Am I an atheist?

[JohnDG]

Most people don't realize it but almost all americans are atheist. My reasons being the 10 commandments which 99% of all americans break every day. If they beleive in god, they are worshiping the wrong one.

You just gotta think, how many of these do you break? If you break 1 a day, you're not faithful to any extent. Where are the religious people that never break any of these, if there were any I would probobly beleive in god.

And God spoke all these words, saying: “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

1.You shall have no other gods before me. (Celebrities, popstars.)

2.You shall not make for yourself any carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments. (Kanye West? more celebrities, popstars, presidents and poloticians.)

3.You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain. (God dammit) lol everyone does that.

4.Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your manservant, nor your maidservant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it. (How many people actually go to church every sunday?)

5.Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you. (Nobody gives a crap about what their parents think these days.)

6.You shall not murder. (Military, Gangs, Police, Animals? ect.) (Look into a cows eyes and punch a hole through its head. Then tell me it wants to die.)

7.You shall not commit adultery. (America's is the worlds largest porn producer if not the kinkiest.)

8.You shall not steal. (Pfft I steal everyday, gangs, thugs, military, police, poloticians, evangelist and I could go on forever.) Yes cops have stolen my weed before. >.< It was bomb.

9.You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. (come on, everyone lies about everyone either in court or to your friends.)

10.You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.” (Just can't resist touching, lots of people cheat.)

To any religous people that may take offense to this post, you do not beleive in god you never have. If you do beleive in god, you worship satan and have no fear of punishment otherwise you would have never broke any of these commandments. Also greed, envy, jelousy, pride, lust, gluttony ect. All sins you break on a daily basis. Worst yet, you do it willingly.

[Ace Otana]

Didn't know it was this simple. But I do not find any people in my circle who don't believe in God. I've asked many people but they all believe in it. What is it that makes a person believe in something they've never seen or felt?

The need to have a father figure, the need to answer unknowns, fear of reality. It can be a number of things.

[Faith No More]

What is it that makes a person believe in something they've never seen or felt?

Comfort mostly. The universe is a cruel mistress in our lives, indifferent to our wants, needs, and fears. Believing in god helps alleviate the pain that comes from the realization that you're not special.

[Minimalist]

When I see people making any references to God, I feel that they are stupid.

We've got a whole bunch of losers who prove that every day.

Welcome.

[Simon Moon]

Belief is a binary mental state. Either you have a belief in something or you don't.

If you have an active belief in the existence of gods, then you are a theist. If you do not have the belief, you are an atheist.

[Brian37]

I dunno if I ever had any actual or true beliefs in God in the past. But yes, I did use to pray during the tough, tensed times, say, when the exam results were coming out. From the past three years, I'm very much confirmed that there is no such thing as God. I don't make any prayers anymore(not even false ones). When I see people making any references to God, I feel that they are stupid. That they are dependent on something that doesn't exist. I also don't believe in the saying: As you sow, so shall you reap. Since there is nobody watching us. We live, do whatever we want, eventually die and disappear from the world. There's no such thing as a soul or rebirth.

From the points I stated above, can I be considered as an Atheist?

Yes you are an atheist. BUT I would clarify that just because there is no one watching doesn't mean we can do whatever we want. Laws exist to maintain civility and at least in the west human rights. Do don't let your new found atheism make you think you can be an outlaw rebel.

SECONDLY which is more moral to you doing the right thing only because someone might see you, or doing the right thing, even when no one is watching. You don't need someone watching you to be moral and decent.

SECONDLY simply making that admission that you don't believe while it might have taken you a while and have at times been a struggle, it is not enough to simply stop there.

I have slowly over an 11 year period educated myself on line on the position of atheists, basic science, AND theists arguments. If you don't arm your new found reason, which is just budding now with education, you will be easy pickings for a snake oil salesman.

No one should expect you to learn everything I did over night. But certain terms I do think you should know and certain books I myself found invaluable to knowing both my position, and the position of theists.

All you need is a little time each week or maybe a few minutes a day, and the internet and websites like this, and maybe a pittance of money for the list of books you DONT have to buy all at once.

Terms you should know.
"Problem with Infinite Regress"
"Ocham's Razor"
"Fallacy of pascal's wager"
"Bentrand Russell's "tepot" argument

Books you should read
"The God Delusion" Richard Dawkins
"The New Atheism" Victor Stinger, covers scientifically why morals are unversal and covers all the major religions on this issue.
"God Is Not Great" the late great Christopher Hitchens

That is a short list.

But websites I find useful.

This one and its rival which you just replace org for com.

http://www.skepticsannotatedbible.com

Positive Atheism.com quotes from famous deists/ scientists/ atheists who valued the right to question, even if they had some sort of belief.

American Atheists, atheist activist group
Atheists Alliance
Rational Responders

And simply do not be afraid of being stumped or be afraid to ask your fellow atheists something if you get stumped or do not understand something.

On all these websites you will find you have a variety of people who know something about what you have questions about.

DONT think you need to do all of this tonight or even in a year. But know you are not alone and anytime you have questions that pool above and this website someone will help you if you need it.

[Cinjin]

It sounds to me like you know exactly how you feel about the god issue.

So in that case, what difference would some label make? Count yourself lucky and be free my friend.

[Angrboda]

Belief is binary? Wow. News to me. When will you be collecting your Nobel prize?

[Voltair]

Being an atheist, as several have pointed out on this forum, just means you don't believe in the existence of god(s). Agnostic would be you could believe in the existence of god(s) could be undecided/withholding complete judgment on the matter (Agnostic Atheism?) etc.

I think just telling people your general stance on the specific questions they ask is better than using a name/category. Now obviously you do whatever you want/feel is best but I am just giving my personal opinion here. If someone asks you "Do you believe in God?" make sure to ask them which god or gods they are speaking about etc.

Personally atheism for me started to get a bit too involved for my own liking. Truth be told even though I classify myself as Agnostic now that is not what defines me. I got tired of being defined by myself, and others potentially, by what I think about a divine being.

Just live your life and don't sweat the "classifications" it is far more trouble then it is worth ^_^. As far as people being nutty/religious around you I recommend peaceful discourse whenever possible. If that is not possible just get the hell away from them. If you can't get the hell away from them then... well... short, sweet, and to the point is always a nice finisher .

That doesn't mean you have to be an ass about it but make sure you don't twist what you think just because other people are uncomfortable about it. The only exception to that rule is unless you are in danger which I know sounds like something out of the movies but some people are just fucking crazy.

[KichigaiNeko]