I just can’t believe some people. When I was younger (before I officially considered myself an atheist), my parents would have us pray to god for our food. I’d sit there and think, “He didn’t cook the food, dad did. And the farmers grew it. Why are we thanking him?”

I rather like the idea – giving thanks and credit to those around us that make this ‘meal’ possible. I say thank you to my wife for almost every meal I have since she likes to cook them – and I am very grateful (I am one of those Christians that does not pray over meals). I think the idea is awesome and can only help to bring more peace to our lives and communities.

But maybe some people are thankfful for the place they are in life – due to the teachings they recieved about the Christ – just a thought (as a big over-view picture).

Where religion breaks down for many is where it stops making sense any more – often where experiences in early adulthood do not accord with traditional biblical views, or when a greater understanding of science and sceptical inquiry leads to a questioning of basic tenets of the bible. Once the scepticism takes hold, the whole edifice of religious belief tends to break down. Looking at the whole issue from a remove of some years, I now see how tenuous the foundations of religion really are.

Agnosticism and atheism is not just a limited experience thing. It has a very strong intellectual and philosophical history, and has been underpinned by some serious intellectual heavyweights. It’s just that until quite recently, the strength of numbers remained with the religious. Unfortunately, just because many people believe something, doesn’t make it true. Everyone thought the universe revolved around the Earth, once.

Though to be honest, anyone eating my cooking would do well to offer their prayers to anyone who might listen.

Very well said

Whereas liberal Christians, agnostics, atheists, liberal religions/spiritual people in general do say, “I see where you’re coming from” or “I understand why you’d feel that way.”

So it’s not bitterness. It’s exasperation, because we’re being told how we feel by someone who doesn’t seem to understand us at all. And Christianity will be the most commented upon right now because of how much it dominates the US — look at politics or science or reproductive rights.

I for one have never been angry or even hurt by religion. I find it fascinating that so many people believe without any evidence, and really the evidence points in the opposite direction of Christianity and the Bible.

Regarding sports teams thanking God, most players who confess a faith in Christ meet on the field after the game to pray regardless if they won or loss. They are giving God thanks in all things.

Yet I find it amusing that the majority of these athletes are probably the most hypocritical of them all as most of them are not living a Christian lifestyle at all. Evander Holyfield always made a point to thank God and he has how many children out of wedlock?

Your comments made me smile as they are so typical to what I received early in my journey out of Christianity. However, it’s been a while since I heard this perspective.

Why is it so hard for a Christian to envision that we simply do not believe in God anymore for a variety of reasons and it’s not about being “hurt by religion?”

For me it was more the unraveling of the Bible and the realization that the Bible did not accurately even describe the “God” I believed in. The God of the Bible was not the compassionate, caring, father in heaven as I believed. Once my eyes opened to this, I then began to see all the glaring contradictions, the atrocities, the whackiness, and the list is too long to even begin.

Of course, I do still respect the Bible as the Holy Scriptures of Christians and probably read it more than most Christians do.

In other words, I used the brain that “God” supposedly gave me. Where is the “hurt” there?

I know that ANGER is a step on our journey out of Christianity. We become angry for the allowing ourselves to believe such crap and for the hurt religion inflicts on so many. However, many times that’s shortlived and we also acknowledge that there are people who need that crutch to make it. That’s issue is one that’s very hard to reconcile for most ex-Chrisitans.

My point is that the “hurt” and anger normally comes on the journey out and in many cases is NOT the catalyst for the journey out.

One day you may be on that journey. Come back and visit this blog then. You’ll find these discussions enlightening.

aA