Another atheist. There are a lot more of us then people realize and when you take into consideration the folks who won't admit it, the number grows exponentially..
If you don't mind sharing, what's your religion?
- Thread starter J_Dee
- Start date
I used to be very anti religion, thinking it was a crutch for people and all that.
As I've gotten older, I'm glad it's out there, even if it's not for me. As crazy as the world is, if it helps people deal with their everyday life, good on them. I'm pro most religion now, even if I'm not a believer, if that makes any sense.
As I've gotten older, I'm glad it's out there, even if it's not for me. As crazy as the world is, if it helps people deal with their everyday life, good on them. I'm pro most religion now, even if I'm not a believer, if that makes any sense.
Yeah, In 1991, 91% of people regularly attended church. That number is now 70%. I’d say there are more agnostics and Christians who just don’t really mess with church than full-on atheists. No way to measure that, though.
The hardest part for most atheists in making it public knowledge is the backlash from family. My girlfriend has been disowned by her Methodist parents and siblings for letting them know she doesn’t believe. I’ve had my share of awkward moments with friends when they find out. Too many Christians that automatically assume that all Atheists are morally bankrupt, or satan worshipers, or both.
Well if you are an atheist you will end up in hell, so you might as well get on Satan’s good side before you go.
For the record, we don’t believe in that guy either. Christians do!
Did you not watch my video from the previous page? I explain this to you.
I'm not an atheist but I know how this is. Several years ago I said I wasn't sure and my family acted like it was the biggest deal ever.
Agree. I was pretty fortunately. My mom is religious but not a nut so she just laughed it off. But a lot of people are not.
I think your numbers are off . There is no way that 70% of the US attends church regularly in 2021. The 91 % in 91 is also unbelievable. To me that's a high number for 1951 much less 91.
I used to be real passionate about my faith/lack of faith when I was younger and I guess you could say more insecure and unsure about my beliefs. As I’ve gotten older I’m pretty secure in my beliefs and have therefore become pretty apathetic about it and pretty disinterested in what others believe unless it directly effects me. People try and act that they are the same way but I find most people want people to think like them and become pretty intolerant of others who don’t. It’s a shame, but I guess human nature.
It’s pretty clearly fake numbers. Only 47% of the US population even said they were a church member last year, much less regularly attending. The peak since it’s been measured was 76% membership in the late 40s.
54% in 2020, up just 1% from 2019, said they seldom or never attended church
"If it takes a little myth and ritual to get us through a night that seems endless, who among us cannot sympathize and understand?" -- Carl Sagan
I am technically Agnostic by definition. I don't know for sure, and neither does anyone else. No one can prove anything.
I do recognize the power of rite, ritual, and Mythology on us personally and on society though. It's like a collective placebo effect. Imaginary or not it can have a real impact.
I would probably go with being a Heathen if I had to pick one operating system to download.
I do recognize the power of rite, ritual, and Mythology on us personally and on society though. It's like a collective placebo effect. Imaginary or not it can have a real impact.
I would probably go with being a Heathen if I had to pick one operating system to download.
I can relate. I’m still closeted because I don’t want to have the argument with my saintly mom that will only make her golden years sad. Pops knows and doesn’t care, he just said to not tell mom. I’ve been to Easter church with my folks a couple times in the 15 years. It’s easier than making a scene and there’s ham afterwards.
I’ve been married almost 20 years. My wife grew up that crazy kind of baptist where god’s an angry prick and everyone is going to hell unless they belong to that particular sect. I was raised Catholic. There were members of her extended family who wouldn’t attend our wedding because i was Catholic and hadn’t been saved in a creek somewhere. Those same people have completely shunned us later in life as my wife is a staunch, open atheist and I’m a fence riding agnostic/atheist. Oh well. Already got to skip a handful of funerals.
I thought I read that 91% of Americans in 1991 were religious. My bad.
70% of Americans identify as Christians. Many just don’t regularly attend.
Only 4% are atheist. Awesome numbers!
70% of Americans identify as Christians. Many just don’t regularly attend.
Only 4% are atheist. Awesome numbers!
“Broad is the way that leads to destruction and many there be that find it”
A lot of sadness in this thread. So thankful my parents taught me about God and the Bible. Else, who knows what I’d be. Someone posted that he thought most folks had a good heart or something like that. The Bible says the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked … just thankful there is a Savior and forgiveness. For certain I needed it.
Last edited:
Live and let live. No need to preach. Most of us are well read and have made our decision after much deliberation and research.
If you need Christianity to prevent you from doing deceitful and wicked things, what's that say about you and the creation God made when there are atheists and agnostics who get by in life without doing deceitful and wicked things?
That's the whole thing about religion that's never made sense to me. If God wanted everyone to pray to him to be forgiven for their sins and will damn us to hell if we don't, and God created everyone, then why did he give us the ability to commit these sins to begin with? Seems awfully egotistical, it's like he created us just so he can have a bunch of people worship him.
Sorry Johnny, you may have lived a fairly good life committing a minimal amount of sin, but you didn't believe in me or pray for forgiveness, so you're going to hell. Sorry, thems the rules. BUT this killer and rapist believed in me and prayed for forgiveness, so all is good in the hood with him.
Last edited:
So much to unpack in this one. Wasn't even sure I wanted to try. But here goes.
One of the most interesting things about religion, in my way of thinking, is how people come to believe religious things. With no facts or evidence, other than some centuries old texts that were written down long after the stories were supposed to have happened, then translated several time from their original language, people believe based on who told them. Their parents. Funny how children born to christian parents become christian. Muslim parents have muslim children. And so on. I say all this because you thanked your parents for teaching you. I find that fascinating. Really!
And the only bit of sadness (for me) I read in the entire thread was when you wrote, "The Bible says the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked". It makes me sad to know that people are told to believe this. But then again, I see this as the selling point of religion. You have been sold on the idea that you and your fellow humans are inherently evil. And sold on the idea that only christianity and the bible can keep you from your evil thoughts and deeds. Diagnosed with a made-up illness, and sold an invisible cure. Topped off with both of the oldest motivators in human history, the carrot and the stick. Heaven if you believe, and hell if you don't. Both of those paid out after you are no longer alive. Brilliant salesmanship by those with the skill to pull it off.
Apologies in advance if you feel that I'm picking on your particular favorite religion. I'm really not. Just attempting to provide insight into how many of those outside your group think about things.
No apologies necessary. I am quite secure in my faith.
I don’t need biblical text to know that the heart is deceitful above all things.
I think of the 9/11 terrorists crashing flight 93 screaming God is great in Arabic. They didn’t know the one true God and moments later found themselves in Hell.
“Knowing the terror of the Lord, we persuade men”
I always find it interesting that people who don’t believe in God always have a better idea and thus make themselves to be God or even a better God.
Last edited:
Bear in mind, these terrorists were not mainstream Muslims, but extremists. Think of it like Christians vs Westboro Baptist. Their approach to worshiping Allah was clearly wrong. Yes they did meet 70 virgins—but it was (to your point) in Hell and all 70 had at least 3 razor sharp jagged, flaming peckers
The hypocrisy in that last post is unreal.
The thing that separates your Richard Dawkins-style atheism from that of others in this thread is the arrogance and condescension with which you attack those with whom you disagree. Even though people were simply posting their beliefs, you couldn’t help but take a shot at Christians, saying, “Atheist. Because I have a connection with reality.” No reason to say that, but you just couldn’t help yourself, could you?
Interesting how you view my relationship with reality as an attack. I’ve read others talk of their relationship with jesus, and not once have I viewed that as an attack on me.
Religion or not, people are inherently flawed.
Are all people flawed? Yes! Are all people deceitful and desperately wicked as claimed above? No way!
Organized religion sometimes does itself no favors.
Individually, I believe we can be spiritual.
Individually, I believe we can be spiritual.
Raised in a Baptist home and attended every church every Sunday School, Sunday morning service, Sunday night service, Wednesday night services, and literally hundreds of revivals. I am thankful I had parents that cared about me and gave me a wonderful upbringing, but I never could buy into it all.
I've been told that God loves us more than we love our own children; I call BS on that. I call BS because there is not one thing my son could ever do that would cause me to say " Well bud, even though I created you, raised and nurtured you, and despite the fact that I love you more than life itself, I'm going to have to punish you, for all eternity, and you will burn and suffer forever. " Nope, that's not even believable.
I too subscribe to the theory that religion was created by man to help alleviate suffering, which explains why all religions are inherently imperfect. So, I guess that would make me an atheist.
I've been told that God loves us more than we love our own children; I call BS on that. I call BS because there is not one thing my son could ever do that would cause me to say " Well bud, even though I created you, raised and nurtured you, and despite the fact that I love you more than life itself, I'm going to have to punish you, for all eternity, and you will burn and suffer forever. " Nope, that's not even believable.
I too subscribe to the theory that religion was created by man to help alleviate suffering, which explains why all religions are inherently imperfect. So, I guess that would make me an atheist.
Religion was created to control.
I don’t believe that thinking all religions are wrong makes you an atheist - I think that just means you aren’t religious. If you don’t believe there’s a god then that would make you atheist, but the 2 aren’t one in the same.
I agree, sorry my post wasn't clear on that.
Is there a "god"? No one knows with any certainty, of course, and his existence cannot be proven, or likewise disputed.
I believe it's highly probable that some superior being seeded life here on Earth, be that the god of the 3 major religions, beings from another solar system, etc, so I suppose I would be categorized as an agnostic.
I view myself as a Christian. I grew up in a Baptist church but also attended Methodist, Nazarene and Pentecostal with family. If given a denomination, I would call myself Baptist but in reality, I would just say Christian.
I am certainly not perfect, I cuss, I lust, I drink, I judge, and so forth. In fact, I don't really like church. I find it kind of boring and repetitive. However, I do believe that God sent his son here to die on the cross for our sins. Do I know that? No. Is it hard to fathom a virgin birthing a savior, him dying, coming back three days later only to ascend to Heaven? Certainly but my answer is the old generic answer. I have faith.
I also value my personal relationship with God. Do I like homosexuality? No. I don't think it's normal but at the same time, I am not a judge of it and just because it isn't my preference, doesn't mean that I can't befriend someone with different views. Whatever makes someone happy, I'm cool with. Respect my beliefs and I'll respect theirs. Do I agree with abortion? No. I think it is murder, but I also see the opposing views and if that's someone's choice, so be it. I'd never vote on it, especially if used as a form of birth control but do what you want.
Many of the teachings in the bible come across as very out there. Jonah and the Whale, great flood, parting of seas, etc. Faith tells me that they happened although I think that many of the things can be more symbolic or up for interpretation rather than in the literal sense. At the end of the day, just take a look around. Just looking at the universe and how it is created is just as outlandish. I got the faith. I would like to find a church that I enjoy going to but as long as my personal relationship with the Lord is there and maybe I can be a positive influence on someone or many lives, I think I'm doing alright regardless of whether or not I'm sitting in a pew on Sunday mornings.
I am certainly not perfect, I cuss, I lust, I drink, I judge, and so forth. In fact, I don't really like church. I find it kind of boring and repetitive. However, I do believe that God sent his son here to die on the cross for our sins. Do I know that? No. Is it hard to fathom a virgin birthing a savior, him dying, coming back three days later only to ascend to Heaven? Certainly but my answer is the old generic answer. I have faith.
I also value my personal relationship with God. Do I like homosexuality? No. I don't think it's normal but at the same time, I am not a judge of it and just because it isn't my preference, doesn't mean that I can't befriend someone with different views. Whatever makes someone happy, I'm cool with. Respect my beliefs and I'll respect theirs. Do I agree with abortion? No. I think it is murder, but I also see the opposing views and if that's someone's choice, so be it. I'd never vote on it, especially if used as a form of birth control but do what you want.
Many of the teachings in the bible come across as very out there. Jonah and the Whale, great flood, parting of seas, etc. Faith tells me that they happened although I think that many of the things can be more symbolic or up for interpretation rather than in the literal sense. At the end of the day, just take a look around. Just looking at the universe and how it is created is just as outlandish. I got the faith. I would like to find a church that I enjoy going to but as long as my personal relationship with the Lord is there and maybe I can be a positive influence on someone or many lives, I think I'm doing alright regardless of whether or not I'm sitting in a pew on Sunday mornings.