The right side of atheism

[alan1]

The right side of atheism​

I am a rare person. My political views tend to be extremely right-wing and I am atheist.

In my past, I used to be more militant about being anti-god and anti-religion and anti-spiritual. I no longer take that position. I see atheists on this board (and other boards) that seem to want to do nothing more than try to ridicule people for their religious beliefs. Often times, it takes the guise of blaming current people for the atrocities of past religious leaders. That is a false stance to take. Nobody alive today took part in the crusades. Nobody alive today rode with Mohammed and carried a sword for him. The atrocities of the past belong to those of the past.

I look at my friends that carry religion as a part of their life. Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Taoists, Wiccans, Hindus, etc. All of them, with no exceptions, use their religion as a guide towards being a better person. They all strive to live up to the positive influences their religion has upon them. I see none that seek out hate or evil within their religious beliefs. None that justify evil with religion. I may disagree with some of their stances that are based upon their religion, but I see so many more stances based upon their religion that is positive and for the betterment of themselves, their community and mankind. If god (or religion) is the reason for them to take positive action in their life, then I find no problem with that simply because I don’t believe in their god. If belief in their god, their religion or their spirituality is what makes them a better person, who am I to argue or disparage that? I say more power to them.

I am conservative, I am atheist, and that is my point of view.

 

[AVG-JOE]

I suppose religion is like music - there's music that builds you up and music that tears you down and it's easy to tell which is which, though we might not agree on what's what.

All preachers, priests, prophets and prayer leaders build character. Some build character of light and some build dark character. I'm with you though - all my friends subscribe to some sort of belief system of varying organizational style and none of them appears dark.

Don't get me wrong..... I know dark people, they're just not my friends.

 

[Dragon]

There's no logical reason why atheism HAS to go together with political liberalism. I would say the reason that it tends to is because many atheists tend also to be scientists or interested in science, and to have a fact-based approach to reality, which transfers over to politics. This immediately means that most atheists:

1) Take the side of science in the political dispute over things like global warming, creationism in schools, and peak oil.

2) Know enough about economics to understand why conservative economic theory doesn't work well.

3) Oppose religion-based conservative political positions such as opposition to abortion rights and gay rights.

Atheism per se does not logically lead to any of this, however, except maybe #3.

 

[alan1]

There's no logical reason why atheism HAS to go together with political liberalism. I would say the reason that it tends to is because many atheists tend also to be scientists or interested in science, and to have a fact-based approach to reality, which transfers over to politics. This immediately means that most atheists:

1) Take the side of science in the political dispute over things like global warming, creationism in schools, and peak oil..

3 widely varying points, only one of which is related to religious belief.

2) Know enough about economics to understand why conservative economic theory doesn't work well.

Economic theory and religion are completely unrelated.

3) Oppose religion-based conservative political positions such as opposition to abortion rights and gay rights.

Atheism per se does not logically lead to any of this, however, except maybe #3.

My opposition to abortion is not religious based, but liberals try to tell me it is.

 

[Dragon]

As I said, there is no direct, logical connection between atheism per se and liberal politics. The connection is indirect: because atheists tend to be science-oriented and fact-based, they tend to liberal positions on the issues noted above. You are correct that opposition to religion does not, by itself, lead to these conclusions. Only its typical accompaniment does so.

 

[spectrumc01]

Religion should be a personal thing, not public. Religious views and political leanings don't have to reflect each other. Not all Christians are conservative, and not all Liberals are athiests. My hope is to one day have a true seperation of state and religion. My problem with religion, any religion, is that they try to pass laws based on their specific moral code and the system wasn't designed that way.

 

[MarcATL]

Religion should be a personal thing, not public. Religious views and political leanings don't have to reflect each other. Not all Christians are conservative, and not all Liberals are athiests. My hope is to one day have a true seperation of state and religion. My problem with religion, any religion, is that they try to pass laws based on their specific moral code and the system wasn't designed that way.

Believe it not, according to the Bible, Church and State will be a MAJOR issue in the last days, in the world in general and in this country playing a particular role in the controversy. BTW, this country came into existense because of that battle, Church and State. The pilgrims were running away from persucution of the Church in Europe and wanted their own country with their own laws NOT based on Religious beliefs. That's why it's there in the first place. I would imagine very few, if any, other countries have such laws written into place. Or at least began with such laws as you have here in the USA. Even the ones that certain people typically refer to as heathen nations. Those same "heathen nations" usually have or had laws that were based on some religion.

Hint: We're in the last days.

 

[California Girl]

As I said, there is no direct, logical connection between atheism per se and liberal politics. The connection is indirect: because atheists tend to be science-oriented and fact-based, they tend to liberal positions on the issues noted above. You are correct that opposition to religion does not, by itself, lead to these conclusions. Only its typical accompaniment does so.

Yea, ok. We'll ignore facts and just accept that 'rational thought'.

 

[spectrumc01]

Religion should be a personal thing, not public. Religious views and political leanings don't have to reflect each other. Not all Christians are conservative, and not all Liberals are athiests. My hope is to one day have a true seperation of state and religion. My problem with religion, any religion, is that they try to pass laws based on their specific moral code and the system wasn't designed that way.

Believe it not, according to the Bible, Church and State will be a MAJOR issue in the last days, in the world in general and in this country playing a particular role in the controversy. BTW, this country came into existense because of that battle, Church and State. The pilgrims were running away from persucution of the Church in Europe and wanted their own country with their own laws NOT based on Religious beliefs. That's why it's there in the first place. I would imagine very few, if any, other countries have such laws written into place. Or at least began with such laws as you have here in the USA. Even the ones that certain people typically refer to as heathen nations. Those same "heathen nations" usually have or had laws that were based on some religion.

Hint: We're in the last days.

The last days? do you really believe that? Do you still go to work every day? are you still preparing for you financial future?

I work with a born again and that is all I hear...The last days. It seams to me if we were truly in the last days these people would be repenting and getting their houses in order instead of saving for their future. Just seams hypocritical to me..."It's the end of days but just in case...."

 

[MarcATL]

Religion should be a personal thing, not public. Religious views and political leanings don't have to reflect each other. Not all Christians are conservative, and not all Liberals are athiests. My hope is to one day have a true seperation of state and religion. My problem with religion, any religion, is that they try to pass laws based on their specific moral code and the system wasn't designed that way.

Believe it not, according to the Bible, Church and State will be a MAJOR issue in the last days, in the world in general and in this country playing a particular role in the controversy. BTW, this country came into existense because of that battle, Church and State. The pilgrims were running away from persucution of the Church in Europe and wanted their own country with their own laws NOT based on Religious beliefs. That's why it's there in the first place. I would imagine very few, if any, other countries have such laws written into place. Or at least began with such laws as you have here in the USA. Even the ones that certain people typically refer to as heathen nations. Those same "heathen nations" usually have or had laws that were based on some religion.

Hint: We're in the last days.

The last days? do you really believe that? Do you still go to work every day? are you still preparing for you financial future?

I work with a born again and that is all I hear...The last days. It seams to me if we were truly in the last days these people would be repenting and getting their houses in order instead of saving for their future. Just seams hypocritical to me..."It's the end of days but just in case...."

Yes, for no man knoweth the day nor the hour...

Matthew 24:36-44 NIV - The Day and Hour Unknown - But about - Bible Gateway

36 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son,[a] but only the Father. 37 As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39 and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.
42 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

That simply means that Christ can come at any minute, and you must be ready for Him to return.
Furthermore, if and when you die, time is up for you. The next thing you will see/know is judgement.

So it's not about stopping everything and just sitting and waiting as you suggested, it's about a living a life in a manner that keeps you prepared for His return.

Jesus said to "occupy till I come" that means to live our lives accordingly, which includes working, preparing for our future, winnning souls for Christ, etc., etc.,

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+19:13&version=KJV

And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.

 

[spectrumc01]

Believe it not, according to the Bible, Church and State will be a MAJOR issue in the last days, in the world in general and in this country playing a particular role in the controversy. BTW, this country came into existense because of that battle, Church and State. The pilgrims were running away from persucution of the Church in Europe and wanted their own country with their own laws NOT based on Religious beliefs. That's why it's there in the first place. I would imagine very few, if any, other countries have such laws written into place. Or at least began with such laws as you have here in the USA. Even the ones that certain people typically refer to as heathen nations. Those same "heathen nations" usually have or had laws that were based on some religion.

Hint: We're in the last days.

The last days? do you really believe that? Do you still go to work every day? are you still preparing for you financial future?

I work with a born again and that is all I hear...The last days. It seams to me if we were truly in the last days these people would be repenting and getting their houses in order instead of saving for their future. Just seams hypocritical to me..."It's the end of days but just in case...."

Yes, for no man knoweth the day nor the hour...

Matthew 24:36-44 NIV - The Day and Hour Unknown - But about - Bible Gateway

36 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son,[a] but only the Father. 37 As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39 and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.
42 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

That simply means that Christ can come at any minute, and you must be ready for Him to return.
Furthermore, if and when you die, time is up for you. The next thing you will see/know is judgement.

So it's not about stopping everything and just sitting and waiting as you suggested, it's about a living a life in a manner that keeps you prepared for His return.

Through out history, and since the death of Jesus people have thought the end was right around the corner. Yes no man knows the time and hour. You said we are living in the end times, by that statement I assume you believe that Jesus will come in our lifetime. What else could you mean? If you believe that Jesus is coming in your life time there would be no need to save for the future, because there will not be a future that requires saving money, or making money. Now if the end is not near, and we are not living in the end times, then preparing for the future makes sense.

 

[MarcATL]

Through out history, and since the death of Jesus people have thought the end was right around the corner. Yes no man knows the time and hour. You said we are living in the end times, by that statement I assume you believe that Jesus will come in our lifetime. What else could you mean? If you believe that Jesus is coming in your life time there would be no need to save for the future, because there will not be a future that requires saving money, or making money. Now if the end is not near, and we are not living in the end times, then preparing for the future makes sense.

Scripture gives us information as to events that are to take place before He comes. In other words, prophecies. In the time of the Disciples, clearly those prophecies had not come to pass. At this point and time in history, just about all have already come to pass, not all, but almost all. And the remaining ones can happen overnight, so it's just a matter of time.

If they thought there were living in the literal last days then, how much closer are we to it now?

When I was a child, I used to think that Jesus would come before I grew up and that made me a bit sad, I wanted to be an adult. Now, I wish perhaps He had already come after experiencing adulthood. Anyway, that's neither here nor there.

The point is, we're much more closer to Jesus' 2nd Coming today, November 20th, 2011 than ever before. Therefore, we should live a life of readiness like never before.

Again, because no man knoweth the hour, that also refers to their individual time of death, that is another reason we are to live a prepared life. Any of us could be dead tomorrow, or even in an hour. Tomorrow is not promised to me, nor to you, nor to anyone. The only thing we, as humans, have control of is right now, and what we choose to do with now, which is time. From the day we are born we are on a time clock down or up to the point of death. What we choose to do with whatever time we are given is up to us.

BTW, I edited my initial post, so I hope you caught that. I also hope that this clears things up a bit for you.

 

[spectrumc01]

Through out history, and since the death of Jesus people have thought the end was right around the corner. Yes no man knows the time and hour. You said we are living in the end times, by that statement I assume you believe that Jesus will come in our lifetime. What else could you mean? If you believe that Jesus is coming in your life time there would be no need to save for the future, because there will not be a future that requires saving money, or making money. Now if the end is not near, and we are not living in the end times, then preparing for the future makes sense.

Scripture gives us information as to events that are to take place before He comes. In other words, prophecies. In the time of the Disciples, clearly those prophecies had not come to pass. At this point and time in history, just about all have already come to pass, not all, but almost all. And the remaining ones can happen overnight, so it's just a matter of time.

If they thought there were living in the literal last days then, how much closer are we to it now?

When I was a child, I used to think that Jesus would come before I grew up and that made me a bit sad, I wanted to be an adult. Now, I wish perhaps He had already come after experiencing adulthood. Anyway, that's neither here nor there.

The point is, we're much more closer to Jesus' 2nd Coming today, November 20th, 2011 than ever before. Therefore, we should live a life of readiness like never before.

Again, because no man knoweth the hour, that also refers to their individual time of death, that is another reason we are to live a prepared life. Any of us could be dead tomorrow, or even in an hour. Tomorrow is not promised to me, nor to you, nor to anyone. The only thing we, as humans, have control of is right now, and what we choose to do with now, which is time. From the day we are born we are on a time clock down or up to the point of death. What we choose to do with whatever time we are given is up to us.

BTW, I edited my initial post, so I hope you caught that. I also hope that this clears things up a bit for you.

I believe the end days happen when you die. If you believe in prophecies than we have the mark of the beast, and the rebuilding of the Jewish Temple, and a few others to go through before all that happens. There was something in the prophecies about the kings of the world, but at the rate we are going there won't be any kings left. at last count there are only like fortytwo left, and the majority are insignificant.

Beliefs are good and everyone should have some kind of belief system as long as it teaches proper moral values, i.e. no stealing, killing, adultery, etc. Those that believe the end is near, I don't know what to tell them. I hate watching people get taken advantage of, and when I see preachers hammering the end times doctrine it upsets me. You seem to have everything in order, and that is great. I hope your faith is rewarding and does everything you need it to do.

 

[C_Clayton_Jones]

The last days? do you really believe that?

We’ve been in the ‘last days’ for the past 2000 years.

 

[Unkotare]

There's no logical reason why atheism HAS to go together with political liberalism. I would say the reason that it tends to is because many atheists tend also to be scientists or interested in science, and to have a fact-based approach to reality, which transfers over to politics. This immediately means that most atheists:

1) Take the side of science in the political dispute over things like global warming, creationism in schools, and peak oil.

2) Know enough about economics to understand why conservative economic theory doesn't work well.

3) Oppose religion-based conservative political positions such as opposition to abortion rights and gay rights.

Atheism per se does not logically lead to any of this, however, except maybe #3.

Way to shit all over the thread, punk. Did you get enough attention yet?

 

[Unkotare]

[

Hint: We're in the last days.

Try to calm down.

 

[Unkotare]

[

I believe the end days happen when you die. .

Because you believe the universe begins and ends with YOU.

 

[spectrumc01]

[

I believe the end days happen when you die. .

Because you believe the universe begins and ends with YOU.

No, nothing so arrogant as you would assume. It's point of view. My world will end when I die, that will be my end of days. I think you knew that, but wanted to be facetious. It's ok though no harm no foul.

 

[lizzie]

Frankly, most of the athiests I know (and have known in the past) act far more like truly religious people than most of the outwardly religious people I know, lol.

 

[alan1]

Frankly, most of the athiests I know (and have known in the past) act far more like truly religious people than most of the outwardly religious people I know, lol.

It's a facade we have when not being jerks on the internet.