I was having lunch with an Atheist today...

[Mystic]

And we discussed religion a bit. She said no one believes in religion because it makes senses to them, how can religion make sense to them. And said how we believe because we want to feel someone is out there watching over us. I didn't really argue but I realized something. I had no ill feeling towards her for not believing in God, for her views on why I believe in God or why people believe in religion...I actually value her honesty to herself and where it has lead her.

And I realized there, I have no ill feeling toward Atheists for being Atheists or towards Atheism. I think she is a great person and would not think more of her if she believed in God.

Just a good day, a good lunch. I love people.

[Spooky]

This is how things should be. Good for you sir.

[Alex K]

Yeah, very nice!

[The Valkyrie]

I have Muslim and Jewish friends back in Oz. They get along fine so long as they don't talk about politics.

I also have Christian and atheist friends..

We can all get along. I don't have a problem with people's personal beliefs.

I have a problem with what some people do in the name of those beliefs, or lack thereof.

[Simon Moon]

Glad you had a nice lunch with your atheist friend!

I have many theist friends that I hang out with often, with similar results. Several of my theist friends and I go surfing together on a weekly basis.

On a side note, I see you changed your religious views to pantheist. Have your religious views and your view of divinity really changed that much in the last few weeks? Just curious.

[Mystic]

On a side note, I see you changed your religious views to pantheist. Have your religious views and your view of divinity really changed that much in the last few weeks? Just curious.

No, I just don't know how to categorize it. For about 12 years, I've been thinking everything is created from the essence of God and that he emits his own existence to create existence. And that realities get their reality from God and is a manifestation of God (partial manifestation of him). I don't know if Deism is correct for me if I think God actively lives inside everything and is part of everything while still being his separate entity.

I'm not sure if Pantheism correctly points to my view, but I think with my limited knowledge this is what pantheism is about when it says the universe is God, it's that God encompasses everything in existence.

[KevinM1]

The most important people in my life are theists of one stripe or another. How could I hate them?

[abaris]

The most important people in my life are theists of one stripe or another. How could I hate them?

It's interesting you're saying that, since I don't even know if the most important people in my life are theists or atheists. Religion is such a non issue in my parts that hardly anyone talks about it.

[Forsaken]

On a side note, I see you changed your religious views to pantheist. Have your religious views and your view of divinity really changed that much in the last few weeks? Just curious.

No, I just don't know how to categorize it. For about 12 years, I've been thinking everything is created from the essence of God and that he emits his own existence to create existence. And that realities get their reality from God and is a manifestation of God (partial manifestation of him). I don't know if Deism is correct for me if I think God actively lives inside everything and is part of everything while still being his separate entity.

I'm not sure if Pantheism correctly points to my view, but I think with my limited knowledge this is what pantheism is about when it says the universe is God, it's that God encompasses everything in existence.

Over the two years I have been with AF, I have seen your religious views change from atheist to deist to pantheism. It shows you are really digging deep in your beliefs. Cheers.

[KevinM1]

The most important people in my life are theists of one stripe or another. How could I hate them?

It's interesting you're saying that, since I don't even know if the most important people in my life are theists or atheists. Religion is such a non issue in my parts that hardly anyone talks about it.

Yeah, it's mostly that way here, too. But, that's because I live in New England where, for the most part, religion just isn't that big of a deal. There's the assumption that everyone believes in god to a certain extent, but it doesn't really pop up in conversation. So, that allows me and my lack of belief to just exist under the radar with little trouble. But, I realize that other areas of the country are much different in that regard.