Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Joseph P on February 7, 2012 at 3:01am

Yeah, lots of snark mixed in, from what I've seen.  Still a better way to read it than going dry.  Leviticus and Numbers were so damned painful.

Permalink Reply by David Philip Norris on February 7, 2012 at 3:36pm

First of all, congratulations, Kaila! It's a huge step coming out like this, and a brave one, so good for you. I sort of know what you're going through with your family since I'm still the only atheist in my entire family, immediate and extended. I come from a long line of fundamentalists, so it can be really difficult when the people you care about most suddenly seem to turn on you and try to re-convert you.

 

My advice to you is to take some time away from your family, at least engagement-wise. If you're anything like me, you need some time to get to know yourself as an atheist, and purge some of the ideas that you were raised with. We call this "de-converting." Set some boundaries with them as to what you will and will not discuss, and let them know that you'll let them know when you're ready to talk about it. You're a baby atheist! Give yourself some time before you walk into the Battle of Little Bighorn.

 

I'd second the advice given above in saying to hold off on "God Delusion" and "God Is Not Great," at least if you're trying to keep your family around. Dawkins and Hitchens come from the neo-atheism camp, which is really aggressive towards religion. I'd recommend Sam Harris' "The Moral Landscape," Michael Shermer's "How We Believe" and Robert Wright's "The Evolution of God." Also, if you're interested in science I can't recommend any of Dawkins' other books more strongly, particularly "The Selfish Gene" and "The Blind Watchmaker." I practically had a religious experience reading the former, just in the way that Dawkins describes cellular evolution! Massimo Pigliucci is also a great author (and blogger), and his most recent book "Nonsense on Stilts" or even "Denying Evolution" are fantastic places to start.

 

Third, I would say get on Meetup.com or do an Internet search and find your closest atheist/freethinker groups. Check out the Atheist Community of Tulsa. Start going to events and meet other atheists. It's really important to start surrounding yourself with people who are going to help and encourage you.

 

In the meantime, there's Atheist Nexus! Cheers!

Permalink Reply by Chris Dodds on February 7, 2012 at 8:08pm

I would highly recommend Richard Dawkins' "The God Delusion".  I've also started readin Penn Jillette's "God, No" but it's too soon for me to recommend it.  You could also check out "God and his demons", but all that does is point out the reasons why religion fails as a moral guide.

Permalink Reply by Rudy V Kiist on February 8, 2012 at 8:59am

"God No" is good...with a warning. I like it, in that he writes/speaks in a way you feel "allowed" to disagree with him, if that makes any sense. Also more of a "common" person's book, without going over your head, as I believe many do. The warning part would be the language. People who get offended by words like "fuck" and the such, I recommend to just stay away. The foul language is used a fair bit. Anyone who watches "Bullshit" (a series I'd recommend. Again, you may not agree with it all, but...) knows what I mean.

Permalink Reply by Madhukar Kulkarni on February 8, 2012 at 5:04am

Kaila G

Your question will help atheists back to their roots.

 what science aspects go alongside atheism

Science is the most modern, strongest, most reliable to atheism. Science doed not work for creating atheism. What help you will need from atheists here and from science will depend on how far you have travelled on the road to atheism.

There are and have been many religions and beliefs about god. Every religion believes that the god or gods of its belief created the universe and life forms. This simply could not be true. Many of the gods so trusted have ceased even to exist. How can we therefore reconcile the many faiths that still exist and make the same old claims? All gods resemble their creators. Look at the ancient gods of China, India, Egypt etc and you will be convinced that they were the image of their creators. The god of Bible, that is, those who wrote the Bible, had therefore become a little wiser for this fact and so they told the believers not to draw any pictures or to create  idols. God has not given humanity any true knowledge, because he himself did not know how to even remove a tooth. God has wholly and totally failed to make this world a good place, a virtuous place, free of vices, injustice, evil. No religion has been able to prove the existance of god or other beliefs like the soul, heaven, hell, salvation etc.

These are a few things you can place before your believer parents. The list could be long.

Permalink Reply by Stacia L. Harrison on February 12, 2012 at 2:47pm

I am in the same boat you are in. I realized I was an atheist just under a month ago after a couple years of doubting and questioning my previously held beliefs. A video series on youtube really encourged me because it was created by a man who went through a similar experience to mine. His youtube channel name is Evid3nc3 and here's a link to the first video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSy1-Q_BEtQ&feature=plcp&con...

 

 

Permalink Reply by Sam in WV on March 23, 2012 at 12:12pm

Ditto on this recommendation.  The producer of the series is intelligent and astute.  It offers both a scientific and cultural coherent narrative of transition from evangelical Christianity to atheism. 

Permalink Reply by Earl Speer on February 12, 2012 at 5:50pm

Just to put in my two pennies Kaila,  (by the way, you share the same name with my great niece)

Becoming an atheist is - just kinda common sense...  You have become more intellectually intelligent, than most of those you call, friends, or family...  

Once you jump...  Just shut up and do it...  We need hard chargers, those that are willing to argue...  Some will argue otherwise; however, I believe superstition, make-believe even, should be aggressively discouraged...  

Permalink Reply by Earl Speer on February 13, 2012 at 6:29pm

The bible, is a good start...  Read it completely, especially the old testament...  You will be awe struck...  The good book is enough to sicken your stomach...

From what Matthew Greenberg said about Richard Dawkins is an excellent suggestion...  My personal favorite, is page 4...  Quote from the book...  

" A Gallup poll taken in 1999 asked Americans whether they
would vote for an otherwise well-qualified person who was a woman
(95 per cent would), Roman Catholic (94 per cent would), Jew (92 per
cent), black (92 per cent), Mormon (79 per cent), homosexual (79
per cent) or atheist (49 per cent)."

 

WTFUCK is all I have to say on the matter...  Most people don't like honesty, or integrity.  Atheists have made a very, non-biased, and intelligent decision...  We don't dream for a better life.  We do it!  I am personally threatened by theists.  I feel theists put my children in danger.  The only thing worse than child indoctrination, is murder.  Hope it helps... 

Permalink Reply by Andrew Crothers on February 27, 2012 at 8:55am

Hi Kaila
I've often found that religious apologists are somewhat resistant to science arguments. The onus is on them to prove their stance, rather than for you to defend yours. Rather than try to argue your point scientifically ( which of course you can), perhaps a little pre-preparation is good by asking them to consider what they actually beleive first of all. You'll find most Christians have not actually read the bible, but rather rely on the bits that their teachers have given to them. To that end, try C J Werlemans "God hates you- hate him back" . That way you'll be able to display a knowledge of the ludicrous scripture they use in their defence. Then can you use science to evidence a more sensible model of how people and world actually works...
Cheers

Andrew

Permalink Reply by Richard ∑wald on February 28, 2012 at 7:47pm

I agree, even though science does make the best source for defending arguments against science. Often it can be the worst source for arguing for atheism, as it affirms one of their oft employed fallacies.

Know what science is, and what it isn't.

Atheism, …isn't science, nor is science, atheism. Science can be useful, but more often then not I see atheists arguing against creationist misrepresentations of evolution with their own misinterpretations of evolution, …often when all they had to do is point out the flaw in the creationist argument (this is where some atheists forget about Okham's Razor, …d'oh!). 

If you're going to argue for science or counter-argue from science, make sure you actually know what you're talking about. 

I answered a similar thread with a similar post here.

If you don't want to read that link, the gist of it is: It's more valuable to learn how to spot and refute logical fallacy than it is to use "science" to refute theism.

After all, if science could actually refute theism, there would be no theist scientists, …and there are theist scientists, …some who are well respected by their peers.

Permalink Reply by Thomas Drolsum on March 3, 2012 at 6:14pm

Kaila, I would like to help you out by sending you a complimentary copy of my recently published book Unholy Writ: An Infidel's Critque of the Bible.  As well as debunking the Scriptures, it contains chapters on the history of atheism and the scientific arguments against creationism. You can get more information about it at www.unholywrit.com.  I think it may be of assistance to you as you get on your feet as an atheist.  If you decide that you want the free copy simply email me at tojodro@yahoo.com. 

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• …
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• Next ›
• Page