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My Religion MAG

By Anonymous

I have a magnet on my mirror stating, “Life is not about finding yourself – life is about creating yourself.” This is the statement I live by.

Many people do not believe me when I say I am an atheist. They don’t understand that I simply do not believe in any sort of god or afterlife. I also do not believe in the devil, in angels, or in souls. I believe in myself and the strength I have gained through the help of my parents, teachers, and friends – and my own hard work.

I am not going to try to dissuade anyone from his or her own opinions either. I know that people enjoy having religion in their lives; some need their faith to help them through hard times. And some do not want the responsibility of their misfortunes weighing down on their shoulders.

I do. I abhor the idea of fate – that everything is already planned out and you have no control to change anything. If you believe in fate, when bad things happen, it is not your fault; it’s just fate. When my life is not going well, I know that it is no one’s fault but my own. When I do well in school, when I fall in love, it is not fate and we are not soul mates. I worked hard and paid attention and did the homework. My love and I simply love each other – that is all it is, and for me that is all it needs to be.

For some, life is overwhelming. How can anyone be successful and happy in such a difficult, horrible world? They need someone to help them, someone to guide them, and someone to have faith in to make sure things get better. Placing my success and happiness in another’s hands breaks my heart. I need to be successful because of my efforts. I must be responsible for my own happiness. That is what I need from my religion.

Who will ever know what the truth really is? All I know is in the same way that some have full faith and trust in God to give them hope, I need to believe I am on my own to be truly happy – for how can I create myself if I spend my entire life just looking?

© Anonymous

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JOIN THE DISCUSSION

This article has 764 comments.

boston418 SILVER said...
on Oct. 29 2010 at 10:37 pm
boston418 SILVER, Weymouth, Massachusetts
5 articles 0 photos 48 comments

Favorite Quote:
"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." -Jim Eliot

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But it's just as naive to believe that the lack of evidence is proof of inexistence.  You can't prove that God exists, but you can't disprove that he doesn't! And also, if something is absolutely true, then it can't be proven.  Absolute truth is the standard by which truth is judge... if it could be proven, it would no longer be absolute proof, but rather the proof would be the absolute proof.  Atheism can be justified with worldly arguements, but to believe in God is just as scientifically and philosophically coherent and possible.
boston418 SILVER said...
on Oct. 29 2010 at 9:11 pm
boston418 SILVER, Weymouth, Massachusetts
5 articles 0 photos 48 comments

Favorite Quote:
"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." -Jim Eliot

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But that doesn't rule out his existence entirely.  I like Blaise Pascal's arguement... if God's not real and you choose to believe him, well, whoop-de-doo.  But IF he IS real, and you don't believe in him, then, well....
AgnotTheOdd GOLD said...
on Oct. 29 2010 at 8:31 pm
AgnotTheOdd GOLD, Aptos, California
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I challenge you to think of something that cannot have a logical answer.  The world is based on actions and reactions.  Everything is logical.

And I think you should consider what I said about happiness and reality.  I got some stuff to back that up while you seem to revolve around "God said it, I believe it, that settles it."

AgnotTheOdd GOLD said...
on Oct. 29 2010 at 8:28 pm
AgnotTheOdd GOLD, Aptos, California
17 articles 0 photos 315 comments

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What evidence is there?  And why do you just need to believe it?  That almost sounds like mind control to me.  To "just believe" is a fallacy.
AgnotTheOdd GOLD said...
on Oct. 29 2010 at 8:27 pm
AgnotTheOdd GOLD, Aptos, California
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That's kinda a preposterous assertion since there is no scale for love, you can't feel what someone else is feeling.  It's intangible and you can't see it.  Nor can you see or have any evidence of a god.  So how can you know your complete love stems from a god and not the bond and work between you and your partner?
AgnotTheOdd GOLD said...
on Oct. 29 2010 at 8:24 pm
AgnotTheOdd GOLD, Aptos, California
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"The reason for your unreasonable treatment of my reason so enfeebles my reason that I have reason to complain of your reason" ~ Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra

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Well, in his latest book, he explains how while God(s) still may or may not exist, you don't need a god to light the blue torch paper and set the universe going.  God isnt necessary
Dragonscribe BRONZE said...
on Oct. 29 2010 at 11:34 am
Dragonscribe BRONZE, West Lafayette, Indiana
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and
"A Rose by Any Other Name Would Smell as Sweet"
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No, everything's not. But we've reached a moot point, since we both strongly believe in opposite things. I'm not going to argue anymore, just hope you will consider what I've said. : )
Dragonscribe BRONZE said...
on Oct. 29 2010 at 11:26 am
Dragonscribe BRONZE, West Lafayette, Indiana
4 articles 0 photos 303 comments

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Um, there is evidence. Just trying looking for it. But the important thing is, you shouldn't need evidence, because God always being there is one of those things you just need to believe. I'm not saying I understand everything - no one possibly could - but some things are just meant to be believed, and this is one of them. I expect things will be clearer in Heaven, but even then who knows? I'm satisfied with the presence of God in my life, even if it takes some searching to see Him.
Dragonscribe BRONZE said...
on Oct. 29 2010 at 11:23 am
Dragonscribe BRONZE, West Lafayette, Indiana
4 articles 0 photos 303 comments

Favorite Quote:
"A Person's a Person no Matter how Small"
and
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Well, they can certainly love each the most they can. I'm not saying they hate each other. But without God, I do think it's impossible to love completely. Again, I said "true love" before. I'm sorry to offend you - I know atheists/agnostics can be loving, kind people, but it is my personal belief they will not get far without God.
boston418 SILVER said...
on Oct. 29 2010 at 11:18 am
boston418 SILVER, Weymouth, Massachusetts
5 articles 0 photos 48 comments

Favorite Quote:
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I have read a little bit of him... I didn't quite feel that it explained sufficiently.  I'm not saying that there will never be an answer found, but rather that it's not possible to rule out God entirely... lack of proof is not necessarily disproof...
AgnotTheOdd GOLD said...
on Oct. 28 2010 at 11:54 pm
AgnotTheOdd GOLD, Aptos, California
17 articles 0 photos 315 comments

Favorite Quote:
"The reason for your unreasonable treatment of my reason so enfeebles my reason that I have reason to complain of your reason" ~ Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra

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How do you know something is there without evidence?
Dragonscribe BRONZE said...
on Oct. 28 2010 at 11:53 pm
Dragonscribe BRONZE, West Lafayette, Indiana
4 articles 0 photos 303 comments

Favorite Quote:
"A Person's a Person no Matter how Small"
and
"A Rose by Any Other Name Would Smell as Sweet"
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No! Being gullible is not the same as having faith. Having faith is believing something you know is there without needing to see it. However, I think God does show Himself sometimes, but he shouldn't have to.
AgnotTheOdd GOLD said...
on Oct. 28 2010 at 11:52 pm
AgnotTheOdd GOLD, Aptos, California
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Favorite Quote:
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umm....That's circular reasoning.

I am under the impression that I have a deep and pure love for my dog.  But by your logic, I don't.  I always thought my parents loved each other, but according to you, they don't.

Dragonscribe BRONZE said...
on Oct. 28 2010 at 11:49 pm
Dragonscribe BRONZE, West Lafayette, Indiana
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Favorite Quote:
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and
"A Rose by Any Other Name Would Smell as Sweet"
and
"God helps those who help themselves"

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True love? Yes, I think so. After all, love originates from God, so I think all true love is overseen and provided in some way by Him.
MisplacedTexan14 said...
on Oct. 28 2010 at 11:10 pm
MisplacedTexan14, Saratoga, California
0 articles 0 photos 106 comments

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"If Obama was the answer, it was a stupid question." - Another Bumper sticker

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That's the point of faith. if you only believ in God because he has proven He is there, you have no faith.

Also, He shows himself everyday in the little things. He is like the wind, you can't see Him, but you can feel him.

MisplacedTexan14 said...
on Oct. 28 2010 at 11:08 pm
MisplacedTexan14, Saratoga, California
0 articles 0 photos 106 comments

Favorite Quote:
"If you can't stand behind our troops, feel free to stand in front of them."- a Bumper Sticker
"If Obama was the answer, it was a stupid question." - Another Bumper sticker

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I'm gonna pray for you GuitarGirl, and it is not to make you mad. It is because I hope you find God someday.
Carrich said...
on Oct. 28 2010 at 8:48 pm
You know what? I am proud of you for not being shy about expressing your oppinion. I dont know what religion i am... but God isnt logical for me. I am the kind of person that needs an answer that makes sense for everything and God just doesnt cut it. Good job :) Keep writing, ignor these judge mental people.
AgnotTheOdd GOLD said...
on Oct. 28 2010 at 8:08 pm
AgnotTheOdd GOLD, Aptos, California
17 articles 0 photos 315 comments

Favorite Quote:
"The reason for your unreasonable treatment of my reason so enfeebles my reason that I have reason to complain of your reason" ~ Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra

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So its a synonym for gullibility?
AgnotTheOdd GOLD said...
on Oct. 28 2010 at 8:07 pm
AgnotTheOdd GOLD, Aptos, California
17 articles 0 photos 315 comments

Favorite Quote:
"The reason for your unreasonable treatment of my reason so enfeebles my reason that I have reason to complain of your reason" ~ Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra

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Seriously, read Stephen Hawking, or any recent physics book for that matter.  It will explain this question
AgnotTheOdd GOLD said...
on Oct. 28 2010 at 8:06 pm
AgnotTheOdd GOLD, Aptos, California
17 articles 0 photos 315 comments

Favorite Quote:
"The reason for your unreasonable treatment of my reason so enfeebles my reason that I have reason to complain of your reason" ~ Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra

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Are you saying you need God to feel love?