Religious people: what is your level of observance?

**Janszoon** · 03-30-2011, 05:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wayfarer

Janszoon & crukster both have a point IMO.

It's true that, technically, atheism is nothing more than the lack of any belief in a deity.... but at the same time, atheists (generally speaking) do tend to display a cult-like antipathy towards theists, and in some cases will more or less make idols out of the leaders of the 'New Atheist Movement' like Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, Sam Harris, etc. I think it's fairly telling that on Facebook profiles and the like, under "beliefs", most atheists don't put "none", they put "atheism".

Do you not see the huge logical flaw inherent in what you are saying here? You're basically only acknowledging the existence of atheists who conform to your stereotype of the group. For all you know 90% percent of atheists could be people who don't declare it in any way, but you'd never know they're atheists because they don't actively identify themselves as such.

Your comments are actually a good example of the atheist catch-22 and the problems with being an invisible minority that I was talking about earlier. If atheists remain silent about who they are, people like yourself go around thinking that the handful of atheists you are aware of are representative of the whole. But if they speak up and say "hey, I'm an atheist too" they get accused of being in your face about it.

Howard the Duck · 03-30-2011, 06:08 AM

atheists in Malaysia mostly go about doing their own thing

unless you're Malay - you cannot be an atheist (no religious freedom for Malays here - they must be mandatorily Islam)

s_k · 03-30-2011, 08:55 AM

There's a reason to move...

Howard the Duck · 03-30-2011, 09:20 AM

there are many reasons to move

but i like the food here, people here are nice, life is quite serene, and summer all year round

s_k · 03-30-2011, 09:21 AM

And you're told what to believe

.

Gotta love that (...).

GeddyBass2112 · 03-30-2011, 03:01 PM

Come on guys, this isn't what this thread is for. If you're going to argue about atheism or something, take it to another thread or something.

Howard the Duck · 03-31-2011, 10:39 AM

i believe God is a kind of gravititional anchor in the centre of the Universe (or even a Multiverse) or even something bigger than the Universe whose fringes we can't perceive, sort of an amorphous mass of matter/energy/particles, but my Gnostic views doesn't portray him as having any human characteristics - It's just something that's holding the fabric of reality together, and remains chaotic, neutral, non-judgmental, cos we can't even begin to comprehend Its mind and if It's intentions were benign, there wouldn't have been Laws of Entropy (everything decays) or The Evil That Men Do or Chaos Theory (more chaos than order in the Universe)

perhaps that's UU in some ways

crukster · 03-31-2011, 10:51 AM

That's solid man that's something like what I believe as well.

I don't think of God as a personified man in the sky. That's egotism of the Race, surely. As if we'rre the epitome of all intelligence and creation, as if we have no more room to grow or anything. Those things are definitly not true imo. The idea of God as a man/woman/mortal limits the understanding of the bigger picture.

cardboard adolescent · 03-31-2011, 05:45 PM

I've personally found that by living with more awareness and sensitivity most activities that religions would deem "immoral" simply become unappealing. As long as there's this struggle of repression/indulgence it's hard to find inner peace. Being totally aware of your thoughts and feelings in an honest and transparent way is much more important, in my opinion, than trying to force yourself into a code of conduct which you constantly struggle with.

Neapolitan · 03-31-2011, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cardboard adolescent

I've personally found that by living with more awareness and sensitivity most activities that religions would deem "immoral" simply become unappealing. As long as there's this struggle of repression/indulgence it's hard to find inner peace. Being totally aware of your thoughts and feelings in an honest and transparent way is much more important, in my opinion, than trying to force yourself into a code of conduct which you constantly struggle with.

But the result might be well worth the struggle. To quote Aristotle "I count him braver who overcomes his desires than him who conquers his enemies; for the hardest victory is the victory over self."

View Poll Results: Your level of observance?
Non-practicing/secular form of religion	20	43.48%
A little observant	3	6.52%
Middle-of-the-road observance	11	23.91%
Strict adherence to religious rules	4	8.70%
Don't know	8	17.39%
Voters: 46. You may not vote on this poll

03-30-2011, 08:55 AM	#3 (permalink)
s_k Music Addict Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Netherlands Posts: 2,206	There's a reason to move... __________________ Have some music recommendations!

03-30-2011, 09:21 AM	#5 (permalink)
s_k Music Addict Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Netherlands Posts: 2,206	And you're told what to believe . Gotta love that (...). __________________ Have some music recommendations!

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03-30-2011, 06:08 AM	#2 (permalink)
Howard the Duck Live by the Sword Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Posts: 9,075	atheists in Malaysia mostly go about doing their own thing unless you're Malay - you cannot be an atheist (no religious freedom for Malays here - they must be mandatorily Islam)

03-30-2011, 09:20 AM	#4 (permalink)
Howard the Duck Live by the Sword Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Posts: 9,075	there are many reasons to move but i like the food here, people here are nice, life is quite serene, and summer all year round

03-30-2011, 03:01 PM	#6 (permalink)
GeddyBass2112 Music Addict Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Newcastle upon Tyne, UK Posts: 165	Come on guys, this isn't what this thread is for. If you're going to argue about atheism or something, take it to another thread or something.

03-31-2011, 10:39 AM	#7 (permalink)
Howard the Duck Live by the Sword Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Posts: 9,075	i believe God is a kind of gravititional anchor in the centre of the Universe (or even a Multiverse) or even something bigger than the Universe whose fringes we can't perceive, sort of an amorphous mass of matter/energy/particles, but my Gnostic views doesn't portray him as having any human characteristics - It's just something that's holding the fabric of reality together, and remains chaotic, neutral, non-judgmental, cos we can't even begin to comprehend Its mind and if It's intentions were benign, there wouldn't have been Laws of Entropy (everything decays) or The Evil That Men Do or Chaos Theory (more chaos than order in the Universe) perhaps that's UU in some ways

03-31-2011, 10:51 AM	#8 (permalink)
crukster Music Addict Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 181	That's solid man that's something like what I believe as well. I don't think of God as a personified man in the sky. That's egotism of the Race, surely. As if we'rre the epitome of all intelligence and creation, as if we have no more room to grow or anything. Those things are definitly not true imo. The idea of God as a man/woman/mortal limits the understanding of the bigger picture.

03-31-2011, 05:45 PM	#9 (permalink)
cardboard adolescent ;) Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: CA Posts: 3,511	I've personally found that by living with more awareness and sensitivity most activities that religions would deem "immoral" simply become unappealing. As long as there's this struggle of repression/indulgence it's hard to find inner peace. Being totally aware of your thoughts and feelings in an honest and transparent way is much more important, in my opinion, than trying to force yourself into a code of conduct which you constantly struggle with.