The Atheist Alliance 2.0 Page 2

Started by Phantom April 25th, 2014 8:34 PM
  • 11662 views
  • 140 replies

Danny0317

Fluorite's back, brah

Age 23
Male
Seen February 19th, 2021
Posted March 11th, 2017
1,067 posts
9.9 Years
Were you raised without religion? Or did you chose to leave it? Would you be willing to share why, if yes?

My family was Catholic, and then my mom and brother turned Christian. At the age of 11 I decided that it was complete ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥, and good thing I did. I'm still the only atheist in my family, and I think it's a bit sad my 4 year old sister is being raised the "Christian way" but oh well. When I was smaller, my mom would make me go to church everyday. When I was 10, I did my first Communion, which sucked lol. My mom still makes me go to church every sunday, and Friday, I talked her out of going today. One time, a few months ago, I told my mom, who knows I'm an atheist that I did not want to go to church, and I went to the top bunk of my bunk bed, and sorta said that no matter what I won't go, and I ended up getting a shoe to the face :/

Also I got a name change, so if you can please change that in the first post that would be awesome :)
(I used to be Ninja Surskit)

Phantom

Uh, I didn't do it

Age 32
Female
Minnesota
Seen September 18th, 2017
Posted September 18th, 2017
1,182 posts
11.8 Years
Also I got a name change, so if you can please change that in the first post that would be awesome :)
(I used to be Ninja Surskit)
Done!

Are you a person that is open to religious discussion, or are you the type that wishes they could be just left alone?

MurkMire

Toxic Terror

Age 31
Male
Somewhere dark, cold, and quiet.
Seen April 3rd, 2023
Posted October 10th, 2022
901 posts
11.6 Years
Are you a person that is open to religious discussion, or are you the type that wishes they could be just left alone?

As a child born into faith, and having grown up to become an atheist, I just prefer to be left alone. Don't get me wrong, I'd like to get along with everyone, but... past experiences get me really frustrated and angry when someone tries to lecture me about not being religious.

MurkMire

Toxic Terror

Age 31
Male
Somewhere dark, cold, and quiet.
Seen April 3rd, 2023
Posted October 10th, 2022
901 posts
11.6 Years
Worst argument for religion you ever heard?

One of two. Dumb, and... good gourd.

"If we evolved from monkeys, why are there still monkeys?"

And I was randomly asked (by my own mother) how the first man and woman came to be. Yes.

You can't make this crap up.

Kanzler

naughty biscotti

Male
Toronto
Seen April 22nd, 2022
Posted March 11th, 2022
5,957 posts
14.8 Years
Joining/inviting myself!

I've been atheist since the longest time. Lately I've been pursuing Buddhism to gain greater insight into the world and my own life.

I'm not really a fan of atheist youtube because they don't seem to promote a compassionate attitude towards others. Mostly it's just bashing more fundamentalist, conservative aspects of religion. It's not very humble or introspective either - it's directed outwardly, about other people's beliefs rather than a personal understanding. That's just how I see it, anyways.

In general, I'm more so on PervertedPika's and Murkmire's side of things. I don't really give my atheism much "groupness" - in that I try not to make it a big deal, a cleavage between some people and others (there are only two kinds of people in the world...).

Worst argument for religion you ever heard?

How do we even define religion? Because Buddhism is commonly considered to be a religion, ever since I began practising it the issue of what is and isn't religion has become more thorny.

I would say the belief in miracles is a pretty poor argument. Miracles are supernatural, yet certain especially extraordinary instances of miracles should be believed because it's written in a holy book and that confirms the miracle worker to be the son of God? It doesn't hold much water, but belief in the resurrection is a core belief of Christianity.
Female
Seen November 29th, 2015
Posted November 28th, 2015
18 posts
9 Years
Hey, joining!

You know, I used to be a Christian. I totally believed in it too, thought there was a God and a Jesus and everything. But about when I hit puberty (bigggg time in my life) I got skeptical.

You see, I read a ton of books, get good grades, and basically consider myself pretty smart. I couldn't help but note the flaws in religious logic that I started noticing once I paid attention, and my lack of faith only grew from there. I stopped attending church entirely because it seemed pointless, and eventually realized I just wasn't a believer.

I get asked a lot by my Christian friends, "Where do atheists go when they die?"

My usual answer is, "The same place as everyone else."

You see, I don't like to be insulting, but I get insulted a lot by religion. It insults my intelligence, and tells me to just go along with it. That's why I'm an atheist, in a nutshell.

Phantom

Uh, I didn't do it

Age 32
Female
Minnesota
Seen September 18th, 2017
Posted September 18th, 2017
1,182 posts
11.8 Years
Joining/inviting myself!

I've been atheist since the longest time. Lately I've been pursuing Buddhism to gain greater insight into the world and my own life.
Welcome! And you're in! Buddhism is an interesting belief system, and much of it is basic philosophy studies. It's one of my personal interests when it comes to research.

Hey, joining!

You know, I used to be a Christian. I totally believed in it too, thought there was a God and a Jesus and everything. But about when I hit puberty (bigggg time in my life) I got skeptical.

You see, I read a ton of books, get good grades, and basically consider myself pretty smart. I couldn't help but note the flaws in religious logic that I started noticing once I paid attention, and my lack of faith only grew from there. I stopped attending church entirely because it seemed pointless, and eventually realized I just wasn't a believer.

I get asked a lot by my Christian friends, "Where do atheists go when they die?"

My usual answer is, "The same place as everyone else."

You see, I don't like to be insulting, but I get insulted a lot by religion. It insults my intelligence, and tells me to just go along with it. That's why I'm an atheist, in a nutshell.

Welcome to the club!

I hear you. Religion asks us to be its sheep, and in some cases that is quite the literal term.
Female
Seen August 19th, 2015
Posted November 21st, 2014
45 posts
9.3 Years
Ooohh, can I join?!

I think I'm actually more anti religion or anti theism than atheist, but I'm still exploring. I'm not really in a rush to categorize myself either way....
I usually just answer "ATHEIST." with a straight face because it shuts people up pretty quick. Honestly, I usually avoid most atheist groups, because they're frequently made up of white male ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥s. I would love if there was a safe space for secularists of color.

To answer the previous questions, my family is Catholic, and we were all raised as such. But I've thought it was ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ since hmm... Around sixth grade? Basically, I thought it was all rather silly and pointless. A waste of time.
Like, if you really think about it, you start noticing things that aren't quite right. That, and I have issues with authority, so being told I had to obey this great, invisible deity just didn't sit well with me. I still go to church and ♥♥♥♥, but I'm in college, and I need my parents to help pay tuition. They'd rather lie to myself than think/accept that I don't consider myself Catholic.

But I usually prefer to not discuss religion with religious people because it gets real ugly real fast. My friend and I are super insensitive about religion, so we just avoid it around religious friends. Truthfully, I think most such discussions are unproductive. They go around in circles, and everyone's unhappy by the end of it.

Yep, that was long.... :P




Broncos

Jesus take the wheel

Male
Seen February 2nd, 2016
Posted February 1st, 2016
64 posts
9.5 Years
I don't like to put myself in a category when it comes to a lot of things especially religion. If I were to, I'd say I'm more of an agnostic-atheist with a mixture of humanism somewhere in the mix.
The god idea in my opinion is more multi-dimensional and sometimes hard for me to explain.

Though this is a topic I find myself avoiding nowadays (I've had many many discussions, arguments, and whatnot with pea-brains in the past) - I would be more than happy to add any sort of contribution to this thread. Many of the members here are really young and would be nice to potentially answer some of their questions.
FC: 2294―4675―4837

Phantom

Uh, I didn't do it

Age 32
Female
Minnesota
Seen September 18th, 2017
Posted September 18th, 2017
1,182 posts
11.8 Years
Ooohh, can I join?!
Of course you can!

Though, I will admit, a few things you've said concern me.

Honestly, I usually avoid most atheist groups, because they're frequently made up of white male ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥s. I would love if there was a safe space for secularists of color.
I have... no idea where you got this from. I've never heard this from anywhere else... ever.

Actually, from most research I've seen, by population alone...

I would be more than happy to add any sort of contribution to this thread. Many of the members here are really young and would be nice to potentially answer some of their questions.
Welcome then. Shall I add you to the list... and also...

"Many of the members here are really young"

Oi, watch it, old fart here.
Female
Seen August 19th, 2015
Posted November 21st, 2014
45 posts
9.3 Years
I have... no idea where you got this from. I've never heard this from anywhere else... ever.

Actually, from most research I've seen, by population alone...
In my experience (and this is limited to the US, so my commentary is focused on that), I have witnessed/encountered hostility from other atheist/agnostic people, who usually happen to be white males. I have seen this on social media (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) and on other sites (news sites, blogs). (I have entirely avoided these groups in real life.) These experiences aren't isolated incidents either; I have met other people of color who were atheist also express discomfort in the secular community at large - in real life and online. The loudest voices in the secular community have said and done a lot of problematic things. It becomes increasingly difficult if you are a woman, if you are queer, and/or if you are non-white to find/create a safe space in that said community, thus my wariness. Hope that helps you understand what I was referring to.




Phantom

Uh, I didn't do it

Age 32
Female
Minnesota
Seen September 18th, 2017
Posted September 18th, 2017
1,182 posts
11.8 Years
In my experience (and this is limited to the US, so my commentary is focused on that), I have witnessed/encountered hostility from other atheist/agnostic people, who usually happen to be white males. I have seen this on social media (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) and on other sites (news sites, blogs). (I have entirely avoided these groups in real life.) These experiences aren't isolated incidents either; I have met other people of color who were atheist also express discomfort in the secular community at large - in real life and online. The loudest voices in the secular community have said and done a lot of problematic things. It becomes increasingly difficult if you are a woman, if you are queer, and/or if you are non-white to find/create a safe space in that said community, thus my wariness. Hope that helps you understand what I was referring to.
This is something called generalization, and it's this attitude that leads to the treatment of many people, in manners that would be best left unsaid.

This is your first strike. Two more and you will be removed from the club and your posts reported.

I will not tolerate the language you have used so far, and it has been an issue brought to me by other members of the club. All I see is blatant racism.

Atheism has nothing to do with race, sexual orientation or anything of the like.

Hell, I break your little stereotypes listed being a lesbian atheist. I'm sorry if you've had bad experiences in the past, but that does not give you any excuse to barge in here throwing stereotypes and generalizations everywhere like party favors.

You do not know us, and, so far? I see none of this generalization happening here, nor will I tolerate it being introduced in the group. We have been conversing politely thus far, even with the occasional believer. You want a 'safe zone', then consider this one.

Atheism comes in all shapes and colors and nationalities.

Arylett Charnoa

No one in particular.

Age 31
Female
Seen January 5th, 2023
Posted October 18th, 2017
1,130 posts
9.2 Years
I suppose I will join this club.

I am an atheist and have been one ever since I was 11 years old. Before that, I was too young to have a religion of my own. Whilst I don't completely discount the existence of a God, I think it is highly unlikely and don't believe it myself. The topic of religion is one I avoid because when people start talking about it, it makes me feel very uncomfortable rather like the feeling that somebody is trying to draw me into some sort of strange creepy cult. It's just my emotional response though. I do not ever mean to disrespect others, and will tolerate your religion as long as you never mention it in an uncomfortable context and don't try to force it upon me. Even if I do think that religion is a pointless relic from times where things were less understood. People can still think whatever they want to think. If it brings them comfort and happiness, then who am I to judge?

But how did I come to not believe in a world where I was surrounded by it? First off, my parents were never really all that strongly religious. They just are because it's sort of a common "everyone" thing in many parts of this place still. Whilst I was made to go to church when I was younger, eventually my parents stopped going all together for reasons unknown to me. As a child, I was too young to understand it. And as I grew up, I realized I just didn't care for it at all in the same way I saw a few others doing so. It made no sense to me when I thought of it (and realized that I don't believe in the concepts of good and evil and think that it is based on perspective, so Christianity specifically wouldn't even fit into that), so I disregarded it as a thing.

Then for the rest of my life, I didn't ever think of it much again unless somebody brought it up. If somebody tries to bring it up, I'll tell the truth. And if they try to argue with me, I ignore them because it's pointless and I don't care enough to waste my time in things that will go nowhere.
Female
Seen November 29th, 2015
Posted November 28th, 2015
18 posts
9 Years
Were you raised without religion? Or did you chose to leave it? Would you be willing to share why, if yes?
I was very much raised with religion, as I've said before. In my joining post, I mentioned becoming a skeptic, but I'm willing to elaborate.

You see, I have heard that many people lose faith when something bad happens to them or their families. This is what happened to me, although I didn't realize it until later. The event that started what would eventually be my loss of faith was my parents getting divorced.

At the time, I was young and believed in God, but it didn't seem fair that he'd let such a thing happen. I thought about it a lot, and eventually began to doubt his very existence while distancing myself from religion.

I think the moment when I was truly an atheist and no longer a member of the church, however, was when I chose not to get confirmed. It was my decision to make and I was very proud of myself afterwards. I don't like to lie to myself, and I think being an atheist is one of the best ways to be totally honest with oneself.

The Void

hiiiii

Male
MOTHA RUSSIA
Seen May 29th, 2019
Posted August 9th, 2015
1,416 posts
13 Years
Worst argument for religion you ever heard?

"Because the Bible says so" when debating with non-Christians. Don't get me wrong -- I'm Christian myself, and I deeply love my faith and all my fellow Christians, but I just hate it when Christians give a bad image of Christianity.

I guess that's why I sometimes even enjoy satirical videos on Christianity like those made by EdwardCurrent. I sometimes wonder if I'm going to hell for that.
Όφις ην μη φάγη όφιν, δράκων ου γενήσεται.

Lunaris Adamantine

Age 32
Florida
Seen October 12th, 2022
Posted April 1st, 2016
169 posts
9.2 Years
I would like to join this club, as I am an atheist as well. Been one since... a long time ago. I dunno, somewhere around 6 or 7 years old or something.

The reason being? I was raised in a heavily Mormon environment, and for the first 10 or so years of my life I had the bible, and other Mormon bible book things, forced onto me. While at first I believed the stuff, it didn't take me long before I realized how ridiculous the bible actually was. I honestly don't understand how anyone can read that thing and take it seriously. I have a hard time believing some omnipotent guy creating everything, or the ideas of heaven and hell and all that.

I certainly don't have anything against religious people, though. It's kinda hard to avoid being religious when it's been around for so long anyways. Religion isn't really a bad thing anyways. Though I will admit, I'd prefer a world without it.

Worst argument for religion you ever heard?

The whole banana as proofs of gods existence, cause apparently only a god could design such a perfect fruit for human consumption. Here's a video for kicks and giggles.

Phantom

Uh, I didn't do it

Age 32
Female
Minnesota
Seen September 18th, 2017
Posted September 18th, 2017
1,182 posts
11.8 Years
I would like to join this club, as I am an atheist as well. Been one since... a long time ago. I dunno, somewhere around 6 or 7 years old or something.
Good reasoning. Welcome to the Club, my friend. Added.

Note to all members, I've edited the guidelines, so please check and understand the club rules. kthanks. :D

Poki

Banned

България
Seen February 20th, 2020
Posted September 21st, 2015
2,423 posts
9.8 Years
Worst argument for religion you ever heard?

It has to be "But the Bible/*insertanythingreligious* says so!". If someone pulls that ♥♥♥♥ on me, chances are I'll stop having a debate with them, because it would be a huge waste of time. They'd buy anything their 2000y/o book says, completely ignoring facts, science, and all that ''nonsense''.

If one religion in the world, one, was real, which one would you hope it to be?

Buddhism, probably. It just seems like the religion with the least BS going on.

infranto

[color=grey][i]When it rains, it pours.[/i][/color]

Age 31
Male
UK
Seen March 7th, 2023
Posted February 6th, 2021
56 posts
9.7 Years
Hello,

I'd love to join this group and contribute to discussions on a regular basis.

I was an agnostic throughout the majority of my life, however due to events that have happened in my life, negative ones which have impacted my faith, I have become an Atheist.

The majority of people I speak to who are atheists seem to share my perspective on religion as a whole. They see religion as nothing but faith, which I completely agree with. They, like myself have had their faith taken away by traumatic experiences, which has deeply affected our lives and our faith in the existence of any god/higher power. It seems that most people who are atheists actually become one due to them losing their faith. At least that is what I have noticed and is my perception towards people who have disbelief towards god/a higher power.

Another view I have towards atheism is that the majority of atheists are intelligent people or at least people who believe that without factual evidence supporting the views and beliefs of religion, it cannot really exist. That religion itself is nothing more than a story conjured by numerous people over a long period of time. That each religion has been twisted and manipulated by certain individuals separate beliefs and values. In summary, it's far more logical and the evidence supports that there is no higher power/correct religion.

I apologise if what I wrote didn't make sense, it's currently 2.55am here and my mind is in disarray haha.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1VMllaHDEsSNGbUJW1bymA

Kanzler

naughty biscotti

Male
Toronto
Seen April 22nd, 2022
Posted March 11th, 2022
5,957 posts
14.8 Years
If one religion in the world, one, was real, which one would you hope it to be?
Buddhism is real foo :P

I mean it doesn't really involve belief in the supernatural so I guess it's by definition as real as it gets. They say a lot about the Buddha, but I treat them as Chuck Norris jokes.

Poki

Banned

България
Seen February 20th, 2020
Posted September 21st, 2015
2,423 posts
9.8 Years
Have you ever run into an issue because of your disbelief? Discrimination?

Years ago, I had a Christian friend, who started a huge argument with me when I told him that I am an Atheist. After a few "ur going to hell u stupid ♥♥♥♥♥"-like phrases, he deleted me. I haven't heard from him ever since. Good ♥♥♥♥ing riddance, I say.