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Post by Hilly on Apr 10, 2005 21:58:37 GMT -5
I ended up rejecting my religious beliefs because when I started to look at all of the stories and claims made in the bible in depth and they didn't make any sense at all. Welcome UnsavedSwed. I agree that religion makes no sense. The conundrum being, why does the majority of the populace believe otherwise? I find it bizarre and somewhat depressing, but mostly frustrating.
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Post by UnsavedSwed on Apr 11, 2005 14:57:00 GMT -5
Hilly Thanks for the warm welcome. I don't understand why alot of people follow religion either. It seems foolish to believe in such things, at least to me anyway.
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Post by william on Apr 12, 2005 3:41:04 GMT -5
There are probably as many reasons to believe as there are not to. I think it is a mistake to asume it has anything to do with foolishness, as there has always been very inteligent people who believe. I equally think it is wrong for those that believe to assume that athiests are foolish, as many do.
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Post by solidsquid on Apr 12, 2005 9:15:40 GMT -5
Interestingly, religious belief and superstitious beliefs seem to be independent of intelligence. However, the mechanisms for why this is seem to be somewhat varied and complex.
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Post by william on Apr 13, 2005 14:59:31 GMT -5
Interestingly, religious belief and superstitious beliefs seem to be independent of intelligence. However, the mechanisms for why this is seem to be somewhat varied and complex. You separate religious from supperstision? I would have thought that they would be the same from your perspective. do youi find a difference?
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Post by solidsquid on Apr 13, 2005 17:03:40 GMT -5
You separate religious from supperstision? I would have thought that they would be the same from your perspective. do youi find a difference? Yep, I do as do many psychologists. Superstituous beliefs are irrational beliefs such as not stepping on cracks in the sidewalk or knocking on wood and such. Religious beliefs are different from that. With many characteristics there may be overlap but for the most part they are separate.
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GodsAreUs
Seasoned Citizen
If you fail to question anything, you may be had by everything.
Posts: 215
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Post by GodsAreUs on Apr 20, 2005 14:44:45 GMT -5
Maverick's Questions1. At what age did you become an atheist? 2. What flavor of religion were you indoctrinated to believe in prior to your deconversion? 3. What led you to eventually reject your religious beliefs? 4. Where did you find out about Atheists Anonymous? 1. I feel I've been an atheist most of my life. I never managed to "grok" religion. I've raised (and continue to raise) a lot of ires with the christian majorities around me. I'm not trying to be a jerk, I just ask a lot of questions. 2. I was baptized Methodist. 3. See #1. Also, the more I thought (and think) about it, the more I see religion as an elaborate form of social control that preys upon a frightened and easily-led public. Don't get me started! (at least not in a "hello there" thread). 4. Google. For reasons I can't explain, I have been perusing a rapture message board... maybe hoping to convince those folks to at least take an un-biased look at what they're saying. I left feeling sad. They seem more lost than me! I typed "Atheist message board" into Google and this was the first site to pop. I'm from the upper midwest, USA. Peace all and thanks for having me.
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Post by UnsavedSwed on Apr 20, 2005 22:23:49 GMT -5
just thought I would say, Welcome to the Board GodsAreUs.
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GodsAreUs
Seasoned Citizen
If you fail to question anything, you may be had by everything.
Posts: 215
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Post by GodsAreUs on Apr 21, 2005 8:30:11 GMT -5
Glad to be here. Thanks
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thehack
Maverick's Chew Toy
Posts: 16
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Post by thehack on May 5, 2005 19:24:59 GMT -5
Since this is thread asks a lot of the questions we are often curious about when meeting an atheist for the first time, I thought I would bring this over to the board ... The original post can be found hereMaverick's QuestionsLet's stir up some discussion. I have a couple of questions for you to answer: 1. At what age did you become an atheist? 2. What flavor of religion were you indoctrinated to believe in prior to your deconversion? 3. What led you to eventually reject your religious beliefs? (Added in later) 4. Where did you find out about Atheists Anonymous? First post: 1) I grew up in a family where religion was never an important topic. Might have helped that my formative years were spent in Taiwan where, unlike most Western States, have little or no religious influence in the formation of the country/state. My parents have always stressed, since my childhood, that religious practices are PERSONAL and that I am free to make my own decision when I'm old enough, and they will not be making any attempt at influencing me in that regard. My mother was Bhudist, and my father can best be described as agnostic atheist...But I was not exposed to the concept of religion until I moved to the U.S. when I was 12. 2. None. I'm still a religious virgin. I have never believed, nor will I likely ever, believe in any sort of religion. 3. Some say that it takes "faith" to be an atheist. I guess I have yet to shed that "faith." 4. Today.
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thehack
Maverick's Chew Toy
Posts: 16
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Post by thehack on May 5, 2005 19:30:36 GMT -5
There are probably as many reasons to believe as there are not to. I think it is a mistake to asume it has anything to do with foolishness, as there has always been very inteligent people who believe. I equally think it is wrong for those that believe to assume that athiests are foolish, as many do. Interestingly enough, there are certain studies that shows some people are more predisposed to believe than others. There's evidence that there's a "gene" that promotes "transcendence" thought and allow some to better experience god. I know that a few of the more religious folks around me, including some of my best friends, often ask me who do I turn to for guidance and spiritual support when I needed it? I've always told them in my 30 years of existence I've never felt once that I needed spiritual support, no matter how good things are and no matter how bad things get (and believe me, things did get pretty bad sometimes).
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Post by william on May 6, 2005 4:12:06 GMT -5
Interestingly enough, there are certain studies that shows some people are more predisposed to believe than others. There's evidence that there's a "gene" that promotes "transcendence" thought and allow some to better experience god. I know that a few of the more religious folks around me, including some of my best friends, often ask me who do I turn to for guidance and spiritual support when I needed it? I've always told them in my 30 years of existence I've never felt once that I needed spiritual support, no matter how good things are and no matter how bad things get (and believe me, things did get pretty bad sometimes). Im glad you have joined us, It seems you might add an interesting element to our chat.
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thehack
Maverick's Chew Toy
Posts: 16
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Post by thehack on May 6, 2005 12:49:14 GMT -5
Im glad you have joined us, It seems you might add an interesting element to our chat. Thanks for the welcome, I spent the day reading some of the threads and you seem to add valuable theist perspective on this board. Some great discussions here and I hope this will give me a better insight into my own "spirituality". ;D
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Post by solidsquid on May 6, 2005 14:24:29 GMT -5
Welcome aboard thehack, may I call you hack? Hope you like it here. William is a very welcome part of the board here and it's been a pleasure discussing topics with him.
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thehack
Maverick's Chew Toy
Posts: 16
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Post by thehack on May 6, 2005 15:12:28 GMT -5
Welcome aboard thehack, may I call you hack? Hope you like it here. William is a very welcome part of the board here and it's been a pleasure discussing topics with him. Sure. It's actually suppose to be "The HACK" but the board software won't let me register with a space or underscore.
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