Beliefs

[naomi24]

Where opposing beliefs are concerned, we are all atheists, so why are yours right and other people's wrong?

[chakka35]

ponjee, we are all born atheists. Then, like you, many of us are subjected to religious propaganda when we are young and trusting in our adults. Many people never recover from that.

Some us do, mainly, as naomi says, by reading the bible, analysing it - in my case satisfying myself that the Jesus story is just fantasy - and realising that the gods are just delusions, and mainly unpleasant ones at that.

At that point we escape from that childhood indoctrination and become normally rational again i.e atheists. Simple as that.

[Answerprancer]

That makes atheism out to be another religeion doesn't it ?
Atheism is as much another religion as *not* collecting stamps is a hobby !

[Answerprancer]

..sorry chakka, I keep forgetting about 'previous messages' - that was an answer to the original question at the start of this thread.

[naomi24]

AP, exactly. Atheism is the default mode for the human intellect.

[chakka35]

Ap, of course atheism is not another religion: it is the very reverse: a refusal to believe in gods, which is what religion is. It is pure reason.

Would you call not believing Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy and the Easter Bunny religions?

[naomi24]

I gathered that's what AP was saying Chakka - although I admit I had to read his post a few times before making up my mind. I could have it wrong though.

[chakka35]

Sorry, Ap. Also got out of sync with the posts! Ignore my last, please.

[jomifl]

Ponjee, the reason you are a christian and believe in the bible is because you believed people that seemed to be knowledgeable and wise when you were not in a position to be able to make a well judged assessment of their capabilities. You can now think for yourself and make your decisions based on information now available to you. Make your own decisions based on the facts as you understand them, don't consider other peoples feelings, they are not relevant to this process.

[keyplus90]

////You can now think for yourself and make your decisions based on information now available to you. Make your own decisions based on the facts as you understand them, don't consider other peoples feelings, they are not relevant to this process.///

Yes ponjee do take the above advice. But make sure in the end you do make your mind up, but the only acceptable scenarion is what few people are telling you to believe (or not to believe in) here or else you would be wrong. Simple

[keyplus90]

I do feel sorry for few here who day after day only blame tooth fairy, Santa etc for their conversion to atheism. They decided to change their belief because their parents and relatives gave all the credits of their own generosity and love to fairy characters and believed that these innocent stories will please their little ones. They never knew what really would be the outcome.

Perhaps parents sincerely believed that once their children will grow they would understand all that. But unfortunately parents had wrong perception.

[jomifl]

unfortunately we all have the wrong pereption. As nobody knows what the right perception is we will just have to do our best, use our brains, cut through the cr*p, and do the best we can.

[jomifl]

Keyplus are you being deliberately obtuse or do you really not understand the tooth fairy/santa references?

[naomi24]

Keyplus, as far as I can see nobody has told ponjee to believe anything. Jomifl has simply explained to her why she believes as she does (the same reason you believe as you do - because you've been indoctrinated from birth) and he's advised her to ignore other people's feelings, look at the information available, and decide for herself. I can't see anything wrong with that. Excellent advice I'd say.

So you feel sorry for the people here, but you've failed to tell us why - and how about answering the question and telling us why are your beliefs are right and other people's are wrong?

Jomifl, he's being deliberately obtuse. It's normal.

[sandyRoe]

Not so. All those that believe in a god, of whatever type, are halfway to heaven. The agnostics and atheists are poor benighted fools. But while there's breath there's hope. Even for them.

[naomi24]

Mmmm....

[ponjee]

yes thanks guys. i will take it to mind,
xxx

[ttfn]

Hi naomi ☺ - I wouldn't normally post on such a Q - far too contentious! But I have looked at your op and would just say that I don't agree. My beliefs don't oppose any one else's. They are what it says on the tin - my beliefs. They are the creed I have chosen to live with and by. I am happy for any and every one else to have their own beliefs or otherwise. There is no compunction on my part to get anyone to follow my beliefs nor indeed for me to seek an alternative. Each to his own and I am content with mine. I certainly do not consider myself to be an atheist.

[Answerprancer]

Sorry this is a little <b>test</b> to see if we have html yet.

[woofgang]

jomifl, that's a great comment

"unfortunately we all have the wrong pereption. As nobody knows what the right perception is we will just have to do our best, use our brains, cut through the cr*p, and do the best we can."

[naomi24]

Hi ttfn, How nice to see you down here in R&S land. Welcome. :o)

I don't understand what it is about the original question you don't agree with. Everybody's beliefs oppose someone else's - that's what makes us all atheists - but that doesn't suggest for a moment that we are obliged to actively contest other opinions. I can understand the 'each to his own' philosophy, but the question is not concerned with that. It asks why people reject one creed in favour of another.