I don't want to be an atheist

[Leonard James]

We can only continue to fight all non-evidenced beliefs.

Yet you're happy to fight for belief(s), the evidence for which keep changing?

Not sure what belief you're referring to here, but if it's science then it is the only way towards finding the truth, no matter how many times we have to change it.

[ippy]

Heathens do, and heathenry's a growing path within paganism. I suspect Rose is open to the idea that heathens have experiences as 'real' to them as the one she had.

Iceland recognises its own form of Heathenry as its second religion. It's entirely possible it will overtake Christianity in popularity there.

Rhi, Heathenry?

Now that is 40 feet over my head? Lollipopism is the way!

ippy

[Walt Zingmatilder]

Heathens do, and heathenry's a growing path within paganism. I suspect Rose is open to the idea that heathens have experiences as 'real' to them as the one she had.

Iceland recognises its own form of Heathenry as its second religion. It's entirely possible it will overtake Christianity in popularity there.

Rhi, Heathenry? Now that is 40 feet over my head? Lollipopism is the way!

ippy

What is heathenry?

[Rhiannon]

Heathens do, and heathenry's a growing path within paganism. I suspect Rose is open to the idea that heathens have experiences as 'real' to them as the one she had.

Iceland recognises its own form of Heathenry as its second religion. It's entirely possible it will overtake Christianity in popularity there.

Rhi, Heathenry? Now that is 40 feet over my head? Lollipopism is the way!

ippy

What is heathenry?

Are you asking me or Ippy?

[Walt Zingmatilder]

Heathens do, and heathenry's a growing path within paganism. I suspect Rose is open to the idea that heathens have experiences as 'real' to them as the one she had.

Iceland recognises its own form of Heathenry as its second religion. It's entirely possible it will overtake Christianity in popularity there.

Rhi, Heathenry? Now that is 40 feet over my head? Lollipopism is the way!

ippy

What is heathenry?

Are you asking me or Ippy?

What do you understand by it Rhi.

[Rhiannon]

Heathens do, and heathenry's a growing path within paganism. I suspect Rose is open to the idea that heathens have experiences as 'real' to them as the one she had.

Iceland recognises its own form of Heathenry as its second religion. It's entirely possible it will overtake Christianity in popularity there.

Rhi, Heathenry? Now that is 40 feet over my head? Lollipopism is the way!

ippy

What is heathenry?

Are you asking me or Ippy?

What do you understand by it Rhi.

It's the name given to the pagan beliefs associated with Norse and Germanic peoples. Also known as Asatru.

[Walt Zingmatilder]

Heathens do, and heathenry's a growing path within paganism. I suspect Rose is open to the idea that heathens have experiences as 'real' to them as the one she had.

Iceland recognises its own form of Heathenry as its second religion. It's entirely possible it will overtake Christianity in popularity there.

Rhi, Heathenry? Now that is 40 feet over my head? Lollipopism is the way!

ippy

What is heathenry?

Are you asking me or Ippy?

What do you understand by it Rhi.

It's the name given to the pagan beliefs associated with Norse and Germanic peoples. Also known as Asatru.

Thank you.

[ippy]

Heathens do, and heathenry's a growing path within paganism. I suspect Rose is open to the idea that heathens have experiences as 'real' to them as the one she had.

Iceland recognises its own form of Heathenry as its second religion. It's entirely possible it will overtake Christianity in popularity there.

Rhi, Heathenry? Now that is 40 feet over my head? Lollipopism is the way!

ippy

What is heathenry?

Are you asking me or Ippy?

What do you understand by it Rhi.

It's the name given to the pagan beliefs associated with Norse and Germanic peoples. Also known as Asatru.

Asatru? Is that origin of the phrase "bless you"?

Sorry.

Seriously these ludicrous beliefs leave me shaking my head, it looks like group madness to me, absolutely gar gar, funny farm fodder time?

ippy

[Leonard James]

Seriously these ludicrous beliefs leave me shaking my head, it looks like group madness to me, absolutely gar gar, funny farm fodder time?

ippy

And yet no doubt intelligent people believed them in the absence of scientific knowledge.

Christianity/Islam and other current beliefs will no doubt look just as daft in a couple of thousand years time.

[Samuel]

Seriously these ludicrous beliefs leave me shaking my head, it looks like group madness to me, absolutely gar gar, funny farm fodder time?

ippy

And yet no doubt intelligent people believed them in the absence of scientific knowledge.

Christianity/Islam and other current beliefs will no doubt look just as daft in a couple of thousand years time.

Your self-satisfaction is nauseating. This is the kind of shit that leaves me shaking my head. All it indicates to me is that you refuse to see value in things that help other people find meaning in their lives. The truth of their beliefs matters not one jot as long as they do not ask to impose them on you or society.

You could simply state you don't understand why people feel the need to participate in those beliefs, but why miss an opportunity to scoff from the side of the playground eh? pathetic.

[Rhiannon]

Seriously these ludicrous beliefs leave me shaking my head, it looks like group madness to me, absolutely gar gar, funny farm fodder time?

ippy

And yet no doubt intelligent people believed them in the absence of scientific knowledge.

Christianity/Islam and other current beliefs will no doubt look just as daft in a couple of thousand years time.

No, you're right, clearly people like Jez, ht, Matt and myself are thick as shit. Keep going, maybe you'll get us to see your one true way.

[Rhiannon]

Seriously these ludicrous beliefs leave me shaking my head, it looks like group madness to me, absolutely gar gar, funny farm fodder time?

ippy

And yet no doubt intelligent people believed them in the absence of scientific knowledge.

Christianity/Islam and other current beliefs will no doubt look just as daft in a couple of thousand years time.

Your self-satisfaction is nauseating. This is the kind of shit that leaves me shaking my head. All it indicates to me is that you refuse to see value in things that help other people find meaning in their lives. The truth of their beliefs matters not one jot as long as they do not ask to impose them on you or society.

You could simply state you don't understand why people feel the need to participate in those beliefs, but why miss an opportunity to scoff from the side of the playground eh? pathetic.

It's not even that we need it to find meaning, Sam, it just is. Paganism isn't something I do, it's what I am. That may change of course but right now it's like saying I'm a woman in order to find meaning.

[Walt Zingmatilder]

Seriously these ludicrous beliefs leave me shaking my head, it looks like group madness to me, absolutely gar gar, funny farm fodder time?

ippy

And yet no doubt intelligent people believed them in the absence of scientific knowledge.

Christianity/Islam and other current beliefs will no doubt look just as daft in a couple of thousand years time.

Leonard you know less about science than religion.
Science arbitrarily excludes God and therefore cannot make any judgment on God.

[Shaker]

Science arbitrarily excludes God and therefore cannot make any judgment on God.

No it doesn't. Arbitrarily, I mean; science certainly excludes gods but rather than being for arbitrary reasons, for extremely good reasons.

[jakswan]

Your self-satisfaction is nauseating. This is the kind of shit that leaves me shaking my head. All it indicates to me is that you refuse to see value in things that help other people find meaning in their lives. The truth of their beliefs matters not one jot as long as they do not ask to impose them on you or society.

You could simply state you don't understand why people feel the need to participate in those beliefs, but why miss an opportunity to scoff from the side of the playground eh? pathetic.

Meanwhile why miss out on an opportunity to shake your head and scoff at the scoffers.

[Nearly Sane]

Perhaps you might note that Samuel is being specific about his disapprobation rather than making genetic dismissals of groups of people, jakswan? If you want to compare behaviour ironically, would be good if the behaviour was comparable.

[Aruntraveller]

genetic dismissals of groups of people,

This particular typo has really made me giggle. Thank you. Even tho unintended (at least I think it was) its much better than the bile and grouchiness on display from some.

[Nearly Sane]

genetic dismissals of groups of people,

This particular typo has really made me giggle. Thank you. Even tho unintended (at least I think it was) its much better than the bile and grouchiness on display from some.

And as with the best typos, mebbes a hint of truth.

[Walt Zingmatilder]

Science arbitrarily excludes God and therefore cannot make any judgment on God.

No it doesn't. Arbitrarily, I mean; science certainly excludes gods but rather than being for arbitrary reasons, for extremely good reasons.

Of course, science is a card carrying antitheist and will sometimes appear at antitheist comedy gigs.

[jakswan]

Perhaps you might note that Samuel is being specific about his disapprobation rather than making genetic dismissals of groups of people, jakswan? If you want to compare behaviour ironically, would be good if the behaviour was comparable.

I think neither contributed much to the debate given the tone of the posts, there again neither have I, coat please!

[SweetPea]

I agree with Maeght, I don't think there's much choice in it. That said, I find atheists more tolerant than Christians, at least on the net.

I don't like it when atheists want me to 'see sense ' or 'come round'; very occasionally I've been offered atheist book lists. It's still less offensive than being told I'm led astray by Satan though.

I get Jeremy - I found no longer being a Christian both liberating and less stressful.

Well I don't think you are led astray by Satan.

I think you are a bit overly sensitive sometimes and have a bad habit of taking things personally.

Sweetpea I think was talking generally, not personally.

Everyone has been led astray by Satan, according to someone somewhere, look at how Catholics and the Pope are regarded by some other areas of Christianity.

The Jews have had even more problems with Christians in the past, probably at least as much as Pagans.

There are so many groups who's beliefs in religion has a negative view of those outside it, that it doesn't pay to take it all personally and get upset.

Life is too short.

Thank you, Rose.... you're absolutely right.

Anyway, I'm done with this place.

[Maeght]

Science arbitrarily excludes God and therefore cannot make any judgment on God.

No it doesn't. Arbitrarily, I mean; science certainly excludes gods but rather than being for arbitrary reasons, for extremely good reasons.

Of course, science is a card carrying antitheist and will sometimes appear at antitheist comedy gigs.

Antitheist or atheist or materialistic or ....

[ippy]

Seriously these ludicrous beliefs leave me shaking my head, it looks like group madness to me, absolutely gar gar, funny farm fodder time?

ippy

And yet no doubt intelligent people believed them in the absence of scientific knowledge.

Christianity/Islam and other current beliefs will no doubt look just as daft in a couple of thousand years time.

No, you're right, clearly people like Jez, ht, Matt and myself are thick as shit. Keep going, maybe you'll get us to see your one true way.

I have heard can't remember where I read it but it seems that there are still a few followers of Zeus; I don't know and can't predict your impressions of believers/followers of Zeus, I'm sure there are some followers of this deity, would I be expected to take them seriously and be silent about how I feel about their belief, on a debating forum,    a yes or no will do?, but please feel free, either way I promise I wont let it upset me.

As for the true way; look for the evidence or the lack of.

ippy

[ippy]

Seriously these ludicrous beliefs leave me shaking my head, it looks like group madness to me, absolutely gar gar, funny farm fodder time?

ippy

And yet no doubt intelligent people believed them in the absence of scientific knowledge.

Christianity/Islam and other current beliefs will no doubt look just as daft in a couple of thousand years time.

Your self-satisfaction is nauseating. This is the kind of shit that leaves me shaking my head. All it indicates to me is that you refuse to see value in things that help other people find meaning in their lives. The truth of their beliefs matters not one jot as long as they do not ask to impose them on you or society.

You could simply state you don't understand why people feel the need to participate in those beliefs, but why miss an opportunity to scoff from the side of the playground eh? pathetic.

You obviously haven't realised how these beliefs look to a lot of people, the lot you probably refer to as atheists, it isn't unusual to hear this type of comment when talking amongst other atheists, as you call us, the only difference here is it's been said to your face.

ippy

[Rhiannon]

You know Samuel's an atheist, Ippy?