word, at best used instead of a more precise one, at worst meaning exactly nothing. Is believing in astrology "spiritual", and are people who don't missing out on "all the fun", too?

Curiosity and intellectual honesty to me are better than *anything* in the world. And even better, they give me joy 24/7, even when I'm tired or hurt, and I can share them with people whom, I don't find attractive, or are very old or young; even with animals to some degree!

Why would I join some random club where I have to leave those at the door?

 

[Falvlun]

Why would I join some random club where I have to leave those at the door?

Better yet, we need more random clubs which explicitly ask you not to!

 

[Jupimartian]

Your analogy can actually support our point. The husband gets giddy over geology, and perhaps the wife would get giddy over dancing. That doesn't mean the husband is going to pressure the wife to obtain a degree in geology and that doesn't mean the wife is going to pressure the husband to train to be a dancer. Different strokes for different folks. Theism makes you content, and nontheism makes us content.

 

[idea]

nice story but i think we differ on who is geologist in the story. your saying its the theist we would say its the atheist. god, your god, takes away from the beauty, magic, and love in our world view.

My God is a God of love, life, light, beauty, safety, peace, infinite joy and glory. Why do you insist on misrepresenting Him?

Believing that God saves mankind is only rewarding to those who already believe that God needs to save mankind. How exactly is such a belief rewarding to those who either don't believe that mankind needs saving

You cannot see all the pain, suffering, death, and unhappiness in the world? Just google how many people have to take anti-depressants, there are many things that need salvation in this world.

or look around and think "Dang. God didn't do a really good job of saving mankind if that's what ya'll claim he did."

It's a work in progress, don't judge it until it's completed.

"Spiritual" -- what does that even mean? To me that's just a vague word,

A Spirit is the part of a living being that existed before birth, and dwells in the mortal body during life, and exits after death as a separate being until resurrection. A Spirit can live without a physical body, but a physical body cannot live without a spirit. Our Spirit is the part of us which contains our character, our free will, our thoughts and dreams. When people talk about not judging someone by what they look like, but instead by what they are like, they are talking about seeing someone's spirit, rather than just their physical body.

Curiosity and intellectual honesty to me are better than *anything* in the world. And even better, they give me joy 24/7, even when I'm tired or hurt, and I can share them with people whom, I don't find attractive, or are very old or young; even with animals to some degree!

Why would I join some random club where I have to leave those at the door?

I treasure curiosity and intellectual honesty as well, theism does not require you to leave either of those at the door.

 

[idea]

Your analogy can actually support our point. The husband gets giddy over geology, and perhaps the wife would get giddy over dancing. That doesn't mean the husband is going to pressure the wife to obtain a degree in geology and that doesn't mean the wife is going to pressure the husband to train to be a dancer. Different strokes for different folks. Theism makes you content, and nontheism makes us content.

I agree we have different personalities and talents, but we also have many similarities. We all have a spirit, we all fell the same emotions (happy, sad, jealous, proud), we all breathe the same air,and we all have the same Father. We're all connected, so why not train to be a dancer? or a geologist? To do something outside of our box is how we grow.

Love, relationships, one another - is there anything more important than the people who are around us? anything more important than learning how to love? and what is love but sacrificing, and listening, and learning about others? to learn to dance, or to learn about rocks - it would be a wonderful thing to do, not because you like dance or rocks, but because it would show your companion you want to get to know them on a deeper level.

 

[Curious George]

Love, relationships, one another - is there anything more important than the people who are around us? anything more important than learning how to love? and what is love but sacrificing, and listening, and learning about others? to learn to dance, or to learn about rocks - it would be a wonderful thing to do, not because you like dance or rocks, but because it would show your companion you want to get to know them on a deeper level.

Funny I would think that most Christians would answer yes to all of these questions. When asked what they would say either God, or Christ, or God's will.

But let us focus on these things of which you speak- Without God we are left with only Love, Relationships and One Another (all capitals). If this is the beaches where you frolic then perhaps and the spiritual connection you feel belongs with your fellow humans or even all Life ( Capital L) then, perhaps, God is just a crutch to connect. Perhaps those "fun" feelings are connecting with others and loving others.

Why is any deity a necessary part of that equation?

 

[Renji]

Yeah, they're pretty much missing the fun that every child is having: believing in invisible, pink unicorns, flying spaghetti monster and stuff... *sarcasm fail*

 

[Me Myself]

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).

Now I ll give you perspective:

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).

Your welcome.

:namaste

 

[Shadow Wolf]

I agree we have different personalities and talents, but we also have many similarities. We all have a spirit, we all fell the same emotions (happy, sad, jealous, proud), we all breathe the same air,and we all have the same Father. We're all connected, so why not train to be a dancer? or a geologist? To do something outside of our box is how we grow.

Prove to me I have a spirit or soul? Not with just words from a book, but in a manner that makes it so that I have more than faith alone to believe in the soul. We do not have the same father, as I do not even know your father and you do not know mine. I actually hardly even know mine because my parents divorced, and before that he lived at work. And if you are like most people (just based solely on statistic probabilities), you probably live in a city like most other people, which means we are not breathing the same air as the air you breath is more toxic and polluted than the rural air I breath. And while there are some emotions we all experience, there are many that are exclusive to specific cultures. And if you start to learn other languages, you will begin to learn that English tends to be an emotionally dry language, with many words from other languages having only poor and rough equivalents.
But I do agree that one way of growing is to expand our horizons. Mine just do not include religion as it is something that I cannot believe in, nor do I have the faith required.

Love, relationships, one another - is there anything more important than the people who are around us? anything more important than learning how to love? and what is love but sacrificing, and listening, and learning about others? to learn to dance, or to learn about rocks - it would be a wonderful thing to do, not because you like dance or rocks, but because it would show your companion you want to get to know them on a deeper level.

I also agree with that, because common interest can help start a relationship, but sharing those interests (not all interests because occasionally some time apart is a good thing, but definitely do share some of them) is vital for the relationship to grow and last. I see no reason why husband shouldn't offer to take his wife along for a dig, if possible, or why the wife shouldn't teach her husband to dance.

because all aspects of existence includes understanding the influence and presence of God.

That god allows so much suffering, pain, and misery that even Mother Teresa doubted his existence?

 

[Katzpur]

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).

My computer has just gotten out of intensive care, so I haven't been online for a few days. Anyway, I'm not going to bother reading all twelve pages of posts on this thread before commenting. About all I have to say until someone responds to this post is that, as a Mormon, I don't consider Mormonism to be much "fun" at all, but then "fun" is about the last thing on my list of reasons for being a Mormon. I don't even consider "fun" to be a "bonus feature" of my faith.

 

[Revoltingest]

....I'm not going to bother reading all twelve pages of posts on this thread before commenting.

Too bad! You missed this pic of me....

 

[Katzpur]

so you do not see the white leaders of the mormon church banning blacks because of the color of their skin as racism? what do you see it as then?

I'd be happy to respond to your question, provided you respond to this one first: Why is religious bigotry acceptable to you but racial bigotry not?

 

[Ouroboros]

I lived a Christian life for 30 years. I feel that I missed out because of it. Sure, there are experiences that were special and spiritual, but at the same time, other things didn't fit in. You get something but lose something else, whichever side you're on.

 

[hornsby]

I'd be happy to respond to your question, provided you respond to this one first: Why is religious bigotry acceptable to you but racial bigotry not?

what is religious bigotry?