The Red Hand Files

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I'm not an atheist.

What I found is that praying for someone with real belief, works.

I also found out that it's a full commitment, not just when you want something no matter how desperate or selfless that may be.

What I've learned is there is no compromising that. Maybe that's what I was meant to learn.
 
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luvgonzo said:
I don't think this is a general question on religion, more a specific question and how you would react in those circumstances.
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Given that we have become all serious for a moment, this is my response - I would do absolutely anything within my power, be it belief or disbelief, if I felt there might be the remotest chance of achieving a positive outcome to such a situation ...
 
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I'm more inclined to believe in the Greek Pantheon, or perhaps the Norse Gods. They're fun and interesting.

Bible stories are boring, lame, conservative tales from dirt poor peasants lacking imagination.

Take Cain and Abel. On one hand, God is an all knowing, all powerful being, capable of creating EVERYTHING.
On the other hand, he gets a Shepherd and a farmer to give him meaningless offerings and has the time to JUDGE them in a competition for his favour.

He votes in favour of a sheep.

That was written by a peasant right there, Zeus raped a woman while disguised as a swan ffs.

The Bible is full of nonsense like that, Tales of the desert basically.
 
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Welshie said:
I'm more inclined to believe in the Greek Pantheon, or perhaps the Norse Gods. They're fun and interesting.

Bible stories are boring, lame, conservative tales from dirt poor peasants lacking imagination.

Take Cain and Abel. On one hand, God is an all knowing, all powerful being, capable of creating EVERYTHING.
On the other hand, he gets a Shepherd and a farmer to give him meaningless offerings and has the time to JUDGE them in a competition for his favour.

He votes in favour of a sheep.

That was written by a peasant right there, Zeus raped a woman while disguised as a swan ffs.

The Bible is full of nonsense like that, Tales of the desert basically.
Click to expand...
Point missed. Try again. Reading it may help.
 
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luvgonzo said:
I've posted these before and thought this one very interesting.

https://www.theredhandfiles.com/detached-myself-from-religion/

Over the years I detached myself from religion until I became an atheist. Yesterday, I had video contact with friends in the USA and a husband of one, Paul E, an American banjo player with whom I play, has cancer and is very weak. His wife asked us to think of him, which I do all the time, but also to pray for him. I find myself caught between my desire to respond to the request and that of preserving an intellectual honesty that would avoid being confronted with a lie.



Although I am not an atheist myself, I have a lot of time for their position, because I do struggle with the notion of God’s existence to a certain extent. Atheists, though, fall decisively on one side of the dividing line, whereas I have moved back and forth across that line over the years, spending more time with the believers than the non-believers these days. Many atheists are well informed on religion and hold a view on the significance of the nature of the theological struggle, and so I feel closer to them than I do to the spiritually complacent, the religiously dogmatic or those who are simply indifferent to these matters. I think complacency and indifference are more of a problem for the embattled soul of the world than emphatic disbelief.

But in regard to your dilemma, Jean-Marc, I can’t think of an act more generous than an atheist at prayer, who temporarily puts aside their disbelief in a god in order to bring comfort to a friend. Loosening your position for a moment, and doing something difficult because it has been asked of you by someone you care for, demonstrates a confidence in your beliefs, and shows that they are not so prideful or absolutist that they manifest into a smallness of being. Of course, to some this act will seem intellectually dishonest, a sham and a lie, but to others it will appear as the purest kindness, where heart eclipses mind, a true and complex gesture of what it means to love somebody. We show that in times of need we can do whatever is required of us, with a magnanimous heart, bending to the will of those we love. Understandably, it will be difficult for you to pray, but that is the very reason to do it. What is true friendship if we are not tested at times, if we are not prepared to soften our cherished ideals as an act of fidelity and commitment to those we love. In the end, this act of friendship may be the most eloquent prayer of all.

If it is appropriate, please send Paul E my thoughts and prayers.
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I'm an atheist but have quite happily prayed in the company of devout Christians . M view is if the are right , which i'm sure they're not . ive helped if not no harm has been done .
 
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I'm not an atheist, I believe MattH is our God and saviour.


My family aren't religious, but obviously school and church were still pretty tightly knit even in the 90's so had the religious hymn in assemblies and religious education that wasn't as entirely worldly as it is supposed to be. Never believed myself though.

Was quite surprised after moving over to the US that all these Bible thumpers knew far less about Christianity than myself. They all follow blindly not even knowing what their religion really teaches (beyond believe in Jesus and don't take it up the arse).

I don't consider myself an atheist though. I don't follow any religion and don't think any religion I've heard of makes sense. That said, that doesn't mean there isn't a God or higher power out there... I just don't think it's attached to any religion I've encountered. I'm truly agnostic as I believe Idon't know and can't know.

I DO think for most people having a religion is a good thing. It's a source of comfort for many. When religion is used for evil, I dont think it's so much the fault of the religion as it it the fault of the followers.

I hope there is a god out there and that he/they have a favourable opinion of me if he or they know of my existence... I just doubt it.
 
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M!LK said:
I'm not an atheist, I believe MattH is our God and saviour.


My family aren't religious, but obviously school and church were still pretty tightly knit even in the 90's so had the religious hymn in assemblies and religious education that wasn't as entirely worldly as it is supposed to be. Never believed myself though.

Was quite surprised after moving over to the US that all these Bible thumpers knew far less about Christianity than myself. They all follow blindly not even knowing what their religion really teaches (beyond believe in Jesus and don't take it up the arse).

I don't consider myself an atheist though. I don't follow any religion and don't think any religion I've heard of makes sense. That said, that doesn't mean there isn't a God or higher power out there... I just don't think it's attached to any religion I've encountered. I'm truly agnostic as I believe Idon't know and can't know.

I DO think for most people having a religion is a good thing. It's a source of comfort for many. When religion is used for evil, I dont think it's so much the fault of the religion as it it the fault of the followers.

I hope there is a god out there and that he/they have a favourable opinion of me if he or they know of my existence... I just doubt it.
Click to expand...

your confused
 
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