Living in an atheist world

[fifi669]

Anyone else find it difficult at times? My faith is unfaltering. I just find other peoples attitudes a bit draining sometimes.

I had a woman at work taking the piss out of Christians to me so I told her I was one. She looked at me like I had two heads. (She'd obviously not noticed the crucifix).

Constant stupid questions such as do you believe in the tooth fairy too? Come about once religion is mentioned. Sigh.

Unless asked a relevant question I keep my faith to myself and don't shove it in peoples faces. I don't see why people can't do the same with their atheism.

[Greige]

Curlew - Google Asatru :)

[worldgonecrazy]

Curlew - yes there are. They usually call themselves Heathens and hold Blots. If you google you may even find a few local to you. There are definitely a bunch of them in the West Midlands.

[BackOnlyBriefly]

curlew there might be a handful, but it can't be many. I've been using them as an example for years and never had one post from a believer.

Shame really cos they did sound more fun than god/allah.

[OldLadyKnowsNothing]

X post, quite agree BackOnlyBriefly. (My sister is Born Again.)

[OldLadyKnowsNothing]

My friend's teenager says he does, I'm not entirely convinced.

[BackOnlyBriefly]

That's a relief. For a moment there I thought I was talking to a fundamentalist. I probably should have known, but am notorious for getting names muddled up :)

Anyway they all have interesting histories and origins, but are surely the same in terms of respecting the beliefs. The reason this came up was that the OP was saying that to compare her belief with the silly things other people believe is offensive.

So I'm making the point that if a Christian - for example - dismisses fairies, Islam, Paganism etc as nonsense then they must accept that others will feel the same about their religion.

[curlew]

Are there still people who genuinely believe in the Norse Gods? I think I might be tempted away from a lifetime of atheism...........

[OldLadyKnowsNothing]

Is that to me? I am atheist, raised Xtian (CoS) but with some knowledge of other belief systems, having had the blessing of a 70's comprehensive education. I view all traditions as equally made-up, but consider that animistic, pantheistic systems have more in common with each other than with the Abrahamic ones.

[BackOnlyBriefly]

Is the major difference that your god is real and they made theirs up?

I don't know how else to take the "One True God" bit.

[OldLadyKnowsNothing]

Only "quite" different? Why? I'd say Hindu beliefs, and the Nordic gods, (along with Graeco-Romanic, Egyptian traditions etc) are completely different from Xtian/Abrahamic "One True God" religions but probably have more in common with a belief in faeries.

[BackOnlyBriefly]

a completely different tradition.

Well, quite different anyway. but where would you place the Hindu gods (A monkey, a woman with lots of arms and so on) or Thor, Odin and his lot.

It's just that the ones most people are accustomed to in the UK are on the same tree. Paul made Christianity as a branch off from Judaism. Mohammed branched off a bit later and called it Islam. From the Christian branch you've got branches for everything from Methodists and Baptists to Mormons.

It's not even the oldest tree. The bible warns the Children Of Israel about following any of those other gods.

[Tubemole1]

I feel I live in a Christian society. I am of the opinion I and my family and friends who don't believe have the same self-imposed values as the religious. Don't murder, honour your family, don't cheat, etc. I am equally entitled not to believe as those who do.

Whilst individual believers may feel they are being persecuted, the Church as a whole does not. In an age of political correctness and the fear of offending anyone, religious groups have never had it so good. Our tolerant society has actually favoured the religious, as we are not supposed to judge, but find common ground with our neighbours.

I can defend my atheism, just as much as the religious can defend their beliefs. It may not make sense to either side, but at least we are entitled to our views. The op was shocked at views expressed in her presence from a non-believer...well, suck it up! Because if I hear anything against atheism, I am meant to take it on the chin! It's not fair. Accept the criticism, and learn from it, discard it, and move on.

If any atheists and secularists wish to find evidence to my ideas, Google the National Secular Society and the British Humanist Society.

[OldLadyKnowsNothing]

Celtic traditions, at least in Scotland, featured many faeries. But I cannot think of them in the same "breath" as "God", because "God" comes from a completely different tradition.

[BackOnlyBriefly]

Coupon, Not sure how you meant that? Belief in fairies is older than Moonies, and Mormons. Belief doesn't have to mean only in the god of a monotheistic religion.

[tuffie]

OP. Don t be disheatened. Whenever you feel drained and ridiculed, remember Matthew 5 "Blessed are you when people insult you because of me. Rejoice and be glad " And always remember how happy your faith makes you. Works for me !
Most atheists and Christians are ime very tolerant, and do respect each other. People on forums like this tend to be those with quite strong opinions !

[Coupon]

I'm not aware of any ancient religions where God is considered to be a fairy. Goddess yes, fairy no!

[BackOnlyBriefly]

Only if you claim that all beliefs must be respected. I get around it by not respecting any belief.

I never understood why someone would wake up one day and think "oh I think I'll believe in Baby Jesus, The Reverend Moon or Fairies" and why they would then expect others to play along.

Though I have a bit of sympathy for those that were told it was true when they were too young to know better.

[curlew]

Hang on- are you saying that if I met an adult who believed in the a Tooth Fairy I would have to respect her beliefs?

[octopusinastringbag]

For those who believe, what is the difference in believing in the Christian God and believing in the Gods from other religions. Do you see them all as variants of the same God or are they different Gods?

[Kewcumber]

I know adults who believe in fairies and astrology and homeopathy (but not necessarily all at once, although quite often I must say).

I'm not rude to them though. Doesn't make any difference to me if they believe in the Easter bunny.

[BackOnlyBriefly]

Constant stupid questions such as do you believe in the tooth fairy too?

Do you - as I think that comment implies - think adults who believe in the tooth fairy are stupid?

If so are you not as guilty as the woman at work of showing contempt for other people's beliefs?

[Habbibu]

With, not w ruth

[Habbibu]

What? That's not really a reasonable analogy, is it? I was simply saying that were the uk to be Christian or not, it's possible that there would be festivals which meant that people didn't go to work. What exactly has that got to do w Ruth stoning people in the street?

[technodad]

You are right Habbibu,

They have stoned women in the street as punnishment for many years in some countries. Best we let them continue doing that too, because it is a cute ole' tradition!