Non believers

[gamergirl 4,609]

Being gay is not a choice but faith is. There is a difference.

My point is that faith for me, is not a choice. I would love to believe as others do, but that's not an option for me.

[endless80 697]

My point is that faith for me, is not a choice. I would love to believe as others do, but that's not an option for me.

Okay I understand. I was lost in semantics for a moment. Our beliefs are very similar... I do not view God in the limitations of religion. I sense God as the DNA of our entire consciousness. 'I am because we are' kind of thing.

[gamergirl 4,609]

Okay I understand. I was lost in semantics for a moment. Our beliefs are very similar... I do not view God in the limitations of religion. I sense God as the DNA of our entire consciousness. 'I am because we are' kind of thing.

I think if more people believed, truly believed as you do, that God is in all of us, then perhaps we'd treat each other better than we do today.

On a very minor scale, even the way we sometimes treat certain posters on this board...if we believed we are all the "stuff of stars", and had a bit of whatever divine force exists, surely we'd be nicer no matter how confused the poster.

Then again, maybe I'm just hormoning

[gamergirl 4,609]

I'm usually too impatient to watch videos, but I liked this one. Separating between God and Religion was pretty germane to how a lot of the responders to this thread have felt I think.

http://www.upworthy.com/a-debate-between-an-atheist-and-a-christian-has-quite-a-surprising-result?c=ufb1

[Butterthebean 8,146]

I'm usually too impatient to watch videos' date=' but I liked this one. Separating between God and Religion was pretty germane to how a lot of the responders to this thread have felt I think.

http://www.upworthy.com/a-debate-between-an-atheist-and-a-christian-has-quite-a-surprising-result?c=ufb1[/quote']

That as good.

"God is a sociopath"

That's exactly my whole problem with it all. It gets right to the heart of my problems with authority.

[SerendipityHappens 1,594]

I am a believer in something else apart from organized religion. I have a hard time verbalizing what it is other than the golden rule,and potentially a larger plan and that the Universe unfolds the way it should, but that's good enough to start with.

At the risk of angering some fundamentalists, I have to say in my case, lack of faith in a conventional God is not a choice. I kinda see it like being gay. Either you are, or you aren't. Either you are able to believe in God in the conventional way, or you can't. I've never succeeded in forcing it.

As someone who tried very hard to force it for 35 years and feeling "less than" because of my "lack of faith" I couldn't agree more. I do not consider myself an atheist there may or may not be a higher power.... but I will never EVER again allow a religion dictate to me how I should feel, believe, act or treat others.

There are some studies that suggest that belief in God is genetic. I think there might be something to it.. and that would definitely explain why I struggled so much with religion despite participating in all the indoctrination and genuinely wanting to believe it.

[Nicolanz 1,484]

As someone who tried very hard to force it for 35 years and feeling "less than" because of my "lack of faith" I couldn't agree more. I do not consider myself an atheist there may or may not be a higher power.... but I will never EVER again allow a religion dictate to me how I should feel' date=' believe, act or treat others.

There are some studies that suggest that belief in God is genetic. I think there might be something to it.. and that would definitely explain why I struggled so much with religion despite participating in all the indoctrination and genuinely wanting to believe it.[/quote']

Yes yes and yes! I did see a documentary called The God Gene I think it was called. It made me feel a lot better about my feelings toward religion.

[gamergirl 4,609]

I'm telling you, I love this new pope. http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/pope-warns-church-find-balance-fail-20305398

[Butterthebean 8,146]

I'm telling you' date=' I love this new pope. http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/pope-warns-church-find-balance-fail-20305398[/quote']

Wow....nice article. But what the hell are they gonna talk about if they're not talking about homosexuality, abortion or contraception?

Also...his first proclamation? Jesus saved us? Does it not occur to believers that when I hear that statement I have no clue what it means? May as well be speaking Russian. Seriously....what does that mean....to me?

[gamergirl 4,609]

Wow....nice article. But what the hell are they gonna talk about if they're not talking about homosexuality, abortion or contraception?

Also...his first proclamation? Jesus saved us? Does it not occur to believers that when I hear that statement I have no clue what it means? May as well be speaking Russian. Seriously....what does that mean....to me?

yeah that part is a mystery to me too. I didn't realize I needed saving. I can't be both, created in God's image, and be, from the moment of my birth, a sinner who needs redemption at the same time. I don't like internal contradictions like that within a system.

Good question about what they will talk about! Maybe poverty & charity which was always one of the best things about the Catholic Church? (Charity, they suck at poverty).

[Pattyhdz 32]

Reading all if This is very helpful to me. As a mother of a 12 year old who is a non believer. She says to her is just like Santa clause people choose to believe to make then feel better. Touch a spot when I read butter . She has asburgers by the way and thinks out side of box. We are not church going people but yet I believe. But hard to explain to a child when she comes back with a lot of what I have read here. So thank you my child is no alone. She says it's not logical and it's just I make people Affriad. I will let her grow into her own person.

[lizv123 389]

Reading all if This is very helpful to me. As a mother of a 12 year old who is a non believer. She says to her is just like Santa clause people choose to believe to make then feel better. Touch a spot when I read butter . She has asburgers by the way and thinks out side of box. We are not church going people but yet I believe. But hard to explain to a child when she comes back with a lot of what I have read here. So thank you my child is no alone. She says it's not logical and it's just I make people Affriad. I will let her grow into her own person.

I actually read an interesting article about autism and atheists. The part of the brain that process religion and faith in an aspie, doesn't function like those who aren't on the spectrum. It goes in hand with their very literal and logical thinking. So she's absolutely not alone. And as parent of a nonbeliever, neither are you

I'm glad you can find comfort in this forum.

[Pattyhdz 32]

I actually read an interesting article about autism and atheists. The part of the brain that process religion and faith in an aspie' date=' doesn't function like those who aren't on the spectrum. It goes in hand with their very literal and logical thinking. So she's absolutely not alone. And as parent of a nonbeliever, neither are you <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' /> I'm glad you can find comfort in this forum.[/quote']

Thank you !! Newly dx , so this is very reassuring.

[Pattyhdz 32]

Very reassuring. Thank you !!

[Butterthebean 8,146]

I actually read an interesting article about autism and atheists. The part of the brain that process religion and faith in an aspie' date=' doesn't function like those who aren't on the spectrum. It goes in hand with their very literal and logical thinking. So she's absolutely not alone. And as parent of a nonbeliever, neither are you

I'm glad you can find comfort in this forum.[/quote']

Do you happen to have a link because I really need to read that?