WrinkledForehead Posted July 2, 2014 Posted July 2, 2014 I would absolutely not change who I am simply for a relationship, and that includes my religious beliefs (or my actual lack thereof). I grew up in a household in which I attended a Baptist church, and left the church and my beliefs as a teenager. I did so for a reason, and being hypocritical to how I feel about religion by adhering to a belief simply to get dates is assinine. 2
iiiii Posted July 2, 2014 Posted July 2, 2014 What's the evidence that god exists? And if there isn't good evidence that he exists, why should someone have to prove that he does not exist in order to not believe in him? I think you're possibly reading things into my post that were not there. No one is obliged to prove anything in order to not believe anything. Not believing is most people's default state, until they are offered evidence that something is true. We cannot prove that god does or does not exist. It's not possible to do so - the existence of god is not a falsifiable theory. So I do not personally believe in a god, because I have no reason to do so. But I believe it would be logical for someone to say, for example: "I believe I have personally experienced the presence of god when I pray, and since we cannot prove that god does not exist, it is logical for me to believe my subjective experience". That type of statement is something I would respect, not mock.
Arieswoman Posted July 4, 2014 Posted July 4, 2014 Lollipopspot, You said This is very silly. You think in order to have an ethical framework for one's life one has to have religion? I think it is important to have a belief system outside yourself in order to have a framework within which to work. Otherwise some people just make the rules up as they go along.
xxoo Posted July 4, 2014 Posted July 4, 2014 What I've found, outside organized religious circles, is that no one really cares what exact my beliefs are. I'm not even exactly sure what my husband's beliefs about god are. The topic is of little interest to us beyond the occasional philosophical discussion. It certainly has never been a problem for me. 1
lollipopspot Posted July 4, 2014 Posted July 4, 2014 (edited) I think it is important to have a belief system outside yourself in order to have a framework within which to work. Otherwise some people just make the rules up as they go along. You think it's important that someone else tell you what is morally correct? What if they're wrong? I think it's wrong to torture and kill animals for a taste preference. But I'm willing to bet you eat factory farmed animals several times per day. Why isn't anyone telling you that torturing and killing for a taste preference is wrong? Why can't you find it in yourself to see that? Not attacking you, but why? In fact, most people use religion to say that it's fine. Edited July 4, 2014 by lollipopspot 1
Anela Posted July 4, 2014 Posted July 4, 2014 What ticks me off is when people say they are non-believers and then have a big church wedding - that's so hypocritical IMO. I also notice that they all want their kids Christened, which seems rather strange. I'm not Christened, something my mother still worries about on occasion, apparently. Would I be allowed to marry in a church? I haven't exploded when trying to enter one - I love old churches, so that's a good thing. I used to attend Midnight Mass with my family, because some of them believe in God, and I loved to get together with members of the community, to see the church decorated beautifully - I shivered through one service that was lit by candles, in a beautiful old church, surrounded by loved ones. That's what is meaningful to me. I don't believe in a God who supports ugliness, as long as a true believer attends church, and spreads "the good word", or goes to confession once a week (a Catholic thing, as far as I know). I don't believe in the bible. I would think that if Christians want to have their beliefs respected, then they would show others the same courtesy. The same goes for atheists who think it's their duty to insult those who are religious. I couldn't marry someone who is strongly religious, and uses those beliefs to attack others. I wouldn't want my children growing up with certain beliefs.
jay1983 Posted July 4, 2014 Posted July 4, 2014 Only problem I have with atheists is a lot of them don't respect religion they tend to throw their views in your face. I respect you and your belief. I don't try and convert you, tell you jesus is the answer, you need jesus or anything like that. So show me the same curtsey.
xxoo Posted July 4, 2014 Posted July 4, 2014 When choosing a partner, the more salient question for us was: do you intend to teach your religious (or atheist) beliefs to your children as fact? We both, with our individual beliefs, intended to teach our children about religion widely, without imposing our own beliefs as fact. We do share our personal beliefs if asked, but framed as personal beliefs. In this way, it never mattered that our personal beliefs differ because our parenting philosophy was the same. 1
firmness Posted July 6, 2014 Posted July 6, 2014 I think it is important to have a belief system outside yourself in order to have a framework within which to work. Otherwise some people just make the rules up as they go along. This makes sense when raising children. But please keep in mind Arieswoman, that the framework of values to which you allude were made up by other people as THEY went along. They were modified numerous times over the ages. Whether you want to acknowledged this or not (I have never seen a Christian own up to this) those values include: 1. Genital mutilation of baby boys on a massive scale 2. Misogyny 3. Control of women's reproductive rights 4. Worshipping idols, symbols, statues, and objects 5. Torture and human sacrifice And this is for starters. So while I agree that some humans need something outside themselves to provide a moral compass, I also worry about anyone who NEEDS such an external motivation to be good. I am good because goodness is inside me - not because a god or devil is going to get me if I do not.
taiko Posted July 6, 2014 Posted July 6, 2014 The New Testament specifically says circumcision is not necessary. Where are you are getting human sacrifice from?
SpiralOut Posted July 7, 2014 Posted July 7, 2014 When I was an athiest I had no desire to date someone who couldn't accept my point of view, or whose family were that narrow-minded that they actually hate athiests. What a huge turn-off.
nresteiner Posted July 7, 2014 Posted July 7, 2014 Christians circumcise their boys by the millions. Case closed. Torture and human sacrifice are so rife in the bible that it hardly bears discussion. No serious bible scholar would refute this - they usually try to dismiss it with "God works in mysterious ways" or "We cannot know the mind/intentions of God" Let these two go. Do you have any quotes from "serious" Bible scholars on this? Don't make claims if you cannot back them up with sources.
firmness Posted July 7, 2014 Posted July 7, 2014 Do you have any quotes from "serious" Bible scholars on this? Don't make claims if you cannot back them up with sources. Really? Is this your best response? I admit a slight bit of disappointment. I had hoped for better. I have a hard time believing that you would say this in real life. This is the sort of thing that one can only attempt online. I wish you well.
Author irc333 Posted July 7, 2014 Author Posted July 7, 2014 Yeah, but the situation is moot if the couple doesn't want kids. When choosing a partner, the more salient question for us was: do you intend to teach your religious (or atheist) beliefs to your children as fact? We both, with our individual beliefs, intended to teach our children about religion widely, without imposing our own beliefs as fact. We do share our personal beliefs if asked, but framed as personal beliefs. In this way, it never mattered that our personal beliefs differ because our parenting philosophy was the same.
TigerLilly78 Posted July 7, 2014 Posted July 7, 2014 However, if someone has no religious belief then it is difficult to see what guidelines they have for their lives and this could conflict with a partner's views, if they do have a belief system. . This sentence stuck out to me and is prob why I couldn't date a overly religious person why dose some one have to believe in a god to have guidelines in their life? I'm not a religious person but I have a good set of morels and know how to treat others as I would like to be treated it is possible its just sadly allot become blinded by their faith to the point they cannot see past it imo anyways.. 1
nresteiner Posted July 7, 2014 Posted July 7, 2014 Really? Is this your best response? I admit a slight bit of disappointment. I had hoped for better. I have a hard time believing that you would say this in real life. This is the sort of thing that one can only attempt online. I wish you well. I have said this sort of thing in real life, believe it or not. In any sort of academic debate, you cannot simply bandy about claims without providing any evidence to back them up, especially when these claims concern the words of scholars. If by better, you meant sweeping generalizations, than I am sorry that I cannot oblige.
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