Milestone as an Atheist

[the_atheist_organist]

Hi guys.
Well, the biggest Christian holiday has come to an end. It was the first time I passed it as an atheist. As I sat through 2 services today (being an organist, i'll be going to church until the end.), everything was so different than past years. I laughed at one point, not being able to believe how many people believed this. How the homily was about not needing proof, not having to reason anything, just believing out of faith. Well, now I realize that "faith without proof" is the reason behind countless deaths of innocent people, thousands of broken families, and so many people like me, who have to lie and hide their real feelings in front of family and friends. If people spent their energy that they put into their faith on something REAL: solving global warming, stopping wars, resolving discrimination, or promoting the arts, think where we'd be. I guess you all have already figured this out, but it's still all new to me... Thanks for listening.  

[tacoma_kyle]

You said it well.

Thats what kinda sucks about being a little bit of a minority when your younger. Chances are, your still somewhat dependent on family or work. Some families will toss your ass, some employees will be bitches if they find out (I've ran into a few).

Closer parts of my family know. Luckily my parents were never 'actively' religious. My grandfather (moms dad) is ironically atheist, I didnt find out til about 2 years back, several before I was solid. I guess my grandmother on my dads side just recently (1 year I think) found out I was. I didnt hide it . I think she was just tryin to be 'optimistic.' Now she kinda puts those stupid little 'god loves all' crap around on letters or somethin. That kinda stuff. Makes a point to mention god in the letters. Ugh...


At the end of the day, when it is known people dont typically change that much. ---I have found, anyhow.--- But some do fit the expected reaction perfectly....or worse.

[susangail]

I totally understand what you're saying. This was my first Christian holiday as an atheist as well (though I was certainly doubting at the Christmas Eve service but...) Bummer that you're still stuck going, but at least you have the music as a buffer (though hymns really do get old). I'm glad you can find amusement. I haven't been to church since January and even then it just pissed me off.

My family members are all Christians so I know what you mean about having to lie. I'm most definitely dreading the "I'm a bisexual atheist" showdown whenever it comes around.

It is amazing how people just have blind faith like that. But as annoyed as I get, I respect them. One thing I forget a lot is that it is totally real to them even though it seems ridiculous to me.

And don't worry! You're not alone, I'm new to all this as well. I look back on the passed few years and I can't believe how devoted I was to something I now realize to be so fake. So I'll shut up now...

[ShimShamSam]

an atheist organists, man that's rough, I love my sunday mornings. Well, I would offer you a job playing an organ at the atheist church, but we're churchless, kind of goes against our philosophy of total freedom. But that gets me thinking, if we did have a church, what would it look like, probably like a coffee shop .

[MommaSquid]

Congrats on making it through the Easter services, atheist organist.  If you can find a way to concentrate on the music and ignore all the rest, you'll do fine.  

[imachristian]

Hi guys.
Well, the biggest Christian holiday has come to an end. It was the first time I passed it as an atheist. As I sat through 2 services today (being an organist, i'll be going to church until the end.), everything was so different than past years. I laughed at one point, not being able to believe how many people believed this. How the homily was about not needing proof, not having to reason anything, just believing out of faith. Well, now I realize that "faith without proof" is the reason behind countless deaths of innocent people, thousands of broken families, and so many people like me, who have to lie and hide their real feelings in front of family and friends.

Well, I disagree with Roman Catholicism as well, so we have at least that in common, I suppose. Now, even though Roman Catholic apologists are ultimately wrong, you do know that there is such thing as Christian apologetics (defending the Christian faith), right? Now, a lot of Christian "apologetics" are pretty bogus, I admit, but I find good Christian apologetics far more convincing than atheist or secular arguments. If you have objections against Christianity, it would be great if you could share them with me, so I can give you my responses to them. I have clear reasons and answers for why I believe what I believe.

By "countless deaths," are you talking about things like the Crusades and the Inquisition? Again, those were generally Catholic, and I think Catholic teaching has gone wrong in many areas. The Bible now forbids Christians to kill or use violence to further the Christian faith, so any "Christian" who does this is not really a Christian.

Just to be clear, since I think Roman Catholicism has deviated from the true biblical gospel, I'm not trying to get you to join your family in being Catholic. I'm just trying to offer another point of view to what you have said. Ideally, you would come to believe in the biblical gospel, which I believe is best reflected in Reformed theology. But... for now, what are some arguments against Christianity that you think Christians have no "proof" or defense for?

If people spent their energy that they put into their faith on something REAL: solving global warming, stopping wars, resolving discrimination, or promoting the arts, think where we'd be. I guess you all have already figured this out, but it's still all new to me... Thanks for listening.

Again, I'm not so sure about Catholics, but Christians, in general, are more active in helping the needy. Well, at least genuine Christians (I think most Christians in America just pay lip service and aren't really Christians). Many, many Christians have given their lives to serve the needy, as Jesus himself commanded. Just because you don't see it in your church does not mean it does not happen.

I'm not looking for a fight, or to draw too much attention to myself at an atheist forum. I just want to offer my thoughts to some of the comments made here.

[tacoma_kyle]

...The Bible now forbids Christians to kill or use violence to further the Christian faith....

So what, it didnt before? Or it did before? God changed his/her mind(s)?

...since I think Roman Catholicism has deviated from the true biblical gospel...

That is a huge discrepancy in your statement. Thats one of many reasons what god falls through.

[tacoma_kyle]

Congrats on making it through the Easter services, atheist organist.  If you can find a way to concentrate on the music and ignore all the rest, you'll do fine.   lol I thought that connected here somehow.




I apologize if you feel dumber.

[Eris]

Now she kinda puts those stupid little 'god loves all' crap around on letters or somethin. That kinda stuff. Makes a point to mention god in the letters. Ugh...

Yeah, my family has started doing that too. My grandpa sent me a mass email about why god allows suffering, using an analogy of barbers and cutting hair and how one actually has to go to god to be healed. *groan*

So I replied with this link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jk6ILZAaAMI

After that (I'm sure he told my grandma who probaby told my dad and now everyone knows), everything I get from them has excessive references to god. It's amusing to me.

[Will]

Mentioning god in letters? I could make that work:

Dear Matt,
God thinks you look fat. As a matter of fact, God wants you to join 24 Hour Fitness or something, otherwise you could go to heaven real soon. Also, God recommends laying off the sweets.

Love,
God

[MommaSquid]

Mentioning god in letters? I could make that work:

Dear Matt MommaSquid,
God thinks you look fat. As a matter of fact, God wants you to join 24 Hour Fitness or something, otherwise you could go to heaven real soon. Also, God recommends laying off the sweets.

Love,
God

Wow, a personal letter from god.  And he calls me a fat-ass.  Where's the love?

 

[SteveS]

The Bible now forbids Christians to kill or use violence to further the Christian faith, so any "Christian" who does this is not really a Christian.

Ignoring the "No True Scotsman" fallacy,

13:6  If thy brother, the son of thy mother, or thy son, or thy daughter, or the wife of thy bosom, or thy friend, which is as thine own soul, entice thee secretly, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which thou hast not known, thou, nor thy fathers;

13:7  Namely, of the gods of the people which are round about you, nigh unto thee, or far off from thee, from the one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth;

13:8 Thou shalt not consent unto him, nor hearken unto him; neither shall thine eye pity him, neither shalt thou spare, neither shalt thou conceal him:

13:9 But thou shalt surely kill him; thine hand shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterwards the hand of all the people.

Just "Old Testament" nonsense?  Well,

Matthew 5:17  Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

Matthew 10:34  Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.

Seems clear enough to me....

[Will]

Anyone who enjoys a single malt scotch is a true scotsman, fallacy or not.

[Tom62]

I'm still looking for a true christian who really follows the gospel. I assume that you can only find them on deathrow or in a lunatic asylum.

[Will]

I think that a true literalist is a theoretical state. Because there are so many contradictions in the bible, one cannot be fully literal in their adherence. When "Thou shalt not murder" crosses with "Okay, kill him if he worked on Sunday" we come to a crossroads: which to ignore? Thankfully most people choose to ignore the latter. Even the most fundamental of fundamentalists make concessions.