101 Atheist Quotes

I say believe what you want. Just don't inflict it unnecessarily upon others. I do good things because I believe it is the right thing to do, not because I expect to be rewarded for it. My buddy and myself are very atheist, and we have another really good, childhood friend who is very much Muslim, prays 5 times a day, can't have the shitter between him and Mecca when he prays.

We get along famously. We just feel sorry for him cause he'll never know bacon, porkchops or baby back ribs.

 

From childhood through young adulthood I was raised in Presbyterian, Catholic, Baptist and Methodist congregations. The wide ranges of frequently contradictory beliefs I was exposed to really caused me to step back and question whether I actually believed any of them. After years of consideration I came to understand that I don't have faith in the traditional sense.

Many have tried to convince me that my lack of faith points to some personal flaw. These arguments don't work from me since they usually come from the faith felt by that person yet my philosophy stems from my lack of faith. It's like trying to explain to explain phantom limb syndrome to someone who hasn't lost an arm or leg... intellectually I understand but nothing sticks beyond that. The two sides, in my mind, cancel each other out.

It was mentioned earlier in this thread that darkness is the absence of light therefore atheism is the absence of religion. Simple, clean... works with the efficiency of Occam's Razor. I'm not sure if "atheist" fits me best, perhaps a better description is agnostic or even ignostic.

Many people whose views are in some ways similar to mine are disdainful of those who have faith. I don't agree with that opinion and feel the same inherent privilege I have to make my own choices should be universal.

 

One of the biggest reasons for the United States coming into being was freedom from religion. It would be equally beneficial to be free from so much government, another from of religion, which grows each day like the "THE BLOB", consuming all in its' path.I have little belief for any concept which attempts, and/or exerts control, over the individual.
"Live Free, Die Free."

 

Here is another thought. I would rather believe in God and be wrong than not believe and be wrong!

 

I agree 1000X

 

But atheism is a religion. And lets face it, believing whether you're wrong or not isn't a bad thing. Research shows that persons who believe in a 'higher entity' usually recover faster and have an overall better attitude in the hospital. I just want to know how I can get payed for a job like that.

Let's face it. The fact the bible cannot be easily translated is a fact. It doesn't help the language has been changed a few times either. Genesis states, "In the begining God created the heavens and the Earth". It goes on to say how this was done is seven days. But interpretation would tell this isn't the normal 24 hour period. There isn't anything to state how long a day is for God and the heavens. With that said, whose to say that 7 days in heaven couldn't have been 4.5 billion years or so. This would make religions begin to mesh. Darwin could be right. But in the same respect, so could the christianity.

With all the changes in the writings and teachings means changing in interpretation for benefit. It was in the 14th century that the Catholic churh was practically the most powerful entity in the world. They were in control many kingdoms and had a larger land control than the Roman Empire. They reworded the bible and the religion so that it would cost everyone a specified amount in order to ensure their spot in heaven. Peasants of course couldn't afford such entitlements. To aid in this, the Catholic church made it possible to buy individual body parts to go. Side note: most purchased their hand with the thought they could pull themselves up to heaven with it.

With the changes, adds, addendums, rewritings, removal, interpretations, and different versions of the bible it is up to the individual to establish what is believable or not whether they go to church or not. To dismiss it on all account is foolish, to see as a view into history is priceless. To take religion out of school is bad. I believe if Darwin's theory of evolution is taught, why can't creationism. The two parallel well (when the day is understood as afore mentioned). Why does it have to be religious imposement instead of a view of history.

"They are making a dvd of the bible now. I'm waiting for the Mormon edition to come out...it has all the deleted scenes." - Some Comedian

 

Is Atheism really a religion? I thought a religion was something you believed IN....Not "not believed in"...

 

I am a scientific person and that leads me to believe at there is an Architect of the Universe. There are too many patterns for this to be some random accident.

I don't believe The Architect created religion. Religion is a manmade tool to control the masses.

To contradict all that - I am not sure anything exists and this is not just some dream.

 

One of many definitions for religion is: a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects.

Considering atheism is a common belief in non-belief of the higher entity. It can be viewed as a religion. To me, a non-believer is someone who doesn't get mixed up in everything. An atheist is a specific group. It's like being a vegetarian or a vegan.

 

If atheism can be considered not a religion, then true Christianity should be considered not a religion either. When all is said and done, Islam comes down to five pillars and the duty to forbid wrong, Judaism has the ten commandments and the talmud (much the same as the fatwas of Islam). Christianity comes down to an unbounded faith and relationship with God. It's illogical, but it's the most real thing I've found.

 

Interesting conversations. Didn't read all the quotes.
While I might have a God I believe in, I have to admit there are times that other religions appear fanatical. I know religions have been used over the ages to manipulate the people to do someone else's bidding.
Personally, I'd take an atheist anytime over some over the religious fanaticals whose belief would lead them to kill/maim others in the name of their religions. Aaaaiiiiieeeeee!

 

Thumbs up to the OP. I have no religion, but consider myself to be moral. I have known a few that were the opposite, religious but not moral.

 

I agree. That's why 'global warming' has since shifted to 'global climate change'.

 

Like Jhodge mentioned, that's called the placebo effect. The same thing happens when you secretly give a person a sugar pill and tell them it's "medicine". Kissing a boo boo on a child really does make the child feel better because they believe it will make them feel better.

 

Political threads are disallowed but religious threads are not? Do both topics not end up with same conundrum and conclusion, or should I say, lack thereof? Makes. No. Sense.

 

Right but without Politics, Religion, and Significant others ( to be PC), what would be left for an indepth discussion?

 

quick thought on atheism as a religion...nope. religion is taught...atheism is realized. there is no book of atheism to teach from. personaly, i feel if there was a supreme being, we would not need the books/words of others to know that it exists.

 

Very well said! I grew up in church. Stopped going for a while, went some in high school but I didnt really get anything from it and some kids just went there for the "social" aspect of it and I didnt agree with that...

I believe in GOD through my own personal experiences, not through reading the bible or going to church.

After reading the OP I figured this would get Locked very fast but after reading through all the post I am very supprised and actually glad to see that this didnt get out of hand and everyone is playing nice
If I could, I would give Pos. rep to this entire thread