In Reply to: i like George Carlin posted by Acheick on February 19, 2006 at 16:08:08:
I just don't know too many atheists that tell others that to believe there is a God makes them stupid. Sure there are a few ranters for the "cause" or some that speak up intelligently to keep one set of values from legislating everyone's lives.
I don't see Christians as people who are alienated in society at large. Yes, many make fun of televangelists and others but still there is a lot more predjudice against people who have no professed religion, at least in some States and some parts of the world.
That is how i see it anyway. You asked: "I also wonder, how does one become an atheist if there is no God to not believe in? I'm kind of confused here."
uh..the same way a person who is a Christian does not believe in the rat god of Hinduism. Because a person does not believe in a god or gods, how is that confusing?
btw, thanks for the conversation. I hold no ill will towards Christians or any belief system as long as it does not try to force others to believe likewise and is not criminal.
I respect that you have a belief. Maybe one day I will. I might be into Zen Buddhism. Well, probably not. I met this one person who has been buddhist for a lot of years and teaches yoga. She was missing a personality from so much meditating. Now I don't mean to malign buddhists! I just like passion in life. Must be some of my Italian roots kicking in.