15 Year Old Atheist...

smileykey wrote: »

It's a christian care home. I'm starting my masters in social work in September and realised that I'm a tolerant person but uncomfortable around very religious folk and that's something I have to get over because if I want to work in this area I have to be tolerant of all types. Its kinda endurance training I guess.

Tolerance is a Christian virtue. Really amazed that you need to learn this as I am very tolerant around atheist folk.

Tolerance is a Christian virtue.

Bull****! My religion teacher told me "homosexuality was nothing but the inheritance of sin from one's parents"

The last demonstration I was at for gay rights a group of people sprouting on about the church spit at us!

One of the christian organisations organised a series of offensive "talks" (i.e. attacks) on homosexuality when I was in college and were only stopped when we made so many complaints that they were given warnings.

At a demonstartion I went to on bogus pregnancy organisations (one in which we were trying to regulate 2 way pregnancy councilling so that a certain christian organisation couldn't lie to women in fragile cituations) a guy came up waved a cross in our face and called us murderers - why becasue we don't think people should be lied to??

If the majority of christians and christian preechings were tolerant I wouldn't be in the position where I'd have to expose myself to their attitudes in order to toughen myself up.

Goduznt Xzst wrote: »

No, but I believe nobody called dibs before Christians. It's like that last Pizza slice at a party. Everyone just leaves it there, until Chris comes in and shouts "dibs" and proceeds to scarf it down without hesitation. Everyone there wanted it, but nobody had the arrogance to assume they actually deserved to have it all to themselves... except Chris that is.

In regards to the OP. Maybe try introducing your parents to the concepts of Theistic Evolution first and show them how their beliefs don't have to be incompatible with evolution. Explain to them also how evolution is pretty much a fact, and that calling it a theory is merely scientific terminology (use examples like, we don't call it the "fact of gravity" or "Pythagoras' Fact"). If you can get them to accept this, going the step further and explaining your reasons for not believing in God, Satan and spirits and posssessions should be easier. I'd start with your reasons as to why you don't believe in possessions, then move on to angels and demons, then prayer, then Satan and finally God. Simply coming out and saying you no longer believe in God will be too much of a shock to their system.

I had to read this a few times and am appealing to Chris to please come forward and apologise to GX for taking that last slice of pizza.

IRL people dont sit around having deep religious discussions with their parents. When I was young my Dad used to have bouts of devoutness that I found weird and still would. My mothers brand of religion is weepy -for want of a better word. To this day I would cringe at any such discussion with them and avoid it.

I have a teenage agnostic son and believer daughter. CD juniors response to all of this would be at least I havent told you I am gay - very PC is CDJ.(I never thought of that - he takes the sting out of stuff like that - BAD NEWS followed by + AT LEAST IM NOT GAY is supposed to make everything better). Im not homophobic even.

So my advice is avoid tricky conversations with parents as they are embarrassing. Your life should be busy enough. (stroking chin sagely) IF you must have a religous discussion keep it away from deep stuff -they would find the ghey question very unnerving & certainly any real dumb questions on it.

Dont even get mildly obsesed with belief debates with parents. Especially your father.

rubyroe1 wrote: »

Your not the only 1 in that position. I am an atheist too, while most of my
family are catholics. I think if a religious person can preach their message we can preach our one too.

Yes, of course. Go forth and make atheists of all nations? Sounds rather Biblical doesn't it? :pac: On a more serious note I think that people should definitely. It's one of the things that I haven't seen here at all.

rubyroe1 wrote: »

My boyfriend and most of my friends now quesion their belief in god. People who want to go around with their eyes closed believing in blind faith and never questioning the facts are in denial.

Woah? Questioning? No way???

I did this for a good few means myself, and then I found the Father, through Jesus Christ when I actually opened my mind and attempted to understand the Bible. I'm still getting there in some respects, but I've grown much in the last few years.

For me, questioning is healthy. However if you are to ask me who are the ones with their eyes closed? It is the ones who have rejected God as if it were fact. The light is still open to the agnostics, but the atheists have well and clearly shut over the blinds.

I was reading the Scriptures last night and this verse caught me in particular:

Psalm 119:18 wrote:

Open my eyes, so that I may behold the wondrous things of your law.

rubyroe1 wrote: »

You should tell your family how you feel about going to mass, explain your reasons even show them you Richard Dawkins books.

Richard Dawkins, the high priest of atheism. You're merely giving credence to that title. Why not show them some Thomas Jefferson, Voltaire, Albert Camus or Friedrich Nietzsche.

rubyroe1 wrote: »

But, be prepared because some people will always believe in blind faith rather than cold hard facts. I hope you stick with your principles and don't be afraid to spread our word. Good luck with everything.:P:P:P

Indeed some people do believe in blind faith rather than cold facts. Many of them happen to be on this forum too.

OP: I hope that you actually open your heart and seek the truth for yourself. If you want to see what case there is for Christianity pop into the Christianity forum or PM me.

rubyroe1 wrote: »

I think if a religious person can preach their message we can preach our one too. My boyfriend and most of my friends now quesion their belief in god. People who want to go around with their eyes closed believing in blind faith and never questioning the facts are in denial.

Rubyroe- you may even start a movement science can't prove the existence or non existence of God. But questioning your belief means you are undecided -a very don't know message.

Jakkass wrote: »

Yes, of course. Go forth and make atheists agnostics of all nations? Sounds rather Biblical doesn't it?

Woah? Questioning? No way???

I suggest you edit this as their current position is neutral.

Galvasean wrote: »

Yeah, you're one of them! :pac:

Jokes aside, your point about Dawkins has some truth to it. To many believers he is seen as a sort of high priest of atheism (Most people seem to think he is a 'professional atheist' by profession as opposed to a scientist). So citing him might might prove detrimental to one's cause since many believers are wary of his words.


Just not the er... wacky thread.

I've always wondered how a hungover atheist copes like after your Beers at the Duke. I mean OMG is probably Verboten and Oh My Dawkins doesnt seem to do it?