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Wow, this is quite an interesting thread. ^.^

As many others have already done, I applaud you in your respect and courteous..ness...for us. ^^U

Well, many of my experiences and thoughts were scarily similair to Valdae's, (o_0)but I was in a Catholic enviroment) but I have something of my own to add that may or not be of use. But I'll write it anyway. razz

My lack of belief in God is more of a lack of belief in the God that most religions perceive. I believe, in a sorts, that man "created" God. to be open to my theory, one must recognize my belief that people (and pretty much everything, for that matter) gives off energy, like an aura, and contains energy. Some do not believe this, but there are scientific studies done where they use a special type of camera/lens/film (something, I can't quite remember right now ^^U) that took a picture of people's hands and it observed that they were giving off some sort of energy. It wasn't heat, they knew that, but (I can't quite remember if it was a type of light or other energy ^^U Sorry, its summer.) it was some type of energy that changed according to a person's mood and some other factors, acting like an "aura". Also, There are some Wiccan (and other religions have this too) healing techniques that involve concentrating "energy" from your body to a wound or afflicted area of yourself or another person in order to help heal them. But, for this to effectivly work, you have to believe it. Also, there are many things humans can supposedly do with their minds, like telepathic communication bewteen people who are very close. (This does have a point, I just had to state it to show my theory.)

Now, lets say there are many Christians (or any religion, frankly) that truly belive in their God, some more strongly than others, but still all have faith. All over the world, that's a lot of people. Now, if all those people pray (which is like meditation, which many "aura-supporters" believe to heighten your sixth senses) and try to express their devotion and love to God, they are in a way "sending" energy from themselves. Now, over long periods of time, and especially with many extremely devout believers (in any religion), that's a lot of "energy". Could maybe this collection of people's emotions/feelings/such become a powerful force? (It is also said that when a person dies in an extreme state of emotion, like anger, that their spirit can stay there ((I suppose you could say like The Grudge, but I dont really want to use a Hollywood reference)), proving the power of feelings/emotions and such)This is what I believe "God" "is". When people pray to "God" for miracles, or other such things, could not that energy sometimes come upon them and help them in the requested way, like healing someone? Or comfort in a time of crisis? (ALso, many occurences could be coincidence too.) I know that when I went to Disney World, I wasn't overly estatic or anything, but when I got there, just standing there I felt SO HAPPY. You could just "feel" the happiness and such of everyone around you. It wasn't the rides, because I don't get that excited over stuff like that, it was just the energy of everyone circulating. Could this not be like when someone is depressed/angry/the like and they pray to "God", and some "energy" from "God" sweeps over them like the one at Disney World? It makes sense to me. Some people I have told this to that have a similair feeling believe that this "energy mass" has conciousness, but I'm not sure. I think about that one alot.

If you have any questions about my "theory", feel free to ask. ^^

The above theory is not what made me join the atheists. It was (like I said before) alot like Valdae's story. What really made me this way is not the lack of proof for the existence of God, but the abundance of proof to dispel, in a sense, Christianity (I am using Christianity as a reference only because it is what I experienced). I realize that most use the defense that "the point is, its faith and the strength to believe in it" which, in some cases, I find admirable. I, a sense, admire teh Christian's loyalty to what they believe. But anyway, it is abundance of proof against God. Also, just because we can't scientifically prove something yet doesnt mean it was done by God. We have found evidence of our ape ancestry, which was simply not previously known back then, so the Christians provided their own explanation. We now have the evidence, but they simply hold to their beliefs. Also, its has been a belief that those who commit suicide go straight to hell. But now, after medical research has shown suicide is sometimes a chemical inbalance or other physical diease one cannot help, the Church is saying that those are pardoned because its not their fault. So, to me its just a matter of time to explain everything.

Also, this is not necessarily aethiest-belief pertinent, but when I fully grasped the idea that humans are just evolved monkeys, and that thoughts are really simply chemical reactions in the brain, and that since the only purpose of life is to reproduce and survive, I was kind of depressed for a little while. Then, I realized, something. The purpose of life is to reproduce, and that is all. But the meaning of your life is what you make it to be. You control yourself and your destiny as much as you can according to your enviroment, and you create your life out of that. So, in a sense, you can really be anything you want to be. The meaning of your life is what you do. I have chose my meaning and direction, and ever since then I have felt better.

One last thing: I also believe in reincarnation, in a sense. I think people do really have "souls". It's like the "energy" mentioned before. Some people, not necessarily simply intelligent people but "strong" people, when they die, their spirit can sort of live on. Depending on when and what they do each time they come into the world again, they can skip millenia or aquire a vast amount of knowledge and experience. Some say then, why wouldn't one remember it? Well, the memories aren't necessarily in clear-laid out thoughts. Its like feelings. For example, ever since I was really little, I have had a very strong connection to the past. I can't explain it. And some things I feel really nostalgic about, like I've seen/experienced it before. Then, some say "Well, that means you aren't really you. Something else is controlling/overriding you." I dont believe that. I am me. I am my soul. I don't have two souls, its just me. This could also possibly account for why some people are radically different from their families or their enviroment.

Anyway, that's some of my thoughts. I realize some of it seems rather choppy or not thought out, but that's because I'm not that good at expressing myself. ^^U This isn't much compared to everything about this in my head. Sometimes I need direct, specific questions to be able to say something. So, if you want to ask me anything else, go ahead. I hope this helps! If not, then, well, erm...at least it gave me something to do. ^^U

50 posts...That's actually 50 more posts then I thought I'd get. XD

Well today is the day I put the Athiest sect into my journal and go public with my papaer idea. I hope this turns out well...Wish me luck...

You mean Kirlian Photography?

Well, I've moved the quotes into my journal, that is where all the quotes from all the guilds will be posted and I will start my paper. =D

lmao. "And here we have, in its natural habitat, the wild and dangerous atheist..."