I am a Christian, but one who believes that evolution is a fact and that Christianity does not have secret access to all wisdom. Every religion (including atheism, which, as opposed to agnosticism is also a form of faith) has something to teach us about ourselves and where we have come from.
To class atheism a religion is nonsense. A religion requires a belief in a supreme being or power. Atheism refutes that concept completely.
I am ethnically Irish Roman Catholic, and they say once a Catholic...anyway it was steeped into my young consciousness and unconsciousness. However I reckon I can't resolve a lot of the conundrums, but would love there to be some sense of meaning so I suppose I am agnostic too. I like to think what everybody calls 'God' is the force inside you that helps and encourages you to be a decent person, even though most of us muck that up regularly. I do think contemplation, meditation, thinking, and prayer is psychologically good for a person and helps them to feel happier. One thing I am pretty sure of is you're born, you die, and the only thing that really matters in between is Love (yeah...whatever that is!). Here is a bit of a well meant conundrum. Some parents are criticised for shoving religion down their kids throats, others are criticised for NOT bringing them up in some kind of faith (letting them eventually decide for themselves they say). However parents are not criticised for bringing up their kids as carnivores. Very few people would say 'let them be a vegetarian until they can decide for themselves' even though a lot of those same people would criticise those who bring their kids up in a faith. Also why do so many people who eschew religion want to get married in a church, or celebrate Easter or Christmas? If it is a cultural thing, then recognising the cultural significance of religion ought not to be put down so readily.
Here's my admittedly slightly daft take on it - If you see a fly on a window in an office, said fly will never be able to comprehend that he is on a window in an office in a building, and the purpose of any of it will be completely beyond him. ( unless he is one clever little f*** of a fly) He's just after a bit of sugar and a bit of a buzz before someone comes along and flattens him for no reason he'll ever understand. And that's how I think we humans are on this planet, solar system, universe, and so on. We can see it, make some sense of it as best as our brains can, but ultimately we are all like flies on windows, it's all a bit too big out there and we wouldn't really understand it anyway.
It's best explained by the simple equation:
Brentford 0 Charlton 2
I'll go for F :-)
Brilliant post. My own answer probably lies somewhere between B, D, F and J but for all that I believe in a cosmic divine (a stand-in for the ineffable mysteries of physics), and for all I believe that appreciation of (the possibility of) this divine mandates aesthetic and moral tasks in our own lives, the whole system is entirely predicated on its transcendent, unknowable nature - the important and conversely empowering realisation that we will never, can never, SHOULD never know all the secrets. So, a bit of Einsteinian panentheism, a bit of faith in the vast & interconnected organism of sense and reflection that is the universe
Some very interesting comments on here. All good. I think there is a difference between Religion and Spirituality. And i think it's important to grasp this concept as the two are usually put together and that is unfair to Spirituality.
Religion for me is all about rules and regulations. You must do this, you can't do that. Blah, blah, blah put in place by man because man likes to be in control. And I think it is religious people who pick and choose as to what God is or is not accountable for. It is also religion that goes a long way to creating wars and bloodshed.
Spirituality, for me, is something entirely different. With Spirituality there are no rules and regulations and also no blame. What I feel is that it's an individual thing. It's about being in touch with something else, having faith in something else and, above all else, and I know it sounds corny, believing that love really is the most overpowering and strongest emotion. Not wanting to sound religious, because I'm not, but I think that's what Jesus was trying to put over in the New Testament. He was banging his head against a brick wall though and he knew it. I haven't studied the Koran, for example, but I wouldn't be surprised if all the major Spiritual books don't hit the same theme.
It's man who has misinterpreted that and created the religions.
Maybe this is a simplified way of looking at this but it's how I feel.
I was brought up as a Catholic but as soon as I was old enough to think for myself I became an atheist and I am about 99.9% confident that I am right. However I would never try to impose my beliefs on anyone else and for that reason I can't abide anyone trying to change my beliefs.
I was brought up as a Catholic but as soon as I was old enough to think for myself I became an atheist and I am about 99.9% confident that I am right. However I would never try to impose my beliefs on anyone else and for that reason I can't abide anyone trying to change my beliefs.
If there is a god, why does he not show himself to all and why were all his vessels back in a time where people were less enlightened? Anyone proclaiming to be the son of god in this age would be sectioned.
I'm not sure what I believe in. I think there is some type of 'higher being' i.e. a God of sorts. I don't attend Church but I do pray and beg at times of crisis. I suppose my 'religion' is treating all people with respect and care, believing I will get the same in return. I respect other religions and people's rights to have a religion of their choice, although I do have concerns about some of the ways their religions are followed. I don't preach about what I believe in and don't expect other people to preach to me.
I'm an atheist. Brought up CofE, realised early on its a load of bunkum and have had nothing to do with religion ever since. As for other people's religion, I have two opinions. One: if they want an imaginary friend, who am I to say them nay? Two: religion is like a penis; I don't care if you have one but I'll thank you not to shove it down my throat.
The idea of being "culturally" of a religion but not actually a believer is an interesting one that I'd never considered before. What do you tick on the census form under "religion" (if you don't mind me asking) ?
Personally think all religion is outdated and frankly pointless now. Was a way of explaining things that we couldn't explain when we didn't have the science we have now, ie it's man made. It's just NOT true. A man didn't separate a sea, a man didn't make 2 fish feed thousands of people, a man didn't get 2 of EVERY single animal on one boat, no one walked on water, and so on.
'If religious instruction were not allowed until the child had attained the age of reason, we would be living in a quite different world.'
The idea of being "culturally" of a religion but not actually a believer is an interesting one that I'd never considered before. What do you tick on the census form under "religion" (if you don't mind me asking) ?
.....basically means that despite my strong personal beliefs I go along with the major rituals, although my young kids are already expressing doubts about the whole God thing.
I can't believe we have no Jedi's on here. Perhaps they don't want to be persecuted for their beliefs :-)
Apparently there are around 8m Scientolgists in the world which I find quite frightening especially when you look at the list of famous people below
Name Lifetime Notes Kirstie Alley 1951– Actress.[2][3][4][5] Anne Archer 1947– Actress (mother of former Scientology spokesperson Tommy Davis).[3][6] Lynsey Bartilson 1983– Actress.[7] Catherine Bell 1968– Actress.[7][8][9][10] Karen Black 1939–2013 Actress.[11][12][13] Sonny Bono 1935–1998 Entertainer and congressman (R-CA 44th).[14] Identified among "notable Scientologists" in the 2007 edition of the book Extraordinary Groups: An Examination of Unconventional Lifestyles by authors William W. Zellner and Richard T. Schaefer.[15] Identified as a Scientologist by his ex-wife.[16][17] Stephen Boyd 1931–1977 Actor, rose to Grade IV within the organization, utilized Scientology techniques while filming a movie in Louisiana.[18] Grant Cardone 1958– Salesman, author, motivational speaker, media personality[19] Nancy Cartwright 1957– Voice-over actress, voice of Bart Simpson.[7][13][14][20][21] Kate Ceberano 1966– Actress and musician.[22][23][24][25] Ceberano is a third-generation-Scientologist; her grandmother worked as a governess for the children of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard.[23] Erika Christensen 1982– Actress, raised Scientologist.[2][3][7] Jeff Conaway 1950–2011 Actor.[26][27][28][29] Tom Constanten 1944– Former keyboardist for the Grateful Dead.[30][31][32] Chick Corea 1941– Musician.[3][5][7][22] Tom Cruise 1962– Actor[3][22][25] Sky Dayton 1971– Founder of EarthLink.[33][34] Doug Dohring Ex-owner of Neopets.[35] Bodhi Elfman 1969– Actor.[36][37][38][39] Jenna Elfman 1971– Actress.[2][3][5][7] Richard Elfman 1949– Writer and director.[33] Doug E. Fresh 1966– Musician and actor.[7][20][21] Beck Hansen 1970– Musician.[3][20][21][42] Isaac Hayes 1942–2008 Musician and actor.[3][20] Nicky Hopkins 1944–1994 Musician.[43] Mark Isham 1951– Musician and film music composer.[44] Milton Katselas 1933–2008 Acting teacher.[3][45] Vivian Kubrick 1960– Filmmaker, composer & daughter of Stanley Kubrick [46] Jason Lee 1970– Actor.[5][7][42][47] Geoffrey Lewis 1935– Actor.[48][49] Juliette Lewis 1973– Actress.[3][5][48] Noah Lottick 1966–1990 Scientologist whose suicide was the focus of the Time magazine article "The Thriving Cult of Greed and Power".[50][51][52][53][54][55] Christopher Masterson 1980– Actor.[2][7] Danny Masterson 1976– Actor.[2][7] Lisa McPherson 1959–1995 American woman whose death has been a source of controversy for Scientology.[56][57] Jim Meskimen 1959– Actor and improviser.[58][59] Julia Migenes 1949– Opera singer.[60] Sofia Milos 1965– Actress.[61][62] Elisabeth Moss 1982– Actress.[63] Placed among "famous Scientologists" in a 2009 article in the St. Petersburg Times.[64] Haywood Nelson 1960– Actor.[65] Marisol Nichols 1973– Actress.[22] Judy Norton Taylor 1958– Actress.[44][66][67] Eduardo Palomo 1962–2003 Actor.[68][69] Michael Peña 1976– Actor.[70] Elli Perkins 1949–2003 Scientologist businesswoman[71] who was murdered by her son who suffered from mental illness.[72][73][74][75] Bijou Phillips 1980– Actress and model.[76] Laura Prepon 1980– Actress.[33] Priscilla Presley 1945– Actress.[77] Kelly Preston 1962– Actress and wife of John Travolta.[2][5][78] Lee Purcell 1947– Actress.[44] Giovanni Ribisi 1974– Actor raised Scientologist.[5][42] Marissa Ribisi 1974– Actress raised Scientologist.[42] Michael D. Roberts 1947– Actor.[44] Ruddy Rodríguez 1967– Actress.[79][80] Billy Sheehan 1953– Rock bassist.[60] Pablo Santos 1987–2006 Actor.[81] Ethan Suplee 1976– Actor.[47] John Travolta 1954– Actor.[2][3] Greta Van Susteren 1954– Television show host.[2][8][42] Listed among "A list" members of Scientology in a 2006 article in The Boston Globe. Identified among "notable Scientologists" in the 2007 edition of the book Extraordinary Groups: An Examination of Unconventional Lifestyles by authors William W. Zellner and Richard T. Schaefer.[15] Placed among "famous Scientologists" in a 2009 article in the St. Petersburg Times.[64] Her husband, a lawyer, is a fellow practitioner of Scientology.[42] She told People magazine, "I am a strong advocate of their ethics."[42] Michael, Kathryn, and Sue Walicki –2007 Scientology family who was attacked by their mentally ill daughter/sister after a lapse in medication.[82][82][83] Edgar Winter 1946– Musician.[56]
I can't believe we have no Jedi's on here. Perhaps they don't want to be persecuted for their beliefs :-)
Apparently there are around 8m Scientolgists in the world which I find quite frightening especially when you look at the list of famous people below
Name Lifetime Notes Kirstie Alley 1951– Actress.[2][3][4][5] Anne Archer 1947– Actress (mother of former Scientology spokesperson Tommy Davis).[3][6] Lynsey Bartilson 1983– Actress.[7] Catherine Bell 1968– Actress.[7][8][9][10] Karen Black 1939–2013 Actress.[11][12][13] Sonny Bono 1935–1998 Entertainer and congressman (R-CA 44th).[14] Identified among "notable Scientologists" in the 2007 edition of the book Extraordinary Groups: An Examination of Unconventional Lifestyles by authors William W. Zellner and Richard T. Schaefer.[15] Identified as a Scientologist by his ex-wife.[16][17] Stephen Boyd 1931–1977 Actor, rose to Grade IV within the organization, utilized Scientology techniques while filming a movie in Louisiana.[18] Grant Cardone 1958– Salesman, author, motivational speaker, media personality[19] Nancy Cartwright 1957– Voice-over actress, voice of Bart Simpson.[7][13][14][20][21] Kate Ceberano 1966– Actress and musician.[22][23][24][25] Ceberano is a third-generation-Scientologist; her grandmother worked as a governess for the children of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard.[23] Erika Christensen 1982– Actress, raised Scientologist.[2][3][7] Jeff Conaway 1950–2011 Actor.[26][27][28][29] Tom Constanten 1944– Former keyboardist for the Grateful Dead.[30][31][32] Chick Corea 1941– Musician.[3][5][7][22] Tom Cruise 1962– Actor[3][22][25] Sky Dayton 1971– Founder of EarthLink.[33][34] Doug Dohring Ex-owner of Neopets.[35] Bodhi Elfman 1969– Actor.[36][37][38][39] Jenna Elfman 1971– Actress.[2][3][5][7] Richard Elfman 1949– Writer and director.[33] Doug E. Fresh 1966– Musician and actor.[7][20][21] Beck Hansen 1970– Musician.[3][20][21][42] Isaac Hayes 1942–2008 Musician and actor.[3][20] Nicky Hopkins 1944–1994 Musician.[43] Mark Isham 1951– Musician and film music composer.[44] Milton Katselas 1933–2008 Acting teacher.[3][45] Vivian Kubrick 1960– Filmmaker, composer & daughter of Stanley Kubrick [46] Jason Lee 1970– Actor.[5][7][42][47] Geoffrey Lewis 1935– Actor.[48][49] Juliette Lewis 1973– Actress.[3][5][48] Noah Lottick 1966–1990 Scientologist whose suicide was the focus of the Time magazine article "The Thriving Cult of Greed and Power".[50][51][52][53][54][55] Christopher Masterson 1980– Actor.[2][7] Danny Masterson 1976– Actor.[2][7] Lisa McPherson 1959–1995 American woman whose death has been a source of controversy for Scientology.[56][57] Jim Meskimen 1959– Actor and improviser.[58][59] Julia Migenes 1949– Opera singer.[60] Sofia Milos 1965– Actress.[61][62] Elisabeth Moss 1982– Actress.[63] Placed among "famous Scientologists" in a 2009 article in the St. Petersburg Times.[64] Haywood Nelson 1960– Actor.[65] Marisol Nichols 1973– Actress.[22] Judy Norton Taylor 1958– Actress.[44][66][67] Eduardo Palomo 1962–2003 Actor.[68][69] Michael Peña 1976– Actor.[70] Elli Perkins 1949–2003 Scientologist businesswoman[71] who was murdered by her son who suffered from mental illness.[72][73][74][75] Bijou Phillips 1980– Actress and model.[76] Laura Prepon 1980– Actress.[33] Priscilla Presley 1945– Actress.[77] Kelly Preston 1962– Actress and wife of John Travolta.[2][5][78] Lee Purcell 1947– Actress.[44] Giovanni Ribisi 1974– Actor raised Scientologist.[5][42] Marissa Ribisi 1974– Actress raised Scientologist.[42] Michael D. Roberts 1947– Actor.[44] Ruddy Rodríguez 1967– Actress.[79][80] Billy Sheehan 1953– Rock bassist.[60] Pablo Santos 1987–2006 Actor.[81] Ethan Suplee 1976– Actor.[47] John Travolta 1954– Actor.[2][3] Greta Van Susteren 1954– Television show host.[2][8][42] Listed among "A list" members of Scientology in a 2006 article in The Boston Globe. Identified among "notable Scientologists" in the 2007 edition of the book Extraordinary Groups: An Examination of Unconventional Lifestyles by authors William W. Zellner and Richard T. Schaefer.[15] Placed among "famous Scientologists" in a 2009 article in the St. Petersburg Times.[64] Her husband, a lawyer, is a fellow practitioner of Scientology.[42] She told People magazine, "I am a strong advocate of their ethics."[42] Michael, Kathryn, and Sue Walicki –2007 Scientology family who was attacked by their mentally ill daughter/sister after a lapse in medication.[82][82][83] Edgar Winter 1946– Musician.[56]
FYI Isaac Hayes was the voice of "chef" in south park.
I can't believe we have no Jedi's on here. Perhaps they don't want to be persecuted for their beliefs :-)
Apparently there are around 8m Scientolgists in the world which I find quite frightening especially when you look at the list of famous people below
Name Lifetime Notes Kirstie Alley 1951– Actress.[2][3][4][5] Anne Archer 1947– Actress (mother of former Scientology spokesperson Tommy Davis).[3][6] Lynsey Bartilson 1983– Actress.[7] Catherine Bell 1968– Actress.[7][8][9][10] Karen Black 1939–2013 Actress.[11][12][13] Sonny Bono 1935–1998 Entertainer and congressman (R-CA 44th).[14] Identified among "notable Scientologists" in the 2007 edition of the book Extraordinary Groups: An Examination of Unconventional Lifestyles by authors William W. Zellner and Richard T. Schaefer.[15] Identified as a Scientologist by his ex-wife.[16][17] Stephen Boyd 1931–1977 Actor, rose to Grade IV within the organization, utilized Scientology techniques while filming a movie in Louisiana.[18] Grant Cardone 1958– Salesman, author, motivational speaker, media personality[19] Nancy Cartwright 1957– Voice-over actress, voice of Bart Simpson.[7][13][14][20][21] Kate Ceberano 1966– Actress and musician.[22][23][24][25] Ceberano is a third-generation-Scientologist; her grandmother worked as a governess for the children of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard.[23] Erika Christensen 1982– Actress, raised Scientologist.[2][3][7] Jeff Conaway 1950–2011 Actor.[26][27][28][29] Tom Constanten 1944– Former keyboardist for the Grateful Dead.[30][31][32] Chick Corea 1941– Musician.[3][5][7][22] Tom Cruise 1962– Actor[3][22][25] Sky Dayton 1971– Founder of EarthLink.[33][34] Doug Dohring Ex-owner of Neopets.[35] Bodhi Elfman 1969– Actor.[36][37][38][39] Jenna Elfman 1971– Actress.[2][3][5][7] Richard Elfman 1949– Writer and director.[33] Doug E. Fresh 1966– Musician and actor.[7][20][21] Beck Hansen 1970– Musician.[3][20][21][42] Isaac Hayes 1942–2008 Musician and actor.[3][20] Nicky Hopkins 1944–1994 Musician.[43] Mark Isham 1951– Musician and film music composer.[44] Milton Katselas 1933–2008 Acting teacher.[3][45] Vivian Kubrick 1960– Filmmaker, composer & daughter of Stanley Kubrick [46] Jason Lee 1970– Actor.[5][7][42][47] Geoffrey Lewis 1935– Actor.[48][49] Juliette Lewis 1973– Actress.[3][5][48] Noah Lottick 1966–1990 Scientologist whose suicide was the focus of the Time magazine article "The Thriving Cult of Greed and Power".[50][51][52][53][54][55] Christopher Masterson 1980– Actor.[2][7] Danny Masterson 1976– Actor.[2][7] Lisa McPherson 1959–1995 American woman whose death has been a source of controversy for Scientology.[56][57] Jim Meskimen 1959– Actor and improviser.[58][59] Julia Migenes 1949– Opera singer.[60] Sofia Milos 1965– Actress.[61][62] Elisabeth Moss 1982– Actress.[63] Placed among "famous Scientologists" in a 2009 article in the St. Petersburg Times.[64] Haywood Nelson 1960– Actor.[65] Marisol Nichols 1973– Actress.[22] Judy Norton Taylor 1958– Actress.[44][66][67] Eduardo Palomo 1962–2003 Actor.[68][69] Michael Peña 1976– Actor.[70] Elli Perkins 1949–2003 Scientologist businesswoman[71] who was murdered by her son who suffered from mental illness.[72][73][74][75] Bijou Phillips 1980– Actress and model.[76] Laura Prepon 1980– Actress.[33] Priscilla Presley 1945– Actress.[77] Kelly Preston 1962– Actress and wife of John Travolta.[2][5][78] Lee Purcell 1947– Actress.[44] Giovanni Ribisi 1974– Actor raised Scientologist.[5][42] Marissa Ribisi 1974– Actress raised Scientologist.[42] Michael D. Roberts 1947– Actor.[44] Ruddy Rodríguez 1967– Actress.[79][80] Billy Sheehan 1953– Rock bassist.[60] Pablo Santos 1987–2006 Actor.[81] Ethan Suplee 1976– Actor.[47] John Travolta 1954– Actor.[2][3] Greta Van Susteren 1954– Television show host.[2][8][42] Listed among "A list" members of Scientology in a 2006 article in The Boston Globe. Identified among "notable Scientologists" in the 2007 edition of the book Extraordinary Groups: An Examination of Unconventional Lifestyles by authors William W. Zellner and Richard T. Schaefer.[15] Placed among "famous Scientologists" in a 2009 article in the St. Petersburg Times.[64] Her husband, a lawyer, is a fellow practitioner of Scientology.[42] She told People magazine, "I am a strong advocate of their ethics."[42] Michael, Kathryn, and Sue Walicki –2007 Scientology family who was attacked by their mentally ill daughter/sister after a lapse in medication.[82][82][83] Edgar Winter 1946– Musician.[56]
FYI Isaac Hayes was the voice of "chef" in south park.
Was quite surprised Beck was on the list and also Greta Van Susteren especially as she is a major figure on Fox - won't ever be able to take her seriously again
I am a Christian, but one who believes that evolution is a fact and that Christianity does not have secret access to all wisdom. Every religion (including atheism, which, as opposed to agnosticism is also a form of faith) has something to teach us about ourselves and where we have come from.
To class atheism a religion is nonsense. A religion requires a belief in a supreme being or power. Atheism refutes that concept completely.
I would have to disagree with you on that - many 'religious' people's faith does not require a 'supernatural' power to exist, certainly many Buddhists would not and, indeed, my own faith does not.
Maybe atheism lacks some of the ceremony that is traditionally associated with a religion (although there are currently some very interesting attempts to change this) so you could class atheism more as a 'faith' than a 'religion' although it does have its zealots like any other faith.
I am a Christian, but one who believes that evolution is a fact and that Christianity does not have secret access to all wisdom. Every religion (including atheism, which, as opposed to agnosticism is also a form of faith) has something to teach us about ourselves and where we have come from.
To class atheism a religion is nonsense. A religion requires a belief in a supreme being or power. Atheism refutes that concept completely.
I would have to disagree with you on that - many 'religious' people's faith does not require a 'supernatural' power to exist, certainly many Buddhists would not and, indeed, my own faith does not.
Maybe atheism lacks some of the ceremony that is traditionally associated with a religion (although there are currently some very interesting attempts to change this) so you could class atheism more as a 'faith' than a 'religion' although it does have its zealots like any other faith.
To call atheism a religion is like saying my hobby is not stamp collecting.
I don't and never have believed in any organised religions based on divine revelation. I first read, as a young man, Thomas Paine's 'The Age of Reason' and for me it still gives the best reasoned logical argument against revealed religions.
I do not rule out the possibility of a creator - there are many elements of the physical world that follow natural laws and there is evidence of 'design' in many things but I would fall short of calling myself a Deist. I do not believe that everything is random but equally I do not believe in any interventionist God - if there was a creator, he/she/it just lit the blue touch paper and stood well back!
I've always been amused by christians of times past who were quite happy to laugh at the beliefs of other culture's when christianity itself is based on a whole load of stuff that is equally absurd. Added to that most churches spent a long time burning people alive and torturing them for not falling into line, even when the evidence (ie Galilleo saying the Earth revolves around the sun) and you have a history and belief system I would'nt touch with a barge pole, though I 'm happy enough if other people go for it. The universo (in my humble opinión) is way to complex for us to understand, and even science is beginning to construct a mountain of ideas on a molehill of demonstrable evidence. However, to bring in super beings or god's to explain it all away is just fantasy to me. There may be something out there, but for me to imagine it's interested in the horrible things people do on this planet is absurd. I go along by and large with Richard Dawkins. The fact is a lot of people take confort from religión, which is great, but there are a lot who want to impose theirs on other people, which winds me up. Finally, I saw a quote on Facebook recently, which was attributed to Judy Dench I think, which said
'Religión is a bit like having a penis. If you are proud of it, that's fine. But if you keep getting it out and waving it in my face, then we'll have problems'.
Quite often I hear that people don't want 'religion' rammed down their throats but I wonder if the same people have an issue with the likes of Dawkins who are extremely aggressive in putting their views across? If that were an evangelical minister or missionary would it be different? It seems that that is acceptable to people which surprises me because that is his faith or belief or whatever and is put across as 'fact'. Who am I to tell you all that what you believe is rubbish? I very rarely talk about my faith. I live my life and hope that maybe others can experience the purpose, sense of direction, peace, fulfilment, joy etc that I've found and cannot be found in science or money or drugs or anything else I've seen. I guess these are things that I feel faith in Jesus has to offer and would love to share it with others as it is life changing (I have seen it change lives and that can't be denied). What he seems to offer is hostility with nothing worthwhile with the potential to make a positive difference in a person's life. For example, some people come to faith in Jesus and aren't able to kick their drug addiction or depression. But I've seen many that have managed it through their faith. As far as I'm concerned, that alone means that it is well worth sharing my beliefs with others if I sincerely believe it could be for that person's good and not to conform them to my way of thinking or living.
For Mr Dawkins: Atheism is a bit like having a penis. If you are proud of it, that's fine. But if you keep getting it out and waving it in my face, then we'll have problems
For Mr Dawkins: Atheism is a bit like having a penis. If you are proud of it, that's fine. But if you keep getting it out and waving it in my face, then we'll have problems
Yes, indeed, I think he would probably argue the same about overly zealous Christians.
Comments
To class atheism a religion is nonsense. A religion requires a belief in a supreme being or power. Atheism refutes that concept completely.
I like to think what everybody calls 'God' is the force inside you that helps and encourages you to be a decent person, even though most of us muck that up regularly. I do think contemplation, meditation, thinking, and prayer is psychologically good for a person and helps them to feel happier.
One thing I am pretty sure of is you're born, you die, and the only thing that really matters in between is Love (yeah...whatever that is!).
Here is a bit of a well meant conundrum.
Some parents are criticised for shoving religion down their kids throats, others are criticised for NOT bringing them up in some kind of faith (letting them eventually decide for themselves they say). However parents are not criticised for bringing up their kids as carnivores. Very few people would say 'let them be a vegetarian until they can decide for themselves' even though a lot of those same people would criticise those who bring their kids up in a faith.
Also why do so many people who eschew religion want to get married in a church, or celebrate Easter or Christmas? If it is a cultural thing, then recognising the cultural significance of religion ought not to be put down so readily.
Religion for me is all about rules and regulations. You must do this, you can't do that. Blah, blah, blah put in place by man because man likes to be in control. And I think it is religious people who pick and choose as to what God is or is not accountable for. It is also religion that goes a long way to creating wars and bloodshed.
Spirituality, for me, is something entirely different. With Spirituality there are no rules and regulations and also no blame. What I feel is that it's an individual thing. It's about being in touch with something else, having faith in something else and, above all else, and I know it sounds corny, believing that love really is the most overpowering and strongest emotion. Not wanting to sound religious, because I'm not, but I think that's what Jesus was trying to put over in the New Testament. He was banging his head against a brick wall though and he knew it. I haven't studied the Koran, for example, but I wouldn't be surprised if all the major Spiritual books don't hit the same theme.
It's man who has misinterpreted that and created the religions.
Maybe this is a simplified way of looking at this but it's how I feel.
George Carlin puts it better than I ever could....
Where you from? You sexay thing
'If religious instruction were not allowed until the child had attained the age of reason, we would be living in a quite different world.'
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Cultural%20Catholic
.....basically means that despite my strong personal beliefs I go along with the major rituals, although my young kids are already expressing doubts about the whole God thing.
Apparently there are around 8m Scientolgists in the world which I find quite frightening especially when you look at the list of famous people below
Name Lifetime Notes
Kirstie Alley 1951– Actress.[2][3][4][5]
Anne Archer 1947– Actress (mother of former Scientology spokesperson Tommy Davis).[3][6]
Lynsey Bartilson 1983– Actress.[7]
Catherine Bell 1968– Actress.[7][8][9][10]
Karen Black 1939–2013 Actress.[11][12][13]
Sonny Bono 1935–1998 Entertainer and congressman (R-CA 44th).[14] Identified among "notable Scientologists" in the 2007 edition of the book Extraordinary Groups: An Examination of Unconventional Lifestyles by authors William W. Zellner and Richard T. Schaefer.[15] Identified as a Scientologist by his ex-wife.[16][17]
Stephen Boyd 1931–1977 Actor, rose to Grade IV within the organization, utilized Scientology techniques while filming a movie in Louisiana.[18]
Grant Cardone 1958– Salesman, author, motivational speaker, media personality[19]
Nancy Cartwright 1957– Voice-over actress, voice of Bart Simpson.[7][13][14][20][21]
Kate Ceberano 1966– Actress and musician.[22][23][24][25] Ceberano is a third-generation-Scientologist; her grandmother worked as a governess for the children of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard.[23]
Erika Christensen 1982– Actress, raised Scientologist.[2][3][7]
Jeff Conaway 1950–2011 Actor.[26][27][28][29]
Tom Constanten 1944– Former keyboardist for the Grateful Dead.[30][31][32]
Chick Corea 1941– Musician.[3][5][7][22]
Tom Cruise 1962– Actor[3][22][25]
Sky Dayton 1971– Founder of EarthLink.[33][34]
Doug Dohring Ex-owner of Neopets.[35]
Bodhi Elfman 1969– Actor.[36][37][38][39]
Jenna Elfman 1971– Actress.[2][3][5][7]
Richard Elfman 1949– Writer and director.[33]
Doug E. Fresh 1966– Musician and actor.[7][20][21]
Beck Hansen 1970– Musician.[3][20][21][42]
Isaac Hayes 1942–2008 Musician and actor.[3][20]
Nicky Hopkins 1944–1994 Musician.[43]
Mark Isham 1951– Musician and film music composer.[44]
Milton Katselas 1933–2008 Acting teacher.[3][45]
Vivian Kubrick 1960– Filmmaker, composer & daughter of Stanley Kubrick [46]
Jason Lee 1970– Actor.[5][7][42][47]
Geoffrey Lewis 1935– Actor.[48][49]
Juliette Lewis 1973– Actress.[3][5][48]
Noah Lottick 1966–1990 Scientologist whose suicide was the focus of the Time magazine article "The Thriving Cult of Greed and Power".[50][51][52][53][54][55]
Christopher Masterson 1980– Actor.[2][7]
Danny Masterson 1976– Actor.[2][7]
Lisa McPherson 1959–1995 American woman whose death has been a source of controversy for Scientology.[56][57]
Jim Meskimen 1959– Actor and improviser.[58][59]
Julia Migenes 1949– Opera singer.[60]
Sofia Milos 1965– Actress.[61][62]
Elisabeth Moss 1982– Actress.[63] Placed among "famous Scientologists" in a 2009 article in the St. Petersburg Times.[64]
Haywood Nelson 1960– Actor.[65]
Marisol Nichols 1973– Actress.[22]
Judy Norton Taylor 1958– Actress.[44][66][67]
Eduardo Palomo 1962–2003 Actor.[68][69]
Michael Peña 1976– Actor.[70]
Elli Perkins 1949–2003 Scientologist businesswoman[71] who was murdered by her son who suffered from mental illness.[72][73][74][75]
Bijou Phillips 1980– Actress and model.[76]
Laura Prepon 1980– Actress.[33]
Priscilla Presley 1945– Actress.[77]
Kelly Preston 1962– Actress and wife of John Travolta.[2][5][78]
Lee Purcell 1947– Actress.[44]
Giovanni Ribisi 1974– Actor raised Scientologist.[5][42]
Marissa Ribisi 1974– Actress raised Scientologist.[42]
Michael D. Roberts 1947– Actor.[44]
Ruddy Rodríguez 1967– Actress.[79][80]
Billy Sheehan 1953– Rock bassist.[60]
Pablo Santos 1987–2006 Actor.[81]
Ethan Suplee 1976– Actor.[47]
John Travolta 1954– Actor.[2][3]
Greta Van Susteren 1954– Television show host.[2][8][42] Listed among "A list" members of Scientology in a 2006 article in The Boston Globe. Identified among "notable Scientologists" in the 2007 edition of the book Extraordinary Groups: An Examination of Unconventional Lifestyles by authors William W. Zellner and Richard T. Schaefer.[15] Placed among "famous Scientologists" in a 2009 article in the St. Petersburg Times.[64] Her husband, a lawyer, is a fellow practitioner of Scientology.[42] She told People magazine, "I am a strong advocate of their ethics."[42]
Michael, Kathryn, and Sue Walicki –2007 Scientology family who was attacked by their mentally ill daughter/sister after a lapse in medication.[82][82][83]
Edgar Winter 1946– Musician.[56]
Maybe atheism lacks some of the ceremony that is traditionally associated with a religion (although there are currently some very interesting attempts to change this) so you could class atheism more as a 'faith' than a 'religion' although it does have its zealots like any other faith.
I do not rule out the possibility of a creator - there are many elements of the physical world that follow natural laws and there is evidence of 'design' in many things but I would fall short of calling myself a Deist. I do not believe that everything is random but equally I do not believe in any interventionist God - if there was a creator, he/she/it just lit the blue touch paper and stood well back!
The universo (in my humble opinión) is way to complex for us to understand, and even science is beginning to construct a mountain of ideas on a molehill of demonstrable evidence. However, to bring in super beings or god's to explain it all away is just fantasy to me. There may be something out there, but for me to imagine it's interested in the horrible things people do on this planet is absurd.
I go along by and large with Richard Dawkins. The fact is a lot of people take confort from religión, which is great, but there are a lot who want to impose theirs on other people, which winds me up.
Finally, I saw a quote on Facebook recently, which was attributed to Judy Dench I think, which said
'Religión is a bit like having a penis. If you are proud of it, that's fine. But if you keep getting it out and waving it in my face, then we'll have problems'.