<p>All humans will one day long for their creator...eventually. Aren't atheists afraid and uneasy about the afterlife/herafter? What about "burning in hell."</p>
<p>No, I don't believe in God.</p>
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I just don't like it when religious people try to make me a convert or something of the sort.
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<p>I'd have to say that sometimes the reverse occurs fairly frequently as well. It seems some atheists go out of their way to challenge mono- or polytheists beliefs not for debate or earnest curiosity, but for shock value or insulting the aforementioned. </p>
<p>To be frank, I've seen a lot more atheists pushing their beliefs (or I suppose lack thereof) than I've seen Christians, Catholics, Muslims, etc. pushing theirs - with deliberate intent to insult theists. I can't count how many times, on CC alone, I've seen the "Only idiots believe in God." argument. </p>
<p>Both choices should be respected, and if either are explored - which is encouraged - it shouldn't be done so with malicious intent.</p>
<p>four arm, i used to live in Douglasville but recently moved to Cartersville.. i miss people <em>sniff</em></p>
<p>I'm thinking of becoming a Christian. That way, I won't be sent to Hell! Yay</p>
<p>^Pascal's Wager...</p>
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Yes, that's exactly my point. Sorry I didn't state that in my original question. If Christians believe that we need to adhere to most of God's "desires" (?) in order to go to heaven, then wouldn't it be unjust to send someone who is good and all but doesn't follow God's desires to hell? Wouldn't that make god a selfish, intolerant being? That's the impression I get from most Christians..but since I'm not religious..correct me if I'm wrong.
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<p>We actually discussed this point in our Philosophy-Morality class. And we concluded that "doing good" is God's will (whether you believe in Him or not), and that no supreme being would be so pretentious as to send someone to eternal damnation when his only crime was lack of belief. So, based on our opinions, if you are an atheist who made the world a better place, you will end up in Heaven (which isn't a place, but a state of being). </p>
<p>However, this is a Roman-Catholic school that I attend, and our views are often more liberal than those of others (made extra liberal by a student body capable of autonomous thinking). </p>
<p>PS: on the whole conversion thing, we concluded that "forced converting" is utterly self-defeating, as faith is only legitimate if it is sincere (not passive), which can only be brought about by internal (not external) processes (what you would call "subjective truth"). (ref. Kierkegaard)</p>
<p>No, I don't believe in God and I don't believe that religion is a good thing. Why would you make your kids go to church if you don't believe in God? You can instill your own morals in them, you don't need the church to do it for you.</p>
<p>No I think the only people that can actually believe in a God are at least somewhat intelligently disinclined. That being said, I have Christian friends who are very nice people, but the majority of people that I know that are religious are completely intolerant. I actually don't speak to a few of my family and things are tense with a lot of my family because I am atheist.</p>
<p>In the words of my stepfather "But Cody, you will go to hell!!!"</p>
<p>...</p>
<p>^ if there is a hell!?!?</p>
<p>Dukebound, are the Japanese scared of Mothra now that they don't believe in Godzilla?</p>
<p>^hahaha...</p>
<p>i don't believe in following set religious rules, but i do consider myself a believer of my gods(i was born hindu). i also try to be as moral as possible, but i don't need a bible to tell me how i ought to be. i think that putting your kids through it when you yourself don't believe is a little unfortunate and somewhat hypocritical..</p>
<p>i don't think religion is always about God..sometimes i get the feeling its like a bragging right, saying that you belong somewhere and if you're not with me then you don't belong. its a little pretentious, hence the reason why i don't like following set practicies. it just seems kinda obnoxious that God would want us to sacrifice things like our diet to show obedience. i think such traditions are more to show self-command....</p>
<p>well, all in all i think religion is for the humans more than for god...</p>
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WHY the **** is this back up? Do people just like pouring gas on an inevitable flame war?
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Word.</p>
<p>Well, it's amusing to see the same people make the same arguments over and over (no offense/implications intended to anyone in particular)</p>
<p>Like the saying goes Hopeful, "And on the 8th day, Man created God"</p>
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To be frank, I've seen a lot more atheists pushing their beliefs (or I suppose lack thereof) than I've seen Christians, Catholics, Muslims, etc. pushing theirs - with deliberate intent to insult theists. I can't count how many times, on CC alone, I've seen the "Only idiots believe in God." argument.
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<p>I totally agree, I have a friend like that and it really annoys me.
I'm agnostic but I lean religious. I think there is a God and most religions are true (for a relative time frame of human intellectual capacity) but I can't say that definitively. No one can prove God since proving God is knowing(understanding) God. and if you know God, you are a God yourself. I just live religiously(not christian or any other faith mentioned here) because it protects the quality of my life. I don't have to worry about any addictions etc.</p>
<p>humans trying to understand a higher power is like an animal trying to understand a human. We might be able to individually recognize him but we can't communicate our faith to others. It's personal. and, like an animal, we can not understand the logic and thinking of the higher power.</p>
<p>I'm agnostic but I think religion is good for some people because they believe in something and that something helps them tell what's right and wrong because if there weren't religions people would do a lot more bad stuff</p>
<p>OP, i think you are confusing nice and friendly again. like you were before.</p>
<p>I find it odd that on an intellectual forum like this, we have people suggesting that without religion people would not be able to control addictions and other urges, and otherwise lead a morally "right" life. It is insulting as well to imply that I am immoral because I don't believe in a god.</p>
<p>i'm not saying you're immoral i'm not immoral i just think it helps a lot of people who are motivated by religion</p>
<p>I agree, you don't go to hell for not believing but doing good.</p>
<p>The point of converting is really to cleanse and avoid sin. Remember, repent, and repeat.
I don't believe other religions go to hell because they're specifically not Christian. So, why force other religions to convert to Christianity? They have the same morals and similar foundations. I just hate how other religions argue how they're right and other religions are wrong, and then war occurs.
Likewise, many people who say they're Christian, but don't believe or apply his doctrines possibly go to Hell... But, I'm not all to sure how that works :P</p>
<p>I may be wrong.</p>