Comment from BeasPeas

Excellent

Hi Craig. I think it is totally up to each person to go with their belief system. I am Catholic, but don't push my beliefs on others just as I don't want theirs pushed on me. I don't even like it when others proselytize to me and I'm Christian. Your essay is appropriate for your point of view and well written. Marilyn

 Comment Written 07-Oct-2019

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reply by the author on 07-Oct-2019

Well, I certainly don't go around attempting to burst anyone's bubble or push my ideas onto them. Of course, a writing site or other online community where we get to express our views in print is a bit of a different thing. It's up to individuals whether they choose to read or skip anything. As they say, "no pressure." Thanks, Marilyn.

reply by BeasPeas on 09-Oct-2019

I agree. Different strokes.

Comment from Dawn Munro

Excellent

I disagree completely with every one of the answers you have supplied, except, of course, #7, since I never met your parents. (*LOL* -- I'm just yanking your chain, Craig. You already know my views. Wait, now -- don't hyperventilate. What? You don't see the air you are inhaling? *Chuckle* I guess the evidence of its existence is the fact that you have not fainted, or worse... *smirk*)

Okay -- admit it. You enjoyed this review almost as much as I did your essay. :))) (All kidding aside, my friend, flawless writing.)

 Comment Written 06-Oct-2019

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reply by the author on 06-Oct-2019

Well, to be fair, Dawn, I know the air I breathe is real. One reason I know that is that pretty much every one of hundreds of thousands of scientists who study these things have told me it is, and miraculously (wink), every one of them agrees what it is like. Now, if a quarter of the world told me I survived by breathing pure oxygen, another 1/6 by breathing nitrogen, and the remainder had their opinions on whether hydrogen, helium, argon or any one of hundreds of other elements and compounds were the One True Gas, I might have my doubts ;-)

Did you like that? hehehe

Thanks for one of your always fun reviews, much appreciated.

Comment from strandregs

Excellent

Quite boring , in places humorous
4. Do you consider atheism your religion?

No, and I take exception when someone tries to insist it is. Atheism is simply non-belief in God. I also don't believe in fairies, unicorns or bigfoot, but no one calls my lack of belief in those things a religion. No one insists my non-belief in Zeus is a religion.
Yeh
You missed the part where belief
Belief - a detachment from reality
in order to make sense of ....
well complicated. love Z. :-))

 Comment Written 03-Oct-2019

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reply by the author on 03-Oct-2019

Haha, thanks Z. I'll try to spice it up a bit more for you next time :) Cheers, Craig

Comment from Sandra du Plessis

Excellent

A very well-written non-fiction piece and great answers to the questions about your views. We all have the right to our opinion and we all need to respect another's views too.

 Comment Written 02-Oct-2019

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reply by the author on 02-Oct-2019

That's true, Sandra. It would be a boring old world if we all thought the same. Many thanks, Craig

Comment from damommy

Excellent

You mention the Golden Rule. Are you aware that it comes from the Bible? That probably came from somewhere in your ancestry, and was passed down to you.

I respect that you have the right to be a non-believer, but I don't understand it. I've never for a moment had a doubt about God. I could bore you with reasons for my certainty, but you probably wouldn't believe them. I do believe in an after life, and while I'd like to stick around for a while longer, I do know it awaits sooner than it used to. lol.

All my life, I've felt a presence by my side at all times. It (or He) has been a comfort in sorrowful times, and has helped me out of many tough situations.

I'm glad you're happy in your way of life. I know you are a good and kind man from 'conversations' we've had. But, you know what they say - there are no atheists in a foxhole. 8-)

 Comment Written 02-Oct-2019

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reply by the author on 02-Oct-2019

Hi Yvonne, thanks for stopping by :)

Yes, I did know the golden rule comes from the Bible -- specifically the sermon on the mount. But did you know that the same idea had been expressed by Greek philosophers including Socrates, Homer and Aristotle, hundreds of years before Jesus said it? Similar statements had been made by ancient Chinese writers, like Confucius and Lao Zi. Buddha had also expressed the same idea. In fact, the earliest recorded instance of the golden rule is from ancient Egypt, and dates back nearly 2,000 years before Jesus was born. That's probably a snippet the pastor didn't relay in his sermons :)

As far as the no atheists in a foxhole thing goes, yes, "they" do say that. But "they" are wrong. A great number of people face death with no belief in God, and no regret. I attended the funeral of one such man just over a week ago.

Anyway, I do appreciate your thoughts. I may not agree with them, but I'm glad they bring you comfort.

Thanks for the kind words :) Craig

reply by damommy on 02-Oct-2019

Thank you for being so gracious. I'd like to remain friends. 8-)

Comment from Sandra Stoner-Mitchell

Excellent

I have been really confused lately. I want to believe, I want to see my family again, I've missed them so much. But, will I? There is so much wrong with this world, there is so much pain inflicted by people to people. Your answers were well thought out and thought-provoking, too. When we die, we will find our answers. If we don't, it won't matter because we won't know anyway! Well done, this was a very interesting read. :) Sandra xx

 Comment Written 02-Oct-2019

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reply by the author on 02-Oct-2019

Very true, Sandra. I sometimes think I will miss this life awfully, as trying as it can be at times. Then I realise what a silly thing that is to think -- of course I won't miss it! Thanks for stopping by and leaving this thoughtful review. Craig

Comment from LIJ Red

Excellent

If all thought as you, (Imagine!) would storms and earthquakes mind?
Would viruses subside? Would men stop trying to be alphas? Would the waning stack of goodies increase? Well said. Grammatical.

 Comment Written 02-Oct-2019

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reply by the author on 02-Oct-2019

If all thought as me (or anyone) it would be a boring old world, would it not? I guess if the world was full of us infidels, the storms, earthquakes, viruses, famine, etc. would never cease. How angry can one god get? Get ready for the locusts, frogs, etc. Many thanks for stopping by :) Craig

Comment from Barb Hensongispsaca

Excellent

First of all I studied the beliefs of so many different beliefs when I was searching for me and you have covered it perfectly. The writing itself is done very well and no problems noted

 Comment Written 02-Oct-2019

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reply by the author on 02-Oct-2019

Thanks very much for the kind comments, Barb. They are most appreciated, as always. Craig.

Comment from lyenochka

Excellent

It's always a treat to hear from you, Craig. I was thinking it's been a while since I've seen a post from you! And I like how you opened up dialogue with this one. Yes, it's best when everyone can openly discuss their beliefs without judging or trying to convince the other. I know you're an atheist but I also know you once taught Sunday School. When did you decide that there was no God? I thought that way in 9th grade and fell into a deep existential depression. I felt without the purpose and value of life that God gave me, life was worthless. So in reading the Bible again, I returned to faith. You said your moral beliefs are from your upbringing. Were your parents Christian?

 Comment Written 02-Oct-2019

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reply by the author on 02-Oct-2019

I was about 18, I guess, when I finally gave up trying to convince myself any of it was true. Although I think it was not until I was around 40 I finally bit the bullet and went full atheist rather than notionally agnostic. Unlike you, I have never felt that a meaningless life (which in a strict, literal sense, is true) equates to a worthless one. I think we assign ourselves our own meaning. My mother believed Christian doctrine (though she wasn't very well versed in the finer points, and wasn't a church goer). The subject of what my father believed never came up, but I am pretty sure he was an atheist. Nevertheless, both were very moral as I now understand the term. Which is, of course, not necessarily how Christians understand it. To me, morality is simply doing things that are for the good of others and not doing things that harm them - i.e. essentially the golden rule. My own peculiarity is that I extend the principle to all life, not just our own species. I don't think morality needs to go beyond that.

It's always good to hear from you, Helen, and thanks for the thought-provoking comments. Craig

reply by lyenochka on 02-Oct-2019

And thanks for the answers!

Comment from tfawcus

Excellent

The fact that I share your beliefs is, as you say, immaterial. Your answers are clear and seem to me to be non-confrontational. The only thing I would add is that humans seem to have an innate need for structure and ceremony in one form or another. That might explain some of the bizarre belief systems that compete for our undivided attention.

 Comment Written 02-Oct-2019

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reply by the author on 02-Oct-2019

Yes, what you say about structure and ceremony is true, although I find these days I seem to have little need for either. Could that be simply a byproduct of moving away from the religious viewpoint? There are some really bizarre views out there, aren't there? I would venture to say that some religions are a fair bit less bizarre than the ones that are most popular in our neck of the woods. Many thanks, Tony.