I'm an atheist, my brother is not.

[LastPoet]

Actually my 2 sisters, my mother and father are all deeply religious (christians of the catholic variety), even my wife is, and be damn sure that if any of them call god into an argument they will get the full plethora of my arguments. The result: they won't bring religion into our talks, we talk about real world stuff and they keep their religion to themselves. Ta da, Profit! They won't talk about bullshit and I don't need to express my atheistic views.

I bet you wished that I or any of the others cynically nodded with a forced smile to every theist that comes around? Do you like to lie? I respect many theists here (Ryft, Fr0d0, Tack, Rayaan, etc.) but I do it because they've EARNED IT. The same way I lost all the little respect I had for you or any douche that behaves like you, people that seek to get a moral high ground at the expense of others, be you an atheist or not.

You don't like the forum? I let the professor give you a hint:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMDTcMD6pOw

[Oldandeasilyconfused]

WHY IS IT ALWAYS THE BOYS THAT ARE 300 TO 3000 MILES AWAY!?

Worse with men; I'm 12,000 miles away. Be grateful.

---

Ok, I just wanted to point out something that seems a little twisted on these here forums. The complete and utter disrespect of people who have a different opinion on God. Is it really that hard to see why people believe in God? Are you really that short-sighted?

I think you mistake contempt for dogmatic views badly argued with contempt for the person. Perhaps it's also a matter of humility; the arrogance of apparently believing we are all ignorant and have never heard your arguments before.We have; most us many,many,many times.

I am not contemptuous of you , I don't know you.

This an atheist forum. We owe you nothing,yet believers here are treated with far more respect and acceptance than an atheist on most believers' forums.

OF COURSE I can understand how a person comes to be believe in a god:


(1) For most,which god(s) is 100% an accident of birth

(2)Religious beliefs are inculcated into children before the age of reason without reference to reason or evidence.

(3) Few people ever question their basic beliefs. MANY adults are capable of retaining the most fatuous beliefs (such as young earth creationism) though a psychological trick called 'cognitive dissonance' (look it up)


Get over yourself.

[5thHorseman]

Can thread title be changed to;

'I'm not atheist, neither is my brother'

[chris]

OK, I am an atheist, my Sister and Mother are Roman Catholics and have never felt I could come out and admit my views especially not since my fathers death a couple of months back.

The dilema I find myself in is should I pay lip service when around them and let them continue in their beliefs unchallenged or tell them if asked that I'm an atheist, get into a religious discussion which I can't see will change any of our views but will probably cause hurt to them for even the suggestion that heaven is not real. I've instinctively chosen the former, but a part of me can't help feeling why should I be the one in hiding regardless of the effect on others, surely it's their problem if they can't accept my view.

Not sure if this is off topic or not, but would be interested to hear what others think.

All the best

Chris

[Faith No More]

Go ahead and start a new thread about it and you'll get everyone's two cents.

[Mister Agenda]

Blame the 90% troll rate among theists who come to atheist forums. I've seen members of atheist forums fall over themselves to be nice to a theist who has come to seriously participate if troll season has been too long...and members who verbally kick them because that's what the other theists have conditioned them to do, but come around after awhile, when they can bring themselves to believe that this theist is different. I don't think the trollishness is a theist feature, but it is likely a feature of most people who go to forums with diametrically opposed viewpoints to theirs.

[JollyForr]

Sometimes it can be quite ridiculous how some religious men can be treated with enmity; although these do tend to be the extreme religious nuts who demand that children be raised into a world surrounded by hell fire and halos.

[MilesTailsPrower]

Yes, we're the ones being disrespectful? Why do I find that impossibly hard to believe?

How about you take a brief look into the past and see WHO is being disrespectful. You might learn a thing or two. :p

[Minimalist]

Sometimes it can be quite ridiculous how some religious men can be treated with enmity

Yeah, because "religious men" can be so fucking wonderful.

[JollyForr]

Sometimes it can be quite ridiculous how some religious men can be treated with enmity

Yeah, because "religious men" can be so fucking wonderful.

Balls. Ah. Well that showed me