I think I am now an atheist

[YoursTrue]

I now realise that the only reason I ever made myself believe in God was out of fear of death and annihilation

Wishful thinking basically

I now see no compelling reason to believe in God

Therefore I think I'm going to have to come out as an atheist

Which is what I was for many years

Although I hope there is a God and recognise there is a slim chance of one existing

I still believe reality is a computer simulation though

If God were so easy to find, believe in, and understand, He would not have allowed the serpent to turn Eve's mind around. God wasn't standing there when the serpent tempted Eve, telling her at that moment, "No! Don't do that!" Even if He had been, she might not have believed God. Yet He exacted the penalty.

 

[lewisnotmiller]

Except that Atheists expand huge quantities of time and effort arguing against Theism

Were it just an absence of belief they wouldn't

That does NOT follow. We are all impacted by theistic beliefs to varying degrees, and many of us were raised in theistic households.
Just look at recent movement in US abortion laws, or the reluctance of political parties in Australia to adopt marriage equality. There are plenty of reasons to argue against the impact of theistic beliefs, if not the beliefs themselves.

I'd also need some clarification on what 'huge quantities of time and effort' means. I personally expand much more time and effort playing Battle Brothers, and that's not exactly impactful on my quality of life.

 

[KWED]

Except that Atheists expand huge quantities of time and effort arguing against Theism

Were it just an absence of belief they wouldn't

Most atheists spend no time and effort arguing with theists. Rejecting the existence of gods doesn't not require that you debate the issue. However, some people choose to.
I know that people who believe in gods exist. I know that their beliefs are nonsense, and even dangerous. That does not make my lack of belief a "belief system".

 

[Eddi]

A belief system?
I'll bite...what are the beliefs within this system?

A belief in the profound and glaring absence of any credible evidence for there being a Supreme Being

 

[Eddi]

Most atheists spend no time and effort arguing with theists. Rejecting the existence of gods doesn't not require that you debate the issue. However, some people choose to.
I know that people who believe in gods exist. I know that their beliefs are nonsense, and even dangerous. That does not make my lack of belief a "belief system".

Well, my non-belief is most certainly a belief system, obviously I cannot speak for others

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

I now see no compelling reason to believe in God

Fair enough.

I still believe reality is a computer simulation though

What is your compelling reason to believe "reality is a computer simulation"?

 

[Eddi]

That does NOT follow. We are all impacted by theistic beliefs to varying degrees, and many of us were raised in theistic households.
Just look at recent movement in US abortion laws, or the reluctance of political parties in Australia to adopt marriage equality. There are plenty of reasons to argue against the impact of theistic beliefs, if not the beliefs themselves.

I'd also need some clarification on what 'huge quantities of time and effort' means. I personally expand much more time and effort playing Battle Brothers, and that's not exactly impactful on my quality of life.

That does NOT follow. We are all impacted by theistic beliefs to varying degrees, and many of us were raised in theistic households.
Just look at recent movement in US abortion laws, or the reluctance of political parties in Australia to adopt marriage equality. There are plenty of reasons to argue against the impact of theistic beliefs, if not the beliefs themselves.

I'd also need some clarification on what 'huge quantities of time and effort' means. I personally expand much more time and effort playing Battle Brothers, and that's not exactly impactful on my quality of life.

Before I started believing in God my atheism was a big part of who I was (and I think it is for others too) and I invested substantial energy into it

But of course that's just me

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

Before I started believing in God my atheism was a big part of who I was (and I think it is for others too) and I invested substantial energy into it

Though a different topic, I find that rather interesting.

Many, if not most, intensive atheists are adamant that atheism is merely the absence of belief, something I would not think warrants substantial energy.

Parenthetically, your particular computer simulation seems to have misplaced its period key.

 

[Eddi]

Fair enough.


What is your compelling reason to believe "reality is a computer simulation"?

It's a long, loooooooooong story that I cannot do justice to in a simple message such as this

The long story short version is something like this: in 2004 a thing who identifies as the superintendent super-intelligence who runs The Projection (what I call the simulation) began communicating with me and does to to this day although I do not "hear voices"

So, basically: personal experience

And I don't expect you to believe me

But am always happy to answer questions

 

[Eddi]

Though a different topic, I find that rather interesting.

Many, if not most, intensive atheists are adamant that atheism is merely the absence of belief, something I would not think warrants substantial energy.

Parenthetically, your particular computer simulation seems to have misplaced its period key.

Yes, missing out the periods is a bad habit I have fallen into.

 

[Twilight Hue]

I now realise that the only reason I ever made myself believe in God was out of fear of death and annihilation

Wishful thinking basically

I now see no compelling reason to believe in God

Therefore I think I'm going to have to come out as an atheist

Which is what I was for many years

Although I hope there is a God and recognise there is a slim chance of one existing

I still believe reality is a computer simulation though

Life goes just fine without imaginary god's right from the start, and if life is impossible, then you wouldn't have been born in the first place.

 

[Evangelicalhumanist]

Except that Atheists expand huge quantities of time and effort arguing against Theism

Were it just an absence of belief they wouldn't

Not quite. Atheists spend energy trying to keep theists from inserting their beliefs into our laws -- which they are persistently trying to do. What else do you think stacking the US Supreme Court is for, if not to make sure that Christians get to tell everybody else how to live?

 

[Evangelicalhumanist]

I enjoy not collecting stamps almost as much as I enjoy baiting Atheists.
But the latter is getting boring and predictable.
I thought Eddi's response was thoughtful and careful not to inflame debate, but maybe he has things to learn about his new belief system and I'm sure you can teach him the ways of atheists, at least from your pov even if not all atheists are like you and generalising about atheism as not being a belief is probably not a good thing to do just as generalising about atheism being a belief is not right either.

Atheism means "absence of belief in deities." That is all it means. It does not entail making ritual sacrifices to the logarithmic tables, or to praising the holy ToE. The vast majority of atheists do not hold to the "belief that no gods can possibly exist," because we cannot know such a thing. We simply give the notion the same credence, with the same evidence, as we do to Santa Claus and the Great Green Arkleseizure (thank you @KWED).

 

[Brian2]

Indeed.
A bit like generalising about the election not being stolen is probably not a good thing to do just as generalising about the election being stolen is not right either.

Well the election either was or was not stolen but atheism is comprised of atheists and atheists can vary in their atheism.

 

[Brian2]

A belief in the profound and glaring absence of any credible evidence for there being a Supreme Being

I like that answer. That is a belief. But of course it is a subjective belief even though it is probably a common atheist belief.

 

[Subduction Zone]

Not agnosticism then?

Most agnostics are atheists.

 

[Subduction Zone]

I like that answer. That is a belief. But of course it is a subjective belief even though it is probably a common atheist belief.

All beliefs are subjective. The question is whether the belief is rational or not. When others can provide reasonable and reliable evidence for a deity then atheism will become irrational. But right now it appears to be the one rational position.

 

[Brian2]

Life goes just fine without imaginary god's right from the start, and if life is impossible, then you wouldn't have been born in the first place.

Nobody can say they know that life did not need at least one of those imaginary gods to get started.
Actually what science knows from observation is that life comes from previously existing life. Anything other than that is hypothesis based on the naturalistic methodology of science.

 

[Subduction Zone]

A belief system?
I'll bite...what are the beliefs within this system?

And rites and rituals. For example you do have to put your atheist hat on for at least ten minutes on Thursday's at 4:45 PM.

 

[Subduction Zone]

Nobody can say they know that life did not need at least one of those imaginary gods to get started.
Actually what science knows from observation is that life comes from previously existing life. Anything other than that is hypothesis based on the naturalistic methodology of science.

So what?