While it may seem overly negative to define yourself by what you don't believe, I think atheism provides a refreshing opportunity to toss aside beliefs that are truly debilitating.  Casting aside my propensity to lecture, I'll just briefly toss one out to get this party started.

Being an atheist means not having to believe that your life, and all the tragedies that come with it, are part of "God's great plan."

Discuss among yourselves.

I don't believe that there is a Great Scorekeeper in heaven who is keeping track of my good deeds and bad, the way that a child believes Santa does.  I don't believe God lives in each child I help, or each homeless family I make supper for, or each family of kittens I bring in from the cold,  or each earthquake victim I send money to.  Instead, I believe that I live in these people and creatures, and that they live in me, too.  I therefore must believe that good deeds are their own ultimate reward ... and the solemn duty of all humans.

I do not believe that a god set the universe in motion, or guides its existence, or plots its demise.  Therefore, my own planet, a tiny, tiny part of the whole, is my responsibility.  I must live my independent life as though it has impact on the world as a whole, as indeed it does.

I do not believe that I will live on after death.  Therefore, my actions and inactions in life are of the utmost consequence.

Jan 26, 2010 -- 11:08PM, rgr075 wrote:

This seems more inline with anti-theism to me.  I'm not against that btw, but I don't have that level of passion about it to go that far.

No, that's not anti-theism.  He isn't saying that all religion takes that view.  He's just saying that he is free of the worst that religion has to offer.

An atheist who is not an anti-theist may take the view that religion sometimes offers some bad things that are better avoided.

eudaimonia,

Mark

Feb 6, 2010 -- 10:10PM, Truthprecepts wrote:

What does this mean that you prayed over it and God gave you scriptures and told you to head straight to bible college?

What he's saying is that he learned so much about the christian religion that he can't believe in it any more. I know several people like that. A friend of mine has a doctorate in biblical studies and has written several books on the subject - none of which you'd like. He learned so much about the bible that he can't believe a word of it.