If you don't believe in God, Are you afraid of where you may go?

[Cuppycake]

They have on blinders. It is sickening.

There's a difference between blinders that can be removed by the same persons who put them on and poking one's 'eyes' out with "unshakable faith" though.  The former requires courage and the latter submits to fears.

Indeed.
And btw ...

You can hardly be blamed for this as it is known that I must be an agent of satan, (although my duties are largely ceremonial), according to the other xtians here.  Of course, this is pure speculation on their part - now point me toward the virgins.

This made me laugh for sure!

[falcon9]

They have on blinders. It is sickening.

There's a difference between blinders that can be removed by the same persons who put them on and poking one's 'eyes' out with "unshakable faith" though.  The former requires courage and the latter submits to fears.

Indeed.

And btw ...

You can hardly be blamed for this as it is known that I must be an agent of satan, (although my duties are largely ceremonial), according to the other xtians here.  Of course, this is pure speculation on their part - now point me toward the virgins.

This made me laugh for sure!

It made my gf laugh wholeheartedly too ... and then she insightfully-asked, "what do you want with virgins, sacrificing them nowadays is frowned upon?"  To which I replied, "you're absolutely right and who wants to be frowned upon?"

[barbme1972]

non-religious subject thread

From what I gathered from everyone else’s responses this became a religious thread.  So I am a little confused on why you said that.

Simply put; you are as free to post religious beliefs as others are to post opposing viewpoints to those beliefs.

Yes, and I was not saying that you couldn’t post your opposing thoughts.   Did I?

Indeed, I have specified several times that people are general free to believe whatever nonsense they wish to believe however, please refrain from misuse of the word "reasoning" in the context of belief; there is no reasoning behind beliefs - that's why they're superstitions and not factual..

Well, what is your reasoning behind not believing?  What is wrong with having faith in something?  Is there anything that you have faith in, a loved one perhaps?  And you say that you don’t adhere to religious beliefs, your atheist then.  Why are you an atheist?  What has caused you to not want to belief in God, Heaven, the Holy Spirit?

[falcon9]

From what I gathered from everyone else’s responses this became a religious thread.  So I am a little confused on why you said that.

That would be more difficult to discern from bits & pieces quoted out of context so, here's the context restored:
'Since religious adherents are apparently unwilling or unable to resist evangelical posts, (whether under the guise of 'speaking their own mind' or merely interjected those beliefs into a non-religious subject thread), they have no basis for objecting to others posting dissenting views. Simply put; you are as free to post religious beliefs as others are to post opposing viewpoints to those beliefs.'

The reference was to other threads where such interjections of religious beliefs pop-in out-of-the-blue, (signified by the word "or" preceding the 'merely interjected those beliefs into a non-religious subject thread').  The reference was not to this thread, where it was posted.  Sorry for any confusion there.

Simply put; you are as free to post religious beliefs as others are to post opposing viewpoints to those beliefs.

Yes, and I was not saying that you couldn’t post your opposing thoughts.   Did I?

Sometimes such sentiments are directly-stated and other times, they are not. Again, here's the context of that portion, restored for clarity:

"I feel that everyone is entitled to their own beliefs and their reasoning behind them." -- barbme1972

'Indeed, I have specified several times that people are generall free to believe whatever nonsense they wish to believe however, please refrain from misuse of the word "reasoning" in the context of belief; there is no reasoning behind beliefs - that's why they're superstitions and not factual.' -- falcon9

The reference was to the lack of such reasoning behind religious beliefs being presented, (beyond a unreasoned 'faith').

Indeed, I have specified several times that people are general free to believe whatever nonsense they wish to believe however, please refrain from misuse of the word "reasoning" in the context of belief; there is no reasoning behind beliefs - that's why they're superstitions and not factual...

Well, what is your reasoning behind not believing?

That's not how reasoning works; such would proceed from a basis of determining why one does believe something.  Is there evidence to support such a belief or, does it rely upon unreasoned faith alone?  Your question stems from a logical fallacy, (e.g., suggesting that the burden of proof rests with demonstrating that something _doesn't_ exist; an irrational concept).
 

What is wrong with having faith in something?

As I've previously stated several times in different threads, those holding irrational superstitious "faith" are free to do so, (but not free to impose them upon others).  There's a none-too-subtle difference between "faith" and mundane 'confidence'; consider it if you will.

Is there anything that you have faith in, a loved one perhaps?

No, I have _confidence_ in certain things which have previously demonstrated that such confidence is justified, (nominally, by extant evidence that continued confidence is justified, or not - which would result in a lack of confidence in that instance).  Some people might characterize confidence as a 'belief' however, I apply it as having a justifiable/evidentiary trust, (rather than an unjustified 'hope', 'faith', or 'belief' which lacks evidentiary justification).  I do not, therefore, apply "faith" to any aspect of my life.

And you say that you don’t adhere to religious beliefs, your atheist then.

My atheist what?  Oh, you meant "you're", (you are), right?  Under the standard dictionary definitions, the simple answer is no, I'm not an "atheist".  I'm non-religious and reject unreasoned religious superstitions though.  Any discussion of such questions should be moved to the debate+discuss subforum, (d+d).
  

Why are you an atheist?  What has caused you to not want to belief in God, Heaven, the Holy Spirit?

As I stated, those are contentious d+d questions.  Start a new thread there and ask again; I do respond, (ask anyone).

[tigerlilly01]

It is sad to see the responses I get to this question, but the road is narrow and I pray that something comes into your life that reveals Christ to you.

The road IS narrow and sadly, many that think they will be in Heaven are going to find out they won't be.  This really hit home for me this past week when I saw a video clip of a pastor that died and an angel showed him Heaven.  Then the angel showed him Hell.  After he watched & heard the tormented, the angel told him that if he had died that day, there in Hell is where he'd be.  The pastor asked how that could be, he was a pastor.  The angel said it was because there was unforgiveness in his heart.  If one can't forgive others, God can't forgive them.  One can't sow unforgiveness and then reap forgiveness.  The pastor was told to come back and tell others.   He was so lucky to have gotten a second chance.

I Love God with all my heart and know there is a Heaven and a Hell.  I have been a Christian since I was 17 but have not always lived the way that was pleasing to God but I know he forgives me when I ask for forgiveness.  THANK you so much for this reminder that we too have to forgive others or there is no forgiveness for us.  God Bless you.

[kolathegreat]

I'm an atheist and I'm not afraid, I know that my body will rot in the ground when I die.

 

JESUS LOVES U MORE THEN U COULD IMAGINE

[lorettahknox]

I am not buying that people don't believe in God. It's ridiculous! Where did everyone come from "evolution" if you believe that would you mind telling me who triggered that! Oh yeah that's right it's spontaneous combustion! In my opinion that too is ridiculous. Can you explain to me what force causes the blood to flow through your body? What holds the earth, which by the way, is a ball of dirt and water suspended in space. I could go on and on the concept of no God is nonsense and the concept of no afterlife is just as nutty! Chemistry proves that elements come together and form new elements that is birth. The separation of the soul from the body that is death. The soul will return to it's origin that is God and if you don't believe that I have some swampland in Florida you may be interested in.

[Cuppycake]

This made me laugh for sure!

It made my gf laugh wholeheartedly too ... and then she insightfully-asked, "what do you want with virgins, sacrificing them nowadays is frowned upon?"  To which I replied, "you're absolutely right and who wants to be frowned upon?"

LOL ! Nice !

[falcon9]

I'm an atheist and I'm not afraid, I know that my body will rot in the ground when I die.

 

JESUS LOVES U MORE THEN U COULD IMAGINE

If only there were sufficient bed-space in the asylums and institutions to hold the enormous number of people who cling to such religious superstitions, (maybe expansions and construction could be funded by taxing the tax-exempt 'churches' ... that would be appropriately ironic).

[falcon9]

I am not buying that people don't believe in God. It's ridiculous!

Oddly, those who don't hold such superstitious beliefs find such beliefs as "ridiculous" as those held by the superstitious. In yet another 'cosmic coincidence', the religious adherents of those beliefs seem strangely unable to substantiate their basis with evidence.  As this has not occurred in the 2,000-odd years since these specious claims were initiated, one must at least have doubts about their validity.

Where did everyone come from "evolution" if you believe that would you mind telling me who triggered that! Oh yeah that's right it's spontaneous combustion! In my opinion that too is ridiculous.

If, by "spontaneous combustion", you are referring to the 'primordial spark' hypothesis that would be the abiogensis theories. 'Abiogenesis, or biopoiesis is the study of the origin and evolution of the last universal common ancestor and how biological life could arise from inorganic matter through natural processes. In particular, the term usually refers to the processes by which life on Earth may have arisen. The geologic era in which abiogenesis likely took place was the Eoarchean era. For example Michael Russell, and Wolfgang Nitsche, (biologists), have suggested recently that "the emergency of life had high Enthalpy and low Entropy beginnings"'

Can you explain to me what force causes the blood to flow through your body?

Blood pressure, initiated by heart-pumping action is such a "force", (which is unrelated to specious attributions to supernatural forces).

What holds the earth, which by the way, is a ball of dirt and water suspended in space.

Earth is held in orbit by the gravitational attraction of Sol, the sun, (not the 'son' or 'father' in a specious attribution to supernatural forces).

I could go on and on the concept of no God is nonsense and the concept of no afterlife is just as nutty!

Your conclusions do not logically follow as they arise from a false premise. 

Chemistry proves that elements come together and form new elements that is birth.

That's a partially accurate, albeit simplified statement, yes.

The separation of the soul from the body that is death. The soul will return to it's origin that is God ...

Both of those claims are simply speculative opinions which have no evidentiary basis. You claimed them, which means you've accepted the burden of proof to provide evidence which supports your claims.  Of course, you can choose not to do so, which renders your claims as specious.

and if you don't believe that I have some swampland in Florida you may be interested in.

Actually, any purchasers of "some swampland in Florida", (in your implied context), would be far more likely to come from the same market-pool as religious adherents, rather than non-adherents.

[carlosveli]

all i know is i belive in God 4life he been by myside for ova 30yrs and im so thankful 4 each day he gives me and my family...

[falcon9]

all i know is i belive in God 4life he been by myside for ova 30yrs and im so thankful 4 each day he gives me and my family...

The basis, (such as it is), for such a religious belief is "faith", (a specious belief which has no evidentiary foundation).  Instead of attributing things to 'g-ds' or 'daemons', take some personal responsibility for what you can affect and either learn to live with what you cannot affect or, find another way to affect change.  Appeals to hypothetical supernatural entities through intercessory magical prayer rituals are not an effective way.

[Cuppycake]

all i know is i belive in God 4life he been by myside for ova 30yrs and im so thankful 4 each day he gives me and my family...

The basis, (such as it is), for such a religious belief is "faith", (a specious belief which has no evidentiary foundation).  Instead of attributing things to 'g-ds' or 'daemons', take some personal responsibility for what you can affect and either learn to live with what you cannot affect or, find another way to affect change.  Appeals to hypothetical supernatural entities through intercessory magical prayer rituals are not an effective way.

We can only hope that one day all of the religious people will either: A. wake the F up or B. die off
I honestly don't know whether to pity them or just laugh at them. The biggest issue I have is when they "pray" for things. I do something REAL to help myself and others. And it damn sure isn't "praying" that my invisible friend will help.

[falcon9]

We can only hope that one day all of the religious people will either: A. wake the F up or B. die off
I honestly don't know whether to pity them or just laugh at them.

Unfortunately, neither are any more likely to occur in the near future; 'blind faith' has a strong hold on the fearful ones.

The biggest issue I have is when they "pray" for things. I do something REAL to help myself and others. And it damn sure isn't "praying" that my invisible friend will help.

As you probably already know, I've addressed that issue of "prayer" as an intercessory magical ritual intended to entreat/invoke a hypothetical supernatural being several times.  While the religious strictures of those engaging in such a 'magical ritual' are nominally prohibited, for some unknown excuse, (not 'reason' - there is no actual reasoning involved), such persons continue in hypocrisy.  Better to take pragmatic measures than to reply upon 'magical shortcuts' which lack efficacy.

[barbme1972]

We can only hope that one day all of the religious people will either: A. wake the F up or B. die off
I honestly don't know whether to pity them or just laugh at them. The biggest issue I have is when they "pray" for things. I do something REAL to help myself and others. And it damn sure isn't "praying" that my invisible friend will help.

WOW!  That was pretty harsh.  I can understand not believing in God and what not, but to say that you hope that we will either wake the F up or die off...that is is pretty harsh.  Sorry you feel that way.