Any atheists/pagans/wiccans out there? :)

I often wonder how anyone could not believe in god... maybe not necessarily a Christian god, or a god specific to any religion even, but something greater than us. I really believe there's more to this life and this existence than the big bang theory or mere evolution, though I'm sure it's possible those things have their place throughout history. Some things, actually, a lot of things, are just too perfectly made, too perfectly placed, too perfectly perfect to not have been specifically designed by some higher power. For the record, I'm not Christian or any religion actually, I just have my own beliefs and my own morals to live by. If you ever actually take the time to study the universe and all the workings within it that have become known to us over the centuries, it is spectacular and amazing just how intricate and complex things are. The odds of our planet being formed the way it is, with as much water as it has, and to be the perfect distance from the sun to sustain life... slim. Very slim. Not to mention things like... the way flowers smell, the beauty of a sunrise or sunset, the way we can see the stars shining like diamonds through our atmosphere, and the joys of love between two human beings. How "lucky" are we to have such wonderful gifts?

I often wonder how anyone could not believe in god... maybe not necessarily a Christian god, or a god specific to any religion even, but something greater than us. I really believe there's more to this life and this existence than the big bang theory or mere evolution, though I'm sure it's possible those things have their place throughout history. Some things, actually, a lot of things, are just too perfectly made, too perfectly placed, too perfectly perfect to not have been specifically designed by some higher power. For the record, I'm not Christian or any religion actually, I just have my own beliefs and my own morals to live by. If you ever actually take the time to study the universe and all the workings within it that have become known to us over the centuries, it is spectacular and amazing just how intricate and complex things are. The odds of our planet being formed the way it is, with as much water as it has, and to be the perfect distance from the sun to sustain life... slim. Very slim. Not to mention things like... the way flowers smell, the beauty of a sunrise or sunset, the way we can see the stars shining like diamonds through our atmosphere, and the joys of love between two human beings. How "lucky" are we to have such wonderful gifts?

I agree with this, though I would actually classify myself as a Christian, nicely stated.

I often wonder how anyone could not believe in god... maybe not necessarily a Christian god, or a god specific to any religion even, but something greater than us. I really believe there's more to this life and this existence than the big bang theory or mere evolution, though I'm sure it's possible those things have their place throughout history. Some things, actually, a lot of things, are just too perfectly made, too perfectly placed, too perfectly perfect to not have been specifically designed by some higher power. For the record, I'm not Christian or any religion actually, I just have my own beliefs and my own morals to live by. If you ever actually take the time to study the universe and all the workings within it that have become known to us over the centuries, it is spectacular and amazing just how intricate and complex things are. The odds of our planet being formed the way it is, with as much water as it has, and to be the perfect distance from the sun to sustain life... slim. Very slim. Not to mention things like... the way flowers smell, the beauty of a sunrise or sunset, the way we can see the stars shining like diamonds through our atmosphere, and the joys of love between two human beings. How "lucky" are we to have such wonderful gifts?

Because things are they way they are does not me there is some sort of higher being. The world could have turned out very differently given a change in factors. That flower could not exist because the entire planet could have been submerged under water. We think it is "perfect". That is our perception of our reality. I fully believe we have adapted to our environment and look for something else to give that credit to.

The argument from design is weak in logic. Hume has some excellent responses to this train of thought.

Athiest

(deleting my post to avoid arguments)

Im Pagan here

I often wonder how anyone could not believe in god... maybe not necessarily a Christian god, or a god specific to any religion even, but something greater than us. I really believe there's more to this life and this existence than the big bang theory or mere evolution, though I'm sure it's possible those things have their place throughout history. Some things, actually, a lot of things, are just too perfectly made, too perfectly placed, too perfectly perfect to not have been specifically designed by some higher power. For the record, I'm not Christian or any religion actually, I just have my own beliefs and my own morals to live by. If you ever actually take the time to study the universe and all the workings within it that have become known to us over the centuries, it is spectacular and amazing just how intricate and complex things are. The odds of our planet being formed the way it is, with as much water as it has, and to be the perfect distance from the sun to sustain life... slim. Very slim. Not to mention things like... the way flowers smell, the beauty of a sunrise or sunset, the way we can see the stars shining like diamonds through our atmosphere, and the joys of love between two human beings. How "lucky" are we to have such wonderful gifts?

(please note, this is just my opinion, i was raised catholic, my family is catholic. and i am not bashing anyones beleifs)
the main problem with this is all the horrible things in the world, there is so much suffering, and so many awful things happening every day. If there was an amazing being dedicated to making things wonderful, then these things would be. Everything is chance, and there is only us to control what happens, good things and bad things happen because of people. individuals. not a god.

I actually agree with you. From my point of view, I don't think "god" participates in our lives as much (if at all) as some people believe. I don't look at god as any kind of person, really. I mostly just ponder what could be, what might be, etc. lol. I don't think god has to be this almighty, all knowing deity as some people think. I come from the perspective that yes, maybe god is flawed. I guess I shouldn't call it god then, but another name then would be the creator? Reason for existence? Meaning of life? Whatever it is, I know deep down it is greater than myself and I do believe some day I'll come to understand all the things I question now. Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only changed. That always made me think of god.

I am an Atheist.

This entire thread is dreadfully amusing.

I rather like being called a heathen. It sounds dirty! :laugh:

LOL ... it actually means "people of the heathers". And pagan is from paganus, which means country dweller

And so, the country dwellers, the peasants got their hands dirty farming...is this circular logic? :huh:

People out there *would* report this thread, wouldn't they? Alright, well I'm glad we're "allowed" to talk about stuff here that isn't about weightloss. That's progress. I grew up Jewish but that never made any sense to me. The old religion did entice me because of its balancing appeal. I'm not talking about that "grrl power" teen witch crap, I mean the OLD ways where witches loved the Triple God as much as they did the Triple Goddess. They drank boar blood and used crow feet to cure feaver. They were the wild, unappologetic children, warriors of the Mother and Father. They built alters and left sacrifice for spirits, spent weeks, years brewing oils, making candles and incense, and had faith that would make a Rabbi balk. Now it's all about buying tarot decks and ordering manufactured oils from capricornslair, then using supermarket lighters to build fires (which all mean nothing to the spirits, you put 0% effort into it) And the neo-wiccans with their teen witch spellbooks from the occult section of borders, who wear all black like those girls from the craft and secret circle, and they're all like, "Cernunnos who?" Posers. The green path is about accepting every side of the world, the gods and yourself. Light-dark, male-female, benevolence-apathy, etc. Opposites are always twins, one in the same but on a different angle. If you pick and choose which parts of the religion you want to follow, you're no better than the closed-minded crossbearers who burned us and everything around them. I no longer practice for reasons that are my own, identifying now more as a Zetetic.... which is actually pretty funny.

I'm an Athiest.

Atheist here.

Catholic atheist here. But I could totally get into Pastafarianism. That Flying Spaghetti Monster really knows how to run an afterlife! But really, I'm ok if you want to believe in something, just don't make me try to believe in it. This goes for religious nuts and PETA members too!

I think Buddhism is the way to go.... I've never seen a Buddhist with a gun