~Opinions~ discussion

Well, I'm an atheist. I live in southern Georgia, though, so there aren't many of us down here.

I guess I would tecnically be considered atheist... Almost all of my friends are religious but there is the occassional person who isn't.

I think being atheist offers the most freedom, religion and life wise.

For the atheists here: What religion did you belong to before being an atheist? Or were you always an atheist? What influenced you in becoming an atheist?

I always was one. My family isn't very religious, though my mother has a bible and doesn't like for people to swear.

Nothing in particular really influenced me to choose atheism; I just take a default stance of not believing when there is no logical proof.

*Shrugs*

Good question, by the way.

I've never had any other religion so I guess I was always atheist. And my parents aren't religious so I guess they influenced me. My dad's parents were REALLY religious and forced him into it so now that he can make he own decisions, he decided against it. They told me I could believe whatever I wanted but being religious has never really had any appeal to me and I can't force myself to believe what I don't. I've actually tried to make myself become Christian but it didn't really work...

Thanks for the answers, guys. :)

You're welcome. There aren't many questions I won't answer, so feel free to ask away. :)

Will do. ;)

Uh-oh. I didn't just open up a can of worms, did I? :P

*sing-song voice*You'll find out.*sing-song voice* *EVIL LAUGH!*

*Cowers in Corner*

Ok, so even though I am Cathloc, I don't have a problem with people who don't believe in God. Because I have a friend whose an Athiest, And i also have a friend whose a satanist.

Candace, I actually have a question for you since you're atheist like me... Are you ever worried that you're wrong? Like, I'm confident about what I believe in but sometimes I have to wonder what if I'm wrong. And according to most people, if there really is a God or heaven, then I'm going to hell.

I always like to think that as long as I follow my moral standards in life and do my best to be a good person, if there is a heaven or afterlife of any sort, I don't have anything to worry about. But sometimes I doubt myself or get scared when I have people telling me that I'm going to burn eternally in hell. Do you get what I'm asking? If you do, how do you feel about this?

I never worry that I'm wrong in that sense, but I do wonder if anyone will ever find the logical evidence needed to prove God's existence.

And if there is a Hell, I don't think people would go there simply for not believing. I would imagine anyone who is generally good wouldn't get sent to eternal damnation (but I also believe in reincarnation, so . . .)

I hate that you've had people say that to you. It's small-minded and cruel. And what the hell do they even know? (Sorry, I'm ranting)

It's your life; believe whatever you want to believe. That's always been my philosophy. I don't judge anyone for their beliefs, and I would expect the same courtesy in return.

Do I ever wonder if I'm wrong? Well, I don't claim to be right in my beliefs. I only know what feels right to me. I would say the idea of Hell scares me, if it's real. I would also say that I would be scared of going there, if simply being a good person wasn't good enough to keep me out. But it doesn't really change out I feel or what I believe.

I hope that made sense. I tend to ramble.

No that really makes sense and it actually makes me feel a lot better.

As a teenager, I think it's only natural for me to doubt myself. The thing is, I'm not necessarily scared of death or dying, I've just accepted it as a part of life, but the thought of being eternally punished for not being raised to believe in God, does scare me.

Having people tell me that I'm going to go to Hell isn't really something I like to hear, but it is what they believe. It's just hard growing up and going to my friends houses where their parents ask about my religion, then the next day having that friend come up to me and tell me their parents said I'm going to Hell. It really made me wish I could change.

I really truly wish I wasn't afraid of this but I can't help but wonder.

Well, it's an uncertainty. Things we don't fully understand can be frightening if we let them. As far as it being what they believe...well, I agree that they can believe whatever they want. But imagine how they'd react if you walked up to them and said, "Your 'God' is nothing but a figment of your imagination and it's completely insane to believe in something without any logical proof." Okay, so, I would never, ever say that to anyone who believed...but I'd damn sure be ready to spout that off if they told me I was going to hell for not believing :P.

Yeah I guess I just wish I was strong and confident enough to not let it bother me but you know, it still does. I mean, no one likes to hear that. I've actually had people try to convert me to "save my soul" and stuff. While I appreciate that they care, if I ever decided to become religious, it wouldn't be just because I'm scared or the consequences if I don't.

As horrible as it is, I would love to see someone say that. Just because it would be interesting and probably very amusing to see how the person reacted ;)

@ Lindsay: I agree. People who tell you that you're going to hell are likely not people you should hang out with.

@ Rowan: I have many people try to convert me . . . but I just politely tell them I'm not interested. If they mentioned 'saving my soul', I would just ignore them.

Haha thank you :)

@ Lindsay: I understand that feeling. I live in a small town and this is how it goes when you meet someone new:

Me: Hi, it's nice to meet you.
Them: What church do you go to?

Really, it's like that.

If the people that ask me are like my friends parents that I'm meeting for the first time and they are strongly religious, I've learned to just say that I'm open to many possibilities. That way it's just kinda out there.

Yeah. I might say, "I'm not currently attending a church" or something along those lines, but it's not as though I'm ashamed of my beliefs; I just don't generally feel like getting into a religious debate with people I'm meeting for the first time.

Yeah well if I say I'm open to possibilities that not a lie... I accept that fact that I could be wrong about there being no God, so technically I'm open ;)

True, true.

How do you guys feel about Satanism? Obviously that isn't this topic but I just watched a Criminal Minds episode about it so I'm curious.

I'm curious about all religions. It's actually quite interesting (annoying) that some people view atheism and satanism as the same thing. Do you ever get that from people?

"I don't know much about satanism, I just know that people who believe in it worship the fallen angel Lucifer who rebelled against the Christian god and therefore became the ruler of the fiery place referred to as hell."--Well, you know a lot more than I do.

And I agree; it does sound like a rather violent religion.

Yep... I had a friend in 3rd grade whose parents told me I wasn't allowed to be friends with her anymore because they thought I was a "psyco little devil worshiper that has let Satan take over my soul." I didn't really understand it then, obviously but people tend to mush the two religions into one.

"psyco little devil worshiper that has let Satan take over my soul" Three letters: WTF?

That's insane. *shakes head* I can't stand narrow-minded people like that.

Yeah lets just say I wasn't too bummed when they moved away ;)

I've definitely come in contact with a few crazy people in my life so far, and narrow-mindedness is not something people around me are short on.

Y'all should just move to Denmark then. I've never meat a seriously relegious person in DK, except the priest. Sure, people believe in heaven and someon hell, but generally most people don't give it much thought. I have a lot of atheist friends, some christian, a muslim and a budhist.

It would be nice to live somewhere where people didn't automatically shun you for being of the non-believing variety. *sighs*

I think it's weird to hear about this. That people have certain thoughts about you because of your relegion. *Shakes head in confusement* I've never ever experienced it. Ever. It's not even something we talk about a lot. I have never asked a person what relegion they belonged to, to judge them, and I've never had someone ask me it. I always get choked when people tell how relgious people in their country is, to which extremes they go... *Shakes head more* I just... Bleh.

Yeah tell me about it... I actually had one person ask me once if I could even go in a church, or if I would burst into flames. I mean, REALLY PEOPLE! COME ON!

Washington State, kinda by Seattle... shhh, don't tell anyone ;)

Haha. I'm telling everyone, Rowan. JK :P

Noooooooo!!! All my creepy stalkers are going to find me now! Thanks Candace *death glare*

Eh, Okay. I won't say anything this time. Geesh. :P

It's really not, just the part of Washington I live in seems to attract a few deeply religious people. I just kinda figured it was like that everywhere *shrug* Plus I live in a fairly small town.

I think it's a small-town thing. I live in a small town, and people are crazy religious. I call the the proverbial buckle of the bible belt.

Haha nice... "proverbial buckle of the bible belt"... I like it :)

I give you permission to use it ;).

Oh I am deeply honored... it is now offically part of my everyday vocabulary ;)

Yay! I love being revolutionary :).

I live in a very religiously open area--central Massachusetts. I have friends who are atheist, Episcopalian, Catholic, Wiccan, Muslim, and Jewish.

That is one that has always fascinated me. Incidentally, have you read Salem Falls by Jodi Picoult? It deals with Wicca in a very non-paranormal way. It was interesting.

Um, there are some slightly descriptive scenes in the book, but it was very good. But all of hers are really good.

You're bad, Lindsay. How 'bout, I actually did this and it took me a sec to figure it out :P.

Haha. That's great.

Ha. Yep, my mind sorta stays in the gutter as well, friend.