New member

[Jillybean]

Hi all.  I deconverted years ago from a strict Catholic background and spent a considerable amount of time researching the history of Catholic Church atrocities around the world.  As you can imagine, I made endless horrifying discoveries including the actions of the Church in my own country (Canada) - where in the past few years the bodies of thousands of indigenous children were found in unmarked graves at former Catholic residential schools. 

I consider myself to be possibly an agnostic theist--however most religious people would consider me to be an atheist because I disbelieve in the existence of the Abrahamic God, but I do hold out hope for some kind of higher consciousness in the world, even if that only consists of the "thousand unseen helping hands" of Joseph Campbell - basically humans acting together for good.  I was an agnostic atheist until a religious/spiritual experience a few years ago shook my disbelief and I experienced the perception of a seemingly benevolent presence that radiated humour and love and delight.  It certainly could have been my imagination (I'm skeptical myself) but was very powerful.  And no- there were no mind-altering events or substances involved, lol.  And no - I don't consider that presence to in any way resemble conventional depictions of a God.

So why join an atheist forum?  I find that in other forums, any criticism of religion gets shut down whereas religious people and even extremists are allowed a voice.  I am opposed to most organized religions, pseudoscience, and especially to fundamentalism/zealotry and its influence on government and the law.  I am horrified by recent events worldwide, especially the bans on legal abortion in the USA (which I see as motivated only by religion, as the science is clear that fetuses have no capacity for human-like thought until the development of the cerebral cortex at 5-6 months).  Religious erosion of women's rights and the persecution of minority groups is happening around the world.  Humanity seems to be going backwards these days.... Anyway, would appreciate a friendly hello from anyone who cares to respond in a kind and civilized way.

Welcome. Be sure to barbecue kittens, record the NFL without their permission and rip the tags off your mattress. Hookers to your left, booze to your right and theists in the basement. 

Stephen Hawking, "A God is not required." 

I don't see any need to insert any type of consciousness in as a gap answer. I am fine knowing this is it and we are simply a blip in a universe that isn't cause by a cognition, it is merely a natural cycle as to which we are a temporary blip riding in it. 

But other than that. Enjoy your stay.

Thanks.

Thanks.  I'm "culturally Catholic" although I no longer subscribe to their religion.  I'm not even sure whether to call myself a theist (the definition seems to vary between sources). The best label for my views, as indicated in my profile, is "skeptic."  Or - I once saw a bumper sticker that said "MILITANT AGNOSTIC - I DON'T KNOW AND YOU DON'T EITHER."  That's pretty close to me as well, lol.  

I enjoy watching several self-described Atheists on YouTube, including Genetically Modified Skeptic and Alex O'Connor.

I don't watch, listen to or read anything from the 'professional' atheists. Just hang with the other amateurs.

Edit: What do you think the probability is for a god(s) existence in reality? I mean something more than an abstraction/conception.

I don't have an opinion about the probability of any particular god because it depends so heavily on what the definition of a "god" is. I've read many books on the topic including _The God Delusion_ by Richard Dawkins, works by Christian apologists and others. My favourite Science Fiction novel is Calculating God, by Robert J. Sawyer - where the "god" turns out to be an alien entity who had a part in the creation of the human race (and who acts to protect humanity from extinction when a threat appears) but otherwise displays no interest in humanity let alone individual humans. This seems as reasonable as any other idea about God. I'm not sure if this answers your question. I mean, my opinion about a Biblical/Abrahamic god is that such a being is highly unlikely.