Would You Prefer...

[daisya]

...to be called an atheist or a realist...and is there a difference?

[chrisgel]

Not sure if I understand what you're asking Daisya. Atheist as Naomi puts it is an absence of a belief in gods. It is that and that only.
There are atheists who believe in aliens, yeti, ghosts and homeopathy etc. I personally would't call them realists.

[grasscarp]

So the atheists can say if they are atheists or realists or both and not a single comment or question.
I said I have faith in God and am a realist and am told I cant be a realist because by saying I have a faith means that I believe in nothing, the fairies etc.
To you I believe in nothing and you definitely believe in nothing - so we are all the same!
I was answering daisya's question and not wishing to enter into the eternal jibes that one has to endure if daring to post in this section.
If so many here are indeed atheists why bother to be here constantly wanting to enter into a battle/debate call it what you will with believers?
I dont question your non belief in anything except something you can see with your own eyes or touch with your own hands. It must be a sad life to consider that nobody created you, what you do does not need to adhere to any commandments - since these are a fairy story - and that your life is limited to your earthly existence.
Why you feel the need to keep up an attack on individuals who have a faith suggests to me that you do suspect there is something lacking in your own lives, and are looking for something or someone to convice you otherwise.
For sure what I have written will be pulled apart line by line.
Its kind of par for the course in this section.

[RATTER15]

grasscarp, //It must be a sad life to consider that nobody created you, what you do does not need to adhere to any commandments - since these are a fairy story - and that your life is limited to your earthly existence.//

That is clearly what you would like to be the case but you are so wrong.

Living a life from a book of fairy tales, of genocide,death and destruction as your moral guide. Im quite happy with my beliefs thanks ;-)

[Connemmara]

hope this doesn't offend - but I actually feel sorry for atheists - not having some kind of faith - how does one go on.

[seadogg]

"I pray thee then, write me as one who loves his fellow men"
Abou Ben Adhem, Leigh Hunt.

But boy! its hard.

[RATTER15]

Connemmara, lol, not in the least offended here,"how does one go on." ones life goes on very well thanks, why would you think otherwise? Atheists do not need to be told by some ridiculous book how to behave or what to think, we can do that very well without any corrupt guidance thanks.

[grasscarp]

Ratter, I just wish it was possible to be allowed to post in this section without the constant mocking (to put it kindly) from the atheists.
I dont want to be told that I believe in fairy stories and now, genocide, death and destruction!
There is no other section on Answerbank that is so hostile towards the very people who the section as labelled as being for.

[RATTER15]

The thing is grasscarp, this is genuinely how we see it, we dont mean to be deliberately offensive or insulting, we are saying what we believe.

Watch and take this in, OK so this is more about Catholics but im sure you will get my drift.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6L1xvdZMC10

[grasscarp]

Thats fine Ratter. Live and let live. I dont have any quarrel with anyone about what they believe or dont believe. I am not trying to preach or convert. I would welcome the same respect for my views. :o)

[RATTER15]

Grasscarp, I certainly respect you but I cannot respect your faith or what it stands for, I find religion in general barbaric and disgusting. I really cant understand anybodies belief in such a dreadful book.

[grasscarp]

But will you still respect me in the morning?

[Connemmara]

will you still love me tomorrow - why don't you wrap this up - have a nice Friday evening watching the box etc.

[237SJ]

Ratter - why does other peoples` faith bother you so much? After all, it doesn`t have anything to do with you does it? No disrespect, I`m just wondering

[Spoonboy]

I have just seen your post connemarra: you assume a lot without evidence purporting your belief that atheists have no direction in life. I have even more direction in my life than you could consider. Just because someone, like myself, is an atheist, it does not mean we lack faith in a non-religious way. I have great belief in all my family.

[Connemmara]

oh it is still continuing - not going to comment anymore - each to their own on this site - this site is a very disconcerting and perhaps hurtful one.

[Connemmara]

am glad for you spoony that you have great direction in some shape or form

[Spoonboy]

Sorry Daisya, I reacted in the way I thought I would not. I find it strange, though, and after reading some of the threads, why people cannot simply agree to disagree when it comes to a belief in God or no:

[Spoonboy]

For some reason my thread was posted before I finished. I was also writing, in thin air it turned out that, I myself would never tell someone that their belief is wrong or feel sorry for them because of that belief - in a wider sense, although many might disagree, atheism is a belief that God does not exist, in as much that a non-believer, if you will, cannot prove that God does not exist any more than a believer can prove that God does exist.
Religion is a private matter between the individual and their belief, whatever they believe should not be mocked, or given false pity for, by the other side.

[modeller]

grasscarp I don't know where I stand in your list of mockers and attackers but I think you will find I search for clarification of a beliefs and disbeliefs,
that's why I wanted to know what you meant by // being in touch with reality // ? . Without knowing what you mean by that it's difficult to reconcile it with your belief in God.
That's why I also wondered where the bible fitted into those apparent contradictions. Would you care to enlighten me ?

[RATTER15]

237SJ, It is the faith/religion that bothers me, it controls all of our lives even Atheists lives are controlled one way or another by religion!

It a bit like saying why does paedophilia bother you so much as it doesn't affect you.

Simply because it affects a lot of innocent people all over the world, innocent people including children are dying because of religion!