[Serious] Book reports

[EgoDeath]

To be a member of an atheist forum do we really need to have a special interest in atheism or religion?

Can't we just be people who--happen to be--atheists who get together to talk together without Jesus being mentioned 2500 times per sentence?

I hear what you're saying... but I think that we're simply a long way away from that. If that were the case, I think there would be little need for a forum dedicated to atheism in the first place. Most, if not all, of us would simply belong to some topical forum or another, without ever really feeling the need to bring up religion or our lack of belief in any gods. I, too, look forward to the day when this is simply a non-issue, but I think we're generations away from that. Certainly, in my daily life, religion, or the concept of god isn't really something I'm thinking about, unless I'm specifically sitting down to read some material that may be related to, or about religion, which isn't too often.

So, for me, religion mostly is a non-issue in my life. However, I think AF is a place for folks to come and talk about their atheism in a way where they can be honest and free with their words. I think more than a few people on here don't exactly feel comfortable telling the people in their lives that they're atheists; I know of at least one or two people who said they live in the southern region of the USA and don't feel comfortable being "out" as an atheist. So this is, in a way, a sanctuary for some, and that's okay. A lot of people do take an interest in religion as well, even if they don't agree with any of its tenets.

Personally, I do take somewhat of an interest in religion. Even if I find it to be completely useless group of nonsensical ideas, I find it interesting that it influences so many people and has shaped our culture into what it is today. The fact is, plenty of people do find Christianity, for example, to be a deep and rich tradition that provides value and meaning to their lives. But that's the thing... it can be both. It can be a deep and rich tradition to you, and total nonsense to me.

While I've mostly found this thread to be an excuse for Belacqua to talk about how cool Christianity really is (and how all of us atheists are mistaken) I suppose I could contribute a bit.

I am going to be finally cracking open my copy of The Works of Josephus. I'll come back with any thoughts I have.