Faithbook dennyvibes

My Beliefs

I believe ... your photo/ link/ video has been held for approval by a moderator In my experience and learning, no gods exist. Humans are special not because they have divine origin, but because we happened. It is a wonder of nature that we are sentient, that we feel, love, dance, sing, that we create gods. Humans are wondrous beings.

My most powerful moment of belief was ... your photo/ link/ video has been held for approval by a moderator I remember volunteering at my local church's "vacation bible school" the summers I was 11 and 12. I was reading to my group of 4- and 5-year olds about Jesus, and I remember thinking how silly it was that anyone expected these kids to believe that. It was so preposterous. That started my search for knowledge.

My greatest moment of doubt was ... your photo/ link/ video has been held for approval by a moderator I've never had a moment without doubt. Belief in a supreme being never made any sense to me.

My spiritual life means... your photo/ link/ video has been held for approval by a moderator My spiritual life is in everything I do, whether it's being in a choral group or singing and dancing in a musical. It's a spiritual moment when I'm looking at a beautiful bright sky or watching a lightning storm, or when I'm hugging my husband or petting one of my cats on my lap. When I wonder at the size of the universe or at the smallness of a newborn baby, that's spiritual. There's so much in the world, I don't need anything outside of it.

The biggest misconception about my faith/belief system is ... your photo/ link/ video has been held for approval by a moderator Religious people think that atheists have no morals. That assumption couldn't be further from the truth. I am a very moral and ethical person, as are most of the atheists I know.

My spiritual role model is ... your photo/ link/ video has been held for approval by a moderator Carl Sagan

The tenet/practice/teaching I appreciate most about my faith is ... your photo/ link/ video has been held for approval by a moderator A person is only as good as his or her actions. Labels mean nothing. And my value as a person comes in what I do and how I treat others. If I do something bad or wrong, I suffer the consequences NOW, in this world. If I do good, I might be rewarded, or I might just feel good about myself for doing something good. But I do it because I want to do something good or I want to mitigate a harm.

My Faith History

As a child I believed ... your photo/ link/ video has been held for approval by a moderator I never really believed in a god, I just wanted to be like everyone else. My grandmother was an evangelical Pentecostal, complete with speaking in tongues. I pretended to be what they were.

My spiritual journey has been ... your photo/ link/ video has been held for approval by a moderator Once I realized that not everything I was taught was truth, I immediately started reading and looking for knowledge. I discovered science and rational thinking, and I found meaning and wonder in nature and in people. I understood that life itself was wondrous and humans don't need to think they were created in some godly form to feel special. We are special BECAUSE we were NOT created.

I was raised as ... your photo/ link/ video has been held for approval by a moderator My earliest years, I was around my grandmother's church, which was evangelical Pentecostal. In my preteens, my mother took us to a white Presbyterian church.

If you have children, did becoming a parent change your relationship to faith? If so, how? your photo/ link/ video has been held for approval by a moderator I don't have children yet, but I look forward to raising them without worry of hell and damnation and without judging others, and raising them to be open-minded and to love themselves for who they are and to be good people because it's the right thing to do not because they fear divine retribution if they aren't.

How I Practice My Faith

How easy or difficult is it to live your faith? Why? your photo/ link/ video has been held for approval by a moderator Atheists are often demonized, as if somehow being without religion means we are without morality. We are as moral and ethical as anyone else, sometimes more so because our morality doesn't come out of fear of Hell is we are not good.

The song/book/film that most represents my faith is ... your photo/ link/ video has been held for approval by a moderator Carl Sagan, "Demon Haunted World" Music, books: anything that moves me, makes me cry, makes me want to share.

Religion & the Public Square

What should be the role of religion in politics? your photo/ link/ video has been held for approval by a moderator Religion has no role in politics. Religion only separates people, us vs them. Law and rules cannot be built on only one group's understanding of what is right and what should be. Religion should remain a private thing between a person and his or her god(s).

Should courses about religion be taught in public schools? Why or why not? your photo/ link/ video has been held for approval by a moderator Comparative religion coursework has a place in education, but the topic can be too divisive and end up causing issues of trying to push one religion above others. It can end up bullying.

Should the Bible, Torah, Quran or other religious texts be taught as works of literature in public schools? Why or why not? your photo/ link/ video has been held for approval by a moderator I don't think they should be taught as literature because there are too many opportunities for people to push the writings as religious truths, or on the other side religious people might find it offensive.

Do you feel comfortable discussing your faith with others? Why/why not? your photo/ link/ video has been held for approval by a moderator I think we atheists need to be more open because religious people in general are very judgmental about us. We have to let others know that we are their teachers, parents, siblings, friends, doctors, children, coaches, real estate agents, babysitters, writers, artists, musicians, dancers, train conductors, mayors, senators. We share values and morals even without worshiping an immortal entity. We are loving, caring, helpful, generous, friendly, compassionate. We are the people you see every day. And we don't often tell people we're atheists because we are afraid that we'll be ostracized, bullied, insulted, judged, hated, distrusted.

Has 9/11 had any impact on your thoughts about religion? Are you more/less interested in learning about other religions? Do you feel more/less comfortable expressing your religious beliefs? your photo/ link/ video has been held for approval by a moderator Since 9/11, Americans have become even less tolerant of other religions than their own. Christian America is polarized with the rest of the religions and nonreligions in America. It has become a scary place. America has become more divided, not less.

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