Hi All, I'm pretty new to this site, interesting topic - grabbed me. I would describe myself as agnostic in that I don't subsribe to any particular religion. I dont fear calling myself atheist cos I beleive I am my own god, and maybe that's a contradiction!. I don't live for 'afterlife/death. I try to enjoy life and not ruin anyone else's.

Hi, regi. Welcome to the forum.

hi regi, glad to know you as well.

a question to ya...

i am a christian, do you assume i don't enjoy my life or that i spend a nano second trying to destroy anyone else's.

i got into a discussion with muslims soon after i came here because basically the spiritual side of life is what interests me. i have lived a life of catering to my flesh when nothing counted but my enjoyment. but my conscience bothered me and I left "the life". no regrets.

i don't like religions either which is why i am a christian. to become a christian it must be by choice, not coertion. there are those who would try to scare the "hell' out of you.

the question above is a serious one, do you feel that christianity takes away your enjoyment. i do not know that kind of christianity. well i guess it would depend upon what you enjoy doing maybe...

I've been looking for a thread like this since I joined this site. I no longer practice any Christian religion and consider myself agnostic. Honestly, this is the happiest I've ever been.

Like a few have already said here, many Black people just assume that we're all into God and Christianity and are surprised when one of "us" isn't. At my place of employment, there's a bunch of them and the few of us that are agnostic or atheist call them the "god squad" because of how much they try to shove it down everyone's throats. It was so bad that a staff meeting had to be called to stop it because it goes against the ethics of the profession in which we work.

And regarding the following post:

That's S. Epatha Merkerson. I had no idea that she was atheist. I commend her for being bold enough to say it out loud. I wish I was because at least 98% of the people in my life still have no idea about my decision.

Why are you not willing to share the fact that you deny that there is a God? I know that it is your right to not do so but it seems as if you feel somewhat stymied and unable to be upfront with people.

It reminds me of the time when I began to speak and pray in tongues. I was afraid to tell my mother and father about it. finally I did and after they asked me why and I gave them scriptual evidence to prove that tongues is for today they were still angry for a while but they soon got over it.

Tongues has nothing to do with salvation so I do not press the issue with anyone, but I use the gift as necessary and when i choose to.

I personally don't think atheism is right but it is your right to choose that. if you were my friend or child i would not press you but pray to the Living God that He would make time and space available for you and I to chat and allow me to plant seeds of truth before you and then allow them to be nurtured, watered and harvested by God.

I do understand how you must feel, I think it was Paul speaking in Romans the 10 the 2nd verse about religious zeal that is not according to knowledge.

Not sure if you meant to ask the question in a genuinely curious or rude way , but either way I'll try to answer.

I'm afraid of being judged. That's partly my own issue and I won't deny that, but it's also the issue of those who will judge me so quickly. I'm not yet at the point where I feel courageous enough to tell them and not give a damn. Mentioning this on the internet is a little easier; therefore, I don't give much of a damn about being judged on here because the likelihood of anyone on here meeting me in person is probably pretty damn slim or nonexistent.

And by the way, I'm not necessarily denying the presence of a god. I'm just not sure if god, for me, is Jah or Allah or Shinto or Buddha or (insert deity here) or exists at all. I'm not here to debate it; I was just happy to find a thread like this to speak about my experience.

Taken from Wikipedia:
Agnosticism can be subdivided into several subcategories. Recently suggested variations include:

* Strong agnosticism (also called hard agnosticism, closed agnosticism, strict agnosticism, absolute agnosticism)—the view that the question of the existence or nonexistence of an omnipotent God and the nature of ultimate reality is unknowable by reason of our natural inability to verify any experience with anything but another subjective experience.
* Weak agnosticism (also called mild agnosticism, soft agnosticism, open agnosticism, empirical agnosticism, temporal agnosticism)—the view that the existence or nonexistence of God or gods is currently unknown but is not necessarily unknowable, therefore one will withhold judgment until/if more evidence is available.
* Apathetic agnosticism (also called Pragmatic agnosticism)—the view that there is no proof of either the existence or nonexistence of God or gods, but since any God or gods that may exist appear unconcerned for the universe or the welfare of its inhabitants, the question is largely academic anyway.
* Agnostic theism (also called religious agnosticism)—the view of those who do not claim to know existence of God or gods, but still believe in such an existence. (See Knowledge vs. Beliefs)
* Agnostic atheism (also called atheistic agnosticism)—the view of those who do not know of the existence or nonexistence of God or gods, and do not believe in them. "[9]
* Ignosticism—the view that a coherent definition of God must be put forward before the question of the existence of God can be meaningfully discussed. If the chosen definition isn't coherent, the ignostic holds the noncognitivist view that the existence of God is meaningless or empirically untestable. A.J. Ayer, Theodore Drange, and other philosophers see both atheism and agnosticism as incompatible with ignosticism on the grounds that atheism and agnosticism accept "God exists" as a meaningful proposition which can be argued for or against.

Logically a person must belong to one and only one of these 3 mutually exclusive categories:

1. You believe the philosophical view that the truth value of certain claims —particularly metaphysical claims regarding theology, afterlife or the existence of god, gods, deities, or even ultimate reality— can be known.

2. You don't believe the philosophical view that the truth value of certain claims —particularly metaphysical claims regarding theology, afterlife or the existence of god, gods, deities, or even ultimate reality— can be known.

3. You have doubts about the philosophical view that the truth value of certain claims —particularly metaphysical claims regarding theology, afterlife or the existence of god, gods, deities, or even ultimate reality— can be known, though that doesn't necessarily make one officially Agnostic, but rather simply exhibiting agnostic doubt, which does not have to disqualify a belief that one can actually know truth.

As an example a person can be a Presbyterian, and not be absolutely certain that there is a God. This person simply has faith that there is without reason.

Pretty much answered your own question here. Thats exactly why most people dont want to disclose what they believe, because the retort is often what I just bolded.

pretty much, yeah.

To add to that (even though the question wasn't addressed to me) for many "believers" they see one's admittance to atheism/agnosticism as an opportunity to "save" them and because of that most just nod and smile for the sake of [personal] peace.

When people give me religious pamphlets at work, I smile, say "thankyou" then throw it in the trash as soon as they're out of sight. Saying "I'm atheist" rarely seems appropriate to me unless someone is asking me specifically on my beliefs (which I don't lie about)...but then again, neither is throwing religious material onto someone..I wonder what the word would be if people handed out pamphlets on why god doesn't exist.

too bad you feel that way, i mean being repressed about what you believe to the point of fearing to let someone else know. i hate that for you and those who are like that.

And i also hate that you felt as if my reply in particular was a retort. no such thing, kind of like people who brag on the dallas cowboys or labrun james or the lakers. jesus is my superstar and i like being on His team is all.

some people are thinned skinned i realize.

i have talked to white racist atheist who have said some pretty aweful things about Jesus Christ. as a matter of fact there have been a couple of pretty voicetrous and i have not tried to condemn them to the deepest part of shoel. Jesus can take care of Himself, He appointed me to be patient and set an example in both word and deed.

i will turn the cheek (except physically), i ain't gonna take no whipping from no one and would not allow anyone to do that to you if i felt you were being abused. that is the way i am.

i pray that you will be come bolder in speaking your mind regardless of what others think of it.

a belief is a belief whether that something exists or whether you believe that it does not exist. i respect your right to do so. when i gave up on God it matter not to me when the bible thumpers came round. my word back to them was why should i believe in someone like Jesus who got killed. give me someone who is a fighter i would say and went down swinging. all the while i was in me drink or tokin'. i used to tell this girl who witnessed to me incesstantly that if she would toke with me i would listen to her about Jesus.

i know that there are some so called christians who will get on your worst nerve, the apostle Paul mentioned them in the book of romans>>>2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
Romans 10:2 (KJV)<<<

I stay away from them me self.

and as for the pamphlets handed out by atheist, there are such as do that. atheism is a bonafide religion. if you really believe that there is no God then tell them. if you prefer not to talk about it tell them that it is a personal matter with you and to leave you alone.

I’ll let y'all in on a little secret... I once dabbled with Satanism, while I was in Paris, under and in the catacombs of Paris. skulls to the left of me skulls to the right... but nothing happened... that I know of. do you realise that most people are living indirectly , a satanic life style????

you are preaching to the choir here buddy. I am from Louisiana, you know the place named for the french king. ever heard of a place called new orleans? voodoo, hoodoo, we got it all. there was a lady who lived up here in north louisana who people called the two "headed lady", could tell you how much money you had in your pocket at any time.

i won't go into what is in new orleans. the bible recoginzes what the powers of satan are. the problem with most is that they don't believe that satan is real. antione mcvay built a large church in 'frisco called the first church of satan. still in operation.

mike i have said many times oh here that satanism and wickedness will rise big time nearing what we christians call the latter days. our bible tell us that satan is the ruler of this world at this time. but his reign is almost done thank God.

I saw a chicken being swung over the head of a haitan, an african and in chicago in a jewish neighborhood. they use em in n.o.

if you think that satan has no power come to new orleans, there is a lady i will introduce you to. she has a business on Burbon st. She is a voodoo priestess. there is not another book that speaks of the spirit world as much as the bible does mike.