(OT) Some advice for me / My Depression Thread / Thanks forumers

Taera · #1 June 3rd, 2003, 08:04 AM

me, im not an atheist. i believe in god, i just do not feel the need to worship.

Will · #2 June 3rd, 2003, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Atrocities:
Some people may have a belief in God, but not in religion, are they considered atheist? I honestly don't know the answer to that question, but I would like to.

Well, if you go by the technical definition, "atheist" would be one without religion. But the word is commonly applied to one who has no belief in a deity. And really, the whole entire range of people -- from those who practice "non-belief" to those who believe in some sort of deity/higher power, but without a specific religion -- are generally thrown into a vast grey area labeled "atheist/agnostic".

There are several labels that I have seen to catagorize these areas ("atheist", "agnostic", "humanist", "spiritual", "free-thinker", and on, and on, and on...), and all of them seem to be given different definitions by different people. If you ask someone what the difference between an atheist and an agnostic (the two most common labels), you will find a lot of different responses, like:

"There is no difference worth mentioning, both are heathens that will burn in Hell for an eternity"
"Atheists just don't believe, agnostics are 'still deciding, confused'"
"Atheists are arrogant people who refuse to acknowledge any possibility of God, and agnostics are searching for the true God"
"Athe-what?"

You get the idea... Personally I just think the whole catagorization thing was doomed since it was thought of in this case, since the range of beliefs in the grey-area equals the number of inhabitants. It's an intensely personal thing that defies any sort of sorting.

So, to answer the question... it depends on who's definition of "atheist" you use

Atrocities · #3 June 3rd, 2003, 08:23 AM

Thank you Will.

I like to believe that we as humans have the right to choose what we will or will not accept or believe in. That to be free is to be free to choose what you will or will not believe in without the fear of being chastized or persacuted (sp) for it.

I am who I am and do not like to be judged for what I think or feel, and I would hope that others would feel the same way. It is not for me to judge poeple, it is for themselves to do.

I choose to believe in God, but not religion. I have my reasons, and I feel that they are good ones. God is with me, and has saved me on many occations. Yet there have been many times when I have left to learn my own lessons in life.

Life is an adventure in knowledge gathering.

narf poit chez BOOM · #4 June 3rd, 2003, 08:31 AM

i believe that people would have trouble gathering all the information they needed, so god put religon on the earth.

Erax · #5 June 3rd, 2003, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Atrocities:
If an atheist experienced what I did this weekend, s/he would be going to church this week.

Some people may have a belief in God, but not in religion, are they considered atheist? I honestly don't know the answer to that question, but I would like to.

According to the Catholic Church, you would not be an atheist but you would be a heretic. But then so would all Protestants. This is a word that you don't hear a lot these days, BTW, but it's still the official definition.

tbontob · #6 June 3rd, 2003, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by narf poit chez BOOM:

quote:

This doesn't mean we shouldn't examine the faux pas and think about changing future behaviour. Quite the contrary. But we do need to be gentle with ourselves when we inadvertently make mistakes.

apologizing also helps.

Yes, I agree.

But with or without an apology, it is still the choice of the person as to how he is going to respond to the behaviour or behaviour/apology.

It is not uncommon for a person to carry a grudge even when all attempts of reconciliation have been tried including apologies.

Atrocities · #7 June 3rd, 2003, 03:57 PM

Quote:

i believe that people would have trouble gathering all the information they needed, so god put religon on the earth.

It can also be regrettibly said that man invented religion as a means to control people. Play upon their fears and use that fear to make the weak minded or fearful do as you wish.

Or one could also say that God tought man religion in order to give a privelaged few the power to control the masses.

Either way you cut it, religion has resulted in abuses of power of people, and in many cases lead to wars, death, and terrorism.

So if a person chose the values of God without the mindless following that is dictated by a religion, one is labled a name by those who control the said religion and therefor will be cast out of heaven.

Ya right, and they have a red phone that links them directly to GOD. They have been empowered to speak for God by god. I don't think so, and I, as a free sole, choose to believe in God, and not religion, and I know that God has not foresaken me because of this. And how dare some one ever emply that he has.

[ June 03, 2003, 15:01: Message edited by: Atrocities ]