Hi there! I guess I'm an atheist, so what next?

Links234

Hi Atheism & Agnosticism.

erm, I think that for years I've probably been an atheist, but I guess I've always been afraid to get into any kind of religious arguments and would really shy away from such discussion. One of the forums I post on the most even has a no discussion of religion policy. someone pointed me to the forum a while back, and I've been lurking a little, some really good stuff on here and I really liked a Stephen Fry video someone posted.

so, I started reading the Christopher Hitchens book God is not great a couple of weeks ago, and slowly working my way through that, and I have to say it's really good, really eye opening. I've got The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins to read next,

so then what's next after that? what sould I be checking out, what to read or what to watch?

thanks

Galvasean

Links234 wrote: »

so then what's next after that? what sould I be checking out, what to read or what to watch?

Whatever you want! You're free!!!!

Ghost Buster

Links234 wrote: »

Hi Atheism & Agnosticism.

erm, I think that for years I've probably been an atheist, but I guess I've always been afraid to get into any kind of religious arguments and would really shy away from such discussion. One of the forums I post on the most even has a no discussion of religion policy. someone pointed me to the forum a while back, and I've been lurking a little, some really good stuff on here and I really liked a Stephen Fry video someone posted.

so, I started reading the Christopher Hitchens book God is not great a couple of weeks ago, and slowly working my way through that, and I have to say it's really good, really eye opening. I've got The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins to read next,

so then what's next after that? what sould I be checking out, what to read or what to watch?

thanks

Try The Bible. It s a bit gruesome in parts, veeeeeeery racey and ends on a real cliff hanger. It got me to where I am today:D

GlasnevinRed

Welcome and enjoy!:D

Improbable

Hit up Dades for some free cookies. He keeps them on the top shelf next to the keys to the liquor cabinet.

Improbable

Improbable wrote: »

Hit up Dades for some free cookies. He keeps them on the top shelf next to the keys to the liquor cabinet.

Ohhhhh reeeeeaaaallly.... :pac:

cookies brb

Galvasean

Improbable wrote: »

Hit up Dades for some free cookies. He keeps them on the top shelf next to the keys to the liquor cabinet.

That's the one rule of the A&A forum. We're not allowed eat those cookies. They contain the wisdom of the ages.

Links234

Galvasean wrote: »

Whatever you want! You're free!!!!

ok

Improbable

Galvasean wrote: »

That's the one rule of the A&A forum. We're not allowed eat those cookies. They contain the wisdom of the ages.

The forbidden confectionery? It's not the cookies, it's the toffee's! What are you, a heretic or something?

Zillah

FLEEEEEEEEEEEEE! Flee this dark place of frustration and madness! You are free, go live life. Do not get sucked into the invidious rhetoric that haunts this wretched place. Flee!

murrayp4

Watch the religion debates involving Hitchens on youtube. Very entertaining.

Improbable

Zillah wrote: »

FLEEEEEEEEEEEEE! Flee this dark place of frustration and madness! You are free, go live life. Do not get sucked into the invidious rhetoric that haunts this wretched place. Flee!

Ah come on now, we're not that scary... I even told him where the cookies were hidden...

Zillah

Zillah wrote: »

FLEEEEEEEEEEEEE! Flee this dark place of frustration and madness! You are free, go live life. Do not get sucked into the invidious rhetoric that haunts this wretched place. Flee!

Join us father.

It's bliiiiiiiisssssss.

:pac::pac::pac:

Zillah

Improbable wrote: »

Ah come on now, we're not that scary... I even told him where the cookies were hidden...

Deleted User wrote: »

Join us father.

It's bliiiiiiiisssssss.

:pac::pac::pac:

Silence!

It is too late for us. We're too invested. Like the sun chasing the moon, we shall forever be trapped pursuing that which cannot be caught. We will never escape the cycle of argument with the Zombie-Lord Jakkass, nor the Great Dragon Capslock. You cannot kill that which has already died on the inside!

Fleeeeeeeee!

Galvasean

A dozen replies and not one theist has come in yet with an "Are you sure about this?" type response. Not bad.

sleep in on sundays

Plowman

This post has been deleted.

robindch

Yep. I've been sleeping in on Sunday for years and I haven't been smitten by a so much as a single deity.

Links234

Galvasean wrote: »

A dozen replies and not one theist has come in yet with an "Are you sure about this?" type response. Not bad.

well, being a transgender girl, theists would have more issues with me than my non-belief

Dades

Welcome, Links234!

Galvasean wrote: »

That's the one rule of the A&A forum. We're not allowed eat those cookies. They contain the wisdom of the ages.

You mean they've been there for ages. They're a bit hard and mouldy like some of us around here. .

mikhail

Galvasean wrote: »

A dozen replies and not one theist has come in yet with an "Are you sure about this?" type response. Not bad.

Oh, you of little faith. They're here; you just can't see them. In spite of which, they've had a greatly beneficial effect on the thread. Not an effect you can measure, one of those clever, evasive effects.

bnt

You'll need to download The Atheist Bible, of course. It's a really great read ... for about a minute, and then it ends. It's not even long enough to keep you amused while on the Crapper. :cool:

The Mad Hatter

Now you can collect your free babyburger.

Back of the line, mind.

Zillah

Links234 wrote: »

well, being a transgender girl, theists would have more issues with me than my non-belief

Oh I remember you, you're the one who linked to all those awesome transition photos/videos. I had no idea HRT was so effective before that.

Links234

bnt wrote: »

You'll need to download The Atheist Bible, of course. It's a really great read ... for about a minute, and then it ends. It's not even long enough to keep you amused while on the Crapper. :cool:

yeah, I was thinking of something a little bit longer too read. just a tiny bit maybe

mmmm, baby burger

Links234

Zillah wrote: »

Oh I remember you, you're the one who linked to all those awesome transition photos/videos. I had no idea HRT was so effective before that.

yep, that's me! (will hopefully be starting HRT soon too!)
still got the link to that thread in my signature, and adding to it whenever I can.

Zillah

I would highly recommend afformentioned thread, some of it is incredible, and shows some awesome stuff about both science and nature.

5uspect

Links234 wrote: »

so then what's next after that? what sould I be checking out, what to read or what to watch?

thanks

Up the stairs, on the left, one cross each.

philologos

Links234 wrote: »

so, I started reading the Christopher Hitchens book God is not great a couple of weeks ago, and slowly working my way through that, and I have to say it's really good, really eye opening. I've got The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins to read next,

For the love of God spare yourself :pac:

Christopher Hitchens is a very entertaining read though, saying this as a theist. His book isn't half as dry as Dawkins' attempt.

That said, I have gotten them both back after lending them to a Christian friend of mine so I will be delving into them both again soon!

Galvasean

Jakkass wrote: »

That said, I have gotten them both back after lending them to a Christian friend of mine so I will be delving into them both again soon!

Oneofusoneofusoneofus....

The Mad Hatter

Jakkass wrote: »

Christopher Hitchens is a very entertaining read though, saying this as a theist. His book isn't half as dry as Dawkins' attempt.

I thought TGD was the funnier of the two, to be honest.

Also, it doesn't wind up with the acronym GING.

philologos

Galvasean wrote: »

Oneofusoneofusoneofus....

For lending the writings of atheist polemicists to my friends who are Christians. I guess you could say this. My intention differs, rather it comes from the point of view of apologetics rather than the point of view of causing people to lose their faith. Neither text would be wholly convincing in that regard.

liamw

Zillah wrote: »

I would highly recommend afformentioned thread, some of it is incredible, and shows some awesome stuff about both science and nature.

I've learned something new. I'll be asking some questions on the forum

liamw

The Mad Hatter wrote: »

I thought TGD was the funnier of the two, to be honest.

I just prefer TGD because it focuses on the truth claims of religion (at least the first half does).

Links234

Jakkass wrote: »

For the love of God spare yourself :pac:

Christopher Hitchens is a very entertaining read though, saying this as a theist. His book isn't half as dry as Dawkins' attempt.

That said, I have gotten them both back after lending them to a Christian friend of mine so I will be delving into them both again soon!

I really like Dawkins from what I've seen on youtube, and being a regular reddit user, his video answering questions from reddit was excellent, and his hatemail reading had me in stitches.

watched this last night:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DKhc1pcDFM

so I'll probably be reading Dawkins next anyway, I find him very charming

Links234

liamw wrote: »

I've learned something new. I'll be asking some questions on the forum

oh wow, what is it you've learned if you don't mind me asking?

Galvasean

Jakkass wrote: »

For lending the writings of atheist polemicists to my friends who are Christians. I guess you could say this.

I loaned my copy of TGD to a fellow atheist a couple of years ago. She never returned it.
In conclusion we can summise that you are better off loaning things to Christians.

*looks to copy of Pan's Labyrinth on DVD that I borrowed from a friend several months ago*

mikhail

Galvasean wrote: »

I loaned my copy of TGD to a fellow atheist a couple of years ago. She never returned it.
In conclusion we can summise that you are better off loaning things to Christians.

*looks to copy of Pan's Labyrinth on DVD that I borrowed from a friend several months ago*

"Never loan a book."

(the quote is abbreviated from
"Never loan a book to someone if you expect to get it back. Loaning books is the same as giving them away."
Doug Coupland)

mikhail

mikhail wrote: »

"Never loan a book."

(the quote is abbreviated from
"Never loan a book to someone if you expect to get it back. Loaning books is the same as giving them away."
Doug Coupland)

Bill Adama doesn't loan books, he gives them only :cool:

Beruthiel

murrayp4 wrote: »

Watch the religion debates involving Hitchens on youtube. Very entertaining.

Yup.

Youtube is blocked at work so I cannot link you, but do a search on Christopher Hitchens and Stephen Fry. Very entertaining discussion.

Richard Dawkins and Neil Degrasse Tyson also have a debate which I enjoyed. The Poetry of Science.

The Four Horsemen with Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, Sam Harris and Dan Dennett is very watchable.

If you haven't read the Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins, get yourself a copy.

Welcome to the Dark Side Link.

bnt

If it doesn't seem as if we're taking your question all that seriously ... that's probably right. When you get out of (metaphorical) jail, of course you're going to want to have a little fun. This is something to keep in mind whenever you read about "avowed", "sworn" or "fundamentalist" atheists. I keep hearing about them, and wondering where they are, but they never seem to exist outside the theists' imagination.

I've never met or read about an atheist who wouldn't change his mind if presented with credible evidence. It's just that we have standards for what constitutes credible evidence. "Because I say so" is not evidence. Stuff written in old books, by itself, is not even evidence; it's testimony. Ditto for anything said by anyone, ever: words, by themselves, are not evidence. Even Hollywood usually gets that part right - one reason I like watching CSI. :pac:

liamw

Links234 wrote: »

oh wow, what is it you've learned if you don't mind me asking?

I've learned that HRT can change the body over a really short timescale. I had no idea it was so effective.

By the way, here's some videos I'd recommend:
Why We Believe in Gods
Betting On Infinity

All of nonstampcollector

Goduznt Xzst

Links234 wrote: »

so then what's next after that?

thanks

Well death, obviously.

But before that, life. Now that you know your days of life have a finite number (going by your Invader Zim avatar I'd peg them between 22,000 to 26,000 days left) you need to live every day as if it's your last.

Set a date in the future as the day that you expect to die (be liberal, but realistic). This is not morbid or macabre but a centring point that will have you focused on reality.

When you are sitting bored in a job, or wasting time watching crap television, take a look at that date.

It's very easy to undo all the aspects of Religion that had a negative impact on your life. It's substantially more difficult to reconcile the removal of the safety blanket it provided that stopped you thinking about death.

But without death, life would not be worth living. It makes life precious, so live it, with no regrets. You only get it once.

ChocolateSauce

mikhail wrote: »

"Never loan a book."

(the quote is abbreviated from
"Never loan a book to someone if you expect to get it back. Loaning books is the same as giving them away."
Doug Coupland)

The last three books I loaned I never saw again....

philologos

ChocolateSauce wrote: »

The last three books I loaned I never saw again....

Just ask for them back when you want them back?

In my case it'd been several months with The God Delusion & God Is Not Great. Indeed, not only was it lent to the person I lent it to, but another mutual friend in that time!

5uspect

I rarely have problems loaning books, DVDs or games and I often do so. I always make a point of returning anything I'm given also. I'll always just ask the person for the item back if they have it a long time. That said I've also seen items come back in tatters sometimes
One friend brought my copy of World War Z around South America with him for a few weeks and it came back to me in perfect condition, and a nice tan.

Actually when I moved over to London recently I had friends returning some books I had lent but forgotten about.
My brother on the other hand is a blackhole from which books cannot escape.

I borrowed the god delusion from someone
I think he forgot
I didn't even finish it cos I didn't really like it

I usually don't like borrowing books cos I'd rather own them and be able to re read them again later in my own time

mewso

What next?

You'll receive a p.m. It could be anytime day or night. You'll be told where to go and when. From there one of our representatives will bring you to our HQ. You'll be introduced to God who will give his brief introductory course "Why I created Atheists" which should get you grounded on why we are here.

From there you'll get an extensive tour of the fossil production plan (nice free mug to take home once this finishes). The day is complete when you have tea and a chat with Jesus who will give you the opportunity to shoot him in the head. You should receive some pics of him holding a newspaper (as proof of the date) 3 days later just to show he can do it.

Finally be sure to collect your free 6000 year History of the Planet time line poster before you go home.

Alternatively you could just watch the brilliant Douglas Adams:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZG8HBuDjgc

Dades

5uspect wrote: »

My brother on the other hand is a blackhole from which books cannot escape.

That reminds me - my brother has my copy of Cosmos. :pac:

Galvasean

Galvasean wrote: »

I loaned my copy of TGD to a fellow atheist a couple of years ago. She never returned it.

bluewolf wrote: »

I borrowed the god delusion from someone
I think he forgot

...Alison?

Galvasean

Galvasean wrote: »

...Alison?

First letter is right but not the rest! sorry

it was actually morbert, i think he even still posts


shhhhh ;o