I celebrate Christmas because its a wonderful holiday, but I am very athiest. I am a person who does a lot for other ppl because I want to, not because I think I will go to heaven b/c of it. I am a scientist and I totally believe in evolution. Can you identify with me?
Are you proud to be athiest? Tell me your story!
2006-12-23 18:38:31 · 15 answers · asked by Mariya F 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
ok, being athiest is something you definitely choose! both of my parents are religious, and i had to make a choice which religion i was going to follow, hence after much exploration, I chose athiesm. Many ppl see the flaws with the theory of God, but they choose to ignore those because change is hard, as well as facing familial rejection and such. I am proud of myself that i was able to make such a dificult choice even though i was faced with many obstacles on the way.
2006-12-23 18:53:57 · update #1
Wow, Mario E, that passage gave me chills!!!!
2006-12-23 18:57:08 · update #2
Me, me, me !!!!!!
Have you heard about the blasphemy challenge? You're not alone. There are a lot of people who are atheist and proud to be so.
Also, there is an excellent quotation describing what an atheist is given to the Supreme Court a long time ago:
"Your petitioners are Atheists and they define their beliefs as follows:
An Atheist loves his fellow man instead of god. An Atheist believes that heaven is something for which we should work now here on earth for all men together to enjoy.
An Atheist believes that he can get no help through prayer, but that he must find in himself the inner conviction and strength to meet life, to grapple with it, to subdue it and enjoy it.
An Atheist believes that only in a knowledge of himself and a knowledge of his fellow man can he find the understanding that will help to a life of fulfillment.
He seeks to know himself and his fellow man rather than to know a god. An Atheist believes that a hospital should be built instead of a church. An Atheist believes that a deed must be done instead of a prayer said. An Atheist strives for involvement in life and not escape into death. He wants disease conquered, poverty vanquished, war eliminated. He wants man to understand and love man.
He wants an ethical way of life. He believes that we cannot rely on a god or channel action into prayer nor hope for an end of troubles in a hereafter.
He believes that we are our brother's keepers; and are keepers of our own lives; that we are responsible persons and the job is here and the time is now.”
-- Definition of Atheism was given to the Supreme Court of the United States in the case of Murray v. Curlett, 374 U.S. 203, 83 S. Ct. 1560, 10 L.Ed.2d (MD, 1963), to remove reverential Bible reading and oral unison recitation of the Lord's Prayer in the public schools.
2006-12-23 18:49:03 · answer #1 · answered by Mario E 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Sophomoric, can i get an Amen!?
Listen, people dont necessarily believe in god to attain a place in the celestial kingdom, some do it for spiritual understanding and personal development.
Scientists although they deduct and reason by rules and standards, can still have an affinity for the spiritual and uknown.
It's not just black or white...AGNOSTICS are the grey.
Agnostics believe that god/celestial beings/supreme beings cannot be understood or be proven by men, but they dont completely deny the possibility of such a presence.
Dont just watch videos and come to conclusions, explore yourself and the limits of your spiritual thought, read books, speak to others, like here about theyre take on the existence of god.
I too celebrate christmas as a familial gathering and not for the birth of christ.
Hope this helps!
2006-12-23 18:47:38 · answer #2 · answered by elahrairah2 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I was raised in christian home, but studied science. My parents are still alive and still religious, while I have become doubtful that christianity is any more or less valid or important than other religions. I believe in evolution. Bible stories, to me, are just stories. I am not a bible scholar, so I can't comment on whether the stories of the bible have really been proven, but I doubt it. When my mother talks about God and Jesus, I humor her, because I love her and the last thing I want is for her to worry about my soul.
Sharing similar religious beliefs serves to bring people together. People are social. We need each other. Even though people can get together in a church and study the same books, religion is different to each individual.
To be proud of being atheist, one would not have loved ones who are religious, because having pride in such fundamental differences would interfere with a loving relationship. Respecting the views of others would interfere with pridefulness....
Its possible someone out there may be proud to be atheist, and they are probably also antisocial. Probably have relationship problems.
Some of the most wondrous, joyous, and dark moments in life can't be explained, or are too complicated to explain to most people of average intelligence. So we just accept the wonder and mystery, and some of us call it God, for those times when we need to give it a name.
2006-12-23 19:11:13 · answer #3 · answered by julie m 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
i am a proud atheist. i can't explain the freedom and clarity i feel now that i left my religion. i look at the world and it all seems so logical now, every thing makes sense. i lived my life in depression and perpetual fear of spending eternity in hell because of the persistent doubt i had in my religion, and my questioning. it takes courage to finally just cut the chord, and I've never felt so happy and confident!! i will celebrate Christmas too, with my family and have fun. ( my whole family are muslim but we celebrate Christmas anyway) it is just a fun Holiday that brings joy to every one, so why miss out! any way, all i can can say is that i feel like my life has just truly begun, while before i was dreadfully awaiting the moment i die.
2006-12-23 18:48:41 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yup! But it took Sam Harris to coax me into "coming out" as an atheist to my friends. Instead of being vaguely agnostic.
Also, I've found Richard Dawkins' "The God Delusion" empowering. It's among the top 5 books I've ever read.
I celebrate Christmas too. But my favorite holiday is Halloween, for the costumes of course.
2006-12-23 18:40:53 · answer #5 · answered by STFU Dude 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Considering we don't choose our beliefs, what's there to be proud of? I'm not proud of being a homosexual -- I was born that way. I'm not proud of being white -- I was born that way. I'm not proud of being an atheist -- the facts simply say there's no deity.
What am I proud of? I'm a helluva programmer -- that took work, dedication, and a lifetime of study. I do search and rescue work, eating the costs out of my own pocket and out of my own time. I am the primary support for many of my friends when they're in need, financially or emotionally -- and I give without asking in return.
THOSE are things to be proud of... why be proud of things you didn't choose?
2006-12-23 18:45:18 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Proud as a peacock. Constant exposure to closed minded ignorance on this site can get discouraging. You are a breath of fresh air.
2006-12-23 18:46:23 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I am one and I defintely can relate to you. That passage form Mario is awesome! I was an atheist a long time ago and I thought I was alone.... until now!
2006-12-23 19:07:23 · answer #8 · answered by Kaka 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ever since I gave up religion, I became a better person because I'm now concerned with this life and this world.
2006-12-23 18:45:07 · answer #9 · answered by Incoherent Fool 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
regrettably, many human beings could declare to be atheists, because of the fact this is seen to pass against the mainstream, and that they do it to be distinctive or to rebellion against their verify's religions. oftentimes, they do no longer provide the determination lots theory. maximum atheists, despite the fact that, are unlike this. i think of this is in comparison to the way born lower back christians declare to be "saved". i grew to become into born lower back. no longer from depravity, yet from lack of expertise. i grew to become into saved, no longer via God yet via Dawkins and Pinker and Dennet and Einstein and Hawking and Sagan. For this, i'm proud and greatful.
2016-11-23 14:34:39 · answer #10 · answered by comella 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋