I'm thinking about joining Christianity, should I? - General

[QUOTE=HumanAbyss;19167566]I'm not religious. I'm an atheist. I said that because [b]it's exactly what he believes and I was being ironic[/b]. When the fuck did reading comprehension die?[/QUOTE] Sarcasm isn't very obvious most of the time in religious threads I apologize

[QUOTE=NoShogun;19167587]I'm a Christian but I've had serious periods of doubt, but somehow I've always come back to my beliefs. [/QUOTE] I'll be honest and say that despite being a rather staunch atheist, I've had moments in my life where I tried praying to god. It didn't work and I later realized that I was acting irrationally. Turns out that manic depression can manifest itself with delusions. :smug:

[QUOTE=Zeke129;19167459]Beliefs don't hurt others. I can believe that you should die but it doesn't hurt you. (I don't believe this) Not sure what kind of idiot would disagree with this, unless we have a psychic on facepunch who can manifest their beliefs physically.[/QUOTE] I meant as in religions or beliefs that would cause an individual to hurt another on the basis of what it "requires" them to do. Of course, it truly boils down to the individual's choices.

Atheism isn't a belief. It's the natural state of the human mind before being muddled by propaganda and theist ideals. If the words: "shallow", "narrow-minded", and "ignorant", tickle your pickle, go ahead... it's your life. "Do you feel like your better than everyone else, but don't know how to express it? Go ahead, come join the flock, where condemning "imbeciles" is our favorite pastime." "Are you a pussy? Can't face day to day life without dealing with the cold hard facts? Act now and accept Jesus as your savior and for a limited time only we'll give you a false sense of security for the salvation of your soul!" [B]Edit: [/B]Jesus wouldn't rate me dumb. ;)

[QUOTE=NoShogun;19167587]It's wierd, because on everything but relgion I'm acutally very logical. I don't like the people who just do something random (and often stupid/dangerous) "just because". I'm a Christian but I've had serious periods of doubt, but somehow I've always come back to my beliefs. And sorry, I know I've missed the point of some of your posts, I'm probably being way too defensive. I guess I'm just surprised at an FPer who actually argues intelligently for Atheism instead of just saying "God is not real. /thread" and waiting for the green check marks to flood in.[/QUOTE] This is just me, but knowing that we're instinctive animals that get fondness for certain ideas after certain amounts of time, and knowing that we're impressionable and dogmatic, I don't usually refer to my gut feeling when deciding what's true or not unless there's nothing else to refer to, which is hardly ever the case.

[QUOTE=Tippmann357;19167619]Sarcasm isn't very obvious most of the time in religious threads I apologize[/QUOTE] No problem to either you or Zeke. I understand how things go in threads like this.

Dear OP, Don't do it. Sincerely, An atheist who makes decisions for you

[QUOTE=Zeke129;19167628]I'll be honest and say that despite being a rather staunch atheist, I've had moments in my life where I tried praying to god. It didn't work and I later realized that I was acting irrationally. Turns out that manic depression can manifest itself with delusions. :smug:[/QUOTE] I hesitate to say this because I know I'm pretty much asking for it, but I've prayed and I've felt a difference. Maybe I'm a lunatic, maybe it's dumb luck, but I feel like praying works out for me. Heck, maybe it's just psychological, but I've got my faith.

[QUOTE=Zeke129;19167628]I'll be honest and say that despite being a rather staunch atheist, I've had moments in my life where I tried praying to god. It didn't work and I later realized that I was acting irrationally. Turns out that manic depression can manifest itself with delusions. :smug:[/QUOTE] I try doing that sometimes. I also try unscrewing my head sometimes. Usually at the same time and for the same reasons.

[QUOTE=Mr.2007;19166366]Hello facepunch, so far I have observed you and the internet on your opinion of Christianity. The majority of you decline it within 2 post of it being mentioned. Also just to say I have been attending bible class for the past year on how to be saved and become a christian. The evidence of god is quite compelling and soon I am thinking about being baptized. Also when you think about it what is there to lose when you become a christian. So far I am agnostic you could say, but I stay on the side of Christianity. Although I have been thinking should I actually get baptized and join God or become atheist. I don't hate atheist, although some of them show ignorance when it comes to religion. Most of you atheist give yourselves an evil image of hating all religious beings. On the other hand some Christians go crazy and say you will obey God or burn in hell. I would like you Facepunch to help me decide on whether to become atheist or join the religious sect of the world.[/QUOTE] Whatever floats your boat man. Just expect to see Facepunchers in a whole new light.

[QUOTE=Zeke129;19167562]What if he wants us all to be cruel sadistic bastards? Maybe god [b]does[/b] exist and we completely misunderstood his message. It's equally plausible.[/QUOTE] Then he can't condemn me for not being one because of how I was raised and my own interpretation of the bible. In all honesty it is quite equally possible that God is a faggot that wants to torture me for eternity. I don't think so, because of the little I believe in the bible at least establishes he had a moral code. Believing in something but ruling out all other possibilities is stupid.

[QUOTE=NoShogun;19167676]I hesitate to say this because I know I'm pretty much asking for it, but I've prayed and I've felt a difference. Maybe I'm a lunatic, maybe it's dumb luck, but I feel like praying works out for me. Heck, maybe it's just psychological, but I've got my faith.[/QUOTE] Placebo effect. You believe praying will work so it kind of does. I believe it won't so it doesn't. God is a product of our imaginations. Easiest explanation, frankly.

[QUOTE=MrRelys;19167630]Atheism isn't a belief. It's the natural state of the human mind before being muddled by propaganda theist ideals. If the words: "shallow", "narrow-minded", and "ignorant", tickle your pickle, go ahead... it's your life.[/QUOTE] Atheism is [b]not[/b] the natural state of the human mind. Humans have always been curious about why we are here and people are merely proposing theories. Some people claimed to have the "truth" revealed to them (Christianity, Judaism, Islam). Humans have always questioned their existence. It isn't like everyone went through their lives thinking their was no God. They always thought some divine being was giving them life. Ancient civilizations used to worship the Sun! Atheism is not a natural state. I am not saying Atheism is wrong, but it is definitely not a natural state.

[QUOTE=NoShogun;19167676]I hesitate to say this because I know I'm pretty much asking for it, but I've prayed and I've felt a difference. Maybe I'm a lunatic, maybe it's dumb luck, but I feel like praying works out for me. Heck, maybe it's just psychological, but I've got my faith.[/QUOTE] That kind of goes back to what I said. Humans are good at finding patterns, so whenever we do something we look for the effect. If we do something that's supposed to do something, and that something happens, we think that it was because of that something we did. That's why we throw little girls into volcanoes and cut bits of baby penis off.

[QUOTE=Funcoot;19167714]Atheism is [b]not[/b] the natural state of the human mind. Humans have always been curious about why we are here and people are merely proposing theories. Some people claimed to have the "truth" revealed to them (Christianity, Judaism, Islam). Humans have always questioned their existence. It isn't like everyone went through their lives thinking their was no God. They always thought some divine being was giving them life. Ancient civilizations used to worship the Sun! Atheism is not a natural state. I am not saying Atheism is wrong, but it is definitely not a natural state.[/QUOTE] Atheism is more a natural state than religion.

[QUOTE=Funcoot;19167714]Atheism is [b]not[/b] the natural state of the human mind. Humans have always been curious about why we are here and people are merely proposing theories. Some people claimed to have the "truth" revealed to them (Christianity, Judaism, Islam). Humans have always questioned their existence. It isn't like everyone went through their lives thinking their was no God. They always thought some divine being was giving them life. Ancient civilizations used to worship the Sun! Atheism is not a natural state. I am not saying Atheism is wrong, but it is definitely not a natural state.[/QUOTE] Agnosticism is the basic state of human beings. We don't believe in things either until we find some reason to or until someone tells us so. The reason we keep coming back to religion is the same reason you can train pigeons to stamp their feet.

[B]Don't do it! Don't fucking do it![/B]

[QUOTE=Funcoot;19167714]Atheism is [b]not[/b] the natural state of the human mind. Humans have always been curious about why we are here and people are merely proposing theories. Some people claimed to have the "truth" revealed to them (Christianity, Judaism, Islam). Humans have always questioned their existence. It isn't like everyone went through their lives thinking their was no God. They always thought some divine being was giving them life. Ancient civilizations used to worship the Sun! Atheism is not a natural state. I am not saying Atheism is wrong, but it is definitely not a natural state.[/QUOTE] Yes it is, theism and non-theism(atheism) is a true dichotomy, if you don't have an active belief in god then you are instantly non-theist, or an atheist. Babies don't have an active belief in any god, thus they are instantly atheist.

[QUOTE=Funcoot;19167714] Atheism is not a natural state. I am not saying Atheism is wrong, but it is definitely not a natural state.[/QUOTE] Atheism most certainly IS a natural state. If someone is never told about a god they will most likely never believe in one. The concept was created by man, yes, but not just by one mind. It's the product of millions of minds throughout history passing on and tweaking stories.

[QUOTE=Carbon Knight;19167749]Atheism is the natural state of mind when logic takes priority is what I would sum it up as.[/QUOTE] Well not really. We're pretty screwed up. Logic is sort of an alien concept to people I think.

Here's a crazy idea, why not join what religion you believe!

Well, it's been nice posting here, but I need some sleep. Atheists, Christians, followers of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, and all others, see you.

I'm an athiest myself, but you should have some empathy towards anyone who is religious.

[QUOTE=NoShogun;19167776]Well, it's been nice posting here, but I need some sleep. Atheists, Christians, followers of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, and all others, see you.[/QUOTE] Sleep is against my religion I will see you in hell heathen

[QUOTE=Darkcoder;19167757]Yes it is, theism and non-theism(atheism) is a true dichotomy, if you don't have an active belief in god then you are instantly non-theist, or an atheist. Babies don't have an active belief in any god, thus they are instantly atheist.[/QUOTE] Blew my mind there.

Be agnostic. Then you can say "Shit, I don't know and I don't care."

I would rather burn eternally than believe in a magical invisible being that has absolutely no proof of existence.

[QUOTE=Carbon Knight;19167749]Atheism is the natural state of mind when logic takes priority is what I would sum it up as. Why it wouldn't be the natural state of mind is that a certain level of knowledge is required otherwise everything is a mystery.[/QUOTE] And why is it logical to believe we something didn't put us here? I know I am jumping to the old "religious defense," when you can't prove God doesn't exist, but that is a rational idea. There is no full blown proof yet that God does not exist. It is rational to believe in a high being. It is neither logical or illogical to not believe in a higher being, as we have no substantial evidence to the proof of existence or proof of non existence.

[QUOTE=MowsysReaper;19167794]Be agnostic. Then you can say "Shit, I don't know and I don't care."[/QUOTE] Sounds more like nihilism than agnosticism. Not caring will destroy us.

[QUOTE=Darkcoder;19167757]Yes it is, theism and non-theism(atheism) is a true dichotomy, if you don't have an active belief in god then you are instantly non-theist, or an atheist. Babies don't have an active belief in any god, thus they are instantly atheist.[/QUOTE] Babies aren't capable of rational thought. That basically makes this delicious sandwich I'm about to eat, atheist. DIE INFIDEL!!11! *munch*