General Forums >> Controversial Topics >> I'm an atheist/agnostic and proud of it!
I'm an atheist/agnostic and proud of it!
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Posted 3 months ago I noticed that my atheist/agnostic sisters haven't really had a voice on this site, but I just wanted to come out and say loud and proud that I am one of you! Further, I wanted to say that I am accepting and open of all religions, I just don't practice any. My spirituality/enlightenment comes from a different place. |
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| Posted 3 months ago Hi there Lola -- I, too, am agnostic. I was born Jewish but to pretty non-religious parents, though we retained cultural traditions related to Judaism. I have long found my peace and spirituality through transcendental meditation and simply following a Golden Rule-infused life. |
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| Posted 3 months ago Lolawriter - good for you for embracing your own path and being true to yourself, regardless of what other people think! You mentioned your spirituality/enlightenment comes from a different place. If it's not too personal, I'd love to know what it is. Like you, I'm very open and accepting of all religions, so I'm just curious. Thanks! Phyllis R. Neill, www.shementor.com
Phyllis R. Neill, www.shementor.com |
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| Posted 3 months ago Hi, everyone! I, too, am agnostic. I have long practiced meditation, and studied Eastern spirituality, but retained some Jewish and Catholic traditions -- on a cultural level, only; not a theological one -- within my family, which has been agnostic/atheist for several generations on both sides. I have further also meditated from a very young age, and try to do so several times a week. I find my spiritual contentment through what LilaK described: Following the Golden Rule, which is the basis of many religions, in fact (i.e. Karma, etc.), the difference is I simply don't ascribe to an organized faith. I believe in questioning, positive-thinking, generosity, kindness, honesty, and empathy. In a way, that's my faith. Daniela
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| Posted 3 months ago Wow Lola, this is a great topic. I never really feel comfortable telling people that I am agnostic. I was brought us Catholic but once I was old enough to decide which way my life would go with regards to religion I chose to stop practicing it. I think that we are all born with an innate sense of what is right and what is wrong as well as the experiece that life has given us. I make my decisions based on those feelings and experiences, along with some common sense. As Lila and Daniela mentioned, Following the Golden Rule can't really stir you wrong. Need Breeds Ingenuity! |
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| Posted 3 months ago KatS, it's interesting to me that you don't feel comfortable saying you're an agnostic, because I've always felt that my religious friends are more uncomfortable saying so -- perhaps it's just the circles we run in, the cities we live in -- where I have grown up and lived, agnosticism/atheism is much more the norm than is ascribing to any organized faith. How interesting! Daniela
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| Posted 3 months ago I am proud to say I was born pagan, my husband was raised in a very strict hindu/buddhist family he is atheist; practically UNHEARD of where he comes from I have African American Jewish cousins, Catholic cousins, Christian cousins, Unitarian cousins, Jehovis Witness stepsisters, Born agains, Athiests, etc., in short we got ALL our bases covered if you will. We make fun of each other CONSTANTLY, because of you cant laugh at yourself then who can you laugh at? Some have had it better than I have; I have been stalked, jumped, fired, threatened, my uncle street blacklisted (uncle is thankful though), I was sent to the principals office (for not praying before school games or saying the pledge), sent home from school (one particularly bad teacher told me that a womans 'role' in life was to have children and that is all we were born to do was to breed, he was my history teacher I stood up and told him 'my Goddess gave birth to your God' I was sent to the princpals office for plasphemy it was a PUBLIC school!) , screamed at in restaurants, movies, the street, grocery stores, and banded from wearing my jewelary proclaming my religion in schools and workplaces At first I was angry but know I am at peace with this, people are just afraid of what they dont know or afraid that maybe they might be 'wrong'. The idea of Right and wrong is that there is NO right and and NO wrong answer to religion or the belief of nothing there just IS. There IS something or there IS nothing. I find myself as a person with an 'outside' view, I have met and been apart of some wonderful hindu ceremonies (granted they all think I am going to hell but they dont tell me this CONSTANTLY they figure I already know!) Buddhist ceremonies; I actually get along better with buddhist monks more than any other religous 'heads', how a people could be SO nice and respectful and peaceful (the ones I have met that is) is profound and boy do they tell good jokes and have very very good alcohol (rice beer/wine don't try it if you are a light weight they WILL make fun of you)! If you ever get a chance, go out and visit other religious places that are NOT your religion, to learn is to understand and to understand is to stop the racism and the stereotyping. I used to live in fear of saying what I am, now I say it proudly because hey if we were all the same life would be boring an bland! "The brick walls are not there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something. Because the brick walls are there to stop the people who don’t want it badly enough."-Randy Pausch |
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| Posted 2 months ago I was raised Catholic,but currently practice no religion,excet for common sense. I live in the buckle of the bible belt and find there is barely tolerance between Cathloics and Baptist much less any one that isn't even sure about the existance of God. I learned alot about Wicca working in a rock shop. I think LauraS hits it. "At first I was angry but know I am at peace with this, people are just afraid of what they dont know or afraid that maybe they might be 'wrong'. The idea of Right and wrong is that there is NO right and and NO wrong answer to religion or the belief of nothing there just IS. There IS something or there IS nothing. " There are way too many people judging others I have enough proplems stuggling with my own morals to worry about recruiting others. Thanks for a place where I feel normal and don't have to try a steer the conversation elswhere |
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| Posted 2 months ago I was raised Catholic but at a very young age I knew it wasn't right for me. The minute I turned 18 and left my parents' home I denounced the religion. A few years later a friend gave me Shirley MacLaine's book "Out On A Limb" (which is Shirley's story of how she came to believe she was reincarnated). When I read it I felt not as if I was learning something new, but rather I was being reminded of something I already knew. Suddenly dozens of like-minded people seemed to enter my life through the most unexpected doors. I found I belonged to a large sub-culture of intuitive, supportive movers and shakers in what came to be known as the New Age movement. We were ridiculed by many, to be sure. But I have never looked back. I have a strong sense of spirituality, a deep and personal connection with my Higher Power, and a tremendous "joie de vivre" which has never left me since the day I "returned to my deepest knowing". Meanwhile I've learned tolerance not of religions (as I have a serious feminist bone to pick with most of them) but tolerance of other people's religious choices. I believe we are all on different paths, going to the same place. I especially enjoy and appreciate atheists and agnostics because I believe that questioning ideology is supremely important. All too often we tend to be led astray by a misdirected sense of obligation to something that someone else handed us or imposed upon us. In reading a lot of history of the world's major religions and in taking a few college courses on the subject, I've learned that, often, those "someones" have an agenda of their own. LauraS has a most remarkable story, and she has made it to my list of "people I'd like to have lunch with"! "There is no old age. There is, as there always was, just you." (Carol Matthau) |
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| Posted 2 months ago Thank you all for sharing- It seems many of you share a 'natural' spirituality which isn't tied to a formal or traditional 'religion.' I am a recovering Catholic myself, and only recently considering relaxing the strict reigns expected of me and my family in that religious affiliation. I have always shared much of the same spiritual life path as some of you, but it has created a schizm in what I was 'supposed' to be believing...but I was open to the alternative regardless. (bad Catholic)- Christianity to me has become simply a place of openness and positive spirituality. I pray to God and follow the golden rule. But what am I now? No label as of yet. Thank you all again :) |
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| Posted 2 months ago I have given this much thought today before responding. At first upon joining this site I was resolved not to go into religious discussion because to me that is a very personal thing and this site was going to be of a more professional level (at least that was the idea in the beginning). With all of the discussions that have taken place here that are not work related I can't say that it has not gotten personal already so I have decided to open up to you that I am Pagan, studying Celtic Evolutionism right now. Mine is a very spiritual and value based path that works a lot with meditation, stones and herbs. Regarding some of the other posters, I have a question to those who have lumped Agnostic and Atheism together. How do you define the two and how do you combine them into something even remotely similar? I'm confused how one person can be both. I see one as believing in higher being(s) and the other not. |
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| Posted 2 months ago The most scariest video I have ever watched was a documentary called 'Jesus Camp'; I still get the shivers thinking about it. THOSE are the type of people I am afraid off, and the fact that they USE children to do their dirty work and brainwash the little tikes to hate anything different is sad, very very sad. "The brick walls are not there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something. Because the brick walls are there to stop the people who don’t want it badly enough."-Randy Pausch |
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| Posted 2 months ago DianaW says ...
Thanks Diana for posing this question - I think you are right spirituality and religion are two different things! Ann M. Evanston, MA CEO Zena Entreprises
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| Posted 2 months ago I can't help weighing in on this one. I was raised Catholic but quit practicing for many years. I consider myself Catholic at this point-- but I think you ladies are awesome. I'm way more comfortable with a tolerant atheist than I am with some of the so-called Christians who feel compelled to control &/or criticize how everyone else lives. (Than sounds snarky--Guess I have a little work to do on being the compassionate, tolerant person I want to be!) Religion and spirituality are not the same thing. Spirituality is what really matters-- and it can't be locked in a box and labeled. Namaste! Imagination. . .is the power that enables us to empathise with humans whose experiences we have never shared. (J.K. Rowling) |
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| Posted 2 months ago katiej says ...
I find my spiritual contentment through what LilaK described: Following the Golden Rule, which is the basis of many religions, in fact (i.e. Karma, etc.), the difference is I simply don't ascribe to an organized faith. I believe in questioning, positive-thinking, generosity, kindness, honesty, and empathy. In a way, that's my faith. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I agree with much that is being said. I am a practicing christianand I belong to fairly major denomination (Disciples of Christ). I am lucky to be raised in a tolerant and respectful church that teaches us to think and to question. I believe that there is much truth in the Bible, but also much that was put in by those who had their own agenda to advance. I believe in the basic teachings of Jesus which is to love each other and to not judge (yes, the Golden Rule). most of what he taught was about breaking down walls, not building them! I believe that most every "religion" has much to teach us all... I believe what I believe, but who am I to say that you are wrong? |