Happy Atheist Forum

Getting To Know You => Laid Back Lounge => Topic started by: Msblue on March 29, 2008, 08:20:21 PM

Title: Random pondering and questions.
Post by: Msblue on March 29, 2008, 08:20:21 PM
I would love your opinions on dealing with what I'll call a "convenience"  Catholic. My friend ignores what she doesn't like in bible to suit her beliefs e.g. she believes in equal rights for gays and that animals have souls. She hasn't been to church in years. Just donates money to various religious organizations and prays.

Why not take the time to research to find a religion that suits your beliefs, instead of cherry picking? Yes... I've asked her all of these questions, she just "has faith"

I also find it interesting that more men than women identify themselves as atheists. Any thoughts? Thanks for letting me pick your brains.
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Post by: Will on March 29, 2008, 08:53:23 PM
There are two classifications of Christians: either your a radical fundamentalist litteralist who kills people for not observing the sabbath, or you pick and choose what to believe. 99.999% are the latter, but pretend they are the former because they don't want to admit to themselves that none of it is real.
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Post by: Tom62 on March 29, 2008, 10:02:03 PM
How true. Most "christians" that I know, belong to the "There must be something there, but I don't know what it is and my priest doesn't seem to bother to tell me" church. They only go to church at eastern and christmas, because that is tradition.
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Post by: ShimShamSam on March 29, 2008, 10:10:18 PM
Well, look on the bright side, if they're one of those christians who thinks something's there, but doesn't really follow the bible and doesn't like the bibles portrayal of god, well, at least they don't quote scripture at you. Which is a tep in the right direction. I think they just don't like the idea of there being nothing up there in the clouds, they don't like the idea of the universe being out of control.

It's been my personal experience that this is the type of Christian that really doesn't want to get in a debate, they don't beleive Christianity strongly enough to debate it, and they wont give the idea much thought for fear of learning the obvious truth that there is no conscious being up there. But that's jsut my experience with them.
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Post by: LSchune on March 29, 2008, 11:20:40 PM
Beliefs are wonderful, until they become invconvenient.

People will forever have their ladders so they can pick and choose what suits them the most.
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Post by: tacoma_kyle on March 30, 2008, 03:36:40 AM
I've noticed that as well, on the female atheists thing.

Probably just a general tendency (as if you didnt know lol), based off the nature of women, society, or I dunno. I have no idea. It's annoying though.
Title: Re: Random pondering and questions.
Post by: Whitney on March 30, 2008, 05:00:26 AM
Quote from: "Msblue"I would love your opinions on dealing with what I'll call a "convenience"  Catholic. My friend ignores what she doesn't like in bible to suit her beliefs e.g. she believes in equal rights for gays and that animals have souls. She hasn't been to church in years. Just donates money to various religious organizations and prays.

Why not take the time to research to find a religion that suits your beliefs, instead of cherry picking? Yes... I've asked her all of these questions, she just "has faith"

I'm not sure what you can say to get her to explore other views...at least she is cherry picking in a good way.

QuoteI also find it interesting that more men than women identify themselves as atheists. Any thoughts?

Are there really less atheist females or are there just fewer that visit forums?  The meetups I've gone to have a more or less 50/50 mix of men and women.
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Post by: Msblue on March 31, 2008, 06:49:56 PM
Quote from: "Willravel"There are two classifications of Christians: either your a radical fundamentalist litteralist who kills people for not observing the sabbath, or you pick and choose what to believe. 99.999% are the latter, but pretend they are the former because they don't want to admit to themselves that none of it is real.

That's a excellent summary.

Quote from: "laetusatheos"Are there really less atheist females or are there just fewer that visit forums? The meetups I've gone to have a more or less 50/50 mix of men and women.

It's possible less women post on forums, I couldn't find any info.

This is from a survey posted on this forum, it doesn't have specific statistics on atheists...only "no affiliation"

Men are significantly more likely than women to claim no religious affiliation. Nearly one-in-five men say they have no formal religious affiliation, compared with roughly 13% of women.
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Post by: nummymuffin on March 31, 2008, 08:09:18 PM
Well-I am a woman (atleast last time I checked)!
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Post by: Will on March 31, 2008, 08:31:47 PM
Quote from: "Msblue "Men are significantly more likely than women to claim no religious affiliation. Nearly one-in-five men say they have no formal religious affiliation, compared with roughly 13% of women.
The last time I saw it, 39% of men in the US were creationists, and 47% of women were. Just thought I'd weigh in.
Quote from: "nummymuffin"Well-I am a woman (atleast last time I checked)!
Sweet!!!

Look at it this way: you're a member of a group that's mostly male.... not a bad deal.
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Post by: nummymuffin on March 31, 2008, 09:22:39 PM
I have since checked and I am a neither! Oh well-life is still good! :borg: