yes. I am “strong” Atheist. very strong actually. 
Lol, nice. Atheists unite! I wonder if theres any other atheists on kirupa. It’s you, me, and I think fester.
=)
I’m sure there are at least a few more.
I think atheism should be a religion on it’s own. It’s a religion without a supreme supremises.
=)
Not necessarily. Because religion implies that there is a belief, where as Atheism is by definition the lack of belief.
Religion [LINK]
Atheism [LINK]
For me it is a system of beliefs, an using these beliefs I frame the world, and the events that happen around me.
A religion doesn’t mean that it has to believe in a certain supreme being all the time does it? Isn’t there just no supreme being religions?
=)
well read the first link. The definition of Religion is to believe in a supernatrual being/force
Fine, screw religion. Do you ever feel sorry for the people that practice religion? I think they’re wasting their time. What if there isn’t a heaven or hell? No one ever proved that, it’s just part of the biggest scam of the world called religion.
=)
I think you need to be careful about what you say about religion. I don’t think you should feel sorry for people who practice it because it’s their choice. Maybe in the last few seconds of people’s lives they’ll realise what is happening… maybe there is heaven… maybe there is hell… maybe there is something else or maybe there is nothing at all… no one knows
Sorry if I offended someone, but I’m not mocking any religion. I respect those who practice religion with all my heart and I think it’s great for them.
As for heaven and hell, I think it’s just part of believing in religion. I think it was the Bible that introduced heaven and hell, and without religion is without the Bible, therefore, there is no heaven or hell for us then.
=)
But you would hope that there is something after life on Earth. That we continue on to somewhere and our time here isn’t as short as it is.
Coppertop: This is a serious discussion please don’t disrupt the thread with poor attempts at humour.
Max: I’ll respond to your comments in a few minutes.
Tool: You are absolutely right.
*Originally posted by Maxtr0sity *
**Fine, screw religion. Do you ever feel sorry for the people that practice religion? I think they’re wasting their time. What if there isn’t a heaven or hell? No one ever proved that, it’s just part of the biggest scam of the world called religion.
=) **
and what if there IS hell?
you kind of contradicted yourself in your other post.
There are historical evidences on many of the things our holybooks mention.
I think before you say ‘screw religion’ and ‘it’s all a scam’, you might wanna do actual research and read the bible or the quran or any other holybook.
=)
Ditto. No one should claim any religion a scam without having read their texts extensively.
that being said, and also this, that I have read the Old and New testiment from a variety of ages, that I believe Christanity is a scam. A money making scheme that had good intentions, but fell to people without ethics.
Kind of like afirmative action. Great on paper, but unethical in practice.
As for atheists… well they are just agnostics who don’t know any better. 
jk
*Originally posted by upuaut *
**As for atheists… well they are just agnostics who don’t know any better.jk **
I guess I’ll start with this! I know you meant no disrespect, and I totally understand where you are coming from. My take on it is this: I do believe that is impossible to know for sure whether or not a divine entity exists or not. I believe that this is a question that can not, and will not, be answered in a definate way. However, answer or no answer, I believe that it does not exist.
*Originally posted by Maxtr0sity *
Fine, screw religion. Do you ever feel sorry for the people that practice religion? I think they’re wasting their time. What if there isn’t a heaven or hell? No one ever proved that, it’s just part of the biggest scam of the world called religion.
Yes, be careful about what you say. Religion itself is not a bad thing. Religion gives us many things. Mainly it gives us instructions on how to behave, and a set of moral values. Stuff we should and shouldn’t do. This may seem like common sense stuff in our time, but some people still need the guidance.
Religion also gives its followers hope. Hope of eternal existence in a place of supreme happiness, rewarding you for the sufferings of your life. It eases peoples pain, and lets you put your worries somewhere else. Let’s say, for an example, my friends grandmother dies. He is upset, however, he believes that she is now looking down on him from her cloud in heaven where she is happy and feeling well again. He is happy that her suffering is over, but he looks forwards to the hope of seeing her again in the next world. Its this kind of hope that also helps to shape peoples behavior.
The bible is another thing all together. The bible is a wonderful book. I have read it a few times. Once when I was still Roman Catholic, and at least 3 times after I became Atheist. It definately has a different perspective when you look back and think about it. I believe that the bible is full of wonderful stories that, again, are a code of conduct in a way. You can learn a lot from reading the bible, so I definatly suggest reading it.
*I do feel however that the bible was written as a way to control people. Back when it was written many people couldn’t read, so the stories were read to them, and these stories gave them a way to behave, or else you would go to hell…
I don’t think people are wasting their time believing in religion. It gives you something to look forward to. I personally feel that there is nothing after death. I think that this is our only chance, so we have to make it right, and enjoy the time we have. If everyone held the same ideals that I do, I don’t think the world would be a very happy place. I think that religions are just a way for man to live forever and not have to worry about his actions because he is being guided by a divine force. (that is definately over-simplified but I don’t care to elaborate at the moment). *
*Originally posted by TOOL *
**But you would hope that there is something after life on Earth. That we continue on to somewhere and our time here isn’t as short as it is. **
Exactly. Thats my point. Religion gives people hope! Believing in something gives you a reason to live your life as a good person, because if you are bad then you go to hell and spend all eternity being punished and tormented. But if you are good then you spend the rest of eternity in total bliss.
That is why I believe religion is a good thing. It gives people hope and something to look forward to. If you believe that there is a heaven or hell, then you believe that you are going to live forever, or at least your soul is going to live forever. But you will still be alive (in a sense).
*I don’t want to live forever. I just want to live my life, and I want to die knowing that I was loved just as much as I loved. I just want to be happy and I just want my family to be happy. I want to be a good person, and I want the people around me to be good. Whether I believe in heaven or hell, or god(s) or religion shouldn’t matter. That shouldn’t define me as a person. And if I am wrong, and god does exist, I hope that he judges me on my actions, and not my beliefs, because in the end, I think it is what we do that really matters, and not what we think. Should I be comdemned to eternal torment because I didn’t believe, then so be it. *
Ok, I think thats all. I have much more to day, but I won’t bore you all. 
I hope someone found this helpful, or at least interesting and thought provoking.
Max: I suggest you go out and buy a bible (or borrow one from someone) and give it a read.
I do believe that is impossible to know for sure whether or not a divine entity exists or not.
Case in point. You’re an agnostic who refuses to admit it.
me, I go by text book definitions on things. As far as I’ve seen an Atheist is someone who believes in a lack of anything supernatural, a lack of a creator being, and a lack of objective morality. Since you admit that no one can ever prove definitively that a supreme being exists OR NOT, you must be an agnostic. You can call yourself anything you like, but to me, you’re an agnostic.
Again, the comment was entirely tongue in cheek. I mean no disrespect to atheists whom I hold a great and endearing respect for. I’m glad you knew I was just screwing around with ya Jubba.
Absolutely, I never take you seriously anyway!
j/k!
I don’t know though, because I think it is difficult to define what I am exactly. I do not believe that a god exists. I believe in nothing supernatural. We live, we die, there is no divine intervention. However, I am unable to prove that god does not exist, and I don’t think that anyone will every be able to prove.
I am not skeptic (which is the dictionary definition of agnostic), because I believe 100% that there is no such thing, I just believe that there is no, and will never be, proof.
that is why I do not define myself as agnostic, but rather atheist.
Atheism: *
a. Disbelief in or denial of the existence of God or gods.
b. The doctrine that there is no God or gods.*
Agnostic: *
a. One who believes that it is impossible to know whether there is a God.
b. One who is skeptical about the existence of God but does not profess true atheism.
*
I fit into both categories (except for the b part of agnostic)… am I then, Agnethostic??
maybe… or maybe you are what you call yourself.
I just figured the discussion would be more lively if I picked on your choice of being.
Alright I’m an *** I admit it. I’d still call you an Agnostic if I were forced to label you.
Let me ask this.
God shows up tomarrow and gives you proof of his existance which you both fully understand, and have no reason to disbelieve.
do you: A) deny God’s existance, or B) accept the new evidence and believe in God.
If you say A, I think you’re insane… but I forgive you, and will fully call you an Atheist. If you said B, then you were really just an Athiest all along and didn’t know it.
Course that’s Dave logic so you really don’t have to buy into it at all. lol
Well, I’m supposed to be Christian. I mean I was babtised (sp?) when I was a baby. But I havn’t really been to church in like 3 or so years… we go to church sometimes at Christmas, but that’s it.