RE: My story! I am an Ex-Muslim, became and Atheist. I was visited by an Angel of God.
May 12, 2015 at 8:25 am
(May 12, 2015 at 8:00 am)robvalue Wrote: Fear is a huge factor, it's probably religion's biggest weapon. The fact that anyone is scared of what "god" might do to them is clear evidence that they don't think really god is someone who cares about them. That's someone being scared of an overly harsh authority figure. I understand being scared of what other believers will do, I am very afraid of that! If I lived somewhere with extreme Islam I'd be shit scared. So I reckon there are probably loads of atheists who dare not say anything. They have realized god isn't a threat, but the zealots around them are. Again, the fact that people feel the need to violently force people to follow god shows god is not loving, and is in fact so weak that he needs us to do his dirty work.
All you can do is be there for people who are struggling, if you go after someone who isn't interested it's very unlikely to work. I've changed people's minds about issues at various times in my life, but it's almost always been because the person came to me with questions. They really wanted to think things through, and ask me why I have the position that I do. Maybe one day your brother will come around to wanting to talk to you about it. It's really sad his thinking is being stifled this way.
If Allah has a problem, let him sort it out himself. I'll call him a piece of crap fascist dictator every day until he comes personally to face me. Some maniac with a hatchet or a gun is not Allah doing anything.
Not only that, successful religious people tend to think that they became whom they are now by maintaining a strong faith & relationship with God. I would argue, that's not necessary true, because there are many great rich people out there whom are Atheist and with happy life. If you put it in context, if We don't believe in God, he will make our lives miserable, but if We believed in Him & prayed, he will make our lives successful.
In reality, we know that is not the case.
"Sometimes I'm confused by what I think is really obvious. But what I think is really obvious obviously isn't obvious..." - Michael Stipe