Alrighty then, let's have it here. I want one of the nonbelievers to defend their ideal. Tell me what's so great about being atheist, how you came to be that way, what YOU believe. Have at it...................
burnem2 wrote:
burnem, to me, your questions appear to assume that belief/non-belief is a choice. To me, it isn't.
I wouldn't say that non-belief is an ideal in any way. In fact, believers have some great advantages -- belief in higher beings relieve many of personal responsibilities; it may give comfort in the 'finite-ness' of life; the sense of purpose that may come from doing 'churchy' things; the community that church provides, the ability to easily find group of like-minded people to share, socialize, etc.
I can only say, for me, that I can, in no way, conceive of a God...it just doesn't compute for me at all. I have the exact same reaction to someone's belief in God that I do to someone else's belief in ghosts, or witchcraft, or gangstalkers. Pick some belief that you have trouble accepting....cows as holy animals...or Scientologits Xenu bringing life to earth in spacecraft millions of years ago...or ancient religious human sacrifice...and examine your feeling or reaction to it. It will probably be the same as mine towards dieties.
I work pretty hard to respect beliefs, even if I can't comprehend them. But, admittedly, I don't always do a very good job of that. But, I do sense some harm, or at least waste in things such as prayer, or ritual forgiveness when remorse is lacking...or other things that result from religious believing.
I have issues with organized religion, as well, but that relationship is a bit more complicated. I fully acknowledge that much good comes of it. But, I'm not convinced that the sum total of goodness outweighs the bad....maybe its a wash, but while I might roll my eyes, I do otherwise try to respect those that are actually better for it.
