Greetings all!
I have been pouring through threads on this site for some time, joined last June, and up till now felt I did not have anything to add. I will say that I have learned much, laughed my ass off more than a few times and threw up in my own mouth a couple of times reading through these threads. I confess a bit of anxiety posting here as I recognize there are some major deep thinkers on this site! I hope not to be argumentative as I like to think that is not my style and will likely cave quickly to superior word-smiths!
I consider myself an gnostic atheist though I am somewhat “in the closet” about my belief. My close friends and family know, but I find many get freaked out if I say I’m an atheist. Some people either want to “save” me, think I worship the devil, or just avoid me afterwards. However, I will be honest if the question is put to me. I tend to not believe in absolutes and thus cannot consider myself a full 7 on the Dawkin’s scale but pretty close. I will refrain from going into my personal life journey of belief but reserve the right to fill some of those details in later on… perhaps…
Finally to the point:
I often find myself wondering why my faith is so strong. I call my belief that there are no gods a faith as I lack any better verbiage to describe it. I completely get why those of strong theistic faith feel the way(s) they do; upbringing, family, society, dogma, literature, culture, etc… I also get the viewpoint of agonistic atheists in that they either want proof or “just don’t know.” Please forgive me if I over simplified or omitted anything regarding either of those positions. Obviously I have no evidence that gods do not exist, nor do I have any compelling reasons, physical or anecdotal to explain why I feel the way I do. All I know is that I feel very strongly that no gods exist whatsoever. Perhaps it is due to a very keen interest in all things scientific. I am unable to support my belief any more than I feel strong theists can theirs, yet my personal faith is so strong. Why?
Again, I am not interested in debate as much as I am interested in the thoughts of those who may share my belief. I truly look forward to your comments. Well, most of them!
Cheers, Andy
I have been pouring through threads on this site for some time, joined last June, and up till now felt I did not have anything to add. I will say that I have learned much, laughed my ass off more than a few times and threw up in my own mouth a couple of times reading through these threads. I confess a bit of anxiety posting here as I recognize there are some major deep thinkers on this site! I hope not to be argumentative as I like to think that is not my style and will likely cave quickly to superior word-smiths!
I consider myself an gnostic atheist though I am somewhat “in the closet” about my belief. My close friends and family know, but I find many get freaked out if I say I’m an atheist. Some people either want to “save” me, think I worship the devil, or just avoid me afterwards. However, I will be honest if the question is put to me. I tend to not believe in absolutes and thus cannot consider myself a full 7 on the Dawkin’s scale but pretty close. I will refrain from going into my personal life journey of belief but reserve the right to fill some of those details in later on… perhaps…
Finally to the point:
I often find myself wondering why my faith is so strong. I call my belief that there are no gods a faith as I lack any better verbiage to describe it. I completely get why those of strong theistic faith feel the way(s) they do; upbringing, family, society, dogma, literature, culture, etc… I also get the viewpoint of agonistic atheists in that they either want proof or “just don’t know.” Please forgive me if I over simplified or omitted anything regarding either of those positions. Obviously I have no evidence that gods do not exist, nor do I have any compelling reasons, physical or anecdotal to explain why I feel the way I do. All I know is that I feel very strongly that no gods exist whatsoever. Perhaps it is due to a very keen interest in all things scientific. I am unable to support my belief any more than I feel strong theists can theirs, yet my personal faith is so strong. Why?
Again, I am not interested in debate as much as I am interested in the thoughts of those who may share my belief. I truly look forward to your comments. Well, most of them!
Cheers, Andy
