Humanists, Agnostics and/or Athieists

Angua · 13-09-2005, 19:11

As Bifta started the religious thread it got me thinking as to why those of us who do not believe in a "deity" have come to that conclusion.

Please can we have no attempts at conversion by those who do believe and continue in the same respectful manner which the Religious thread is doing.

Personally I was never christened nor were either of my parents religious. I did attend Sunday school which I vaugely remember involved doing a lot of colouring in and being the understudy to Mary in the nativity (and having to step in on the day). This was a completely cynical method of my mothers to get me into the C of E school which at the time was the best in the town, and I continued with this education until age 11 only attending church with the school or a wedding.

Looking back on my life I don't think there was ever a point at which I believed in God, nor have I personally had a need to believe, even after my father died when I was 13.

At my mothers funeral we had a Humanist ceremony which was lovely. He talked to both my brothers and I for hours and made the celebration of her life beautiful. Eveyone who attended said it was the best funeral they had been to.

Dave Stones · 13-09-2005, 19:16

I guess i fall into one of these categories. Never been christened nor have any of my family. I went to a church of england primary school, go figure. I was one of those people who never said the prayers cos i didn't believe them

I think i'm a man of science, until it is proven that something exists to me with empirical evidence or i witness it myself etc etc, i disbelieve

i have read a bible though, during the course of RE lessons and being completely bored to death in hotel rooms and the like. It just doesn't "grab" me...

[edit] looks like that makes me an agnostic...

bmxbandit · 13-09-2005, 19:20

i pride myself on trying to think logically and rationally, and the main reason i have no particular religious belief is that nobody has come up wth compelling enough evidence (in my mind) that any one religion is correct, or that any one (or more) god(ess) exists.

i have quite strong antitheist views, but i dont like to upset people so i generally keep schtum and let everyone get on with what they like...

Jules · 13-09-2005, 21:08

Oh can I join this thread as I am not allowed to join the "other" one

makikomi · 13-09-2005, 21:15

Like BMX Bandit, I'm a logical person.

To me, I just think there is lack of proof for a god, but the big bang theory doesn't entirely convince me either. As far as I am concerned, everything has come from somewhere.

Some religious people say you have to accept that God always existed and have faith. But they then say that you can't just accept that the gases which caused the Big Bang always existed.

It's all far too big a question for me to ponder and I don't think anyone (or at least anyone alive) will ever have an answer that fully convinces me. So I've learnt to simply accept that we exist, and just to try and be happy even though I don't have the answer.

**Stuart** · 13-09-2005, 21:16

Well, I am not religious, but my mum and dad followed the example set by my Grandmother on my mother's side. My grandmother allowed my mum to research different religions and find one that suited her. She chose CofE. My mum and dad did the same for me. I looked into all the major religions, and found none that suited me.

13-09-2005, 21:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by makikomi

Like BMX Bandit, I'm a logical person.

To me, I just think there is lack of proof for a god, but the big bang theory doesn't entirely convince me either. As far as I am concerned, everything has come from somewhere.

Some religious people say you have to accept that God always existed and have faith. But they then say that you can't just accept that the gases which caused the Big Bang always existed.

It's all far too big a question for me to ponder and I don't think anyone (or at least anyone alive) will ever have an answer that fully convinces me. So I've learnt to simply accept that we exist, and just to try and be happy even though I don't have the answer.

Ah, lack of proof, I read a book about 'intelligent design' recently, which put forward a theory that too many things are too complicated to have just 'evolved', and hence there must be a 'maker' or 'designer', responsible for it all.

It was quite pervasive and went on my list of everything to be taken into account when thinking about such stuff

bmxbandit · 13-09-2005, 21:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by makikomi

Some religious people say you have to accept that God always existed and have faith. But they then say that you can't just accept that the gases which caused the Big Bang always existed.

a big difficulty that's resurfaced as a result in the rise of the 'intelligent design' theory is that the scientific community as a whole is never going to accept as read anything that is by definition untestable. the big bang thing is still a theory, as you say...

in short, i put up with it, and hope it goes away (by which i mean away from me, what you do in your own home and/or wth consenting adults is none of my business).

**Russ** · 13-09-2005, 21:38

Can't help but think this thread will turn in to the usual free-for-all faith bashing type....

bmxbandit · 13-09-2005, 21:39

i'm trying to avoid it

**Russ** · 13-09-2005, 21:40

The admin team will ensure it doesn't happen

Ramrod · 13-09-2005, 21:48

My parents sent me to various C of E schools and Sunday school but we weren't a very religious family. I wasn't really bothered either way about religion until I was about 16 and was receiving religious education/instruction from one of our our communities priests (Lutheran) prior to being confirmed. The upshot of the intensive religious education was that I was swayed into believing that Christianity (and all religion) is utter tosh that was developed as a means of social control. (sorry Russ and Towny

)
I do envy people who 'have' religion because of the comfort and strength it brings them. I would love to believe.....but I agree with Marx saying 'religion is the opium of the masses'.
I am however a hypocrite--I have had both of my children baptised so that if God et.al. do actually exist, they don't go straight to hell if they die,through no fault of their own (one of the reasons I decided religion was not worth my time)
I only hope I don't chicken out on my death bed and 'repent' etc.....

So to recap............I don't believe because of a priests personal tuition.....

Dave Stones · 13-09-2005, 21:49

if people do like they are told in the original post it won't happen

i just laid what i think out nice and clear, i'm not going to go preaching the virtues of new scientist magazine or something...

i'm one of those nice types who couldn't give a fart what anyone else believes as long as they let me believe what i want, with no preaching going either way

I've tried to think about higher powers but it's one of those things that i can't get my head around, the old "what created the higher power if it created us" never-ending loop bothers me... i hate infinity

patrickp · 13-09-2005, 22:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by homealone

Ah, lack of proof, I read a book about 'intelligent design' recently, which put forward a theory that too many things are too complicated to have just 'evolved', and hence there must be a 'maker' or 'designer', responsible for it all.

It was quite pervasive and went on my list of everything to be taken into account when thinking about such stuff

If you're checking out 'Intelligent Design,' homealone, maybe you should check out the FSM site - also worth looking at wiki's take on it...

;-D

Angua · 13-09-2005, 23:01

Further irony. Neither of my children have been christened as I strongly believe any religion or not should be of their own choice not something imposed upon them. A year ago I was dragged in as a school governor to interview for a new head teacher. I was the one who asked the religious question (I drew the short straw) and the teacher we chose (from another state school rather than a CofE school) whilst really good for the teachers and pupils has increased the amount of religious content of assembly (much to my daughters annoyance) and now there is a prayer before packed lunches so my son insists on school dinners (with no prayers).