1. We admit we were oppressed by religion and that our lives had become incomprehensible and unmanageable under the guise of faith.
2. We came to understand through common sense, education and critical thinking that our own inner strength can restore us to sanity and help us break free of the tyranny of religion.
3. We made a decision to accept complete responsibility for our lives and our will, instead of giving that free will to a god that never made sense.
4. We made a fearless searching inventory of ourselves and our beliefs, and discarded what was not logical and not ours.
5. We admitted to ourselves and others the true nature of our beliefs, stripped of the lies of faith and religion.
6. We were entirely ready to remove the illogical defects of skewed faith from our beliefs through education, common sense and critical thought.
7. We humbly realized we are all human and make mistakes, and take personal responsibility for our shortcomings, and strive to be a good person.
8. We made a list of all beliefs that have harmed us and those around us, and willingly removed them from our lives.
9. We made direct amends to all persons we tried to control with religious indoctrination.
10. We continue to take personal inventory of ourselves and our beliefs through logical thinking, and when we are wrong, learn from our mistakes and correct them accordingly.
11. We sought through education and critical thinking to improve our understanding of our developing beliefs and disconnection from religion, empowering ourselves to carry out our renunciation of faith.
12. Having had an intellectual awakening as a result of these steps, we carry our lack of faith humbly and consciously, and offer to educate others when they are ready to break free of the tyranny of religion, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.
I just started my first blog on this very subject. Its just getting rolling, but I’d be keen to have you weigh in if you’re interested. Our 12 steps are strikingly similar, being based on the AA model.
Another atheist blog. The more the merrier, right?
LV
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As an agnostic living amongst believers, I often feel the disappointment of my persuasive arguments lying in vain, and as such, as well as reading on the bitter attitudes theists are capable of having towards us, I wonder just how we can strike a convincing argument whilst keeping theists from indignation, how to build a bridge of the great idealogical chasm between us. Thoughts, anyone?
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[...] here’s the LINK and here are the 12 steps: 1. We admit we were oppressed by religion and that our lives [...]
I have found your website to be interesting to say the least! I will be honest with you, I am a christian and I do not believe the same as you (obviously). I do however wonder about a few things. Most of the athiests that I have met in my life have some underlying reason as to why the reject religion. I guess my question is have you always not believed in a God or did something happen in your past that caused you to reject the ideals of religion. Please, don’t get me wrong. I am not trying to start an argument, I’m just curious. I don’t believe in religion because really, to say a person is “christian” means that they have a personal belief and relationship with God.
Most religions today are biased to their own personal belief(s). Most people want to force their beliefs on others (christian or atheist or hindu or muslim, etc.,). So, to my next question. I do not mean to stereotype but, every (and I do mean every) atheist I have ever met, works twice as hard to get people to stop believing in God than most “christians” work to get people to believe. If in fact, atheists do wish to stop the world from “believing” does that not make them a religion in and of themselves?
Again, I am not trying to offend. I am just looking for answers to my questions. I will not change my beliefs and I will not try and force mine on someone else. I would encourage everyone to look beyond those tangible things in life and look to things that are not known by senses. Self reflection is what causes most people to turn to religion and sometimes even to turn from it.
As for Craig, I am sorry that he stopped his dialogue with you. I find it interesting when people of opposing beliefs can maintain a conversation. If you would like I could converse with you about why I believe what I believe. Up to you…
Thanks,
Roger
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Neece Reply:
May 9th, 2009 at 9:36 pm
Hey Roger,
I decided that this would make a good post instead of replying here. If you’d like to converse about such things that would be good. Email me. There’s a link at the top left of the page.
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Roger, your comment about atheists working twice as hard as Christians to convert people is woefully incorrect. Religions spend untold millions every year for the sole purpose of recruiting more people. Atheists don’t even come remotely close to expending the same resources.
The reason you see atheists speaking about religion more often in recent years is because we’re tired of taking a backstage to superstitious ninnies and being marginalized by religious whackos. I don’t see you as one of those whackos, but that doesn’t mean that you haven’t be adversely affected by wobbly religious thinking. Many of us have.
If ever there was such a thing as a devil, I think the best trick he could have perpetrated on the Human race would be religion. There hasn’t been a more divisive and treacherous affliction upon us than that in all of human history.
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Michael,
If you re-read my post you will find that I didn’t say all atheists work twice as hard. I said the ones that I have known work twice as hard. As I stated before my job as a “christian” is not to try to offend but, to try and offer a calm voice that may influence. Let’s be honest, I would prefer that everyone held belief. I am here to converse.
I do however, take offense to your statements of “superstitious ninnies” and “wobbly religious thinking”. If I think of myself as an intellectual I would have to be open to ALL forms of thinking and not make biased opinion of someone elses belief. I find my faith to be the foundation of the person that I have become. I am not perfect and I make many mistakes. But, I did not come here to argue.
I believe that every person has a right to their own belief(s). Whether I agree or disagree with the beliefs others hold is not the issue. I would prefer that a person find belief in God by the example I set rather than the words that come out of my mouth. Such belief in what people “say” is nothing more than lip service and truly my friend, words are cheap.
I do appreciate the cordial introductions that the users of this site have given me and look forward to future conversations.
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I just thought I would stop by. I haven’t heard anything from anyone on the site recently so, I thought I would make sure I hadn’t been blocked already! LOL
Anyone have anything they want to discuss? I’m a bit bored and would like the conversation. Roger…
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Mary Sigafus Reply:
November 13th, 2009 at 1:09 pm
Roger, your comments interested me. I just happened upon this sight (I’ll explain later) and have not really read it, but I like your approach.
I do not chat. I have never, that I can recall, expressed myself in any sort of blog or forum. I’m just rather an introvert, I reckon. I’ve been an atheist for something like 40 years. In my youth, I joined American Atheists, and attended meetings, but got away from it for many reasons. I’m just really not a joiner. Organized atheism seems to resemble organized religion a bit too much for me. I don’t like to see people calling others ninnies etc, even though I completely understand the frustration and anger and often feel that way myself. Like you, I’m curious about other peoples’ beliefs and don’t want to argue, just learn, and attempt to understand.
I don’t wear my atheism on my t-shirt, rarely discuss it with friends and don’t mention it unless practically forced to do so. To paraphrase you “I would prefer that a person find ‘freedom from religion’ by the example I set rather than the words that come out of my mouth”. I guess I’m the same way about my vegetarianism. To paraphrase you again “Let’s be honest, I would prefer that everyone ‘respect other beings and try their best not to harm them’ and ‘base their actions that affect others on empathetic consideration, rather than dogmatic rote’”.
It always comes back to the golden rule. Maybe that’s my ‘religion’. That and, as you say, self reflection. Maybe the difference is only semantics. I just wish everybody would keep their minds open and never stop questioning and always seek better ways to leave only benefical footprints.
Anyway, Roger, sounds like you’re my kind of ‘christian’ and I’m your kind of ‘atheist’. It’s really nice to see someone looking for common ground. Wish I could see more of it. ‘Twould be nice to see that around the abortion issue. And issues like gay marriage and guns and healthcare and all the issues that leave our country feeling so divided.
I fell upon this sight looking for a way to help young folk with addictive parents. Twelve-step programs repeat ‘God’ and ‘prayer’ too much for my taste. Again, maybe it’s just semantics, but it’s off-putting to the atheist in me. On with the search….
Mary
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according to the day of darvins theory i would say
we´re not that evolved and modern as we think …
secondly i want to say making cults with any idiologies is the same thing as many hypocritic religions started with . so its bad ,, lets not get radical into something
im saying this to the young generations specially ,, still respect every human and their minds
do not mix religios believers with corrupt minded people
still show respect to everyone ( except racist “christians” lol )
you can reach something with right things and not hate or fights ,,
thats what our history telling us …
religion starts with parenting education
lets all believe in the future and not into the past
thats the main difference between an atheist and christian i think … btw
i never agonised about issues like this im simply normal dude
but i like this site and the satire comics … yes satire comics are great !!!!!!!!!!
paece and god bless u all lol jk
oh and sorry for my bad english im from turkey
long live satire comics !
ps.: this documentary brought me back to the real real reality and the issue about
religions and sages and other bullsh*ts
“Zeitgeist the movie “
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Why do you guys insist on crushing others beliefs? It gives people hope! Atheistic beliefs are very pesimistic, and i would rather believe in God and die wasting time and energy going to church and doing good, than living a hopeless life.
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Because you screw with everybody else. Pass laws taking rights away from others, for example.
Furthermore, you’re just wasting time going to church. You’re not doing anybody any good going to church, and any supposedly good your are doing, can be done outside the church. And for that matter to preempt you, if you didn’t know, most Christian charity programs have a dark secret. They don’t give to nonbelievers or different religious. IE, Christian charities exist to convert. Learn something everyday huh?
No, atheistic beliefs aren’t very pessimistic. It’s realistic. Also, you can be a pessimist Christian. See, you take your screwed up view of the world, and think just because we don’t believe we’re “hopeless”. How inane.
Along those lines, do you not even realize that say, if the Bible were completely true, you’re going to hell anyways? I’m sure one of your ten nearest ancestors were born out of wedlock, or in a second marriage.
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