There is no god

[OldKingCole]

Inspired by another thread … I was surprised by the level of atheism professed … as I always though I was in a tiny, tiny minority.
would be interested to see the MN response.

IABU - there is a god
IANBU - there is no god

www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/culturalidentity/religion/bulletins/religionenglandandwales/census2021#main-points

@ValK as usual you are presenting sexual morality as a zero sum game. Again, it is not that clear cut. For example, there is a massive difference between having endless meaningless one night stands (though I don't judge because as long as both parties are safe, sane and consensual it is not my business) and a long term committed relationship that is not marriage. There is also the issue of homosexuality: if you discard the idea that same sex attraction is a matter of choice (and I do) then essentially your god is saying that he does not accept your need to love and marry the person you love. That is cruel and evil, not morally righteous.

You don’t need religion/God in your life to demonstrate empathy and care. I know good from bad without God or any religious idea.

Under the rule and influence of various religions including the Catholic Church homosexuality was illegal and even punishable by death. If you don't think that's cruel and evil there is something wrong with you.

‘I know good from bad without God or any religious idea.

More accurately, you decide what is good or bad according to what suits you at the time.’

as does the Catholic Church, along with all other major religions.

It is absolutely cruel and evil to deny someone lifelong love, commitment and family because of an arbitrary whim as to what you think is and isn't moral. Your Catholic god is monstrous.

I was raised a Jehovah's Witness and had unwavering faith in it until about 20 years old. I no longer believe in God, although I do still hope there is life after death, death absolutely terrifies me. However , that's perhaps because as crazy as it sounds, I was raised to believe I would never die on this earth. Posters are right about the Old Testament being sexist and full of genocide, however I still love the teachings of Jesus in the New Testament even if I don't know if I believe in him.

Valk
Suffering is a natural part of life and secular society just can't abide that. It has a typically unrealistic and infantile view that there should be no suffering.
However, there is worth in suffering: it challenges us and others, it inspires love and care, it teaches us empathy, it teaches us to value good health etc there are many examples of how good can come out of an apparent bad.

I wonder if you're talking from personal experience of suffering. It's very easy to say these things about other people's suffering.

I knew of an Anglican priest whose daughter was killed in a terrorist attack. She went to pieces and lost her faith. Strange, that. You'd think that, after all the dealings she would have had with others' suffering, bereavement, illness etc, she might have questioned the existence of a benign God - but apparently not. It took a terrible event happening to her before she could really understand what suffering is like, and why people dismiss the idea of a caring deity.

Before anyone accuses me of callousness - I'm extremely compassionate about what happened to this poor woman. But I'm shocked that she took a different view theologically only when terrible pain affected her personally.

I don't understand why you think I expect life to be free of suffering? Not at all. To me, everything is random. Bad things happen to good people and to bad people.

So you took the financial protection that marriage offers, but not the rest of the traditional marriage institution.

What is the purpose of marriage? God clearly meant well by instituting marriage. One purpose of marriage is to create a stable home in which children can grow and thrive - and that still works without God but I think it’s respectful to remember where the gift of instituting marriage comes from. Credit where credit is due.

A non religious affirmation is now common in the medical world

What a coincidence that corona is now common in the medical world too!

A non religious affirmation is a novel thing in the medical world. Time will tell how it really works out for medicine. Looking at how the pharmaceutical industry treats medical ethics in relation to financial profits, I’m really concerned for medical ethics.

How drug companies mislead doctors and harm patients

We had to get married to live in the same country together. That was a leap of faith at 23. There was no other route for us to make that work at that point. The best we could do was opt for a civil ceremony.

I think it’s respectful to remember where the gift of instituting marriage comes from. Credit where credit is due.

Marriage massively predates Christanity, and Judaism for that matter. Anthropologists have found no part of society primitivenor modern that doesnt have a form of marriage.

So if we are respecting the gift of instituting marriage and giving credit where credit is due that would be prehistoric man and indigenous tribes.

But what do you mean by god? You need to define that first.

‘It is absolutely cruel and evil to deny someone lifelong love, commitment and family because of an arbitrary whim as to what you think is and isn't moral. Your Catholic god is monstrous.’

Inwas raised Catholic - now atheist- but can tell you now that the posters interpretation of what ‘god’ wants via his/her lens of the Catholic faith is extreme to say the least.
I know very few Catholics, or other Christian’s, who have the same views.
That’s the problem with religion, it attracts the mentally ill, vulnerable and down right crazies to their cause.

All my close family are atheists. I always automatically assume that my friends and colleagues are atheists. I'm very surprised when highly educated, liberal minded people believe in a god.

‘I think it’s respectful to remember where the gift of instituting marriage comes from. Credit where credit is due.’

If you’re suggesting it’s Christianity or any other major religion it’s not.
What they did do though was take binding and commitment ceremonies and turn them into something that subjugated women to the will of men.
So well done there.

Have you got a source? I would like to check that claim out.

A God I don’t believe in can’t dictate what is good and bad.

There are many, but the link I an putting below is specifically a Christian organisation confirming that marriage predates Christianity

www.focusonthefamily.com/marriage/should-civil-marriage-matter-to-christians/

Although a simple Google will show you many many many sources that tell you marriage is ancient, its fairly common knowledge. Especially given it exists in indigenous tribes that have nothing g to do with either christianity or Judaism for example

I can’t give any credit to any God for our marriage as neither of us believe in any God.

Your comments on the pandemic are irrational.

Well according to the bible God blessed Adam and Eve. God is the originator of marriage as a concept.