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What do you Value/appreciate in Religion/Atheism?

blackjack50

blackjack50

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This is an interesting exercise in understanding the other side. I want to know what YOU as an atheist or YOU as a religious person...Value or appreciate in religion if you are an atheist, or Value or appreciate about atheism as a religious person? Traits, culturally, and so on. It is ok to speak in generalities in this case. There is no 1 set religion that everyone believes in. And not all atheists think the same.

So in the interest of union rather than division, let me know.

Personally? As a religious person? I see Value in placing logic in thought. I understand that religion is not a logical process. I can appreciate that. And even if I feel human's are not completely logical creatures, as evidenced by the political mass hysteria going on, I can see value in approaching most day to day events logically. That is how I live my life. Even my religion is approached as logically as possible.

So in general? I can respect atheists who approach their lack of faith in this manner, but also in their daily lives. When they approach politics and science and so on.




The crowd is not the sum of its parts.

I am a republican who did not vote for Trump (Or Hillary).
Click to expand...
 
I am an atheist and the thing I probably value the most in religion is their sense of community. Being a member of a strong church can be a rich source of friendship and support for some people.
 
blackjack50 said:
This is an interesting exercise in understanding the other side. I want to know what YOU as an atheist or YOU as a religious person...Value or appreciate in religion if you are an atheist, or Value or appreciate about atheism as a religious person? Traits, culturally, and so on. It is ok to speak in generalities in this case. There is no 1 set religion that everyone believes in. And not all atheists think the same.

So in the interest of union rather than division, let me know.

Personally? As a religious person? I see Value in placing logic in thought. I understand that religion is not a logical process. I can appreciate that. And even if I feel human's are not completely logical creatures, as evidenced by the political mass hysteria going on, I can see value in approaching most day to day events logically. That is how I live my life. Even my religion is approached as logically as possible.

So in general? I can respect atheists who approach their lack of faith in this manner, but also in their daily lives. When they approach politics and science and so on.
Click to expand...
Here are three contributions of atheism I greatly appreciate:
1. Getting challenged and forced to think and question “sacred cows”
2. Preserving and protecting the value of skepticism
3. Promoting living our current moment to the fullest
 
It's an easy way to teach and impose basic morals necessary to continue a civil society.

Believe in God or not, don't kill, don't steal, don't lie, etc, are societal foundations, as is do unto thy neighbor.
 
Skeptic Bob said:
I am an atheist and the thing I probably value the most in religion is their sense of community. Being a member of a strong church can be a rich source of friendship and support for some people.
Click to expand...

Pretty much that and

I find that a lot of people can use religion as a method of therapy. Going to a religious leader, or religious services can help a person work through something difficult in their life. Something that can then be part of their life and structure for a long time. Generally at vastly lower costs than seeing Mental Health Pract.
 
I am a theist, but I respect the rational skepticism of atheism.
 
An atheist would not have much experience with 'religion' on which to base an opinion. As a child, I was exposed to organized religion, but it never made logical sense. I read the OP twice to see if there was something I missed? You mention science in your post, how do you reconcile science vs. religion?
 
blackjack50 said:
This is an interesting exercise in understanding the other side. I want to know what YOU as an atheist or YOU as a religious person...Value or appreciate in religion if you are an atheist, or Value or appreciate about atheism as a religious person? Traits, culturally, and so on. It is ok to speak in generalities in this case. There is no 1 set religion that everyone believes in. And not all atheists think the same.

So in the interest of union rather than division, let me know.

Personally? As a religious person? I see Value in placing logic in thought. I understand that religion is not a logical process. I can appreciate that. And even if I feel human's are not completely logical creatures, as evidenced by the political mass hysteria going on, I can see value in approaching most day to day events logically. That is how I live my life. Even my religion is approached as logically as possible.

So in general? I can respect atheists who approach their lack of faith in this manner, but also in their daily lives. When they approach politics and science and so on.
Click to expand...

I think religion usually does a pretty good job of encouraging local community. I've explained my issues on broader scale national/international religious charities in the past, but individual religious communities generally do a good job of grassroots charity and organizations (soup kitchens, fund raising, etc), and supporting their own.

In addition, I think that a way of ordering life, and even ritualizing it, is an important aspect of well-being for a lot of people. As you say, we are not entirely rational beings.

Those reasons are actually why some atheists do go to spiritual groups, like Universalists or Buddhist meditations or whatever. Even if they don't believe in a god, or anything supernatural at all, that aspect is enjoyable.
 
blackjack50 said:
This is an interesting exercise in understanding the other side. I want to know what YOU as an atheist or YOU as a religious person...Value or appreciate in religion if you are an atheist
Click to expand...

I think the biggest strength the religious have is community. You're all bound together by a common thread and it helps form deep bonds with each other and comraderie. As atheists we're all on our own trying to sort through the philosophical mess of reality, and there might not be a bunch of people near by who share your same mish-mash of philosophical beliefs.

Rexedgar said:
An atheist would not have much experience with 'religion' on which to base an opinion. As a child, I was exposed to organized religion, but it never made logical sense. I read the OP twice to see if there was something I missed? You mention science in your post, how do you reconcile science vs. religion?
Click to expand...

That's not always true. I was raised a christian in an extremely christian household and community and was a born again, dyed in the wool believer until I was about 21. I've seen both sides of it and there obviously are things I miss.

Angel said:
I am a theist, but I respect the rational skepticism of atheism.
Click to expand...

Based on everything you've ever posted on DP, let's be honest, no you don't.
 
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So much to appreciate about my faith because it answers so many questions I have had that no one or no thing could ever answer outside of the Bible...like...

is this life what God purposed?
what is the truth about God?
what is the truth about Jesus?
what is God's purpose for the earth?
where are the dead and is there any hope for my dead loved ones?
what is God's kingdom?
are we living in the last days?
how do spirit creatures affect us?
why does God allow suffering?
how to live in a way that pleases God...

But most importantly, I've learned about the universal issue that faces all of mankind and how I can play a part in standing up for God's universal sovereignty...nothing in life compares to learning Bible truths and making them a way of life...
 
Rexedgar said:
An atheist would not have much experience with 'religion' on which to base an opinion. As a child, I was exposed to organized religion, but it never made logical sense. I read the OP twice to see if there was something I missed? You mention science in your post, how do you reconcile science vs. religion?
Click to expand...

My guess is the majority of atheists in America have experience with religion.
 
Skeptic Bob said:
My guess is the majority of atheists in America have experience with religion.
Click to expand...

A good parent should expose their children to all manner of experiences and let them make their minds up. That is a topic for another thread!



PS My experience was Episcopalian, so that is the doctrine I know best and that was a long time ago. There are many branches of the same faith, again with the logic.
 
RabidAlpaca said:
...Based on everything you've ever posted on DP, let's be honest, no you don't.
Click to expand...
Let's be accurate, shall we, RA? I have been critical of militant atheism, not atheism per se. I respect rational skepticism, but I don't respect militant skepticism, which is irrational.
 
Not just Christianity but religion in general has fostered the creation of amazing art and architecture and has had a huge influence on literature as well.
 
blackjack50 said:
This is an interesting exercise in understanding the other side. I want to know what YOU as an atheist or YOU as a religious person...Value or appreciate in religion if you are an atheist, or Value or appreciate about atheism as a religious person? Traits, culturally, and so on. It is ok to speak in generalities in this case. There is no 1 set religion that everyone believes in. And not all atheists think the same.

So in the interest of union rather than division, let me know.

Personally? As a religious person? I see Value in placing logic in thought. I understand that religion is not a logical process. I can appreciate that. And even if I feel human's are not completely logical creatures, as evidenced by the political mass hysteria going on, I can see value in approaching most day to day events logically. That is how I live my life. Even my religion is approached as logically as possible.

So in general? I can respect atheists who approach their lack of faith in this manner, but also in their daily lives. When they approach politics and science and so on.
Click to expand...

To me spirituality is a personal journey. I'm perfectly willing to leave everyone to their own and insist on the same for myself. I grew up going to church 'religiously', pun intended, haven't been in ages and don't at the present time anticipate ever returning save for the funerals and weddings of others. Sang in the choir, Sunday School, VBS, youth groups, Grandma was the organist, Mom was the choir director; Protestantism. Father was Catholic, excommunicated for marrying outside the faith sans a pledge to raise all offspring Catholic. His thought was that something might happen to him in the future, his wife might someday remarry, and he wasn't pledging her to that forever and ever amen.

If at the end of the day spirituality isn't about caring for one another, stewardship of the planet upon which we all depend for life, and responsibility to both our ancestors and descendants, it's pretty much all for nothing anyway.

But for an ostensibly Christian nation, we sure do have a love affair with war, occupation and conquest of others to determine their governments.
 
blackjack50 said:
This is an interesting exercise in understanding the other side. I want to know what YOU as an atheist or YOU as a religious person...Value or appreciate in religion if you are an atheist, or Value or appreciate about atheism as a religious person? Traits, culturally, and so on. It is ok to speak in generalities in this case. There is no 1 set religion that everyone believes in. And not all atheists think the same.

So in the interest of union rather than division, let me know.

Personally? As a religious person? I see Value in placing logic in thought. I understand that religion is not a logical process. I can appreciate that. And even if I feel human's are not completely logical creatures, as evidenced by the political mass hysteria going on, I can see value in approaching most day to day events logically. That is how I live my life. Even my religion is approached as logically as possible.

So in general? I can respect atheists who approach their lack of faith in this manner, but also in their daily lives. When they approach politics and science and so on.
Click to expand...

I appreciate religious music, as well as their art and pageantry. I appreciate that Christians donate more to charity than all the governments in the world combined spend on humanitarian aid. I appreciate the derivative works in literature religious mythology provide. I appreciate the lessons from history that religion has taught us, although I commiserate with those it victimized. And in a few cases I appreciate religious philosophy, the parts that don't require you to believe in anything, but are just good ideas. Such as the golden rule, or anything out of Buddhism.
 
Elvira said:
So much to appreciate about my faith because it answers so many questions I have had that no one or no thing could ever answer outside of the Bible...like...

is this life what God purposed?
what is the truth about God?
what is the truth about Jesus?
what is God's purpose for the earth?
where are the dead and is there any hope for my dead loved ones?
what is God's kingdom?
are we living in the last days?
how do spirit creatures affect us?
why does God allow suffering?
how to live in a way that pleases God...

But most importantly, I've learned about the universal issue that faces all of mankind and how I can play a part in standing up for God's universal sovereignty...nothing in life compares to learning Bible truths and making them a way of life...
Click to expand...

The topic isn't what you appreciate about your own faith, it's what you appreciate about the other side. If you're a theist, what do you appreciate about atheists.
 
ThoughtEx. said:
The topic isn't what you appreciate about your own faith, it's what you appreciate about the other side. If you're a theist, what do you appreciate about atheists.
Click to expand...

:doh:3oops:...thanks, it's been a long day...

I think what I appreciate most about atheists is they definitely make me think and in the process it only confirms my own faith even more...
 
Skeptic Bob said:
I am an atheist and the thing I probably value the most in religion is their sense of community. Being a member of a strong church can be a rich source of friendship and support for some people.
Click to expand...

I agree. A common expression you will here is that a church is the people. Not the building. I often wonder if that is a cause of a lot of strife for some who leave the church angry. They feel violated by their community. By their friends or family. It is ultimately traumatic.




The crowd is not the sum of its parts.

I am a republican who did not vote for Trump (Or Hillary).
Click to expand...
 
Lord Tammerlain said:
Pretty much that and

I find that a lot of people can use religion as a method of therapy. Going to a religious leader, or religious services can help a person work through something difficult in their life. Something that can then be part of their life and structure for a long time. Generally at vastly lower costs than seeing Mental Health Pract.
Click to expand...

Yea. I know a few preachers who are therapists as well. I know a few bad ones too. I think that it is important for that person to maintain that distance and let the religion be secondary to the therapy. As in not condemning someone for their sin. I think that is part of the reason I really dislike the baptist/non denominational types of churches. The structure and thoughts behind the church is that sin is not normal. Even thought "the book" is clear about the opposite.




The crowd is not the sum of its parts.

I am a republican who did not vote for Trump (Or Hillary).
Click to expand...
 
This is getting more positive discussion than I expected. I'm glad people can put aside their difference and discuss this. I think it is something we each actively think about and engage in when we have these discussions. Especially when we picture what a positive discussion would look like.




The crowd is not the sum of its parts.

I am a republican who did not vote for Trump (Or Hillary).
Click to expand...
 
blackjack50 said:
Yea. I know a few preachers who are therapists as well. I know a few bad ones too. I think that it is important for that person to maintain that distance and let the religion be secondary to the therapy. As in not condemning someone for their sin. I think that is part of the reason I really dislike the baptist/non denominational types of churches. The structure and thoughts behind the church is that sin is not normal. Even thought "the book" is clear about the opposite.
Click to expand...

I would never trust any therapist that talked about taking a class in demonic possession (I have heard a couple make that claim).
 
I used to appreciate atheists who were thinkers, back when they were thinkers. They are not thinkers any longer, they are emotional basket cases.
 
blackjack50 said:
This is an interesting exercise in understanding the other side. I want to know what YOU as an atheist or YOU as a religious person...Value or appreciate in religion if you are an atheist, or Value or appreciate about atheism as a religious person? Traits, culturally, and so on. It is ok to speak in generalities in this case. There is no 1 set religion that everyone believes in. And not all atheists think the same.

So in the interest of union rather than division, let me know.

Personally? As a religious person? I see Value in placing logic in thought. I understand that religion is not a logical process. I can appreciate that. And even if I feel human's are not completely logical creatures, as evidenced by the political mass hysteria going on, I can see value in approaching most day to day events logically. That is how I live my life. Even my religion is approached as logically as possible.

So in general? I can respect atheists who approach their lack of faith in this manner, but also in their daily lives. When they approach politics and science and so on.
Click to expand...

I'm agnostic, so I'll give my take on both.

I see religion as a version of "proto science."
Where people were trying to understand the world around them and natural events, in the best terms possible for them.
Religion has given us a formalized set of inquiry, an organized and explicit form of ethics and moral codes (which I think are somewhat innate in humans.
The artistry and literature that has come from religion is nothing short of amazing.
In total, I think religion has largely been a positive force on advancing humanity in many different ways.

Atheism/agnosticism to me,is the abyss , as described by Nietzsche.
Where one has to set their own ethical and moral values for them self.
It requires a high level of understanding of the self, what is it and does it even exist.
Oddly enough, a religion/not religion (Buddhism) examines this in great detail.
 
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