Most people seem to view atheists as pessimists full of hate-speech constantly trying to force their views on others, people often find it hard to accept that atheists just have another way of enjoying and looking at life. This is not an exaggeration either, as on several occasions people have expressed that view on atheists to me.
I read an article in the newspaper recently about some young atheist speaker and author who pretty much spends his time trying to get people to understand this. Unfortunately I can’t remember his name or find him on google, so if any one can help me out… I remember that he was Muslim until his mother died when he was a teenager.
Oh… I didn’t realise I was the only atheist here. This could be… interesting.
Well there was once a time when I would pretty openly express my feelings on religion, but unsurprisingly, atheism is tough to swallow if you’ve been raised with religion, so it never went down well. I guess I feel strongly about my atheist views, because for me atheism is the only logical answer to, well, everything. I quite simply could never be religious. I am sorry if I offended anyone with these comments either, I really don’t mean to, but it’s a tough topic to talk about without someone being offended even slightly.
What do you mean you don’t understand the atheist viewpoint? I’m not really sure how I could go into more depth about ALL of atheism, it’s a bit difficult. I did forget to mention though, the one thing I am completely open about when it comes to religion; I don’t think religion should ever restrict our lives in any way, like so many do. A short story by Peter Carey called Life and Death of the South Side of the Pavilion takes on that subject in a strange but brilliant way.
I’m don’t know enough about Taoism to really know how it works, but I studied the Bahá’í Faith a long time ago, and I thought it’s approach to spirituality and faith was wonderful.
Well there was never really a “genesis” of my rejection of religion, I just never had any acceptance. I was raised in a religiously neutral family, and I never had deep thought about where I might go religiously, as for me the only answer has been atheism. Perhaps just as you struggle to understand my lack of faith, I find it impossible to imagine being able to seriously think that there is some supreme being (for lack of a better way of putting it) or something after death etc etc. I have read books on atheism, and for me there seems to be an infinite amount of evidence and logic against religion and nothing except for personal beliefs and very old books to support it. Also, I am unlike your friend, I don’t want or need any proof, as (this comment will probably make many religious people twitch…) I feel that I know without a doubt that there is no god or literal spiritual presences in the world. Or anywhere.
The most obvious argument against religion, for me, is that the very fact of where you are born will change what god you believe in and what faith you follow. I don’t see how people can look at something as simple as this and be able to follow a religion.
I sometimes wish I had been raised in a religious family, because death would probably be a little less depressing if I had, but I like to think that I would have these beliefs no matter where I was raised.
If someone is just reading this one comment, please understand that I do not mean to be offensive and I was asked to go in detail into my beliefs.
And House of Leaves, sorry I am taking so long to respond, I have started writing usually a couple of minutes after I see your next comment, but I find it incredibly difficult to word my views on this topic. I find it a lot easier to talk about face to face with people about it.
I can’t really be bothered reading the billion comments that have come up on this thread in the past 12 hours, so I want to ask: am I the only atheist on this thing?
About the abortion topic, as I said before, religion should never restrict someone’s life in any way, especially in something as important and possibly life-changing as abortion.
You can’t really say there a films that are essential for understanding a culture, as films will only focus on one side of things. Cultures are made up of many, many different aspects, and that’s what makes them cultures, and film only has the ability to focus on a small part of this, and only the part that people want to see. Also, films usually exaggerate cultures and their stereotypes, because it’s what sells. An obvious example with this for me, being Australian, is that so many Australian films are Crocodile Dundee-like outback marsupial-loving crap, because it’s what other cultures, especially the US, want to see, even though most people know that Australia, for the most part, is a very urban, modern country.
I think the films that Joe mentioned do pretty much the same for their respective cultures as well.
Actually I think Dogville would be a great film for understanding American culture, Von Trier is proud of the fact that he made the film with knowledge on the US that he gets through the media.
Which is what atheists have been doing. An atheist film wouldn’t have to try and discredit all religion to be an atheist film though, it could be much simpler than that, which is why it surprises me that I can’t think of any. I don’t think any film mentioned in this thread so far could be considered to have outright atheistic views.
Yeah I haven’t even seen Turkish Delight, but it instantly came to mind when I saw the picture, psychic powers I guess.
And I just realised that this film doesn’t seem to be very well known; it’s under 1000 votes on imdb, but I’ll stick with it. It is an Italian film from the 60s.
An Open Spirituality / Religion / Theology Forum about 1 year ago
Most people seem to view atheists as pessimists full of hate-speech constantly trying to force their views on others, people often find it hard to accept that atheists just have another way of enjoying and looking at life. This is not an exaggeration either, as on several occasions people have expressed that view on atheists to me.
I read an article in the newspaper recently about some young atheist speaker and author who pretty much spends his time trying to get people to understand this. Unfortunately I can’t remember his name or find him on google, so if any one can help me out… I remember that he was Muslim until his mother died when he was a teenager.
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An Open Spirituality / Religion / Theology Forum about 1 year ago
Oh… I didn’t realise I was the only atheist here. This could be… interesting.
Well there was once a time when I would pretty openly express my feelings on religion, but unsurprisingly, atheism is tough to swallow if you’ve been raised with religion, so it never went down well. I guess I feel strongly about my atheist views, because for me atheism is the only logical answer to, well, everything. I quite simply could never be religious. I am sorry if I offended anyone with these comments either, I really don’t mean to, but it’s a tough topic to talk about without someone being offended even slightly.
Go to Comment
An Open Spirituality / Religion / Theology Forum about 1 year ago
What do you mean you don’t understand the atheist viewpoint? I’m not really sure how I could go into more depth about ALL of atheism, it’s a bit difficult. I did forget to mention though, the one thing I am completely open about when it comes to religion; I don’t think religion should ever restrict our lives in any way, like so many do. A short story by Peter Carey called Life and Death of the South Side of the Pavilion takes on that subject in a strange but brilliant way.
I’m don’t know enough about Taoism to really know how it works, but I studied the Bahá’í Faith a long time ago, and I thought it’s approach to spirituality and faith was wonderful.
Go to Comment
An Open Spirituality / Religion / Theology Forum about 1 year ago
Well there was never really a “genesis” of my rejection of religion, I just never had any acceptance. I was raised in a religiously neutral family, and I never had deep thought about where I might go religiously, as for me the only answer has been atheism. Perhaps just as you struggle to understand my lack of faith, I find it impossible to imagine being able to seriously think that there is some supreme being (for lack of a better way of putting it) or something after death etc etc. I have read books on atheism, and for me there seems to be an infinite amount of evidence and logic against religion and nothing except for personal beliefs and very old books to support it. Also, I am unlike your friend, I don’t want or need any proof, as (this comment will probably make many religious people twitch…) I feel that I know without a doubt that there is no god or literal spiritual presences in the world. Or anywhere.
The most obvious argument against religion, for me, is that the very fact of where you are born will change what god you believe in and what faith you follow. I don’t see how people can look at something as simple as this and be able to follow a religion.
I sometimes wish I had been raised in a religious family, because death would probably be a little less depressing if I had, but I like to think that I would have these beliefs no matter where I was raised.
If someone is just reading this one comment, please understand that I do not mean to be offensive and I was asked to go in detail into my beliefs.
And House of Leaves, sorry I am taking so long to respond, I have started writing usually a couple of minutes after I see your next comment, but I find it incredibly difficult to word my views on this topic. I find it a lot easier to talk about face to face with people about it.
Go to Comment
An Open Spirituality / Religion / Theology Forum about 1 year ago
I can’t really be bothered reading the billion comments that have come up on this thread in the past 12 hours, so I want to ask: am I the only atheist on this thing?
Go to Comment
An Open Spirituality / Religion / Theology Forum about 1 year ago
@DownByLaw
Good to know I’m not completely alone here.
About the abortion topic, as I said before, religion should never restrict someone’s life in any way, especially in something as important and possibly life-changing as abortion.
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An Open Spirituality / Religion / Theology Forum about 1 year ago
lol @ Meg. The first comment I mean…
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An Open Spirituality / Religion / Theology Forum about 1 year ago
Hahahahaha
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An Open Spirituality / Religion / Theology Forum about 1 year ago
Are we onto the topic of science vs religion now?
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An Open Spirituality / Religion / Theology Forum about 1 year ago
There’s a depressing thought
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An Open Spirituality / Religion / Theology Forum about 1 year ago
House of Leaves, in my head I have you pictured as a Texan born Kung Fu master. Meant as a compliment of course
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GUESS THE FILM about 1 year ago
Tough one. I don’t think I’ve seen it
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Last movie you saw and rate it about 1 year ago
@Joks
Glad to see someone apart from myself didn’t like that film.
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Last movie you saw and rate it about 1 year ago
dp
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GUESS THE FILM about 1 year ago
Ha, unlucky for House of Leaves. Your turn Weasel Man.
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The Joy of Film about 1 year ago
So so good.
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The Joy of Film about 1 year ago
Nice shots Josh
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The Most Divisive Films on All Time about 1 year ago
The Young One
The New World
Crash (either one)
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What films are essential viewing for anyone who wishes to understand their native culture? about 1 year ago
You can’t really say there a films that are essential for understanding a culture, as films will only focus on one side of things. Cultures are made up of many, many different aspects, and that’s what makes them cultures, and film only has the ability to focus on a small part of this, and only the part that people want to see. Also, films usually exaggerate cultures and their stereotypes, because it’s what sells. An obvious example with this for me, being Australian, is that so many Australian films are Crocodile Dundee-like outback marsupial-loving crap, because it’s what other cultures, especially the US, want to see, even though most people know that Australia, for the most part, is a very urban, modern country.
I think the films that Joe mentioned do pretty much the same for their respective cultures as well.
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What films are essential viewing for anyone who wishes to understand their native culture? about 1 year ago
Actually I think Dogville would be a great film for understanding American culture, Von Trier is proud of the fact that he made the film with knowledge on the US that he gets through the media.
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What films are essential viewing for anyone who wishes to understand their native culture? about 1 year ago
Exactly?
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Atheist movies? about 1 year ago
This thread didn’t really get an answer, does anyone know an atheist film? It surprises me that I can’t think of any.
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Atheist movies? about 1 year ago
Well so many filmmakers have spent so much time trying to prove the existence of god, which is just as difficult of a task. If not more.
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Atheist movies? about 1 year ago
Which is what atheists have been doing. An atheist film wouldn’t have to try and discredit all religion to be an atheist film though, it could be much simpler than that, which is why it surprises me that I can’t think of any. I don’t think any film mentioned in this thread so far could be considered to have outright atheistic views.
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Atheist movies? about 1 year ago
What film/s are you thinking of DBL?
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1983 Poll about 1 year ago
1. Videodrome
Sans Soleil
Scarface
The Dead Zone
The King of Comedy
The Meaning of Life
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GUESS THE FILM about 1 year ago
Turkish Delight
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GUESS THE FILM about 1 year ago
Here we go:
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GUESS THE FILM about 1 year ago
Yeah I haven’t even seen Turkish Delight, but it instantly came to mind when I saw the picture, psychic powers I guess.
And I just realised that this film doesn’t seem to be very well known; it’s under 1000 votes on imdb, but I’ll stick with it. It is an Italian film from the 60s.
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GUESS THE FILM about 1 year ago
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