Stepping in here just for a moment, as I have chosen to stay out of the fray of religions ad wars this time around. I am proud as a humanist & atheist to be just that. I was raised in Catholicism. And I can say that I have questioned my religion and the exisitence of "god" since I was 6 years old. In fact I remember that fearful moment exactly, as I sat in my religion class with my little Jesus workbook in front of me and suspected then what I have come full circle to believe in as an adult. Does this make me a sinner or wrong. I do not have that fear. That the teachings of the book are a guide for humanity to follow, -yes. But to be fearful of a god, and the very exisistence of one has hung over me for almost 40 years now, as a farce. I really thought that at the end of that little workbook they (nuns) were going to tell us that there was no god and that we must live a good life and be an asset to humanity by following the general teachings laid out by those prophets who once walked the earth. I believe now as you say Vince this was the right answer for me. When I see many of you, on both sides and I do not doubt, nor question your faith, spewing words that divide, and arguing semantics, I feel more and more confident in my choice. Not so much a choice even.
--- vince <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> As Bonhoeffer wrote > (pastor, theologian, plotter in the assassination attempt, and killed by > the Nazis), we live in a world come up age, a world that in which we > have found religion to be empty and it impossible to believe in the old > ways anymore, which were probably all cultural conditioning anyway. The above is also something I can not believe so many do NOT understand. Cutures dictated much of how a religion was defined & written. Not to mention being a feminist and the sexismI find in almost evry religion. The times, the neccessities of surviving even. Most religious & ethnic groups rituals and traditions come right from this very thought. Everyone was looking for a reason to believe and found ways within their own culture to make it so. > > Atheism is a legitimate response to the question of God. While I do not require validation, I thank you Vince for yor open minded and fairness. I did not make this choice out of hate or spite, but out of a personal striving towards truth. Faith is not be a matter of > agreeing to a series of statements, agreeing to a set of intellectual > propositions, some or many or all of which may be questionable to a > thinking person. Faith is about living as if every other person is > equal and worthy and doing what one can for the sake of others. And I add, do no confuse an atheist with a selfish, hateful or uncaring person. Although I am sure some are. I like to call myself a humanist. And I too fail miserably everyday at this,and yet vow to get up tomorrow and make the effort again. > [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > > > > I'm beginning to get worried here: am I really the only atheist on the > > list?? Colin, I know you're no fan of organized religion, but you > > believe in a higher power. Clearly Sara, you now know you are not alone here. And yet we both will take stands for and against the wars now being fought in the world in these times. Whenever i have tried here to explain my opinion on the war between the Jews and Arabs, I may not have been called so but the insinuation has been that I am Anti-Semmetic. So far from it, I am way way a supporteer of Israel. Remember the words "Silence = death." However, just as I am anti-war or violence here in America, this does not make me an expatriate or anti-American. I believe this makes me a practicing Amercian. This is using my humanity and my beliefs to further my personal crusade, for all to search for and hopefully find the common ground. And to act like HUMAN BEINGS, and not like two hockey teams ripping each other's throats out to win the right to the Holy Grail! Note to Canadians - I LOVE Hockey! By the way, WHAT is so funny 'about peace, love and understanding - and I must get this in, to those who would use those words against or to make foly or lightness out of them, I would say look at the very definition you expressed against my cheer and see if that does not define understanding and the quest for it. Surprisingly, I found this to be cheap & cold. Peace, love and understnding are found through listening, expressing ones side and perspective, KNOWLEDGE and a real DESIRE to find common ground and resolve! I realize I have tied into a few post but i believe the were all spawned from one another and divided here, so excuse me for saving it all up. Peace, Susan (proud humanist/atheist) Prepared for those who will choose to take issue here, but still hoping otherwise, nontheless. Yahoo! Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now. http://mailplus.yahoo.com
