Any atheists/pagans/wiccans out there? :)

stylistchik

I think there might be a higher power, but I'm also a big believer in science. I don't follow any religion because I think they're all cults, especially the ones who just want your money. When I was 10 I was in a catholic education class and we had a chart the was given to us that depicted how close you were to God and your chances of going to heaven. God was a circle, and Catholics were in a larger circle around God (being closest), other christians were further out, then Judaism, Muslim, and various eastern religions. I remember thinking at age 10, that it was stupid to say that some guy in China is going to hell because he's never heard of Catholicism. What happened to "love thy neighbor" and all that? If you were a good person your whole life, never hurt anybody and did everything you were supposed to do, you can't go to heaven because you didn't buy a ticket? I pretty much gave up there, if there is a God he doesn't single people out like that.


If I had to agree with anything it would probably be Buddhism because it's about being the best person you can be, and I think that's something everyone should aim for.

willnorton

wow...... I am a firm believer in God and Jesus.....Jesus died on the cross for me and the forgiveness of all sins... so...I pray all of you guys who dont have what I have be able to drop to your knees and see the light..

God still loves everyone of you and there is nothing you can do about that..... there are just a few rules you got to go by..very few...only about 10 (commandments)..they are pretty easy to follow...

long story but I am a walking miracle..spared from a certain death in 2008...so ...God bless you all...

stylistchik

Also curious, was anyone raised to be Christian/Satanist/Wiccan/Pastatfarian whatever and is no longer? How did your family react?

For me, I was raised to basically believe whatever I wanted. As I got older I understood from my mother to mean "anything except" insert list. lol if I told her I was WIccan she'd call a priest. Which is interesting, because she claims to hate Christians

When I was 13 my friends and I were researching Wicca and my parents found out and had an intervention with me. They told me I was not Harry Potter and if I wanted to do religious research I could research Catholicism (into which I was baptized) because if I was not Catholic I would join a cult and die.

Not even joking. :laugh:

Needless to say it was never brought up again. I've been vegetarian for 2 years and haven't told them that either. :laugh:

Roni_M

I'm an atheist. Have never found any reason to believe in anything. I believe in science...but not Scientology. That's some scary stuff.

I was raised by a Baptist mother and my Step-dad was Presbyterian. I didn't know this until I was a teen, when I told them I was an atheist. To them, I am pretty much going to hell.
I have no problem with religion in general, but I do have a problem with people who look at me like I am disgusting or evil when they find out about me. It takes pretty much a direct question to even find out that I am an atheist (as I don't bring it up like many people do their religion), so after five years of knowing me, people will just up an suddenly think I am sick in the head. So all of a sudden I am now significantly less adjusted than I was before? Please. Thankfully, I know plenty of religious people who are just as open-minded as I am. My best friend is very religious Christian, but loves me to death. She says she doesn't judge because that is god's job. So we get along famously.

My boyfriend is agnostic. He says that he can find no proof that god does/does not exist, but he holds out hope for his mother, who is the sweetest most giving woman there is. She is a faithful Christian.

One question, for atheists. Do you raise children, and how does this work out for you? One thing I am worried about is having a kid and facing some of the horrible things I have heard other atheist families have faced. People can be VERY cruel.

My kids were raised to be anything they wanted. As they got older they have attended various churches with friends. One is an atheist and one leans more toward agnostic. When they hit puberty I also told them they could be lesbians if they wanted and we wouldn't care. I've told them they can marry or not and that they weren't required to produce children to make us happy. Their lives are about figuring out what makes them each happy with absolutely no expectations from us. The only thing we do expect is that they treat others well, don't become criminals and get an education so they are independent.

SmartAlec03211988

Atheist here. My parents raised me and my siblings to find what we believed for ourselves, and didn't talk about religion at all. My mother grew up Southern Baptist but is now an atheist, and my father grew up Jehovah's Witness but is nonpracticing. My brother is atheist, while my sister is agnostic.

_binary_jester_

wow...... I am a firm believer in God and Jesus.....Jesus died on the cross for me and the forgiveness of all sins... so...I pray all of you guys who dont have what I have be able to drop to your knees and see the light..

God still loves everyone of you and there is nothing you can do about that..... there are just a few rules you got to go by..very few...only about 10 (commandments).they are pretty easy to follow...

long story but I am a walking miracle..spared from a certain death in 2008...so ...God bless you all...

And there are those pious statements that annoy me. As an atheist I don't go into a theistic thread, state I am an atheist and that they all need to read a book other than the bible, wake up and realize there is no God.
Respect my views and I'll respect yours.

emergencytennis

Thor:
aganostic here

Aga-nostic - People who don't believe or disbelieve in trendy ovens right ?

Haha

I was an aganostic until I had a road to Damascus moment in a new home, then I became agaphilic. Hard to observe my new faith since moving to Brisbane, which is strictly barbcuic.

KazeKaiyouHime

I was atheist, then agnostic but now I'm leaning toward pagan/spiritual. I thought I could get away from believing things i was taught as a child, guess not. I haven't had much time to look into it as much as I would like to but I will.

I don't have a problem with other religions. I have a problem when they claim their religion is the best or the only true one or they want to force their religion on me and convert me.

willnorton

God bless you 0 1 00 10 01 00

emergencytennis

God bless you 0 1 00 10 01 00

What do the numbers mean? Looks like Englands last innings against Pakistan?

secrets_out

I'm a believer, I believe that God gave his son so I could have everlasting life. But I believe that "religion" has ruined the image of God. I have no right to judge or condemn because I live in a glass house!

YassSpartan

wow...... I am a firm believer in God and Jesus.....Jesus died on the cross for me and the forgiveness of all sins... so...I pray all of you guys who dont have what I have be able to drop to your knees and see the light..

God still loves everyone of you and there is nothing you can do about that..... there are just a few rules you got to go by..very few...only about 10 (commandments)..they are pretty easy to follow...

long story but I am a walking miracle..spared from a certain death in 2008...so ...God bless you all...

With all the respect I have for everyone here, this is the kind of statements that scare people away. There is a fine line between "I respect you whether you believe or not" and "I respect you but "whatever I believe in" loves you even when you're wrong and I'll pray you open your eyes", definitely showing the I'm right and you're not that a lot of mainstream religions have.

Until they learn respect and acceptance, but most of all understand the true meaning of Free Will, nothing is going to change and people will still run away from religion because of the fear of someone shoving their beliefs down their throats.

YassSpartan

God bless you 0 1 00 10 01 00

What do the numbers mean? Looks like Englands last innings against Pakistan?

Those 0s and 1s are part of a religion called Binary Code and they stand for JK :bigsmile:

Helloitsdan

*waves*

JulieF11

What???? Are you lumping Atheists in with Wiccans and Pagans.... That's crazy!

Wiccans believe in a God and Goddess, believe the soul is eternal, reincarnation, etc.... Pagans are a lumped together group of religions that began before Christianity.

Very different from Atheists...

beyg

I not a pagan but hand out with lots of them; I not an atheist but occasionally I bring some saints down; I ,m not wicca but satan follows me everywhere. I do believe on a creator, you can go outside and not believe on one. So that makes me a happy sinner.

MJ7910

yeah... when i first saw the title of this point, i knew you'd get some people trying to convert you. this is why i just say "oh that's nice" when someone says what religion they are. that way i can just stay away from it all. they can think whatever they want. i guess i have to out myself when asked but i try to just not say anything because i fear the conversation and aftermath. good luck finding like minded people. i hope you do!

emergencytennis

God bless you 0 1 00 10 01 00

What do the numbers mean? Looks like Englands last innings against Pakistan?

Those 0s and 1s are part of a religion called Binary Code and they stand for JK :bigsmile:

Ah, Jacques Kallis. Fair enough, then.

MaximalLife

wow...... I am a firm believer in God and Jesus.....Jesus died on the cross for me and the forgiveness of all sins... so...I pray all of you guys who dont have what I have ......

:yawn:

_binary_jester_

God bless you 0 1 00 10 01 00

Get an education.

Unknown

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_binary_jester_

I am Agnostic and I will probably be full blown atheist in 5 years

Saving up for the test? You know you have to re-certify every 5 years. LOL

emergencytennis

God bless you 0 1 00 10 01 00

Get an education.

Ah, that was a misquote of your user name! So sorry.

MummyOfSeven

My Mother is a non-practicing Catholic from a semi-strict Catholic family. Every last one of them has divorced at least once!

My Dad was raised Church of England by a half Jewess mother.

I was never christened under any faith. Dad brought me up to explore all religions before making my own mind up at whatever age I chose to.

For a few years I followed Wicca as a Solitary. To be honest, the main reason that I don't practice any more is because I just don't have the time. Husband, seven kids, house to run, etc. I still have leanings towards Wicca and probably always will.

What really ticks me off though are faux Wiccans who say they're white witches or black witches or they pray to Satan. BAH! :explode:

*EDIT* That being said, I fully believe in freedom of religion. I will happily listen/read about other religions, I just don't want it shoved down my throat. I have friends of different religions. I don't bash what they believe in, yet they're very quick to belittle my beliefs. Hmmmm :noway:

SKINNYMESOON2B

I was born and raised In the Catholic religion. I was baptized and made all my sacraments. I have since then found a new way of life. I follow The Norse Paganism ways, Asatru. Some call it Heathens. It is the religion of my Ancestors and was practiced long before Christianity. I belong to a Kindred. I do not feel there is anything wrong with any of that. However i respect everyone and I do not look differently on anyone because they have a different religion then I do.

Enchantedpoetess

Pagan / heathan here :bigsmile:

abetterliv

Full-fleged buddhist here! I was agnostic/atheist most of my life, always either searching for "something" but nothing ever really coincided with beliefs i was firm in. When I was 14 i was introduced to nichiren buddhism because one of my friends was one, and i've been one ever since i am very bad at explaining it, but basically i follow the lotus sutra above the other sutras, and then the writings of nichiren daishonin, a 13th century japanese monk. There's a lot that goes into it, so if you want to google to get more info feel free!

So far i have not experienced discrimination from anybody, but i live in an extremely liberal area so its acceptable to be anything really. My parents are ok with it in theory, but my dad still constantly asks me to come to church with him -_-

SixPackIsMyGoal

I was baptized and raised Lutheran but I have been an Atheist most of my adult life.

MummyOfSeven

Full-fleged buddhist here! I was agnostic/atheist most of my life, always either searching for "something" but nothing ever really coincided with beliefs i was firm in. When I was 14 i was introduced to nichiren buddhism because one of my friends was one, and i've been one ever since i am very bad at explaining it, but basically i follow the lotus sutra above the other sutras, and then the writings of nichiren daishonin, a 13th century japanese monk. There's a lot that goes into it, so if you want to google to get more info feel free!

So far i have not experienced discrimination from anybody, but i live in an extremely liberal area so its acceptable to be anything really. My parents are ok with it in theory, but my dad still constantly asks me to come to church with him -_-

Of all the people I have met thus far in my 37yrs, I have found the Buddhist people to be among the most tolerant and understanding, both of individuals and their various religions.

Elizabeth_C34

Of all the people I have met thus far in my 37yrs, I have found the Buddhist people to be among the most tolerant and understanding, both of individuals and their various religions.

Same here.