Please tell me what atheist means

[downbeatplumb]

I do not nor have ever believed in a god or gods.

The abscence of divine beings is my default position until someone comes up with some pretty convincing evidence to the contrary.

As the search for evidence for the divine has gone on for many thousands of years and turned up nothing I wont hold my breathe.

Its good that you question though, that is the starting point to rationality.

Welcome

[Gfailure]

I think most of us, if not all of us who consider ourselves atheists started out by questioning little things, and as we grew older and learned more things, more things that have to do with religion didn't add up! And the questions we asked never got a proper or convincing reply! Little by little, we all converged more or less to the same conclusion! That maybe it is too convenient to say, as we say in Greek, "pisteve kai mi erevna" which translates to "believe and do not search" (or question would be more appropriate)! If you are a person who likes to have some sort of proof to be convinced, then eventually you will also end up questioning things! Yes society does make it difficult and some times scary to speak up your mind! But thoughts....those cannot be taken away! It is healthy to questions things, that is what gives humans intellect! And intellect is what brought humans to be the dominant species on the planet!

[Mr Olefemi]

This is to what Paul said on the last page.You are saying that christians think that before Jesus,no one thought about being kind to each other.I don't think that's true,it's just that Jesus is a very good example to all of us and as christians,we talk about Jesus,that's all it is.It may seem unnecessary but actually when you look at the world around you,it is very necessary to remind ourselves of the basics.
When christianity began,it was just Jesus,then others preaching goodness,and from there it has turned into something like a business,and it's the same with christmas.It all began with something harmless and now look at it.It's like if atheism were to be corrupted over the years until everyone associates it with evil,when it isn't.
There's nothing wrong with christianity if christianity means the teachings of Jesus.When you add all the other things to it,the things that have been added to it over the centuries,you get something distorted,and not like the original,true christianity.When I hear people criticise it,I know what they mean but what they're criticising isn't christianity at all.

[Cego_Colher]

atheism probably can't end up corrupt, because there isn't much of a strong organization of atheists. Some atheists are jerkfaces, but they can't probably can't convince many other people to be jerkfaces with them. To quote a woman who went by Schmoo "Organizing atheists is like organizing chickens, they cluck a lot and get distracted by anything shiny."

I don't think I said Hi to you Mr. O, so hello. You seem pretty cool, though like SN wrote I'm not sure you are a Christian. Maybe you are, I don't know, you aren't like many I've ever met.

Just if you want a little background on my atheism. I wasn't brought up with religion, though a few of my family members: father, grandparents were/are Catholic. In fact I knew very little about religion except "Church is boring." and the story of Soloman. (I had a kid's bible and that was my favorite story. and that's all I thought it was.) until I learned what the word 'atheism' meant, probably way later then I should have known what the word meant. Then I researched things about it and some religions, joined a forum, I took a religions class a year or so ago and eventually joined this forum. I enjoy learning things about religions, though I am far more interested in the ones that aren't the big three.

[Mr Olefemi]

I'm in an unfortunate circumstance because religion has had many hundreds of years to have a big organisation created around it.It would probably be the same with atheism although we will never see it in our lifetimes.What atheism and religion have in common is that they are both simple.
My religion is like a small shop that was taken over by a big company and now everyone thinks it is a big department store when really it is still the small shop,if you can see the comparison.It can happen to atheism if the circumstances are right.Who would have thought at the time that simple teachings with humble beginnings would have become a big worldwide organisation with its own structure,and even its own country (vatican),and heirarchy,and become something so different to how it all started?
No one would have expected it,it is hard to imagine at the time.We must all be humble and vigilant and accept that corruption is everywhere,and it is clever,and it can turn anything upside down.It did it with christianity and it can do it to atheism.If you learn from what has happened to us,life will be easier.

[Scented Nectar]

Atheism has nothing to do with how simple or complex religions are, because we don't have any religion at all. We are not a religion. We have an absence of religion. Can't get more simple than that.

We are not out to rule the world. We simply want religions to stop trying to rule us. We do not want to take away your right to whatever religion you believe in. We just don't want it forced on us. A fair world treats people equally without favouring the rules of any religion, and determines its laws based on what is or isn't harmful to society instead of whatever some old fairy tale bible book says.

[Mr Olefemi]

Those are very noble aims and I hope it stays that way.We must learn from history and not let things get out of hand.

[downbeatplumb]

Those are very noble aims and I hope it stays that way.We must learn from history and not let things get out of hand.

It is invariably the people with faith that get things out of hand.

No one EVER killed anyone in the name of no god. (stands back waiting to be corrected)

[Mr Olefemi]

That's good to know,all I am saying is that I hope it stays like that.

[mem]

Those are very noble aims and I hope it stays that way.We must learn from history and not let things get out of hand.

You seem like a really nice guy Ole. Many Atheists (including me) have a very strong sense of what is morally right and wrong. One does not have to believe in any God to know what is the right way to live and treat others. We are living the way we do because we choose to not because we are afraid of going to Hell if we "sin". I think that makes us pretty decent people. Religious people do not have a momopoly on "being nice".

I'd like to welcome you to the forum and I hope you find that your countrymen have got us all wrong.

Just out of interest, could I ask what your views are on Homosexuality? Sorry to ask but I like to know a bit about a persons views.