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[Serious] When you left theism, did you go Left?
#1
When you left theism, did you go Left?
I was watching an older Atheist Experience clip this morning where Matt Dillahunty was talking about the waste of time from him "debating" Ray Comfort on some Christian radio show. You can find it on Youtube, it directly lists Ray Comfort in the title and it's episode #852. I'm not sure I'm allowed to link it.

Anyway, in describing the conversation he had with Ray, he said it was beneficial in his mind because those listening in their cars on the way to work would have clearly seen how Ray Comfort was making a fool of himself. I didn't listen to the "debate" but I have my doubts that this is true.

I've been thinking about this ever since the election. I had a faith crisis in August 2020 and as I've become more and more atheist, the more left I have started to lean. It's been a bizarre bit of disassociation to look back at pre-August me and the opinions I held, and to look at where I am now.

I was all in back then. Conservative Mormon. I was a fan of Jordan Peterson, Steven Crowder, Sargon of Akkad, Ben Shapiro, Tim Pool, Blaire White, Dave Rubin, etc. I had some inklings of bisexuality but accepted it as my cross to bear, my trial on this earth and nothing more. I watched a debate between Matt Dillahunty and Jordan Peterson back then and I DID NOT think Matt won. I rewatched the debate recently and...without God, without the "obvious" morality standard of Christianity, without the persecution complex, with reason instead of faith, it is clear to me now that Dillahunty made better arguments than Peterson. Peterson just flops around, can't stay on topic. He used to be a hero of mine and now, he's making claims he can't back up, and in the face of Matt's questions, Jordan just goes off on an unrelated tangent. But back then, I would have snorted at Matt Dillhaunty asking questions to keep them on topic and I would have swooned over how smart Peterson was. It's the same debate viewed at two different times in my life. Yet my confirmation bias would not allow me to see how weak Peterson appeared. I remember thinking he won that discussion.

I know most folks here have been atheist much longer than me but I was just wondering if you have had this similar experience? There's a wall there which makes connection and ideas incapable of jumping through. I think it is when you take for granted that God exists and that the repressive rules and purity culture are just a fact of life, the bases and foundation of a reasoned argument based on empirical data and reality seem like they "just don't know" or they "have the wrong priorities." My point is I don't think listening to a debate will really truly help most religious people see and understand the other side. Because there's that wall where they take for granted that their belief is the only truth.

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#2
RE: When you left theism, did you go Left?
I was always on the left. I simply finally realized that religion's far right mentality was not for me.

@Five

With the second skim of your post, I noticed both Mormonism and bisexual.

Have you ever seen the film Latter Days?

Also, I do mean to pry. Are you married?
"Never trust a fox. Looks like a dog, behaves like a cat."
~ Erin Hunter
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#3
RE: When you left theism, did you go Left?
Many considered me to be one of the hippies back in the 70s, including me. I've always been left though never what I'd consider radical left. Let's just say...left of center. Though raised Catholic and having to attend Catholic schools from 6th grade through graduation, I didn't ever buy into it so leaving The Church really didn't change my core beliefs and values much.

The one change is that I was staunchly anti-abortion as a teen. Then I learned more about real life and relaxed that black/white view on the matter.
  
“If you are the smartest person in the room, then you are in the wrong room.” — Confucius
                                      
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#4
RE: When you left theism, did you go Left?
(April 17, 2021 at 9:20 am)Eleven Wrote: I was always on the left. I simply finally realized that religion's far right mentality was not for me.

@Five

With the second skim of your post, I noticed both Mormonism and bisexual.

Have you ever seen the film Latter Days?

Also, I do mean to pry. Are you married?

Lol! No I've not seen that film. Might give it a watch.

And no, not married. Divorced for 8 years.

(April 17, 2021 at 9:46 am)arewethereyet Wrote: Many considered me to be one of the hippies back in the 70s, including me. I've always been left though never what I'd consider radical left. Let's just say...left of center. Though raised Catholic and having to attend Catholic schools from 6th grade through graduation, I didn't ever buy into it so leaving The Church really didn't change my core beliefs and values much.

The one change is that I was staunchly anti-abortion as a teen. Then I learned more about real life and relaxed that black/white view on the matter.

Abortion is something I've really relaxed on as well. When you consider it from the perspective of what can naturally be proven, and the soul no longer has any bearing in the conversation, it changes how serious that decision really is. Add onto that the different justifications that can be made, the as you said "grey" situations and circumstances, it makes abortion just another option.

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#5
RE: When you left theism, did you go Left?
No, republican centrist/moderate.

If I lived in a dem controlled state I might label myself differently but most of my positions/opinions would remain the same.
I don't have an anger problem, I have an idiot problem.
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#6
RE: When you left theism, did you go Left?
I never left theism, because I was never really in theism - for as far back as I can remember, the whole thing just seemed rather silly to me. Politically, I’ve mellowed somewhat, I’ve gone from far left to centre-left. 

And, Five? You’re allowed to post links now. Thanks for waiting.

Boru
‘But it does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods or no gods. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg.’ - Thomas Jefferson
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#7
RE: When you left theism, did you go Left?
Your experience fits the overall field of religiosity in the us. It's not so much a belief in the divine anymore (if it ever was), but a belief in a set of profoundly right wing principles-as-divine. That, and not a god, is the thread that binds.
I am the Infantry. I am my country’s strength in war, her deterrent in peace. I am the heart of the fight… wherever, whenever. I carry America’s faith and honor against her enemies. I am the Queen of Battle. I am what my country expects me to be, the best trained Soldier in the world. In the race for victory, I am swift, determined, and courageous, armed with a fierce will to win. Never will I fail my country’s trust. Always I fight on…through the foe, to the objective, to triumph overall. If necessary, I will fight to my death. By my steadfast courage, I have won more than 200 years of freedom. I yield not to weakness, to hunger, to cowardice, to fatigue, to superior odds, For I am mentally tough, physically strong, and morally straight. I forsake not, my country, my mission, my comrades, my sacred duty. I am relentless. I am always there, now and forever. I AM THE INFANTRY! FOLLOW ME!
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#8
RE: When you left theism, did you go Left?
(April 17, 2021 at 9:13 am)Five Wrote: I know most folks here have been atheist much longer than me but I was just wondering if you have had this similar experience?

My politics changed big time, from conservative Republican to moderate Democrat.  While as an evangelical Christian during the 80s (while in high school and early college), I supported the Moral Majority; remember the 1980 election of Ronald Reagan vividly; was in our evangelical Pastor's home celebrating Reagan's victory!!
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#9
RE: When you left theism, did you go Left?
I've always been rather liberal, and I spent many years hanging out with atheists and humanists before I left Hinduism.
[Image: extraordinarywoo-sig.jpg]
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#10
RE: When you left theism, did you go Left?
From the time I was a child going to Sunday School to the time I was a teenager playing trumpet with the choir, I was looking for reasons to believe.  The more I studied and learned, the more skeptical I became.  One of the things that puzzles me more now than ever is how followers of a guy who tells them to get back to nature, eschew material gain, and love all people could vote Republican.
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