Narrock wrote: I just don't get atheism. Agnosticism I can understand.
Atheism and agnosticism are not all that different beyond the stigma attached to the term Atheism. The primary underlying difference is that one denies the existence of any god and one just has no theist loyalty in particular or hasn't ascertained their stance on whether or not that higher power exists.
I didn't watch the episode because I fell asleep, but I did hear the intro to the show (because I was watching One Born Every Minute prior to it coming on), and you really need to take into consideration the extremes that show goes to when selecting families. From the brief bit I heard, the Christian family was way overly devout, and the Atheist family was just as involved in preaching their beliefs. One is not any worse than the other.. they're equally guilty of being overly preachy and pushy in that instance. I don't want religion pushed onto me, and likewise I don't think an atheist should spend their lives trying to convince others that God doesn't exist. People will believe as they believe, and while civil discussion is just fine, there's no use trying to force your beliefs onto someone else.
That said, atheists have the right to spread the word of their beliefs just as any religion does and I don't see much sense in getting infuriated over it unless you're going to get equally infuriated at the spreading of God's word.
I'm an atheist, but I assure you there is nothing empty or lost that should sadden anyone for me. I feel quite fulfilled in my life and don't find solace into putting my destiny in the hands of some higher power. On the contrary, the notion that there's some master plan that I have no control over is quite a sad one to me, and in that sense I don't get religious zeal either.
I do understand that everyone needs something to believe in, to hope for, to strive for.. a moral code to live up to, a reason for being. Personally, I find my solace and reward in the tangible. You find yours in a higher being and the belief in eternity after judgment day. I don't concern myself with the unforseeable and unproven eternal because I concern myself with my time on earth and enriching my life here. That you believe in God doesn't sadden me, and my lack of belief in any god shouldn't sadden you.
There are a lot more tragedies in our existence to be angry or concerned about than wasting energy on getting "angrier than you have in a long time" over someone's belief system, but that's just my two cents.
Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2011 11:53 am
