Anyone non-religious here? Please be nice!

[deb1]

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What surprises most religious (specifically Christian) people about me is that I have actually read the bible from cover to cover and know it better than most of them do, and am perfectly able to quote scripture right back at them. And the more they press, the less nice I am about doing so.

It also tends to shock them to learn that I am an ethical, moral person who will stop in the rain to help someone change a tire without asking for or expecting recompense. Apparently, only 'good, god-fearing Christians' help each other

I have been reading a lot of atheists' blogs lately and I am surprised how many people lost their faith after reading through the Bible.

It would probably surprise some people to learn that there are sections of the Bible that I consider beautiful. Many of the Psalms are very lovely and I like a lot of the stories. Granted, they are violent but as far as ancient story telling goes, Genesis is pretty interesting. Actually, I think that I appreciate the Bible more now that I am not a Christian because I can look at it frankly as a work of literature from a different time period. Trying to reconcile a loving God that orders children killed or an all powerful God who doesn't get rid of Satan was too difficult when I believed. But as a fascinating example of ancient literature, I enjoy the different books of the Bible.

I have friends who have suggested that I use certain business because the owner was a member of their faith. The thinking is that a fellow believer would never cheat me.

 

[dirtdoctor]

Interesting thread, Noticeing that some of the commnets talk about religion as being a building, a group, the out doors, place in the heart, but I used to wonder the same things, til I met a religious dope smoker, see we can be religious about anything, I was on that track, ticked off at the church that I attended cause i saw the nice suits/dresses, yet had to work with some of these people thru the week, TOTALLY A DIFFERENT STORY~ But I did not throw the baby out with the bath water so to say. I found peace. Comfort, Acceptance, FORGIVENESS. I found a relationship. A living relationship with Christ. That changed my life. No I am not religious, but I am glad to be in a relationship with the Living person of Christ.

bummer to be left behind thinking that I was doing the right thing. BUT it is a free invitation to the party, just that some want to come and others choose not to. Im a party guy.
JK

 

[OrpingtonManor]

While I respect your right to believe whatever you feel is right, I'm here on this thread to share what I believe and how I came to this belief because I felt set free when I stopped going to that party.

 

[redhen]

yeah.. i'll pass on that "party" too...
But i respect your choices DirtDoctor..

 

[SunnyDawn]

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[deb1]

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It is good that you found a sense of peace and belonging. That is wonderful. But I am not ticked off at the Church or Christians. My decision to leave religion was based on what I consider inconsistencies in my former faith. But again, I am glad that you are happy with your faith and I hope that you continue to be happy.

 

[EweSheep]

2x I am not much of a party either LOL!

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[justuschickens59]

Count me in the "not into that party" tally as well.

I am not "ticked off" at the church or Christians either (though I do wish they would quit coming to my house uninvited to tell me that I am going to burn in hell), I just don't believe in it. Too many inconsistencies and contradictions for it to hold water with me.

I live in the South, the buckle of the Bible Belt. What most people here find difficult to believe is that I actually do not believe in the Christian God, the Bible, etc. For some reason, they just cannot fathom that. I guess when you have certain things pounded into your head from birth, it is hard to think outside that box and be open to anything else. What a shame, because most of us "non-believers" are wonderful people. My mom (strict Christian) still finds it hard to believe that I can be so accepting of anybody...that as long as somebody is a good person, that is all that matters.

 

[SunnyDawn]

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Hear, hear!

 

[Prettiest Frog]

What also seems to amaze people is that I question things. I remember a while back someone posted to a forum this story about a reverend telling how a father (Christian) went on a boating trip with his son (Christian) and his son's best friend (not a Christian). As the story went, a storm sprung up and both boys were knocked into the water. The father only had time to throw one life vest, and, knowing that his son would go to heaven, yelled to his son that he loved him and threw the life vest to the friend. In the story, it turns out that the friend was reverend and he was so moved by the sacrifice the father made that he immediately understood god's love for mankind by sacrificing Jesus and thus dedicated his life to the church.

The initial response by the Christians in the forum was about how deeply moving the story was. My first response was 'what kind of irresponsible idiot doesn't make sure the kids in the boat are buckled into life jackets before they even leave the dock? That's not moving, it's negligent homicide and were I the mother of the boy who drowned, my husband would have been begging to be arrested rather than face what I would do to him!' Immediately after I posted that, many of the Christians who had initially commented started to agree with me and the story was researched immediately and discovered to be fictional anyway.

I was accused by the initial poster of being full of hate because I didn't look at the 'deeper meaning'. And that, in a nutshell, is why I'll never be religious.



But then, I'm the sort of person who, when told by a philosophy instructor to 'Question Everything', immediately responded with 'Why?'