Do You Agree With Brad ??

[ELENATION 0]

I think you are missing my point.

You are saying that if a life changing event happened you might choose to stop believing. I am saying something different. If I suggest to you that today, right this minute... stop believing in God. You could do that, right? You said it's a choice.

Could you do it? Or does your heart tell you differently?

Can you turn your belief on and off like a light switch? This moment you believe, the very next moment you don't... just because you don't want to believe anymore. Wouldn't it be a true statement to say that it would take a specific event to change your mind about your God and if he exists vs. just deciding you don't want to believe anymore?

Do you believe that squares and circles are the same exact thing? No, you know logically that is impossible. So what would it take for you to decide you believe squares and circles are the same exact thing? Can you turn that kind of a belief on and off? Or do you need evidence before you can change your mind? Don't you need an event to prove you were wrong the first time?

If I tell you my Water heater is the true God, would you believe it? Why not? Can't you just turn your beliefs on and off at a whim?

That's kinda my point.

COme on now Wassa, the water heater example was lame....LOL!

You have a point because I couldn't choose to stop believing right at this moment, because my heart tells me not to, however, based on a life changing event, I could choose to stop, yes my choice would be affected by that event, but it's still a choice...and what I'm thinking is that I have two friends that are doctors, they know a lot more scientific facts that I do, I'm not terribly studious...I do read a lot, but not scientific important stuff all the time, I do have my moments though...haha... and when I've heard them express their faith even with all the facts that they have and that I've listened to from them, they both said that they still choose to believe.... and I do feel that same way.... but I admit that it's easy to be confuzzled.....

...and no corrections to my grammar now girl.... the word "workshiper" is still pounding in my head.....hehehe..

[lawanda jessica 0]

When I am a child my parents tell me things and I believe them because they are my parents. When I am old enough to think rationally for myself I accept reality. They told me Santa existed and I believed that, but when I was old enough to use critical thinking skills I realized they were wrong and didn't take what they say as fact.

I didn't "choose" to be an atheist, it doesn't work that way. I fought it for many years. For a good 15-20 years I tried my best to believe. I studied many religions trying to find one I *could* believe in. I was everything from Roman Catholic to Unitarian, to Jewish (took the cool classes and everything), to New Age Twinkie, and finally one day I realized I was an atheist. I didn't choose to be atheist, I simply realized it one day and acknowledged it.

Tjis is the same thing we try to tell them not to do.

Believe me, if I was going to choose a belief or lack of belief, it wouldn't be atheism. It's not exactly the easier path in life.

So why do we lie to our kids?

This is the very thing we tell them not to do.

[ELENATION 0]

We were talking about disliking people that harass us by constantly coming to our doors. In my area, that's Mormons and Southern Baptists. I was explaining that while I dislike the practice, I can like the people. As long as they leave me alone.

Gotcha.........!

[WASaBubbleButt 41]

COme on now Wassa, the Water heater example was lame....LOL!

You have a point because I couldn't choose to stop believing right at this moment, because my heart tells me not to, however, based on a life changing event, I could choose to stop, yes my choice would be affected by that event, but it's still a choice...and what I'm thinking is that I have two friends that are doctors, they know a lot more scientific facts that I do, I'm not terribly studious...I do read a lot, but not scientific important stuff all the time, I do have my moments though...haha... and when I've heard them express their faith even with all the facts that they have and that I've listened to from them, they both said that they still choose to believe.... and I do feel that same way.... but I admit that it's easy to be confuzzled.....

...and no corrections to my grammar now girl.... the word "workshiper" is still pounding in my head.....hehehe..

Actually, I was looking for a lame example intentionally. It was just going to show my point.

Without the life changing event you could not just "choose" to stop believing. Well, the same holds true for me. Without some evidence or life changing event, I can't just "choose" to believe.

People make these comments ALL the darn time, that I should just choose to believe. It simply isn't possible. I could SAY I believe, I could make that claim, but it wouldn't be true.

[lawanda jessica 0]

I've never been harrased by religious groups.

When approached I am open to hear what they have to say.

If you don't listen you'll never learn.

There is nothing wrong with hearing people out.

[WASaBubbleButt 41]

So why do we lie to our kids?

This is the very thing we tell them not to do.

Whoa there, darl'en. You added something to my quote that I did not write. You quoted me as writing:

When I am a child my parents tell me things and I believe them because they are my parents. When I am old enough to think rationally for myself I accept reality. They told me Santa existed and I believed that, but when I was old enough to use critical thinking skills I realized they were wrong and didn't take what they say as fact.

I didn't "choose" to be an atheist, it doesn't work that way. I fought it for many years. For a good 15-20 years I tried my best to believe. I studied many religions trying to find one I *could* believe in. I was everything from Roman Catholic to Unitarian, to Jewish (took the cool classes and everything), to New Age Twinkie, and finally one day I realized I was an atheist. I didn't choose to be atheist, I simply realized it one day and acknowledged it.

Tjis is the same thing we try to tell them not to do.

Believe me, if I was going to choose a belief or lack of belief, it wouldn't be atheism. It's not exactly the easier path in life.

What *I* wrote was:

When I am a child my parents tell me things and I believe them because they are my parents. When I am old enough to think rationally for myself I accept reality. They told me Santa existed and I believed that, but when I was old enough to use critical thinking skills I realized they were wrong and didn't take what they say as fact.

I didn't "choose" to be an atheist, it doesn't work that way. I fought it for many years. For a good 15-20 years I tried my best to believe. I studied many religions trying to find one I *could* believe in. I was everything from Roman Catholic to Unitarian, to Jewish (took the cool classes and everything), to New Age Twinkie, and finally one day I realized I was an atheist. I didn't choose to be atheist, I simply realized it one day and acknowledged it.

Believe me, if I was going to choose a belief or lack of belief, it wouldn't be atheism. It's not exactly the easier path in life.

I did not write the sentence in the text you quoted.

[WASaBubbleButt 41]

I've never been harrased by religious groups.

When approached I am open to hear what they have to say.

If you don't listen you'll never learn.

There is nothing wrong with hearing people out.

I don't have time for this on a weekly basis. Nor do I want to make the time. I have heard them out time and time again. No desire to keep hearing the same thing.

If I want to hear them out isn't it fair that I will go to them? Do they need to keep knocking on my door?

I was Christian for many years, I know the bible better than most Christians. The way it usually ends up being is my correcting them on their bible. I'm an atheist, I don't want to give bible lessons anymore. I shouldn't have to do that when someone is attempting to convert me to their religion. I should not know their religion better than they do. It makes them look silly and I have no desire to do that either.

[lawanda jessica 0]

Whoa there, darl'en. You added something to my quote that I did not write. You quoted me as writing:

What *I* wrote was:

I did not write the sentence in the text you quoted.

I was not quoting you.

I was making a statement.

There is a difference.

If it is not the truth than what is it?

Something brought you to where you are now.

We all know there is no easter bunny or santa claus yet we keep that lie going to save their innocence.

It's still a lie!

I donot think religion should be forced on anyone even kids.

[lawanda jessica 0]

I was catholic do to my grandmother when I was younger.

I would have never ever made that descision by myself.

Bless her heart.

[anonemouse 1]

I was not quoting you.

I was making a statement.

There is a difference.

If it is not the truth than what is it?

Something brought you to where you are now.

We all know there is no easter bunny or santa claus yet we keep that lie going to save their innocence.

It's still a lie!

I donot think religion should be forced on anyone even kids.

Sweetie, you put it inside her quote, which made it appear that she said it.

[WASaBubbleButt 41]

I was not quoting you.

I was making a statement.

There is a difference.

If it is not the truth than what is it?

Something brought you to where you are now.

We all know there is no easter bunny or santa claus yet we keep that lie going to save their innocence.

It's still a lie!

I donot think religion should be forced on anyone even kids.

You added your comment in my quote, it would have appeared to others that I wrote that sentence and I did not.

[lawanda jessica 0]

Sweetie, you put it inside her quote, which made it appear that she said it.

As a grown woman I think she can speak for herself.

But thanks anyway.

[lawanda jessica 0]

You added your comment in my quote, it would have appeared to others that I wrote that sentence and I did not.

If they can read they will know you did not write it.

I was merely adding to what you wrote.

Clearly I don't spend hours on the internet so again excuse my internet ethics.

In a nutshell if our parents are just going along with the program that is feeding that lie.

The safe method.

[lawanda jessica 0]

Sweetie, you put it inside her quote, which made it appear that she said it.

You are very patronizing.

I'm not a sweetie but a awakened woman.

Please refer to me as such.

[anonemouse 1]

As a grown woman I think she can speak for herself.

But thanks anyway.

If you want private conversation, take it to PM. Anything said in a public thread is fair game for anyone who wants to reply.