Ridiculous Religion vs Absurd Atheism

[WildSimba]

[quote="Regulus"]I tolerate religion, and you have the right to believe whatever you want. But...

Keep it out of politics.

Keep it out of education.

Keep it away from children.

Don't justify violence with it.

And whatever you do, please don't ever tell Regulus about the time Jesus saved you from that tornado.[/quote]

Agreed. Especially the keeping it away from children part. They're too young to grasp what you're spreading to them, forcing them into it too young just indoctrinates them.

[Cindy Witmore]

i hear on the news liberals are tying to take down the pow and mia flags

[S1mb4 D4 L10n]

One person wrote an article about it being used in the 60s to justify the Vietnam war. Other than that, there is no movement to take it down as far as I know of. The writer even apologized for the article, I thought it was dumb as well. What news station is saying that people are trying to take it down? Also, this post wasn't related to this thread. XD

[Ultra Fox]

I'm an Atheist, and I grew up in a Christian family. There are plenty of really cool, down to earth christians, but growing up in such an environment, I am more than familiar with the screwed up logic and bigotry that religion can cause in some people. Don't care what people believe in if it makes them happy, as long as you keep it out of politics, other people's livelihoods, etc.

Not enough evidence for a god for me to believe anymore, and I really don't feel the need for one to make me happy. I'm just happy enough to be alive and experiencing my family, friends, the good parts of the world. I can find plenty of wonder in nature and humanity's existence without having to think some sky-god made it all.

Though trust me. It took me a long time to accept all of this considering my huge irrational fear of death I've had for years. I always wanted to believe an afterlife was waiting for me, but now I don't care so much either way.

Hell, my finace and I's new roommate is a Mormon, so yeah, different view-points sometimes, but we don't really care.

[FireAndSun]

I've always had a mixed relationship with religion. I used to technically be Catholic, but I certainly wasn't a practicing Catholic, though I did believe in the God of the Bible. I've always questioned aspects of the religion. I only fully transitioned into being an atheist my freshman year of high school, though. For a time, I hated all religion with a passion. Now that I've grown a bit I recognize the role it plays in many people's lives, and I respect that. I'm all for people believing what they want, as long as it doesn't hurt other people, but I still have many issues with it. I have no tolerance for people who use religion to justify ignorance, bigotry, or anti-intellectualism.

[AwkwardPastel]

I do think Wicca is quite a nice religion; it's not too harsh and doesn't have a strict set of rules.

[SlayerOfLight]

But it does sound kind of ''wicked''.

[Carl]

I myself am an atheistic Wiccan, which I've mentioned a few times. Wicca has many different sects pretty much all of which I know absolutely nothing about. Many of them worship a Goddess, some a God alongside her, some a God by himself. I personally don't believe in any gods at all (thus the "atheistic" part), and my Wiccan heritage/aspects don't really have much impact on my life at all. There's the one rule, "If it harm none, do as ye will." I've kind of always lived by that even before I knew it was the rule. Wicca doesn't typically involve wickedness or dark magick of any kind, but of course there are those who will attempt to go that road. I lean heavily towards the "atheistic/non-practicing" side, though.

I investigate things myself before coming to any conclusions. Organized religions are typically too "don't ask, just listen" for my liking, and I simply don't see any reason to believe in a god, can't find any evidence in my life or investigations to support such a thing. I have some evidence (even if it's just experiences I've had) for what I do believe. That said, I also can't prove there isn't a god of any kind and I certainly don't mind people believing in them.

My general stance is, believe what you want, but don't force it on others in any way, and we're good. As the rule I stated goes, "if it harm none, do as ye will." That's my motto.

[SlayerOfLight]

Ah I see, makes sense. I kinda thought Wicca was all about casting spells and stuff like Harry Potter (LOL!) but now that you mention it, atheistic wicca reminds me a little of atheistic Satanism.

[Carl]

There are some spells and magick involved, but I mean, it's nothing like Harry Potter. It's more about the kind of energy you put off. For example, what little practicing we do is reading tarot cards for ourselves (which we take with a grain of salt) and when a place feels wrong or "evil" we will cleanse the area with incense and salt to ward off evil (it seems to work). We occasionally try to cast spells to improve things for people (never to hurt people or do anything Harry Potter-like), but it doesn't usually seem to have any effect on things. That's pretty much the extent of it for us.

However, others focus more on the "magick" part and spell-casting, rather than the basics, and some of them get rather weird about it. Technically Wiccans are called witches, but there's not as much practicing of magick in my family.

Personally, I think most of what magick I have experienced will someday be scientifically explained (probably won't be called magick then) as none of it involves flashing lights or transformation or flying on brooms or any of that, and instead is mostly the energy/atmoshpere/that kind of thing. It's probably got a logical explanation somewhere. And in general, for those who are familiar with Star Wars, I feel that what we'd call magick is more akin to the Force, but obviously without the jedi/sith powers, sadly. It's just an energy that can be influenced, I guess.

And obviously none of you have to believe any of that, just further explanation from my experience for anyone who is curious.