exciting new life as an atheist

[ilovemyhens]

Now that I have been reliably informed that God doesn't exist I should like to know what I can do to fill my time as an atheist.

How do atheists spend their day and what activities do they enjoy partaking in?

Will it involve getting rid of the chickens and how will previous friends at Church react when I tell them the bad news that God doesn't actually exist and that they need to spend their time doing something more worthwhile?

Is this about another thread?

Riven, are you sure? Because at the end of Point Break they say "vaya con Dios".

Congratulations. Welcome to the adult world.

At least, I'd say that if I didn't think this wasn't rather heavy-handed sarcasm/satire.

Didn't think this was. Whatever.

Personally I think you should sacrifice the chickens on the Altar of Dawkins :o

My chickens are my life!

Well then you are a chicken-worshipper aren't you? Where your chickens are, there your heart will be also.

This is true, especially during the rain when I'm on my knees cleaning all the damp poo out of their coop

Not sure about the implications for your chickens. You are not thinking of taking up Voodoo are you?

Learn to paint, write poems, sing, do charity work, understand science, love the one's you're with (including your chickens), run, travel, marvel at the world, make a mark -- really the world's your oyster.

Seriously though I am sure it would be incredibly hard for someone whose friends, social life, identity etc.. is tied up with religion to loose their faith. I am told there are lots of vicars who go through the motions because they believe in the community side of what they do.

Atheists spend their days doing whatever they want to.

That may involve chicken keeping.

It may also involve remaining friendly with people at Church and leaving them happily deluded rather than bursting their bubble.

Sundays are much much longer, and you can do whatever you like really. Learn French or something. Also Christmas Day and Easter are so much more fun without the constant annoying interruptions of church. You can just stay home and drink champagne, eat Turkish delight and play scrabble.

Plus, you can have sex with whoever you like, whenever, even if you've only known then for five hours. It's all go in the atheist world. Never a dull moment.

I must be the wrong sort of atheist - definitely not all go here .

Although I do enjoy a lie in on a Sunday given half a chance.

I wake up and listen to Aled Jones on Radio 2 rather than going to church.

I'm not always sure this is an improvement.

DW and I try to second-guess each week how many questions it will be before he asks the interviewee, "So how does God help you with this/ Where is God in this?"

Go to your local hospital and volunteer for visiting those people that don't actually get visitor. You then sit and have a small chat to the person and make them feel rather good that someone cares.

Chickens eggs are good for baking, so doing extra baking and then taking to neighbours especially elderly neighbours will be appreciated, again a small chat and ask if they need shopping.

Knitting, family history, or a course at college to learn something new.

Yoga is also a good pass time as is meditation.

Gym and a swim to keep you active

Go for a nice walk on a Sunday morning and feel at peace instead of desperately trying to square the circle WRT the irreconcilable tangles of theology?

Just me then.

Good grief, I don't have time for any of this stuff! I have kids to look after don't you know I barely make it to church half the time!!!

tbh, it doesn't sound like my life will be significantly different

Perhaps I need to spice things up a little by going out nightclubbing and making lots of new friends

Arf at Aled Jones. I always view enjoyment of his show as a guilty pleasure; like Michael Ball he's actually a very good presenter but I just can't shake that cheesy 80's image . So I'm way too cool to admit to liking their shows, yeah man, wayyyy too cool. I just don't care, naah mean? So cool am I.

OP: I have it on good authority from my atheist friends that they are parial to the enjoyment of what is known as Popular Music of an afternoon. You may wish to investigate this. As for me, I shall be squirrelled away with my LP of Amish Greatest Hits.

Hmm... re: Sundays, I found that when I wasn't a churchgoer, there was a sense of "the long dark teatime of the soul" that Douglas Adams referred to in his book...

:o @ UQD & Aled Jones, must be quote of the day!

Hmm... re: Sundays, I found that when I wasn't a churchgoer, there was a sense of "the long dark teatime of the soul" that Douglas Adams referred to in his book...

:o @ UQD & Aled Jones, must be quote of the day!

become a buddhist and do some meditation :)

UnquietDAD I'm so glad you said that - we do exactly the same thing! It's so obvious that Aled's guest is only there to plug a new book or album, and they aren't remotely religious, but it's hilarious hearing them trying to thing of something profound to say about God, without actually admitting that they don't really give a toss.

They usually fall back on the old cop-out that goes:

'I wouldn't say I'm religious in the conventional sense, I don't actually go to church, but somewhere inside me I feel deeply spiritual and connected to a higher plane.'

Poor Aled does an audible sigh of relief, and me and DH fall about laughing.

I was quite surprised to hear Mark Kermode "out" himself on Aled's show as a regular Anglican churchgoer. Some people think it doesn't sit with his obsession with horror films, but as he said, how many other genres have priests as heroes?