People with no religion!

[Jaymes]

The knowledge that I can help others and improve myself keeps me going.

 

[drekmed]

i live for the same reason i watch movies and read books. i like it, and i to see how it all turns out. there is also the whole learning new things too.

just because i dont believe in a god, doesn't mean i dont believe that a higher power exists. i kinda like the idea of the Ancients in stargate SG1, and the Q in star trek, i just dont consider things i dont understand as having to be a result of a god that i must worship. i'd like to think that there is something after i die, if not then my existance holds no actually purpose in the whole affect on things, maybe i reincarnate into something else or even relive my own life again, or maybe i ascend to higher plane of existance in which my energy form roams through the universe seeking knowledge. i dont know, and am in no hurry to find that part out, there are too many things that i haven't experienced on this plane of existance.

its always nice to think that there is some force either guiding or protecting me, kinda like when your a kid and sleeping in bed with your parents, gives a feeling of comfort and security.

i just dont know yet. yet being the key word

Drekmed

 

[AtheistAJ]

Most religious people only care about their individual karma with god and that's it. They don't care about humanity. It's all in your head! Most would kill all humans for god just so they go to heaven. I can't believe we have to tolerate this. There is no you, we're all universe. When your brain rots there is no "you", and even if there was a ghost in heaven that screws with 78 virgins forever what good is that (not for you but for humanity)? Where is the productivity in religion? Humans shouldn't favor anything over humanity because humanity we make.

Reason organisms (like humans) have bodies is so they can do physical things with materials, not so they can put their palms together to pray to a ghost. Better study science so that you do something with your body and brain rather than live a whole lifespan just to please some myth that's been passed down from generation to generation as a political tool. That's why I am an atheist. What is in your head is worthless, whereas what comes out is invaluable.

 

[Malus 12:9]

Most religious people only care about their individual karma with god and that's it

You certain about that?

Most would kill all humans for god just so they go to heaven

Whilst I hold that belief about one specific religion, I doubt the same is true for most other religions.

I can't believe we have to tolerate this.

There are many other forums out there.

Reason organisms (like humans) have bodies is so they can do physical things with materials

This I partially agree with.

 

[AtheistAJ]

There are many other forums out there.

I meant in politics.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

Most religious people only care about their individual karma with god and that's it. They don't care about humanity.

That is an absurd, and absurdly bigoted, statement.

 

[Malus 12:9]

I meant in politics.

Who states that you have to tolerate it?

 

[retrorich]

I was just curious as to what keeps you guys going.I mean,I can't imagine living if I'm not living for anything.I'm not searching for arguments I'm looking for feedback.

I assure you I have plenty of reasons to live. I have no need for religion. Are you saying that without religion, you would have no reason for living? I would find that entirely weird.

Imagine

​

Imagine there's no heaven,
It's easy if you try,
No hell below us,
Above us only sky,
Imagine all the people
living for today...

Imagine there's no countries,
It isn't hard to do,
Nothing to kill or die for,
No religion too,
Imagine all the people
living life in peace...

Imagine no possesions,
I wonder if you can,
No need for greed or hunger,
A brotherhood of man,
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world...

You may say Im a dreamer,
but Im not the only one,
I hope some day you'll join us,
And the world will live as one.

Written by: John Lennon
© Bag productions inc.

 

[AtheistAJ]

Imagine all the people

That backwards sounds "The people war beside me".
That song was banned in US when John Lennon was alive. He also performed it with Elton John.

And I didn't generalize all religious people. I happen to have met a lot of people like that. Why to ignore that?

 

[painted wolf]

it wasn't banned everywhere... certenly by many stations but not a blanket ban.

your statement was put out as a blanket generalization... just because you have ment a lot of them doens't make them the majority or eaven a significant minority...there are just as many 'evil' athiests... I've met a few of them... should all athiests be judged by them?

wa:do

 

[michel]

I assure you I have plenty of reasons to live. I have no need for religion. Are you saying that without religion, you would have no reason for living? I would find that entirely weird.

Imagine

​

Imagine there's no heaven,
It's easy if you try,
No hell below us,
Above us only sky,
Imagine all the people
living for today...

Imagine there's no countries,
It isn't hard to do,
Nothing to kill or die for,
No religion too,
Imagine all the people
living life in peace...

Imagine no possesions,
I wonder if you can,
No need for greed or hunger,
A brotherhood of man,
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world...

You may say Im a dreamer,
but Im not the only one,
I hope some day you'll join us,
And the world will live as one.

Written by: John Lennon
© Bag productions inc.

Fruballs to you, Rich, my friend. One of the best songs ever written.

 

[Sunstone]

Most religious people only care about their individual karma with god and that's it. They don't care about humanity.

Nonsense. For one thing, most charities in the United States are run by religious organizations. Where do you get your facts for such a claim? Do you even care about facts?

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

... I didn't generalize all religious people. I happen to have met a lot of people like that.

Most religious people ... don't care about humanity.

How dare you presume to render such an arrogant and ignorant judgement!

 

[Darkdale]

Most religious people only care about their individual karma with god and that's it. They don't care about humanity. It's all in your head! Most would kill all humans for god just so they go to heaven. I can't believe we have to tolerate this. There is no you, we're all universe. When your brain rots there is no "you", and even if there was a ghost in heaven that screws with 78 virgins forever what good is that (not for you but for humanity)? Where is the productivity in religion? Humans shouldn't favor anything over humanity because humanity we make.

Reason organisms (like humans) have bodies is so they can do physical things with materials, not so they can put their palms together to pray to a ghost. Better study science so that you do something with your body and brain rather than live a whole lifespan just to please some myth that's been passed down from generation to generation as a political tool. That's why I am an atheist. What is in your head is worthless, whereas what comes out is invaluable.

This is just absurd. Does anyone else buy into this?

 

[lilithu]

I was just curious as to what keeps you guys going.I mean,I can't imagine living if I'm not living for anything.

THIS is why I like Tillich's definition of religion/faith as ultimate concern. We ALL have "religion" by his definition. We all have something to live for - that with which we are ultimately concerned, that which we most value.

Just because someone doesn't believe in God or an afterlife does not mean that they don't have anything to live for!! - justice, beauty, truth, LOVE. Or more concretely, family, friends, country, community. Gawd! Sometimes I live just for the joy of feeling of sunshine on my skin, and I say that as a devoted theist. I really don't understand why it's so hard to understand that life is worth living for its own sake.

What exactly is it that you are living for? the promise of an afterlife?

 

[Mr Spinkles]

I mean,I can't imagine living if I'm not living for anything.

Neither can I. But not being religious doesn't mean "not living for anything". What keeps me going? The knowledge that this life is precious, that I'm lucky to have it, and my appreciation for all the things there are to enjoy--family, friends, learning, and helping others. I don't see how the absence of an afterlife makes this life unimportant...if anything, I would think it would make this life even MORE important.

fromtheheart--

I realize that the questions in your post were not directed towards me. Still, I'm going to take the liberty of answering them anyway. I hope you don't mind.

So in other words you just feel that when you're dead you're dead and that's it???

Yes. I don't think I deserve more than one life. What ever happened to being happy with what you've got?

You feel that life is for the taking and there is no higher purpose?

I don't know about the "life is for the taking" part, but no, I don't think there is a higher purpose. Does something need to have a "purpose" to be beautiful or valuable? What is the "purpose" of a rose?

You feel life is to what end then?

I think our goal in life should be to be happy. To be truly happy, I believe you have to take care of your mind and body (e.g. avoid drugs, unhealthy food, dangerous activities, get exercise, save your money), you have to remember not to take the little things for granted (a sunny day, a nice person you met, a good story you heard), and you have to help other people by giving to charity or opening the door for an elderly woman.

You don't reccognize any power higher than your self?

I recognize many powers higher than myself, and I'm awed and humbled by them. I just don't think those powers are supernatural or have attitudes towards humanity. Tsunamis, earthquakes, thunderstorms, the Sun...gravity...are all examples.

Do you feel you have it all figured out and that all the people who believe in a higher power are just brain washed by something?

Not only do I not think I have it all figured out, I don't know that it's possible to have it all figured out, and I hope I NEVER figure it all out....otherwise, there will be nothing left to discover, and that would be depressing indeed.

I don't understand. I had a friend who felt that when you're dead your dead....when he commited suicide it was because he had no hope of life ever being able to be better than what he'd figured out was life itself...he decided since there was nothing to look forward to that life just wasn't worth living...it still haunts me that I just could not relate to his reasoning or help him understand there was hope for a life beyond the misery of earthly life...he'd once believed in it all and was swayed to feel differently because life gave him too much to deal with and he shot himself right in front of his wife and kids! He had no hope...

fromtheheart-- I'm so sorry about your loss. That is truly tragic. But, it's difficult for me to believe that the *reason* a person would commit suicide is because he/she believed in no afterlife. Indeed, there are plenty of examples of people who committed suicide who not only believed in an afterlife, but who believed they would go to hell for committing suicide. If this is the only life you get, why would you cut it short? If hell is much worse than anything in this life, why would you kill yourself, believing that you are now on your way to hell? These are the actions of people who have emotional/psychological burdens, and who are not thinking rationally.

Do you feel there is no hope in your life beyond what YOU make it???

No. Even if I personally had no hope at all, there would still be hope for me, because my family or friends would be there to help me.

Is it right that someone can take the hope right out of a person like that and not feel any remorse?

Absolutely not.

I feel that anyone who sways someone from their beliefs take their hope away and are personally responsible should anything happen to that person such as was with my friend!!! I feel that when you sway someone to the belief that there is no higher power you are not informing them but discouraging them to a belief that is yours and is wrong to do and the outcome of the person swayed wrongly puts their blood upon their death on YOUR hands!

That is just my personal opinion. I would like to hear from unbelievers to know what makes them tick if there is nothing to 'tick' for!!!

By "unbeleivers" do you mean non-Christians? Or do you mean those who do not believe in the Abrahamic god? Or do you mean those who do not believe in an afterlife? Or those who do not believe in a "higher power"?

In any case, if your question was aimed at someone like me, who simply believes in the vastness and beauty and incomprehensibility of Nature, I hope I have explained what makes me tick.

 

[AtheistAJ]

This is just absurd. Does anyone else buy into this?

You mean, you can't believe anything I said?

 

[painted wolf]

you mean the sweeping strokes you take with the broad brush... nope, not buying it.

I care very much for the future of the Human species, and I'm religious.... infact my faith sugests that before you make any important decisions in life, you consider the effects of it... not just for you but for the next seven generations. If that doesn't count as being concerned for Humanity I'm not sure what does.

wa:do

 

[tom_mich]

My life is happy and complete.

I strive to be the best I can be. I believe you can do anything, as long it does not hurt anyone, directly or indirectly.

My aim in life is to give someone to this world, for the nature and for the people. For this reason I am a biologist.

I don't need guidance from a book or from a group of believers in supernatural gods. I used to be a believer in god, I feel liberated and content in my belief of nature, that is is the ultimate provider and something so ignored by others, perhaps because they assume it was just "created and put there" rather than being the REAL provider. Nature could be considered as god, in that is creates life and supports us all on this fragile and crumbling planet.

I will do my part in this life to promote peace, love and the environment.