Agnostics “R” Us...

[Greg Sacramento]

It's been raining day and night in my world for several years. In the past 39 days and nights very hard and I said to myself will this rain ever stop. I then looked up in the sky and spelled out in rain clouds was "not tomorrow".

 

[Jazzer]

It's been raining day and night in my world for several years. In the past 39 days and nights very hard and I said to myself will this rain ever stop. I then looked up in the sky and spelled out in rain clouds was "not tomorrow".

Dear Greg - when we were young we had literally no idea that all this could happen to us did we.
Life wasn't bliss for me even then, because of an emotionally impoverished childhood - I was so insecure; but that aside, I could chase the girls up in the corn field, even though I was far to shy and insecure to grab one and steal a kiss - though that was what I desperately wanted to do.

There was no sign of what was to come in the shape of this tormenting condition.
And now, every sufferer in this 'god forsaken' website is forced to cope, as best they can.
I do not have a pickled clue whether god exists or not. Absolutely no conviction about that whatsoever.
My hunch is that there is no god.
But if I'm wrong, and there is a god, I have to say that he shows no sign of being interested in curing anybody does he.

 

[Jazzer]

Before delving into different religions, bashing the Bible, this should be explored:

Most people, even those without any knowledge of any religions and born in the most remote of regions, subconsciously have these two beliefs: 1) there is more to life than this life (afterlife), and 2) we will be held accountable one day (judgement, heaven and hell).

I do not believe this statement for one moment.
I do believe we all, or most of us, have a conscience, which pokes us as and when it should.
I am not bashing religions.
I am saying that I remain unconvinced of their reality, and therefore their significance.
Religion seems to comfort zillions of people, and anything that gives comfort is a good thing.

Personally speaking - in my own hours of need I sought comfort, with tears on my cheeks, and found nothing.
Just not for me.

 

[just1morething]

Can't blame people for believing despite all the sufferings and unknowns in this life. If it's up to humans alone there surely is no afterlife. It would definitely be a plus if there is a paradise in the hereafter, but of course no one knows that for sure.

All I know is this life is very brief as compared to the age of the earth, which I thought scientists estimate at over 5 billion years old.

 

[Luman]

My original membership certificate for American Atheists, signed by founder Madalyn Murray O'Hair, who was considered to be, "The Most Hated Woman In America".

On August 27, 1995, Madalyn Murray O'Hair, son Jon Garth Murray, and Robin Murray O'Hair (Madalyn's granddaughter) disappeared from their home. After nearly 6 years, in January 2001, David Waters confessed to the kidnapping, extortion, and murder of the Murray-O'Hair family. https://www.atheists.org/about/hist...5Ly2pISQvzTKGQZ_SZIr64cpGX83LAOBoCzh0QAvD_BwE

As it is a document, I removed my name and the date.

It reads:
The Officers & Board of Trustees have Enrolled .... as a Member of American Atheists in recognition of your support of this nonprofit group and educational organization chartered in 1963 for diffusing knowledge and promoting freedom of the mind. Madilyn O'Hair, President

 

[Jazzer]

And so it seems that being a self-confessed atheist/agnostic is as dangerous as being a believer.

Why cannot everybody leave the decision of belief up to each individual.

To commit murder for belief or unbelief is simply vile.

What kind of a god would condone that?

 

[Jazzer]

To me the question of belief or otherwise is a perfectly legitimate subject for debate.
There are many such great debates on YouTube of eminent men of the church, with celebrated atheists/agnostics, such as Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens, mostly conducted on college campuses and universities.
Riveting stuff indeed.

One particular debate was that of Christopher Hitchens with his brother, a devout believer, Peter Hitchens.
The familial context added some interesting brotherly competition.

 

[Jazzer]

 

[Jazzer]

 

[Jazzer]

 

[just1morething]

My original membership certificate for American Atheists

You must be awfully proud of that to display. FWIW, I do have a a AAA membership.

 

[Luman]

Bertrand Russel in 1959, in his late 80's, on Xianity, the pursuit of knowledge, and the fundamental dishonestly of religious belief.

 

[Luman]

From Robert G. Ingersoll, who was known as The Great Agnostic:

For centuries Christendom was a madhouse. Popes, cardinals, bishops, priests, monks and heretics were all insane.
Only a few – four or five in a century – were sound in heart and brain. Only a few, in spite of the roar and din, in spite of the savage cries, heard reason's voice. Only a few in the wild rage of ignorance, fear and zeal preserved the perfect calm that wisdom gives.
And yet we are told that we must believe such a doctrine or we are to be eternally damned! It will not do.

We are not accountable for the sins of "Adam."

Why should the suffering innocent atone for the crimes of the guilty?

Who can estimate the misery that has been caused by this most infamous doctrine of eternal punishment? Think of the lives it has blighted – of the tears it has caused – of the agony it has produced. Think of the millions who have been driven to insanity by this most terrible of dogmas. This doctrine renders God the basest and most cruel being in the universe. Compared with him, the most frightful deities of the most barbarous and degraded tribes are miracles of goodness and mercy.

There is nothing more degrading than to worship such a god. Lower than this the soul can never sink. If the doctrine of eternal damnation is true, let me share the fate of the unconverted; let me have my portion in hell, rather than in heaven with a god infamous enough to inflict eternal misery upon any of the sons of men.

Christianity has made more lunatics than it ever provided asylums for.

 

[just1morething]

Christianity has made more lunatics than it ever provided asylums for.

I thought Ted Bundy turned into a Mormon. I see Netflix has a special on him right now.

 

[Jazzer]

 

[Jazzer]

From Robert G. Ingersoll, who was known as The Great Agnostic:

For centuries Christendom was a madhouse. Popes, cardinals, bishops, priests, monks and heretics were all insane.
Only a few – four or five in a century – were sound in heart and brain. Only a few, in spite of the roar and din, in spite of the savage cries, heard reason's voice. Only a few in the wild rage of ignorance, fear and zeal preserved the perfect calm that wisdom gives.
And yet we are told that we must believe such a doctrine or we are to be eternally damned! It will not do.

We are not accountable for the sins of "Adam."

Why should the suffering innocent atone for the crimes of the guilty?

Who can estimate the misery that has been caused by this most infamous doctrine of eternal punishment? Think of the lives it has blighted – of the tears it has caused – of the agony it has produced. Think of the millions who have been driven to insanity by this most terrible of dogmas. This doctrine renders God the basest and most cruel being in the universe. Compared with him, the most frightful deities of the most barbarous and degraded tribes are miracles of goodness and mercy.

There is nothing more degrading than to worship such a god. Lower than this the soul can never sink. If the doctrine of eternal damnation is true, let me share the fate of the unconverted; let me have my portion in hell, rather than in heaven with a god infamous enough to inflict eternal misery upon any of the sons of men.

Christianity has made more lunatics than it ever provided asylums for.

I couldn't agree more Luman.....x

 

[Jazzer]

 

[Jazzer]

View attachment 30250

 

[Jazzer]

Bertrand Russel in 1959, in his late 80's, on Xianity, the pursuit of knowledge, and the fundamental dishonestly of religious belief.

Superb interviews Luman - thank you.

 

[Jazzer]

Notice to all Red Sea Pedestrians.......x

 

[Jazzer]

Where is god?
God is alive and well, and living in the
hearts, minds, and imaginations of
the believers.

 

[Jazzer]

 

[GregCA]

Ricky Gervais has an interesting way of looking at it.

 

[Jazzer]

Ricky Gervais has an interesting way of looking at it.

Absolutely Spot On to me.

 

[Jazzer]

It is my belief that the primary motivating factor towards a religious life is fear - just incase.
Don't forget we have been systematically petrified about hell throughout our Sunday School years, virtually since birth.
It takes considerable courage to confront and question all of that indoctrination.
Does god even exist?
Nobody knows.
Not even the Queen of England, nor the pope.
But they'll never admit it.

 

[threefirefour]

My original membership certificate for American Atheists, signed by founder Madalyn Murray O'Hair, who was considered to be, "The Most Hated Woman In America".

On August 27, 1995, Madalyn Murray O'Hair, son Jon Garth Murray, and Robin Murray O'Hair (Madalyn's granddaughter) disappeared from their home. After nearly 6 years, in January 2001, David Waters confessed to the kidnapping, extortion, and murder of the Murray-O'Hair family. https://www.atheists.org/about/hist...5Ly2pISQvzTKGQZ_SZIr64cpGX83LAOBoCzh0QAvD_BwE

As it is a document, I removed my name and the date.

It reads:
The Officers & Board of Trustees have Enrolled .... as a Member of American Atheists in recognition of your support of this nonprofit group and educational organization chartered in 1963 for diffusing knowledge and promoting freedom of the mind. Madilyn O'Hair, President

View attachment 30188

That's so cool Murray O'Hair is a bloody heroine.

 

[Jazzer]

My original membership certificate for American Atheists, signed by founder Madalyn Murray O'Hair, who was considered to be, "The Most Hated Woman In America".

On August 27, 1995, Madalyn Murray O'Hair, son Jon Garth Murray, and Robin Murray O'Hair (Madalyn's granddaughter) disappeared from their home. After nearly 6 years, in January 2001, David Waters confessed to the kidnapping, extortion, and murder of the Murray-O'Hair family. https://www.atheists.org/about/hist...5Ly2pISQvzTKGQZ_SZIr64cpGX83LAOBoCzh0QAvD_BwE

As it is a document, I removed my name and the date.

It reads:
The Officers & Board of Trustees have Enrolled .... as a Member of American Atheists in recognition of your support of this nonprofit group and educational organization chartered in 1963 for diffusing knowledge and promoting freedom of the mind. Madilyn O'Hair, President

View attachment 30188

Thanks for posting this article luman.
I mirror this courageous family's beliefs.
So American Christians can be so full of hatred as to commit multiple murder.
I believe that atheists/agnostics are generally seen in an unpleasant light - 'they are not very nice people.'
Purely because our intelligence overrides our indoctrinated fear of the almighty.
I posted this item on my Facebook page.
I will always stand up for what I believe.

 

[Jazzer]

@Luman - I must tell you a little story.

A jazz mate died, a devout believer, and he made me promise to play some hymn tunes at his funeral.
With a lump in my throat, I played them for him.
At the wake a mature lady came up to me and said

"You played beautifully and with such conviction.
May I ask what church you attend?"

I said very carefully:
"I should really tell you that I am not in fact a believer. I loved John, like playing hymn tunes as I was brought up in the Salvation Army - but I played this for John."

"You have no faith?
Oh dear."

She walked away from me - I was shunned.

(When I play gospel stuff, which I quite enjoy, I use a 'preaching tone.'
You can see me play
"The Old Rugged Cross," in the thread
'Jazzers videos.')

 

[Jazzer]

'Seems a trifle harsh.....I mean
....my neighbours wife is quite dishy'

 

[JohnAdams]

She walked away from me - I was shunned.

That's no good.