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Atheist Sunday Assembly goes worldwide, the future is bright for non-believers

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posted on Mar, 17 2013 @ 03:06 PM
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reply to post by KBadger
 

I assumed my earlier statement "no one is excluded" is quite clear and inclusive.


reply to post by KBadger
 

Nothing wrong with a bit of irony in life.
As I've said many times in this thread, it is not an attack on religion and people are actively discouraged from doing so. It is a religious free zone where non-believers can socialise, network, and enjoy the community side stuff which churches offer, but without the religious faith and invisible entity teachings.



posted on Mar, 17 2013 @ 03:09 PM
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Originally posted by grainofsand
reply to post by sacgamer25
 

I presented a perfectly clear explanation with quotes from the Bible which demonstrated why I do not believe the Abrahamic God represents what I consider love to be.
My reply also questioned the imperfection of this God due to changing the rules later on in the new testament.

If you believe all that then fine, I'm happy for you to take whatever comfort you feel it brings in your journey through life. I do not believe or need any of it, or any other gods, from Thor to Shiva.
It is why I welcome an environment free from religion in the company of other non-believers.
As I've said previously, you are welcome to ignore such an environment. It does not attack religion and actively discourages people from doing so.



Yes but to ignore my logic simply because I claim it came from the bible is slightly hypocritical. Right? I mean to say that if I can leave the judgment and hate out of my belief can you not do the same? Once we remove the judgment, the thing that separates us, than we are free to debate philosophies. The world's greatest philosophers have followed many different faiths. We would simply be ignorant to ignore any of them.

So it should not offend you that the great philosopher I follow is Christ and that he said God is love. You see that is the basis of my claim and argument. Anything beyond "God is love" is religion. For an Atheist allowing the theist to believe that God is love should not be something that should separate yourself from us. Even if you disagree at least you know we mean to do what is right.

Your claim is that love is from within and inherent in all men. The only thing I add on top of the morals we agree on is that the morals were handed down from God to teach us to be love like he his. If you will follow the morals of love I have no reason to fear you and you have no reason to fear me. Fear causes separation, separation causes anxiety, and anxiety creates the world we live in.

None of this is directed at "YOU" specifically, unless it is "YOU"
that I am talking about, just a small rant.

Please do not create another place to separate but rather a place where peaceful debate is demanded. Where all debaters understand that peace is the only winner. So if we take our debate past peace we have lost.

Anyone who does not want to follow these rules does not belong in the debate. Jesus said only to separate from those who do not believe in love. So if you can't debate in love and peace than no one should want to debate with you anyway. Go in a corner and debate yourself.

edit on 17-3-2013 by sacgamer25 because: (no reason given)



posted on Mar, 17 2013 @ 03:10 PM
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reply to post by grainofsand
 


Dude, I'm sure this has been pointed out many times than you care to hear, but this means you're in an organized religion. Non-belief is a belief these days, and with the added gathering to share in common belief, atheism is a religion.

Applaud yourselves as you become hypocrites. And take your organized religion somewhere else, away from me, so I don't have to continue to see so much about it. You guys are becoming worse than the Catholics.



posted on Mar, 17 2013 @ 03:10 PM
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Originally posted by bigfatfurrytexan
reply to post by grainofsand
 


Other than my comments in this thread, I will for the most part ignore it.
Maybe in the future when another silly atheist action takes place, I will reference this silly atheist action.

Some people need religion. A world without religion would not be a good place. At least, not yet. In the meantime, it does little good to try to separate yourself from it. It pervades your culture.

I think the world would be a better place without passionately held faith which people are prepared to fight over, but hey it's just an opinion, and differing views are part of the eclectic beauty of life.

Cheers for the debate though, this is just one aspect of our personal opinions as individuals, I gave you a couple of stars in the homeless guy/do-nut/trash can thread



posted on Mar, 17 2013 @ 03:19 PM
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reply to post by sacgamer25
 

Thanks for the considered and reasoned reply.
I understand your points as you see them, absoulutely, but we will never find a 'middle ground' as you believe in a God and I do not.
I will of course reconsider at any time in life if I ever see/feel/experience something to convince me otherwise, perhaps I'll still be on ATS and I'll be happy to eat humble pie. Until then though, I respect your right to your faith, and hope you can respect my right to be a person without faith seeking to enjoy social contact with other likeminded folk.



posted on Mar, 17 2013 @ 03:27 PM
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reply to post by Echo3Foxtrot
 

I've stated previously that I do not think hooking up socially with people who share a lack of faith in any gods is a religion. If you disagree, that's fine, it matters not because this 'religion' as you call it is the one I have considered fits most with my thoughts on deities.

If people assert "there are no gods" then that is a belief as unprovable as those who state there are. I do not make that assertion, and have not anywhere in this thread.
I say "I do not know but have seen/felt/experienced nothing to convince me there are any gods", I am open to change that opinion at any point in my life, but right now, my lack of belief in deities is not a faith based position, it is rational and honest - as is the opinion of many millions of people like myself.



posted on Mar, 17 2013 @ 03:33 PM
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reply to post by grainofsand
 


How long before your group blames organized religion for all the world's problems and pursues to destroy all that believe in the name of peace?

Maybe you don't condone this but this is the path this separation will lead to.



posted on Mar, 17 2013 @ 03:38 PM
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reply to post by grainofsand
 


If you are going to do away with either religious belief OR beliefs that people will fight over, you will first need to figure out how to address ego. It all boils down to ego and psyche.

Disillusionment is not easy for most.



posted on Mar, 17 2013 @ 03:42 PM
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reply to post by grainofsand
 


Look, I really don't care about your belief system. I'm just tired of atheists having a holier-than-thou attitude and becoming more unbearable than Evangelical Christians...or the gays. You know, all up in your face about it. And it has nothing to do with gays being gay, so don't twist that. It's about their....advertisement of their lifestyle.

Good for you guys. You had "church." I just want atheists to admit they are, basically, a religion now.

In the end, I'm happy for you and your people. I'm happy you guys can come to find some happiness and peace within your beliefs. Now, I say this with all the kindness in my heart (which isn't really much), shut the hell up about it. Something I'll say to a member of any religion, race, or creed.

And I'm not trying to be biased to one side or the other. I hate everyone equally on this toilet earth.
edit on 3/17/13 by Echo3Foxtrot because: (no reason given)



posted on Mar, 17 2013 @ 03:46 PM
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reply to post by sacgamer25
 

I think sentiments which are sympathetic to a world free of religion are quite obviously going to be more common in circles where most of the people do not believe in gods.
Speculation about the future of such a social community for people with no faith is simply that, speculation.
I would actively oppose any attacks on religion while in discussion at my local group, and would say the same there as I've said here in my defence, "if it doesn't affect you, then ignore it"

There are other issues I am happy to campaign against though, including the automatic seats for Anglican Church of England bishops in the upper house of Parliament here in the UK. They have votes which affect legislation covering the whole of the UK but do not represent non-believers in England, or the people of Wales, Scotland and N.Ireland because Anglican churches there are not established with the state. I look forward to debate with fellow non-believers about that specific issue certainly.



posted on Mar, 17 2013 @ 03:51 PM
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reply to post by bigfatfurrytexan
 

I agree to some extent, but I am not actively trying to do away with religion, I just wish the religious passions and control did not cause so many problems in peoples lives.
If someone's faith does not affect me then I am happy to ignore it, I am however attracted to a social environment where I can network with folk such as myself who do not believe in such things.



posted on Mar, 17 2013 @ 03:56 PM
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Originally posted by Echo3Foxtrot
reply to post by grainofsand
 


Look, I really don't care about your belief system. I'm just tired of atheists having a holier-than-thou attitude and becoming more unbearable than Evangelical Christians...or the gays. You know, all up in your face about it. And it has nothing to do with gays being gay, so don't twist that. It's about their....advertisement of their lifestyle.

Good for you guys. You had "church." I just want atheists to admit they are, basically, a religion now.

In the end, I'm happy for you and your people. I'm happy you guys can come to find some happiness and peace within your beliefs. Now, I say this with all the kindness in my heart (which isn't really much), shut the hell up about it.


"shut the hell up about it"?????...oh, you mean, like christian evangelical TV stations, or continuous radio broadcasts, or the doorbell ringers, billboards, huge hillside crosses, whole newspaper sections devoted entirely to christian religions, "in god we trust" on every piece of money, christian bibles in hotel rooms, easter sunday filled with church services, and easter parades, christian schools, christian hospitals, christian community centers, and even christian homeless shelters where beggers have to listen to christian bible readings before they are fed?.......you mean discreet, quiet, humble, non-judgemental behavior like that????
edit on 17-3-2013 by jimmyx because: (no reason given)



posted on Mar, 17 2013 @ 03:56 PM
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reply to post by Echo3Foxtrot
 

Oh dear, I hope you will find some peace somewhere in life.
You will of course be welcome at my local group, we are inclusive and have a lovely sense of community, charitable works and generally a celebration of life, just for being alive while we can.

I would say "I'll pray for you" but hey, that would be a lie. Instead, I'll just say I hope life circumstances allow you to see the beauty of living on this toilet planet (as you so tragically put it) one day.



posted on Mar, 17 2013 @ 04:06 PM
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reply to post by grainofsand
 


When you've seen what I've seen, it's hard not to see the world as a large toilet bowl. Thanks for the kind words, though. And, I don't want to mislead you and let you think I care whether you believe in god or not, I don't. I just want people to stop tip-toeing around the tulips. It's the same with being politically correct. Oh well, maybe there will be peace when I am down. But until then, I'll carry on, this wayward son.

reply to post by jimmyx
 


Yes, Shut the hell up about it. Like you should know your role and shut your mouth. As you can see, I likened the actions of the atheists to that of the Evangelical Christians. Hell, they're even like the Catholics. Can't stand any of them. Before you go running your suck, understand what I'm saying here.

Thanks. Have a nice day, bro.



posted on Mar, 17 2013 @ 04:18 PM
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My intentions in this thread have been to raise awareness of a growing socially minded option for people who do not believe in gods, and also to enjoy interesting debate due to the obvious polarised nature of the two viewpoints.
I think it has been successful so far and I'm grateful for all the interesting, if sometimes passionate replies here.

This is not about attacking religion, just about sharing information for fellow non-believers like myself.
If it acceptable for people of faith to promote their viewpoint, then it must surely be acceptable for any non-believing group of society to do the same while they do not attack or attempt to silence opposing views.



posted on Mar, 17 2013 @ 04:20 PM
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I don't think this will take off to any large degree, there isn't the substance there to make it something masses of people are going to attend- if it is your thing, fine, just my opinion



posted on Mar, 17 2013 @ 04:28 PM
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reply to post by Credenceskynyrd
 

Perhaps it will, perhaps it won't.
The interest shown so far by my own social circle alone gives me the impression that it is worth chasing.
It should be ignored by the people who do not feel inspired by it of course, just as I ignore religion where it does not affect my life. Unfortunately, with an established state church in the UK which has automatic seats for bishops in our upper house of Parliament affecting UK legislation, there are also politically inspired reasons why I am attracted to hooking up with fellow non-believers.



posted on Mar, 17 2013 @ 04:38 PM
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Originally posted by grainofsand
reply to post by Credenceskynyrd
 

Perhaps it will, perhaps it won't.
The interest shown so far by my own social circle alone gives me the impression that it is worth chasing.
It should be ignored by the people who do not feel inspired by it of course, just as I ignore religion where it does not affect my life. Unfortunately, with an established state church in the UK which has automatic seats for bishops in our upper house of Parliament affecting UK legislation, there are also politically inspired reasons why I am attracted to hooking up with fellow non-believers.


you should be grateful for the state church in the UK- it has helped to make it stale and decline, the only growth is in the more evangelical style churches- refer the USA where they had separation of church and state which actually helped religion to flourish



posted on Mar, 17 2013 @ 04:46 PM
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Originally posted by Credenceskynyrd

Originally posted by grainofsand
reply to post by Credenceskynyrd
 

Perhaps it will, perhaps it won't.
The interest shown so far by my own social circle alone gives me the impression that it is worth chasing.
It should be ignored by the people who do not feel inspired by it of course, just as I ignore religion where it does not affect my life. Unfortunately, with an established state church in the UK which has automatic seats for bishops in our upper house of Parliament affecting UK legislation, there are also politically inspired reasons why I am attracted to hooking up with fellow non-believers.


you should be grateful for the state church in the UK- it has helped to make it stale and decline, the only growth is in the more evangelical style churches- refer the USA where they had separation of church and state which actually helped religion to flourish

That is an interesting perspective.
I have to say though, I grew up in Wales where along with Scotland and N.Ireland, the Church of England has no representation. *edit* Although their votes in parliament influence our legislation */edit* The Anglican Church in Wales/Church of Scotland/Ireland, is not established with the UK government and is equally as stale and under decline.
edit on 17-3-2013 by grainofsand because: (no reason given)







 
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