Best thing about atheism

Originally posted by EcstremeVenom
this is why theism is hard. cuz God is watching and i have to worship him otherwise ill go to hell.

Enjoying your free will I see.

Originally posted by Starrman
Enjoying your free will I see.

Oddly enough, the Bible never mentions that humans have free will. It could be that some humans are destined for Heaven and others for Hell - and there's nothing either of those groups can do about it.

I just googled a list:
http://skepticsannotatedbible.com/says_about/free_will.html

Originally posted by Starrman
Being an atheist hasn't enhanced my life directly, why would it? It's just a denial of the existence of god, nothing more.

I live my life as I live my life. Fortunately, god has nothing to do with it.

How is that fortunately?
Kelly

Originally posted by KellyJay
How is that fortunately?
Kelly

I am not burdened by fear or cowed by threats of eternal damnation. I am responsible for my own actions and live my life by my own choices. I have precious little time to experience as much as I can, instead of holding the ridiculous belief that my reward lays beyond my own life, and so strive to better myself. I love, free of prescription and unfettered by guilt, all the many strange and different things in this world. When I die I will degrade once more into the set of matter that the universe consists of, furthering the life of others. I am fortunate to be, however unlikely my being is and do not waste it with thoughts of some magic placebo for life's questions, which I cannot hope to understand or prove the existence of.

I'd say that's pretty fortunate.

Originally posted by Starrman
I am not burdened by fear or cowed by threats of eternal damnation. I am responsible for my own actions and live my life by my own choices. I have precious little time to experience as much as I can, instead of holding the ridiculous belief that my reward lays beyond my own life, and so strive to better myself. I love, free of prescription and unfettered ...[text shortened]... ch I cannot hope to understand or prove the existence of.

I'd say that's pretty fortunate.

I'm not burdened by them either, so I was wondering why you felt that way?
Kelly

Originally posted by whodey
Being a Christian I could write volumes about the benefits of my conversion, but instead I thought it would be interesting to hear from the other side. So have at it, how has being an atheist enhanced your life?

The best thing about being an atheist is that you are really agnostic.

Originally posted by KellyJay
I'm not burdened by them either, so I was wondering why you felt that way?
Kelly

But you are, you just fail to see it. No problem, it's your choice.

Originally posted by RBHILL
The best thing about being an atheist is that you are really agnostic.

You have no understanding of what an atheist is.

Originally posted by whodey
Do you find that you are better off because you find that men and women of faith are "weaker" for feeling that they need a higher power to lean on than those who do not?

No. Some people of faith may be weaker than me, some stronger. Some use their faith and the strength they get from their religious community to do things I wouldn't have the courage to do, or to face difficulties I luckily don't have to face. That's great for them. I have to look for strength elsewhere. It's not a question of being better off. I didn't choose to be an agnostic (I am not an atheist) because of any benefits it would give me. I didn't choose it at all. I don't have a choice. I am incapable of believing in something which doesn't make sense to me. I had a "religious phase" when I was a teenager. I enjoyed the benefits, but I couldn't shut off my critical thinking forever. Once I had realized I was deceiving myself, there was no way back. I have found a meaningful and satisfying life outside religion, so I don't feel I miss out on anything, but I also don't think being agnostic makes life easier or better.

Originally posted by Starrman
But you are, you just fail to see it. No problem, it's your choice.

How does that work, I'm not concern about sin, I'm not concern about God's being upset, I enjoy God's grace and mercy which removes all fear about those things, and you are saying I'm burdened by fear? Either it is an issue or it isn't.
Kelly

Originally posted by KellyJay
How does that work, I'm not concern about sin, I'm not concern about God's being upset, I enjoy God's grace and mercy which removes all fear about those things, and you are saying I'm burdened by fear? Either it is an issue or it isn't.
Kelly

Nonsense, you clearly are concerned about both of those things because to upset god and to live in sin means being removed from his sight forever. That's what you fear more than anything, because you value god's love more than anything. Are you denying that?

Some advantages of being an atheist are that you can have a lie in on Sundays (or Saturdays), you can eat what you want, and don't get RSI from all the kneeling.

Originally posted by Starrman
Nonsense, you clearly are concerned about both of those things because to upset god and to live in sin means being removed from his sight forever. That's what you fear more than anything, because you value god's love more than anything. Are you denying that?

No, I do not deny I value God's love. I also do not see how what you
have done in your denying God changes anything with regard to guilt
and fear either. You have made a choice you believes deals with those
two things, if your choice actually does correctly deals with them
remain to be seen.

I still don’t see your rational in denying God, since fear and guilt are
really issues with or with out God, guilt is a consequence of bad
actions that can happen with or without God, fear depending on how
the word is used can mean many things, from great respect do to the
power that could be exerted, or dread due to the unknown or some
type of damage that could happen. I fear electrical power to, but I
don’t deny it because of the respect of its power either.
Kelly

Originally posted by Starrman
Enjoying your free will I see.

lmao i was not being serious with my post

Originally posted by KellyJay
No, I do not deny I value God's love. I also do not see how what you
have done in your denying God changes anything with regard to guilt
and fear either. You have made a choice you believes deals with those
two things, if your choice actually does correctly deals with them
remain to be seen.

I still don’t see your rational in denying God, since fear ...[text shortened]... ar electrical power to, but I
don’t deny it because of the respect of its power either.
Kelly

You misunderstand. We both fear and have guilt about things which are appropriate to our everyday lives, everybody - atheist or theist - does, that much is undeniable. But you also carry the burden of guilt and fear before god, which I do not. It is my belief that this burden is unwarranted and counter productive to your potential as a human.