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Atheist / Agnostic Betrayed Spouses

25K views 268 replies 49 participants last post by  GusPolinski 
#1 ·
It seems like those with religion can grasp onto that and pray and trust that their god will deliver them from the pain of being a BS. What can atheists and agnostics use? You can't pray to science. You can't expect the Universe to deliver you from your pain. I think I'm feeling jealous of other's faith even though I have no desire to have faith in a god myself.
 
#89 ·
Oh hey! I could do that too!

Also, not being a nice girl. lmao. I'm great at that :p

Wow, Wysh! We have so many hobbies we never knew we had!

But back to that guy's post up there (still saying WOW :eek:) ...being raised Catholic doesn't make a person Catholic. It's not a race.
 
#99 ·
Again, SO off topic.

I don't know why Christians think that their beliefs are weakened when other people don't believe in their fairy tales.

There is no proof of god no more than there is proof of unicorns or trolls.

Greek mythology is also true then...if one god can be true then ALL gods can be true.

But no. Christians think they hold the key because their book tells them so.

Delusional. Sorry but it's delusional.

I always wonder about their faith too. If a homeless man started spouting off about being God and having a new book, he'd probably be dismissed by the same people who say they have faith.

And your opinions mean nothing. You have no facts, data or proof that god exists. The bible is not proof. Good things happening is not proof.
 
#102 ·
And your opinions mean nothing. You have no facts, data or proof that god exists. The bible is not proof. Good things happening is not proof.
I want proof that the christian god is real and all others are wrong.

I HATE the fact that if you aren't christian you are going to hell. Even if you believe in another diety. What makes them the "right" ones?? If anything, Jewish people are right since JC was Jewish! lol

It doesn't matter what one calls "god" it is all the same, IMO.

The universe, Buddha, Jehovah, Muhammad, Thor, Zeus ........really who cares.

The thing that matters is the human experience. Organized religion just seems to bring hate and death.
 
#106 ·
It's impossible for people to have a "insert whatever belief here" without a Christian being offended and trying to say we're wrong and we should look into things to find the truth.

I am happy in my life. I know what I know. I don't try to shove my beliefs down someone's throat but will share if asked.

Your condescending tone is soooo typical of every Christian I've ever known in my life. I don't need your approval to live my life without your god.
 
#107 ·
For those who believe... With respect to this thread, it's probably just about time to "shake loose the dust from your feet"...

Posted via Topify using iPhone/iPad
 
#109 ·
This statement is actually pretty offensive to me as a Christian. I would not insult an "imaginary figure" (as I'm sure you figure my God is) that you worshiped and who was your whole life. I mean, really? Why do you have to say it like that? Why can't you just say "I prefer not to believe in God"?
I don't bash people for believing in christianity. People have the right to believe whatever they choose to find their own path.

But I take plenty of liberty to rip apart the actual content of the religion itself. I don't care if you're offended by that. I'm offended by the whole notion of christianity and its tenants. I find it horrific but I don't expect that to be of interest to you.

I'm offended by any religion that personifies the creator with a male gender. I'm offended by a religion that specifies the creator to be a white guy. I'm offended by a religion that suggests its ok to subjugate women...that has no women prophets. I'm offended by a religion that has no respect for other belief systems. I'm offended by a religion that's been used to justify some of the most vile things that one human being can do to another...rape, incest, burnings, cruxifications, murders, slavery, war, etc.

So I'm not interested in propping up the christian religion. If you choose to believe, however, I wouldn't say you are wrong. I have no idea what inspires you or what you need to find enlightenment.

Other than that...i'll say about christianity whatever the H-E- double hockey sticks I feel like saying.
 
#114 ·
I HATE the fact that if you aren't christian you are going to hell. Even if you believe in another diety. What makes them the "right" ones?? If anything, Jewish people are right since JC was Jewish! lol
This is the main issue with the christian marketing campaign. It only works on people who are intrinsically afraid. It doesn't work as well on people who are curious about the world.

They use subtle threats to scare you into their belief system. You're going to hell...hurry and repent so your sins are forgiven...you'll be alone....etc, etc, etc.

In reality, when I look at christianity, the only thing that really scares me is a) their version of god and b) the idea of hanging out with eternity with most of the fervently religious people I've met.

If I compare burning in hell...compared with hanging out for the rest of eternity with the nutbags I've seen in tent revivals... I'm choosing the fire. At least my eardrums will be charred and I won't have to listen to any vomit-inducing bible music.

In all seriousness, I cannot take any religion seriously who's marketing campaign is "worship our horror of a made-up god or burn in hell." There's nothing enlightening, or humanistic, or loving, or good, or kind about that. I'm not afraid of anything but the idea that that's all that the next life has to offer. And if that's all the nightmare that awaits us all. I'll choose hell over hanging out with anyone that supports that type of god.
 
#115 ·
If I was a Christian I could never ever enjoy my eternal life in heaven knowing that some people are burning in hell for ever.

I would imagine barbecues are not a popular family choice in heaven.
 
#118 ·
If I was a Christian I could never ever enjoy my eternal life in heaven knowing that some people are burning in hell for ever.
I think many people who have worshipped such belief systems throughout the ages stay attached to the immoral and horror of tenants of the religions because of a sense of misguided superiority.

ie. I am chosen...we're in a club...not everyone gets in...worship or die...I'm superior to those who aren't in the gang...etc.

Its typical group-think mentality that leads to some many of the horrors of the human condition. We unfortunately often seek to separate ourselves and revel in the few things that make us different...rather than to celebrate our common humanity and all the far greater things that make us the same.

Just another reason why the christian belief system is something I could never de-evolve myself into practicing. The truth is that I hope for far more for humanity than something so horrific after we move from this existence and into the next.
 
#119 ·
Pam, know what I think you need? Some sushi with a kick a$s friend-- or whatever you like, I love sushi-- and a new hair style.

I swear. Those two things will do wonders. If you aren't looking at the same old Pam in the mirror, then you are not the same old Pam.

I got a new color during my troubles right now. Bright red. Yup. Rawr.
 
#120 ·
I have to laugh whenever some fervently christian person brings up the concept of "willful ignorance."

I would describe most agnostics or atheists I know as willfully curious...which is a good thing to be. We have a very developed brain and the natural need to use it...seems unnatural not to.

And speaking of "willful ignorance". What do you call a group of people that WILLFULLY IGNORE data...like the fossil record (evolution), or the human genome (gay people are born that way), or even the temp on a thermometer (yea, global warming is real).

What they're ticked about is that you have the nerve to actually form an opinion based on data and humanistic values.

How dare you, you terrible agnostics and atheists...how dare you use data. Bad, bad, naughty people!
 
#123 ·
If one was to look at the years from 1900 till about the year 2000, one would find that roughly 94 million people died under an ideology that dismissed the concept of God. An additional 28 million died under fascism.
 
#121 ·
IMO Christians have a long tradition of prayers, teachings and scriptures that address the issue of pain that extends to the Jewish traditions recorded in the Torah.

On the other hand pain and evil are hard questions to answer from whatever perspective you hold.

I was an atheist. I read quite a bit from various perspectives on pain and evil, theologians, philosophers, etc. But my conclusion is there is no real answer. I do believe that Christianity has a good answer to this but it certainly does not answer the question completely.

There are mysteries that we have not answered and perhaps will never be able to answer.

As far as faith I believe everyone oozes with faith. We all walk and live by faith. When a person gets out of bed in the morning, do they check to see if someone has cut a hole in the floor? Do you hold your breath and test the air to make sure it is not poisened? We breath by faith, we get out of bed by faith. For me it is not an issue of faith but rather the object of our faith that is important, but that is really not the question of this thread.

I have found in my previous years of ministry in dealing with folks from various religious and non-religious backgrounds that folks who have religious views tend to cope better then those who don't.

My view does not dismiss some of the valid criticisms about Christianity that have been brought up in this thread.

But the OP does reflect what research has shown, that religion can bring comfort, and those folks tend to cope better in times of distress.
 
#131 ·
Not this time. I know Mike Godwin. Mike Godwin is a friend of mine.
Senator, you're no Mike Godwin.

There is also "Stead's Law", which states when two or more pagans have a discussion it will eventually come around to Christianity.
 
#127 ·
Being I don't believe that any "God" is responsible for the good or bad in my life why would I need to pray to one to get comfort and relief.
The bad that has happened in my life I can directly connect to either A. the cruelty and selfishness of people or B. My own dumb actions

The good that has happened is A. the kindness of others(some may say God put those people in a position to help me sorry that's bunk) or B. My hard work

I have said it here before if you find religion helps you, makes you a better person than I am happy for you anywhere you find comfort and solace in this world is a good thing just not something I need.
 
#130 ·
I determined I was an atheist at a particularly vulnerable time in my life - the same time that I discovered porn. I was 13 years old and was....er... 'reading' my way through my brother's vintage playboy collection when I came across an interview with Ayn Rand in the March 1964 issue. It peaked my interest enough that I actually did read the article. Didn't understand most of it but enough got through that I realized her philosophy might provide a rebuke for the extreme guilt I felt everytime I 'read' my brother's collection.

A couple years years later I came across the following quote by Rand:

"(The Doctrine of Original Sin) declares that (man) ate the fruit of the tree of knowledge - he acquired a mind and became a rational being. It was the knowledge of good and evil - he became a moral being/ He was sentenced to earn his bread by his labor - he became a productive being. He was sentenced to experience desire - he acquired the capacity of sexual enjoyment. The evils for which (the preachers) damn him are reason, morality, creativeness joy - all the cardinal values of his existence."

Once I understood this, my guilt over my unorthodox reading habits disappeared and I knew I was home.
 
#134 ·
I determined I was an atheist at a particularly vulnerable time in my life - the same time that I discovered porn.
This may very well be the funniest f*cking thing that I've read so far this year.
 
#133 ·
I am a Christian. So why can’t I give my opinion to the OP in my own way without being attacked by those who do not believe in God? OP just delete it if it offends you.

When I read this thread and see the way the Christians are attacked and hated, I am really thrown aback. Now I see firsthand how and why so many Christians were killed (and are still being killed) for their faith. Mention the name of Jesus Christ and look out - anger from the non-believers.

OP or any other non-believer - just pray to God and call on the name of Jesus Christ. If you don't hear anything back - then what damage has been done?

Or OP, go to a Church that is built on the foundation of Jesus Christ - and then, do the same thing. If you don't hear anything, what damage has been done? Maybe you will find rest there - maybe you will find comfort there? For where when many gather in his name, He is there among them - You will feel his presence. It is like an invisible energy that is very difficult to describe – but, it feels so good.

Believe it or not, there are many that go to a Christian Church and do not believe - yet, they keep on coming for the fellowship with other people. Many are married to Christians and want to just go to Church with their significant other.

I tell you that it is a lie propagated by ignorance to believe that all Christians condemn non-Christians to Hell. How ridiculous is that? It is very clear within the Christian belief - that only Jesus Christ will judge in the end. For all I know, everyone here on earth will go to heaven. For me to make a judgment as to someone else’s destination after death is absolutely worthless. I actually desire all to go to heaven.

Just in case no one here knows who Jesus Christ is - he is the Son of the living God, he has been declared by God to be equal with God so he therefore is God, and he is Equal with and is the Holy Spirit. This was declared by God.

Jesus just also happens to be the most popular / greatest Man who ever lived on this earth - He is not a fairytale and was real as can be. Many have tried to disprove his existence but they could not. Also, its not like he lived a million years ago - it was just 2000 years ago (just 20 - 100 year life spans) What makes him so popular is that he is the one who was unjustly condemned to death on a cross, he was crucified, buried, and then most importantly - he rose from the dead just as predicted in the Old Testament – Death could not defeat him - and this is why he is regarded the greatest Man who ever lived. This fact is TRUE and no one here can deny that. So what does the year 2014 mean?? I bet everyone here knows!

I do promise, this will be my last post on this thread.
 
#136 ·
Well to be fair Aspydad the thread was about Atheist/Agnostic betrayed spouses. Then some Christians came in and started wagging their fingers and complaining. Why didn't they just butt out?

If they hadn't poked their noses into other peoples business there would have been no issue.

And why are you posting your claptrap in an atheist agnostic thread?
 
#137 ·
I use people and myself.

Since I don't expect God to deliver me from pain, I open myself up to people. Sometimes this means more pain but it's part of being human. At the same time, opening up to people means I am not alone, I'm not just me dealing with whatever I'm dealing with. These people may ore may not deliver me from pain but they remind me of my humanity, that I don't suffer alone.

Since I don't believe, my prayers manifest into me thinking how I can make situation better. It seems circular, but if I can verbalize what I want out loud (or sometimes in my head often enough), I often see the solution in front of me. This doesn't mean that I can use it right away---but it's there when I ultimately need it.

I felt the same sense of unfairness that people of faith have something to lean on and I don't--until I realized that I can do the exact same things they do without placing a supernatural element on it. I rely on my community to support me, I look for the best path to present itself and I will myself to take it.
 
#178 ·
I tell my sons that being an Atheist is a hard road to travel if you're a moral person with a concious. Your "sin's" cannot be absolved by a higher authority, you cannot blame natures acts of cruelty on "Gods will" and you will be misunderstood by the weak minded. It's a lonely path that takes courage and inner strength to navigate.
 
#139 ·
" It seems like those with religion can grasp onto that and pray and trust that their god will deliver them from the pain of being a BS. What can atheists and agnostics use? You can't pray to science. You can't expect the Universe to deliver you from your pain. I think I'm feeling jealous of other's faith even though I have no desire to have faith in a god myself."

I'd rather learn to get through ALL of life's difficulties by growing as a person and becoming more self-sufficient/independent, instead of relying on something I consider to be a fairy tale to comfort me like I'm a toddler.

In my view, praying and waiting for some higher power to ease my pain and make my living situation better is just too passive.

Life is what WE make of the circumstances and events that we find ourselves in...and we ourselves are the only cure or path forward that's available.
 
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