That's pretty much how I identify myself....a non believer. Not an atheist, not an agnostic.....those terms seem like "labels."

I've been meaning to post in this sub forum for a long time, but never got around to it. It needs the dust knocked off of it. I can see why it doesn't get used much. For me, my non belief has absolutely nothing to do with my WLS or my weight loss. It hasn't contributed....it didn't play a role....it damn sure didn't help. It didn't stop me either, any more than my non belief in the tooth fairy. It's just a lack of belief, not a lack of faith BTW. I have faith...just not in religion.

I read an article recently about a group of atheists down in Florida who erected a statue to atheism on public property as a sign of their right to freedom of expression. It was a park bench BTW....which I think shows at least they are practical. But I can't quite get behind the whole act of it. After all, from the outside looking in, erecting the bench is kinda like celebrating their non belief. Making a statement about it. A demonstration if you will. Personally, I don't make statements about my non belief of religion anymore than I make statements about my non belief in Santa Claus....which I put both on the same level. They are the same thing, are they not? Isn't Santa keeping a list of who's naughty and who's nice.....yeah....same thing.

My non belief is just not a factor. Plus...there is no doubt I have a king size problem with authority. I find it hard to accept the rules of it all. The threats and the guilt. The manipulation. The "live this way or else" sense of it all. I don't need it. I can be a moral man and live by my principles without the threat of eternal damnation hanging over my head. Or the promise of the pearly gates...... I don't need to be bribed to do the right thing.

So yeah, I don't have a very high opinion of religion, but I did not start this thread to criticize people who do or debate the merits of atheism. But rather just to dust off the cobwebs of this sub forum and say hey....it's possible to lose weight, get healthy and lead a decent life without the "assistance" of a higher power.

Out of respect for the many believers out there, I posted this in the "atheist" sub forum so you would not have to read it. I'm happy for your response though. However, like I said, to me it's not a debate.

Thanks for listening to my ramblings.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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?

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).

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.

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.

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.

Very reassuring. Thank you !!

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?

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

I'll look for it when i get the chance