Losing belief

I stopped going to church right as I hit high school. During that time period, I was more apathetic about religion than anything. Around senior year, I started to question about my belief in god and came to the realization that there possibly might not be a god. I became an agnostic. By the time college rolled around, I became an atheist and went into more in-depth research and these are the conclusions I came to:

• Christianity bases its belief system on preceding ones (Greek gods, Zoroaster, paganism, etc...)
  
• The Bible is an archaic, irrelevant book based on metaphors and tall tales.
  
• The concept of "god" is merely used as a crutch and as an imaginary friend to provide comfort and strength in times of need.
  
• Religion is a form of social control.
  
• Religious beliefs generally force you to deny human instinct and things that come naturally to us (i.e. sex before marriage, masturbation, foul language, critical thinking, and irony. Fundamentalism breeds no irony.)

I can think of some other things later.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by Capo

Also: Speaking ill of all things religion helps no one and only serves to make you look like a misinformed college freshman newly enlightened by his new-found freedom and copious quantities of dank-as-fuck 'dro.

If I stated that ALL aspects of religion are irrelevant, then I apologize.

That being said, I think aspects of Christianity and Buddhism can be beneficial in ones life, however other aspects can be repulsive.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Originally Posted by Capo

It was largely the line, "The Bible is an archaic, irrelevant book based on metaphors and tall tales," that irked me. It seemed as if you were parroting atheistic talking points, ignorant of what it was you were saying.

I don't understand how a person could believe some of the stories in the bible verbatim. Adam and Eve, Noah's Ark, Burning Bush, etc...

I can't fathom ever believing in such stories. Perhaps metaphorically, but not literally...

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The point I'm trying to make is being vehemently, outright anti-religion is just as logical as the inverse.

I'm against a plethora of things that religion has to offer, but not everything. I also find it ironic that the very Christians who always praise Jesus completely ignore his teachings.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Originally Posted by Denicalis

I don't know how someone working so very hard to come off as educated can gloss over the fact the huge majority of believers (including the pope and the catholic church) don't believe the bible verbatim.

Yes, I admit it. I'm a grade-A moron that obviously lacks the ability to discuss and debate religion with Denicalis. Happy? Is that what you want to hear from me? From the depths of my ignorance, I apologize and offer you a coupon of ten dollars to pay for the emotional trauma you have suffered because of my glaring idiocy.

Perhaps if I would have added "fundamentalism", this could have been prevented.

"I don't understand how a fundamentalist could believe some of the stories in the bible verbatim"

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Puffing on your pipe while looking down your nose (presumably past your ascot) and declaring you can't possibly understand how those masses could simply be so ignorant isn't raising a valid point, it's just being a condescending lackwit.

Condescending? How in any way was my comment condescending? Hell, I even said that certain concepts of religion I agree with. And if I didn't say that, I'm saying it now...

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You're prescribing maybe 5% of believers ideals on the whole of them.

I'm sorry I don't have time to research and discuss the other 95%.

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It's asinine and utterly counter-productive.

Instead of complaining about my supposed "ignorance", why don't you enlighten me or disprove what I have to say. Talking about how counter-productive my post is just as counter-productive...

How ya doing, buddy?

Originally Posted by a lurker

being condescending is probably the nicest possible thing to describe what you are doing

Can't a man NOT agree with something? I mean really...

I've never had so many people in one forum give me shit than in this one. Ridiculously oversensitive...

I was speaking idiomatically.

Originally Posted by a lurker

Yeah, that happens when you stop posting on Fark and Gaia.

Never set a foot in those forums, cupcake.

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What do you want me to do about it, you fucking racist bastard?

Christ, are you off your meds? When was race EVER involved in this discussion before you brought it up?

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Fair enough. I don't need the mind fuck from some weirdos who misconstrue everything I say as hate or ignorance. And if it is sarcasm, it's not the least funny.

Goodbye.

FELIPE NO