Hey guys,

Are you up for a little debate? ok, here it goes....I'm a Christian, proud and happy to be one, I love God/ Christ and I humble myself to Him because I want to and I like it, I enjoy that humbling experience... and I do have other reasons to believe........

Of course, I know that not everyone agrees with me but I respect everyone's opinions, yes.... even if we can't agree, LOL!

I normally don't listen to celebrities talking about religion or politics, in my opinion, they show ignorance most of the times, specially when they talk about politics.... but an article popped up in MSN about Brad Pitt and I do admire his humanitarian work, so I read it , and I thought it was interesting what Brad Pitt said about his view/feelings on religion.... I personaly agree that religion in general is good....no matter what yours is... what do you think?

The following is the article:

"Religion works, Brad goes on. I know there's comfort there, a crash pad. It's something to explain the world and tell you there is something bigger than you, and it is going to be all right in the end. It works because it's comforting. I grew up believing in it, and it worked for me in whatever my little personal high school crisis was, but it didn't last for me. I didn't understand this idea of a God who says, 'You have to acknowledge me. You have to say that I'm the best, and then I'll give you eternal happiness. If you won't, then you don't get it!' It seemed to be about ego. I can't see God operating from ego, so it made no sense to me."

Thanks for reading guys, later.....

Helen;)

When I am a child my parents tell me things and I believe them because they are my parents. When I am old enough to think rationally for myself I accept reality. They told me Santa existed and I believed that, but when I was old enough to use critical thinking skills I realized they were wrong and didn't take what they say as fact.

I didn't "choose" to be an atheist, it doesn't work that way. I fought it for many years. For a good 15-20 years I tried my best to believe. I studied many religions trying to find one I *could* believe in. I was everything from Roman Catholic to Unitarian, to Jewish (took the cool classes and everything), to New Age Twinkie, and finally one day I realized I was an atheist. I didn't choose to be atheist, I simply realized it one day and acknowledged it.

Tjis is the same thing we try to tell them not to do.

Believe me, if I was going to choose a belief or lack of belief, it wouldn't be atheism. It's not exactly the easier path in life.

So why do we lie to our kids?

This is the very thing we tell them not to do.

We were talking about disliking people that harass us by constantly coming to our doors. In my area, that's Mormons and Southern Baptists. I was explaining that while I dislike the practice, I can like the people. As long as they leave me alone.

Gotcha.........!

COme on now Wassa, the water heater example was lame....LOL!

You have a point because I couldn't choose to stop believing right at this moment, because my heart tells me not to, however, based on a life changing event, I could choose to stop, yes my choice would be affected by that event, but it's still a choice...and what I'm thinking is that I have two friends that are doctors, they know a lot more scientific facts that I do, I'm not terribly studious...I do read a lot, but not scientific important stuff all the time, I do have my moments though...haha... and when I've heard them express their faith even with all the facts that they have and that I've listened to from them, they both said that they still choose to believe.... and I do feel that same way.... but I admit that it's easy to be confuzzled.....

...and no corrections to my grammar now girl.... the word "workshiper" is still pounding in my head.....hehehe..

Actually, I was looking for a lame example intentionally. It was just going to show my point.

Without the life changing event you could not just "choose" to stop believing. Well, the same holds true for me. Without some evidence or life changing event, I can't just "choose" to believe.

People make these comments ALL the darn time, that I should just choose to believe. It simply isn't possible. I could SAY I believe, I could make that claim, but it wouldn't be true.

I've never been harrased by religious groups.

When approached I am open to hear what they have to say.

If you don't listen you'll never learn.

There is nothing wrong with hearing people out.

So why do we lie to our kids?

This is the very thing we tell them not to do.

Whoa there, darl'en. You added something to my quote that I did not write. You quoted me as writing:

When I am a child my parents tell me things and I believe them because they are my parents. When I am old enough to think rationally for myself I accept reality. They told me Santa existed and I believed that, but when I was old enough to use critical thinking skills I realized they were wrong and didn't take what they say as fact.

I didn't "choose" to be an atheist, it doesn't work that way. I fought it for many years. For a good 15-20 years I tried my best to believe. I studied many religions trying to find one I *could* believe in. I was everything from Roman Catholic to Unitarian, to Jewish (took the cool classes and everything), to New Age Twinkie, and finally one day I realized I was an atheist. I didn't choose to be atheist, I simply realized it one day and acknowledged it.

Tjis is the same thing we try to tell them not to do.

Believe me, if I was going to choose a belief or lack of belief, it wouldn't be atheism. It's not exactly the easier path in life.

What *I* wrote was:

When I am a child my parents tell me things and I believe them because they are my parents. When I am old enough to think rationally for myself I accept reality. They told me Santa existed and I believed that, but when I was old enough to use critical thinking skills I realized they were wrong and didn't take what they say as fact.

I didn't "choose" to be an atheist, it doesn't work that way. I fought it for many years. For a good 15-20 years I tried my best to believe. I studied many religions trying to find one I *could* believe in. I was everything from Roman Catholic to Unitarian, to Jewish (took the cool classes and everything), to New Age Twinkie, and finally one day I realized I was an atheist. I didn't choose to be atheist, I simply realized it one day and acknowledged it.

Believe me, if I was going to choose a belief or lack of belief, it wouldn't be atheism. It's not exactly the easier path in life.

I did not write the sentence in the text you quoted.

I've never been harrased by religious groups.

When approached I am open to hear what they have to say.

If you don't listen you'll never learn.

There is nothing wrong with hearing people out.

I don't have time for this on a weekly basis. Nor do I want to make the time. I have heard them out time and time again. No desire to keep hearing the same thing.

If I want to hear them out isn't it fair that I will go to them? Do they need to keep knocking on my door?

I was Christian for many years, I know the bible better than most Christians. The way it usually ends up being is my correcting them on their bible. I'm an atheist, I don't want to give bible lessons anymore. I shouldn't have to do that when someone is attempting to convert me to their religion. I should not know their religion better than they do. It makes them look silly and I have no desire to do that either.

Whoa there, darl'en. You added something to my quote that I did not write. You quoted me as writing:

What *I* wrote was:

I did not write the sentence in the text you quoted.

I was not quoting you.

I was making a statement.

There is a difference.

If it is not the truth than what is it?

Something brought you to where you are now.

We all know there is no easter bunny or santa claus yet we keep that lie going to save their innocence.

It's still a lie!

I donot think religion should be forced on anyone even kids.

I was catholic do to my grandmother when I was younger.

I would have never ever made that descision by myself.

Bless her heart.

I was not quoting you.

I was making a statement.

There is a difference.

If it is not the truth than what is it?

Something brought you to where you are now.

We all know there is no easter bunny or santa claus yet we keep that lie going to save their innocence.

It's still a lie!

I donot think religion should be forced on anyone even kids.

Sweetie, you put it inside her quote, which made it appear that she said it.

I was not quoting you.

I was making a statement.

There is a difference.

If it is not the truth than what is it?

Something brought you to where you are now.

We all know there is no easter bunny or santa claus yet we keep that lie going to save their innocence.

It's still a lie!

I donot think religion should be forced on anyone even kids.

You added your comment in my quote, it would have appeared to others that I wrote that sentence and I did not.

Sweetie, you put it inside her quote, which made it appear that she said it.

As a grown woman I think she can speak for herself.

But thanks anyway.

You added your comment in my quote, it would have appeared to others that I wrote that sentence and I did not.

If they can read they will know you did not write it.

I was merely adding to what you wrote.

Clearly I don't spend hours on the internet so again excuse my internet ethics.

In a nutshell if our parents are just going along with the program that is feeding that lie.

The safe method.

Sweetie, you put it inside her quote, which made it appear that she said it.

You are very patronizing.

I'm not a sweetie but a awakened woman.

Please refer to me as such.

As a grown woman I think she can speak for herself.

But thanks anyway.

If you want private conversation, take it to PM. Anything said in a public thread is fair game for anyone who wants to reply.

You are very patronizing.

I'm not a sweetie but a awakened woman.

Please refer to me as such.

I'm really not being patronizing, but I can be, if you want. I'm being rather gentle, more so than I would usually be.