I am an atheist.

[IR35FanClub]

I don't really need any burden of proof to know it is all make believe. And I mean know. You only need to look into the history of the religions to know they were created by people to control others. E.g The romans created the Christian religion to stop them losing their empire (it didn't work, but it did sort of as Rome still has a lot of control). It was based on pagan beliefs, ancient Egyptian mythology and astrology and astronomy. Ie we are currently in the Age of Pisces - and will be as it runs from AD1 to AD2150 (according to some interpretations). Christmas - follows the setting of the sun at it's lowest point on December 21st, it stays low until it start to rise again on December 25th. Likewise easter is celebrated around the time the days (light/good) starts to become longer than the nights (dark/evil). The story of the 3 kings following a star is stolen from Ancient Egypt and virgin births are pretty much essential pre-requisite for any self respecting religion.

The fact that Judaism/Christianity/Islam all pinch each others ideas and stories confirms no one had an original thought for thousands of years. I guess Islam is the most up to date - so if you have to choose one - become a Muslim. They acknowlege Moses and Jesus, but Muhammad was the final prophet. Interestingly the Qur'an has a lot of respect for Christians - or People of the Book, who are recognised by Allah.

Don't know much about Hindu's or Buddhists (though I'm told by an old associate buddhism isn't a religion but a way of life - learning not to be bad).

After a good few years wanting to have some kind of faith I found the best one is that if we stick out minds to it, humans can do pretty much anything without needing superstition or faith to get it done. Still wouldn't call my self a humanist as I don't feel the need to belong to an orgnisation of belief - when I can link up with any charity, business, web forum or do stuff by myself for pretty much anything I might be interested in.

And that makes me what the muslims call an infidel, which I'm assuming to an devout muslim means you may as well be a pig?

[edit] to add being as blair and religion got mentioned in the same thread...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddsz9XBhrYA

[Platypus]

The romans created the Christian religion to stop them losing their empire

Brief research on the web seems to indicate that this is rubbish.

I'd be interested in any links you can provide.

So help me, I don't want to be one of those posters who demand evidence and stats for every post made. But I'll make an exception in this case.

[Wanderer]

The romans created the Christian religion to stop them losing their empire

Brief research on the web seems to indicate that this is rubbish. I'd be interested in any links you can provide.

I saw quite a good documentary about that a little while back... In particular it explains what the Romans have done for us.

[cojak]

I am an atheist.

Enough with the laughably trite ludicrous generalisations! That's the kind of argument that would get laughed at in the first week at university.

Have you been outside anytime this century?

The foundations on which you've built your conclusions make pastafarians look well-grounded in fact.

But thanks for sharing your faith so we can laugh at it.

Oi! Don't dis The Noodly One!

[IR35FanClub]

Brief research on the web seems to indicate that this is rubbish.

I'd be interested in any links you can provide.

So help me, I don't want to be one of those posters who demand evidence and stats for every post made. But I'll make an exception in this case.

Well it was actually from memory from "Stuff" i've watched or read over the years (and it wasn't monty python). By googling roman empire and christianity this came up.

State church of the Roman Empire - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Maybe created was too strong ... adopted is a better fit.

The rest you'll have to google yourself as I'm too busy.

IIRC there was some Egyptian figure born of a virgin that 3 wise men followed a star came to see. Someone with a short name. Could be Ra Ra - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, but maybe one of the lesser deities.

Look up the age of pisces (who's symbol is the fish the same as the christian symbol). Its also what makes the belief in the second coming. This is probably a misunderstanding though. The age of pisces comes to an end around 2150 when it becomes the age of Aquarius (hence the song). Last year if you use the Mayan interpretation.

[NotAllThere]

Constantine adopted Christianity in order to stabilise and consolidate the Roman Empire, but that was quite a few years after Christianity was started by a bunch of Jews, and, later, gentiles. A fairly large sector of Christianity (i.e. many non-catholics, non-orthodox) reckon this is when the church started to get corrupted - sold out to the world system. Whore of babylon and all that.

The only common thing that atheists believe is that religion has not satisfied it's burden of proof.

Possibly for the first time, WHS.

Nah - I don't agree that religion has a burden of proof. The idea that proof comes into it is an atheistic paradigm, not that of a believer. That's why usually the one will not convince the other - the world view is entirely different.

Atheism is a religion in the same way as not playing golf is a hobby.

It's certainly my hobby.

[SupremeSpod]

And that makes me what the muslims call an infidel, which I'm assuming to an devout muslim means you may as well be a pig?

You're very "Evangelical" about your absence of "faith".

And, "Infidel" is not of "Muslim" origin, perhaps you should read up a little on your history.

[Platypus]

You're very "Evangelical" about your absence of "faith".

And, "Infidel" is not of "Muslim" origin, perhaps you should read up a little on your history.

He didn't say that the Muslims originated the word

Kafir might have been an alternative.

Political Islam // Articles // Kafir

[d000hg]

I don't really need any burden of proof to know it is all make believe. And I mean know.

Isn't that exactly the argument a fundamentalist bible belt creationist uses... "I don't need facts to know I'm right"?

You only need to look into the history of the religions to know they were created by people to control others. E.g The romans created the Christian religion to stop them losing their empire

The Romans created the Roman Catholic church (the clue's in the name). Christianity was 'created' by the original disciples of Jesus who were typically imprisoned or killed.

It was based on pagan beliefs, ancient Egyptian mythology and astrology and astronomy. Ie we are currently in the Age of Pisces - and will be as it runs from AD1 to AD2150 (according to some interpretations). Christmas - follows the setting of the sun at it's lowest point on December 21st, it stays low until it start to rise again on December 25th. Likewise easter is celebrated around the time the days (light/good) starts to become longer than the nights (dark/evil).

Your argument is that because they chose the same dates as other festivals, they were copying them? That was deliberate... nobody remembered the exact dates so they picked some.

The fact that Judaism/Christianity/Islam all pinch each others ideas and stories confirms no one had an original thought for thousands of years.

That's the best one yet. Sources corroborate so that means not that they are sharing some common source of history, but that the authors were lazy.

It's fascinating thinking how you must picture this... one day some guy thought "I know I'll write the Bible. Let me copy the Torah and then add some more stuff".

As you proudly admit, you're speaking from ignorance. I'd stick to that, you're pretty good at it. You're a perfect example of the stereotypical brainwashed religious type who was indoctrinated with beliefs but never bothered to investigate the claims on which they're made.

[MyUserName]

Nah - I don't agree that religion has a burden of proof. The idea that proof comes into it is an atheistic paradigm, not that of a believer. That's why usually the one will not convince the other - the world view is entirely different.

But the burden of proof is on the claiment. If one claims that there is an all powerful, supernatural creature that can simulataneously telepathically communicate with millions of people then the burden of proof rests on them. If they cannot provide it than someone else, imho rationally, would most likely not believe them.

The more extreme the claim then the more extreme the required proof becomes. For example, I doubt you would need much convincing that I had breakfast this morning - me saying it might be enough but I claimed that I had breakfast with Brad Pitt then you would, most likely, not take my word for it. If you were going to believe that you would probably want photographs, witnesses etc.