SD on 1/4/2010 at 09:17
Quote Posted by Thirith
Edit: I have to admit I feel a bit bad about thinking at first (before I'd read the entire post) that your post was an April Fools joke
You mean it isn't? :erm:
Seriously though, what Vivian said. Talking to something that isn't there is only a problem when it talks back and tells you to start killing hookers.
scumble on 1/4/2010 at 09:23
I may be as far from faith as anyone can be, but I can also quote the (alleged) words of the big JC and appreciate it:
Quote Posted by Jesus
Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
I sort of turned this on its head and thought, I am de facto atheist, but does it matter whether anyone actually knows. My actions should demonstrate my thoughts. Arguing about faith just gets tiresome so I'd rather leave people to it if they don't understand what not living with faith actually is.
Quote Posted by fett
I always felt like my own faith was not worth talking about much - if people can't see it in my actions, talking about it is kind of useless, eh?
Does it actually matter if people know what you believe or not? Even if you are technically not believing in God anymore you can still follow good habits. As far as Jesus is concerned, he seems to be saying that it is better that nobody knows one is a Christian than to be a loud-mouthed evangelist.
Some people seem more followers of Paul than Jesus.
Basically, if you don't have faith everything is a set of rankings of trust. I don't have "faith" in people, but experience illustrates that some people are almost 100% reliable. I would be surprised if some people let me down, but it wouldn't undermine my entire worldview. I suppose if you have God around there's this 100% flawless magical being who never lets you down, losing that faith is very difficult.
Can't exactly spend hours writing at work, but hopefully some of this rambling is valuable to you fett.
Nicker on 1/4/2010 at 10:17
fett. May I ask:
About your title? You don't really identify any "terrible mistake" in your post.
In what ways was this prayer similar to or different from the ones you offered as a believer and as a doubter?
In 5,000 words or less... :D
No longer believing the myths of Jehovah doesn't mean you can't respect and celebrate the mystery which is our existence. Being grateful for being is just the sort of thing a man of your quality would do.
DDL on 1/4/2010 at 10:17
Quote Posted by scumble
I may be as far from faith as anyone can be, but I can also quote the (alleged) words of the big JC
I read that, and expected the quote to be "You mechs may have copper wiring to re-route your fear of pain, but I've got nerves of steel."
:(
Kolya on 1/4/2010 at 11:48
Interesting that you would say you felt so small and that was the point to re-access your religion. Because that's the exact thing I always felt Christian religion trying to impose on me, be it in their scriptures, their songs, their organisation or the architecture of their churches. And I never liked being made to feel small, unimportant and inconsequential. Even if may be, that's not something I'd want to base my life on. Such goes an atheist's religion.
Anyway, about your unknowing friends/family: If they can't hold on to their religion without you, it's kinda pointless to keep up some sort of charade for them.
Rug Burn Junky on 1/4/2010 at 12:30
One little near death experience and you go running back to your imaginary friend? I had such high hopes for you, but you disgust me fett.
fett on 1/4/2010 at 12:59
Quote Posted by Nicker
fett. May I ask:
About your title? You don't really identify any "terrible mistake" in your post.
In what ways was this prayer similar to or different from the ones you offered as a believer and as a doubter?
I meant it may have been a mistake to leave the path my life was on because I began to doubt. Instead of staying the course, I gave into those doubts and as a result, my life has turned out very differently than what I thought it would be at my age. I hope I can get back headed in the right direction.
@RBJ - you know, it IS possible to re-evaluate your life according the direction it's taking overall, without making emotional decisions because of a single event. You should try it sometime. :erg:
Rug Burn Junky on 1/4/2010 at 13:09
Oh, I know that, but 2,000 years of nutjobs making emotional decisions just because of the 'single event' where some guy bit it while nailed to a plank of wood says otherwise about your side of the fence.
Fuckin' christ, next you're going to tell us that the world is only 5,000 years old.
CCCToad on 1/4/2010 at 13:15
I don't think praying once is anywhere near the same as being a radical evangelical.....
May I ask, have you had any bad experiences with evangelicals in your own life?
Matthew on 1/4/2010 at 13:16
Quote Posted by fett
I meant it may have been a mistake to leave the path my life was on because I began to doubt. Instead of staying the course, I gave into those doubts and as a result, my life has turned out very differently than what I thought it would be at my age.
Of course, it goes without saying that
not leaving the path at that point could have been a mistake.
