Today I learned not to be afraid to be called Atheist

by Gopher 37 Replies latest jw friends

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  Gopher

  Today I went to the meeting. Not the local WT indoctrination meeting, but to the monthly Minnesota Atheist meeting.

  I was inspired to go by a fellow poster on the board who encouraged me to examine atheism a little more closely. I am glad I went.

  (Now if anyone wants to come here and encourage me to be religious, sorry I won't respond to that on this thread. Feel free to start your own thread about the wonders of belief.)

  Up until now I was content to call myself an agnostic, because it is not possible to totally prove or disprove the existence of a person or force or whatever that could have created the universe. But because of that impossibility, in reality everyone is an agnostic. Nobody, no matter how smart or experienced, knows for sure about a deity. The question I was skirting was the basic question of whether I BELIEVE in a god or do not.

  Many agnostics choose to be believers for good reasons, such as personal comfort and assurance, and socialization and community. However real those needs are, is religion and belief in God the best way to meet those needs? The atheist thinks not. And since I am not a believer any more, that makes me an atheist, pure and simple.

  Do atheists lack dignity and morals? Are they non-believers merely because they want to do whatever the heck they feel like? Not really. They are that way because they believe a logical approach based on science and reason is the most solid way to approach life's dilemmas. They believe that doing good is for the love of humanity, and that it isn't necessary to fear a deity's promise of a bad or non-existent afterlife as discouragement from doing wrong.

  The atheists I met are just as kind and caring as anyone I've met. I think they get a bad rap, at least in American society (which I know most about) because their view goes so much against closely held beliefs and emotional ones at that. The scorn and disdain with which the religious community community commonly treats atheism is akin to how apostates are treated by the Watchtower Society and its loyal followers.

  So by confessing that I think atheism is the best answer available, I will risk alienating some people. But to be true to what I think is best, I will have to take that risk.

  INFORMATIONAL LINKS:

  Minnesota Atheists: http://www.mnatheists.org/

  Blog from today's guest speaker that debunks creationism: http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/
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  eclipse

  I'm really happy for you Gopher!
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  Twitch

  It ain't so bad is it?

  I was in the local pub the other night enjoying a pint or two with some buddies who are also skeptics/atheists and we caught the ear of this guy next to us who happened to take offense at our tongue-in-cheek attitude. He was obviously a believer and became rather belligerant on the subject, partly because we weren't taking him seriously (you know about religion and politics in bars,eh?) and partly because he was a little smashed (nothing inferred here btw) Anyways, I guess he didn't take too kindly to my question of where was the divine will in Auschwitz and Belsen and proceeded to focus his anger on me, naturally. I just told him I used to believe but don't anymore. He said good luck with that. I said love thy neighbor. He glared at me and I thought, this could get ugly, but I wasn't afraid. In the past I would've welcomed the opportunity to "prove" how right I was, but not anymore. I chuckled and told him to have a good night. He stumbled away muttering profanities. People are funny, eh?
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  changeling

  Thank you Gopher. I currently think of myself as agnostic, but I'm inching in your direction.

  It is a bit scary to say : "I am an athiest". Especially having spent a lifetime as a witness. But I honestly don't feel the need to worship (never have, actually) and I'm begining to see that there is nobody to worship anyway. And if there is a creator of some sort, I don't believe he expects us to worship him/her, at least in the way we've been taught.

  I wish you the best in your journey,

  changeling
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  brinjen

  Great thread Gopher!

  I've been giving this matter a lot of thought lately as well. When I say 'lately' I mean the last ten years...

  I've looked into a lot of religions and beliefs, they sound nice on the surface but I just can't get past the though that if there was a 'higher being' out there, how could he/she/it allow what's happening to continue? Why does there have to be that higher being in the first place? While I do believe the bible and in particular the story of Jesus holds a lot of significance because of the impact this character has made, I don't believe it ever actually occured (in case anyone didn't notice)

  I'm an atheist too!

  Dp atheists lack dignity and morals? Are they non-believers merely because they want to do whatever the heck they feel like? Not really. They are that way because they believe a logical approach based on science and reason is the most solid way to approach life's dilemmas. They believe that doing good is for the love of humanity, and that it isn't necessary to fear a deity's promise of a bad or non-existent afterlife as discouragement from doing wrong.

  That's what we're told aren't we? It appears to me as though people need to have some form of fear placed on them in order to do good works. Treat people well and you'll spend eternity in heaven/paradise or whatever. Don't and you'll spend eternity in seering pain being jabbed with red hot pokers while being forced to watch 'Jerry Springer' (or whatever).

  What happens when you take that fear away? You're left with no other motive that simply wanting to do good. I come across this time and time again with the atheists I know. No motives other than hoping you'll treat them in kind as well. Pure and simple.
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  Nathan Natas

  Welcome! Come one, come all: it's a big tent!
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  bigdreaux

  gopher, you need jesus in your life. haha just kidding, congratulations.
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  Gopher

  Eclipse and Nathan Homer Knorr: Thank you for your support.

  Twitch: While I was in the twilight zone between "belief" and "atheism", I looked at both groups in general and found more tolerance among the atheists. That's very general. I have believing friends and family (many of whom are ex-JW's) and they are very tolerant. But I know some believers are very emotional defending their belief in big daddy in the sky. They almost feel threatened if you can't see it their way. They need to grow up. Like it said in some ancient book, "Let the atheist keep peaceable, to the extent it depends on you. The atheist does not need to fight. He just needs to use logic."

  Changeling: Wishing you the best in your journey too. It's hard to take a stand as to whether one believes, but it's a relief when you can finally define it. You'll get there, you're probably very close. Although it doesn't mean we have to "witness" about this to anyone, except when a truthful response is really needed.

  Brinjen: I totally agree with you about why atheists treat others well. It's simply a love of humanity.

  bigdreaux: Now I warned you about getting all religious on me. I think I'll take some of my toilet paper (over the roll) and come see how it looks on those trees in your front yard!!
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  Madame Quixote

  Welcome to the Dark Side, Jeff!

  I am glad to hear you're getting together with other local skeptics, because it's easy to feel alienated and marginalized as skeptics, living in such a religiously dominant culture. It would be very cool if they build that Atheist Fellowship you mentioned to me! What an awesome concept!

  Thanks for the info you sent me on this thread, and your first atheist meeting. I am looking forward to reading the discussion on pharangula and PZ Meyers. He seems pretty cool! If I ever get to the local atheist group, I'll share what I learned, too.

  Good luck and congratulations on being true to yourself!
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  bigdreaux

  gopher, as long as you hang it the christian way, that's fine, i'll turn the other cheek. but, if you do it wrong, god will smite you.