BellaOnline Forums Religion and Spirituality Atheist Hello fellow athiests

I thought this board looked all lonley on its own so I thought I would post and get the ball rolling.

I do not beleive in any organised religion as I believe it is all brainwashing.

I do believe in a higher power though so does irt make me an athiest or just spiritual?

I just have no time for any organised religion and I know alot of people feel the same.It(religion) is going to destroy the world one of these days..

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You believe in a Higher power? What Kind of Power? Dose this Higher Power Have Thoughts of Its own? or are you refering to something else? Why do you believe in this Higher Power?

Technically an atheist doesn not believe in any sort of god or "higher power". So, no you wouldn't be one.

I'm not even sure you would fall into the agnostic category - which is kind of saying you're not sure what you believe in, but I think you are closer to that. Because you do acknowlege there is something out there, but just not sure what.

Yes Michelle I think you are right.I do not fall into the atheist category...lol...

I dont think I will be posting here anymore

Cheers! <img src="/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

I haven't been looked in here for ages because it's just been so quiet for so long as you say freespirit.



Michelle, that's not quite true. Atheism means "without religion" not "without god". So you can subscribe to atheism as a way of showing your disagreement with "organised religions", but still believe in some sort of higher power. (As far as I am aware, Buddhists don't believe in a god, but that doesn't make them Atheists, because Buddhism is a religion). Atheism is such a broad concept, it can even cover those who have created a "religion" out of being without a religion.

I think on the whole - and the reason why this board is so quiet - atheists are people who simply don't have religion in their lives (and admit it). It's very difficult to create a forum around something that people don't do (although the Childfree forum is going well). What on earth do you talk about - what you don't believe? I think that is why it can then degenerate into a religion-bashing exercise, which is not encouraged here on BellaOnline. And rightly, I believe. I don't see the point in hating others simply because they believe something I don't.

Freespirit, you can be spiritual and be an atheist. I don't know why you would want to, though. Explore your spirituality rather than your non-religiousness. :-) Personally, I don't often call myself an atheist - I feel so far removed from organised religion that I don't have a need to label myself atheistically. I'm just me.

Well, since I'm here now, I may as well include what I do believe. My spiritual connection involves understanding the universe as a functioning, self-aware entity. It is a force - magnetic and otherwise. It doesn't necessarily care that I exist, but I can still be a part of it and use its resources, physical and spiritual, to try and live my life without harming others, and preferably to help others.

Hiya elle

Now I am confused!!lol....I dont know what Iam anymore <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Okay my beliefs are similar to yours I guess.Am I an atheist or what? I dont know...

I belive that when we die that our souls live on...I just thought athiests did not believe that.

I do not believe in any organised religion as such as I believe they have all got it wrong.

I believe the truth is so extroadinary that us as human beings could not comprehend or process such information.We are not meant to know...What do you think?

after reareading this I think I have to say Iam still not an athiest....

I do believe in intelligent design....

I agree. I'm at a stage (I may develop further spiritually, who knows) where I don't really "care". In a happy way, I mean. I'm just happy to be here and I'm trying to enjoy my life. What it all means is not important to me just yet.

My advice is don't look so hard for a label to fit yourself into. You don't have to be anything, or belong to a particular group. It doesn't matter what you call yourself really, but try to let go of the need to define yourself by other people's labels. Just keep yourself open to the experiences, people, and love that comes your way. Trying to find somewhere to fit could end up closing some doors to you, so just keep enjoying the experiences that resonate with you, no matter which direction they come from. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Sounds like sensible advice to me.

Thanks Elle

Oh, that's VERY Buddhist....!! <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Just kidding....!!
Nice post! <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

LOL. I had a Buddhist friend once tell me I'd make a very good Buddhist. I didn't pay much attention though, as he considered himself a very bad, failed, Buddhist (addicted to red meat, alcohol, tabacco, and canabis <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> )

Freespirit, you're welcome. I feel much better since I let go of the need for definitions and I thought I'd pass it on.

He might have thought he was a 'bad' Buddhist,,but in fact, it's a person's personal choice - if they profess to be a practising buddhist - whether they give these things up or not...

A buddhist doesn't have to give up alcohol, drugs or meat to be a buddhist - unless they become ordained as a monk or Nun.... and whilst the first five precepts advise those practising, to refrain from these things, the ultimate choice - and consequences thereof - remain with the person....

Sorry....
Didn't mean to get too deep... <img src="/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

Hi

Many athiest boards do tend to attract what I call evangelical athiests. They troll boards looking for a fight to use logic against faith. The forums here are too well moderated to allow that junk to go on.
I dont beleive in the continuance of consciousness after death. If a soul or life force flows from me at death i won't know. That makes the concept of a god a moot point for me.
When i made my other post here I was hoping to draw others to define atheism as they see it and how they develope their moral codes. Elle's post is a great example for what I was hoping for.
The word to me is a thiest, with out a personal god. Some athiest boards define themselves in varying forms from no belief to the hypercritical of any belief.
I also posted to let others kow where i am coming from when i post in the other forums here.
I enjoy being around persons of faith and have enjoyed placing myself in their world view to experience (however shallowly i can) thier expressions of faith through rituals. Jesuit and buddist teachers can make this very uncomfortable.
The religious board here i most enjoy is the buddhist board as it seems the most tolerant to others world views.

Buddhists look at it this way.... there is an energy... a force that moves within the body, keeping it growing, flourishing, renewing itself and healing... and ultimately, when you die, this Energy does not die with you.
This has been recognised as a scientific fact in that it is agreed that Energy cannot be either created nor destroyed...it can be channelled and manipulated, controlled and focussed, but that's it....
So when you die, this energy does not die with you, it moves on....

I can elaborate on this elsewhere, and in more detail. In fact, I may start a re-birth thread, in the Buddhist forum....



Could you elaborate and tell me how and why you have found this? (especially with regard to the latter....)



I personally take this as a compliment, and thank you kindly.
if you would like a link to a specific Buddhist forum, to which I belong and Moderate on, I will PM you, if you like.
But only by request.... <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I wish i was more eloquent.

Jesuits because they are so skilled in philosophical discourse i feel like a a freshman physics student talking with Steven Hawkins.

Being fixed in linear western thought i am challenged to follow what is being said to me by the buddhist teachers, which was probably their intention. I also find it difficult to let thoughts go unattended (see the butterfly but do not look at it lol) and relax while maintaining a specific sitting posture and proper breathing.

Whomsoever has taught you that there can only be one specific posture, and one specific method of breathing (and I'm not suggesting anyone specifically has) does you a disservice...
There are countless hundreds of people for whom, due to physical, medical reasons, 'traditional meditative postures are out of the question.... their meditation is no less valid...

First of all, focus on your meditation, but in as comfortable but alert a way as possible.

Do not try to cease thinking.
This is impossible.
Your brain is designed to think, and always will.
To attempt to stop it altogether is unwise, and impossible.

The important is to sit on a chair, a stool, the floor, or simply kneel... But be comfortable.
Allow yourself a moment or two to 'fidget' whilst you 'aclimatise' the body to your intended practise.

Start with five minutes. Or less if you prefer. Quality, not quantity.

Breathe in through the nose, and out through the nose.
That is all.
Dont force, alter or regularise the breath.
Don't count the breath.
Don't visualise it as anything other than it is.
Do not fixedly watch it's path or trajectory...
Simply generally observe the movement of the body and the sensation of the breath in your nose, and on your upper lip, as you breathe in, and out.
Without commentary...
That is to say, don't think "I'm breathing in....
I'm breathing out....."

Just breathe.

the whole point of Buddhist Masters is definitely to challenge where you are now. Any discomfiture might be viewed as a mental resistance to the challenge of their teaching.
If so, rather than focus on the teaching and its challenge, ask yourself why the resistance has arisen.....?


Is this what you were looking for in a response?

Or shall I just butt out.....?

Thanks for the reply.
I also think they were gently reproofing me as i was earnestly trying to learn buddhism with a capital L. As in teach me so i can take notes and regurgitate it later.

Oh, I think he's actually quite proud of being "bad". LOL.



Hi Aing <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I know exactly what you mean. This is why I tend to avoid hanging out on boards where I don't belong. I love a good religious debate, but I consider myself a baby spiritually. (This stems from having delved deeply into two different and opposing religions, and then finding my truth in a more atheist understanding of the universe.) I've started from scratch three times, so I have a lot to catch up on if I'm going to hold my own in debates with people who know their stuff. That I don't mind so much if we can have an interesting and respectful discussion.

What bugs me is when people just flat won't even give me a chance to speak, let alone actually listen to anything I have to say to see if I perhaps have a point worth debating.



That is the way I understand it too, that we are energy beings, ongoing whether we exist in a human body or as part of the force of the universe, or whatever - as our free energy selves we may well be completely unaware of our existence, or we may be fully aware of the entire process. For example, I have this feeling, an inkling rather than a belief, that my husband and I have known each other in a previous incarnation. We recognised each other, in fact I recognised his entire family even though I'd never met them before.



Alexandra, I'm thoroughly enjoying your input here as always.

Thank you so much.... <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

There is so much to be said on the topic of re-birth from a Buddhist perspective (as opposed to reincarnation, which is a quite different matter altogether) and it is both a complex and convoluted subject....
I'll be happy to start a thread, and post some links as reference...
Currently, I am pushed for time, so I shall probably do this tomorrow...

I don't like the word "rebirth" as it has too Christian a connotation to my ears, but it sounds like (re)incarnation is not the word I'm looking for either. (I think I need to start using my dictionary more <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> ) Let me use a nice safe word from computing terminology: "format"!

"My husband and I have known each other in a previous format, whatever that may have been."

The term 'Re-birth' was a Buddhist one long before it was ever Christian....'Punarbhava' was long held to be the norm, as Buddhism (and Hinduism) do not regard Life as a linear continuum, (Born, lives, dies goes to Heaven) as does Judaism, Islam and Christianity....

Christianity (I cannot speak for the other two) did at one point not argue that re-birth was possible, but around the 11th century, this idea became untenable to those who held Ecclesiastical Power, because it lessened the Authority of God (as interpreted by them) and in consequence, their own.
So a demonic alternative was threatened, as a hurdle to finding an Eternal existence with God, and the notion of returning to 'pick up the pieces' abandoned.
Remember that the vast majority of the populace in those times had little or no knowledge of reading and writing, and those privileged enough to enjoy an education were mostly Men....The Gentry, or the Priesthood, and those dedicated to a Monastic existence....

to the post:

Atheism means "without religion" not "without god". So you can subscribe to atheism as a way of showing your disagreement with "organised religions", but still believe in some sort of higher power. (As far as I am aware, Buddhists don't believe in a god, but that doesn't make them Atheists, because Buddhism is a religion). Atheism is such a broad concept, it can even cover those who have created a "religion" out of being without a religion.

I think on the whole - and the reason why this board is so quiet - atheists are people who simply don't have religion in their lives (and admit it). It's very difficult to create a forum around something that people don't do (although the Childfree forum is going well). What on earth do you talk about - what you don't believe? I think that is why it can then degenerate into a religion-bashing exercise, which is not encouraged here on BellaOnline. And rightly, I believe. I don't see the point in hating others simply because they believe something I don't.

I didnot know that!!! i have been doing research and i did not even thing about adding Athism to my list to study because the arent a religain that believe in God so whats to ask? or so i thought ok now i have questions..

1) why do you not believe in religion but believe it a higher Power (is that the right term?
2)why do some try to Evangilize other people (try to convert them)?

Hi freebubbles

A religion is an organised community of people who believe in one or more gods or a supernatural power. It can also simply mean a belief system that is held with such high importance and faith.

So, with the second definition, an atheist who fervently believes that there is no god could be considered to hold that belief religiously.

On the other hand, you can get atheists/agnostics who think there might be a higher power but don't care... or do care but don't want to make a religion out of worshipping a higher power.

Religion is a certain state of being - either worshipping a deity, or having great faith that what you believe is right barring all else. Some people just don't want to be that intense about this higher power stuff.

As for your second question - when people believe that they are right and someone else is wrong, some people feel a need to correct the other person, sometimes for the perceived good of their soul, other times just because they want to be right.

thank you for replying so nicely!! i think there are a few of the I JUST WANT TO BE RIGHT in every walk of life. and i can see how people would get defensive, no one like some one in there face.

and i like this :
Religion is a certain state of being - either worshipping a deity, or having great faith that what you believe is right barring all else. Some people just don't want to be that intense about this higher power stuff.

I have great faith that GOD (being a generic term because every religion calls God God in some langage) loves me but as for converting and dominating the world with my religion... I think i will let God lead them to me and when they ask i will answer!

and have a great day!!!

I think athiesm means different things to people. It has a broad meaning I guess. I dont belong to any religion at all but I deffinatley 100 percent know there is a higher power out there but my belief is that none of us knows the real truth...

I dont think I am an athiest.To me an athiest does not belive in any afterlife.I will use my father as an example,he belives that once you die that is it,the whole concept of any higher power to him is utter nonsence - now that to me is a real practising athiest.

You're right, atheism is a very broad term.

I don't consider myself a true atheist either (more agnostic), simply because I don't care enough about religious issues to claim the label. If someone gets my back up, though, with their evangelism, then I will use it.

I really appreciated Rae (our Pagan editor's) comment when she said that the pagan view of a person trying to convert others when they haven't requested their help or intervention (proselytising) is that this is as close to a "sin" as one can get in pagan terms.

Some people just don't understand how offensive it can be to preach about their religion, or try to "save" a person, when that person is not interested.

Yes there is nothing worse than being preached to.The worst are the ones who come to your door.Being nice and telling them you are not interested does not help none.I now tell them to [email]f@@k[/email] off and that works well <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

try going to the same church for 26 years and asking a question they cant answer so they being on FULL FORCES YOU MUST GET SAVED and and after the 999999999999 milionth time in one day God Says..."DONT YOU GOT SOMETHING BETTER TO DO THEN SAY THE SAMETHING OVER AND OVER AND OVER....SHUT UP!!! your human I made you that way so go be HUMAN!!!" God loves me and He saved my soul from being saved over and over and over....forever!! AMEN

Streuth! that would drive me crazy <img src="/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />