ckm8 wrote: Absolutely. We hope, dream, wish that there were a god and an afterlife. We have no proof, nothing but hearsay. If you wish to believe in it, if it makes you feel better about your life I have no issue with that. If you wish to present it to me as scientific fact, logic, reason or anything remotely resembling anything other than wishful thinking then I greet your arguments with indulgent amusement. I'm glad you think you can see the unseeable, understand the unfathomable- I know that I don't know and neither do you. I'll live my life being the best person I can be, treating others the way I feel they want to be treated and helping those I can- not because I think God will smite me if I don't, or raise me to his side if I do, but simply because I believe it's the right thing to do.
If we all lived life like that on our own volition what a wonderful world this would be. :thumbsup: Belief is a very personal journey. Ultimately what becomes important is whatever provides you with comfort and peace of mind. If that finds its roots in a belief in God, so be it. If it is a belief in the universe, so be it. If it is in the flow of energy that encompasses life may you be fulfilled. It does not matter, as long as you live your life being the best person that you can be.
Rockdoc Franz wrote:
If we all lived life like that on our own volition what a wonderful world this would be. :thumbsup: Belief is a very personal journey. Ultimately what becomes important is whatever provides you with comfort and peace of mind. If that finds its roots in a belief in God, so be it. If it is a belief in the universe, so be it. If it is in the flow of energy that encompasses life may you be fulfilled. It does not matter, as long as you live your life being the best person that you can be.
Rockdoc Franz wrote:
If we all lived life like that on our own volition what a wonderful world this would be. :thumbsup: Belief is a very personal journey. Ultimately what becomes important is whatever provides you with comfort and peace of mind. If that finds its roots in a belief in God, so be it. If it is a belief in the universe, so be it. If it is in the flow of energy that encompasses life may you be fulfilled. It does not matter, as long as you live your life being the best person that you can be.
On a second thought...have you being hugging the rocks Doc?
ckm8 wrote: Absolutely. We hope, dream, wish that there were a god and an afterlife. We have no proof, nothing but hearsay. If you wish to believe in it, if it makes you feel better about your life I have no issue with that. If you wish to present it to me as scientific fact, logic, reason or anything remotely resembling anything other than wishful thinking then I greet your arguments with indulgent amusement. I'm glad you think you can see the unseeable, understand the unfathomable- I know that I don't know and neither do you. I'll live my life being the best person I can be, treating others the way I feel they want to be treated and helping those I can- not because I think God will smite me if I don't, or raise me to his side if I do, but simply because I believe it's the right thing to do.
If we all lived life like that on our own volition what a wonderful world this would be. :thumbsup: Belief is a very personal journey. Ultimately what becomes important is whatever provides you with comfort and peace of mind. If that finds its roots in a belief in God, so be it. If it is a belief in the universe, so be it. If it is in the flow of energy that encompasses life may you be fulfilled. It does not matter, as long as you live your life being the best person that you can be.
WOW, blew me away. Now that's what I'm talking about.
ckm8 wrote: Absolutely. We hope, dream, wish that there were a god and an afterlife. We have no proof, nothing but hearsay. If you wish to believe in it, if it makes you feel better about your life I have no issue with that. If you wish to present it to me as scientific fact, logic, reason or anything remotely resembling anything other than wishful thinking then I greet your arguments with indulgent amusement. I'm glad you think you can see the unseeable, understand the unfathomable- I know that I don't know and neither do you. I'll live my life being the best person I can be, treating others the way I feel they want to be treated and helping those I can- not because I think God will smite me if I don't, or raise me to his side if I do, but simply because I believe it's the right thing to do.
If we all lived life like that on our own volition what a wonderful world this would be. :thumbsup: Belief is a very personal journey. Ultimately what becomes important is whatever provides you with comfort and peace of mind. If that finds its roots in a belief in God, so be it. If it is a belief in the universe, so be it. If it is in the flow of energy that encompasses life may you be fulfilled. It does not matter, as long as you live your life being the best person that you can be.
We think EXACTLY the same on so many issues including this one! Love you my darling husband!
" I'll try anything once, twice if I like it, three times to make sure. " Mae West
Rockdoc Franz wrote:
If we all lived life like that on our own volition what a wonderful world this would be. :thumbsup: Belief is a very personal journey. Ultimately what becomes important is whatever provides you with comfort and peace of mind. If that finds its roots in a belief in God, so be it. If it is a belief in the universe, so be it. If it is in the flow of energy that encompasses life may you be fulfilled. It does not matter, as long as you live your life being the best person that you can be.
On a second thought...have you being hugging the rocks Doc?
Who's hugging the Doc's rocks!?! Ok, I'm being bad but I can because it's my bday so there! :woo hoo:
" I'll try anything once, twice if I like it, three times to make sure. " Mae West
I am a atheist and quite comfortable with it. Although, I would like to believe there is a Heaven, I don't believe in Hell. The thought of going to a place like Heaven, and seeing one's family, friends, pets (I want them to all be in the same Heaven) brings me peace. Isn't that what is important here? What brings someone peace and comfort is really all that is important in my book. I also believe in reincarnation. It brings me peace too. How can I believe in these things if I don't believe the is a God you might ask. Well, I believe in WHAT I WANT TO BELIEVE - not in what someone else (person or book) tells me I should believe. I believe in science and all that that brings with it. Evolution, not creation. I believe in the powers of prayer (sending healing vibes out there), I believe in the power and the Universe, and I also believe that organized religion brings peace and comfort to those who believe in it. So, I believe that there is a need for it, and for many, just not for me.
The following was copied from Wikipedia:
"Positive atheism entails such things as being morally upright, showing an understanding that religious people have reasons to believe, not proselytising or lecturing others about atheism, and defending oneself with truthfulness instead of aiming to 'win' any confrontations with outspoken critics."
"The broadest demarcation of atheistic rationale is between practical and theoretical atheism.
[edit]Practical atheism
Main article: Apatheism
In practical or pragmatic atheism, also known as apatheism, individuals live as if there are no gods and explain natural phenomena without resorting to the divine. The existence of gods is not rejected, but may be designated unnecessary or useless; gods neither provide purpose to life, nor influence everyday life, according to this view.[53] A form of practical atheism with implications for the scientific community is methodological naturalism—the "tacit adoption or assumption of philosophical naturalism within scientific method with or without fully accepting or believing it."[54]
Practical atheism can take various forms:
Absence of religious motivation—belief in gods does not motivate moral action, religious action, or any other form of action;
Active exclusion of the problem of gods and religion from intellectual pursuit and practical action;
Indifference—the absence of any interest in the problems of gods and religion; or
Unawareness of the concept of a deity.[55]"
"Atheism and morality
Sociologist Phil Zuckerman analyzed previous research on atheists and morality, and concluded that the more atheists and agnostics there are in a society, the more moral it is. Such findings included the following:[121][122]
In the U.S. states with the highest percentages of atheists, the murder rate is lower than average. In the most religious U.S. states, the murder rate is higher than average.
Only 0.2% of U.S. prisoners are atheists.
Atheists are more tolerant towards women's and homosexuals' rights.
Atheism and secularism correlate with high levels of education, and low levels of racial prejudice.
Atheists physically abuse their children less often than others, and more often encourage them to think independently.
In Sweden, the most secular country in the world according to Zuckerman, the charitable aid given is the highest as a proportion of GDP."
" I'll try anything once, twice if I like it, three times to make sure. " Mae West
rofllol 
