Should a candidate's ability to keep his/her religious beliefs to him/herself be a litmus test for ...

wordywalt comments on Oct 24, 2017:

Won't happen. Unfortunately, humans being humans, some political candidates will try to appeal to groups' beliefs in order to get elected.

After we are gone who will inherit the earth?

wordywalt comments on Oct 24, 2017:

Who cares? The earth, itself, will eventually be destroyed in some astrophysical event -- the sun dying, being hit by an asteroid, the core losing its electromagnetism, another big bang, etc.

Some Donald Trump Supporters Are Now Calling Him 'God Emperor' | HuffPost

wordywalt comments on Oct 24, 2017:

This is what happens when we have a comingling of politics and religion. Is demeans and contaminates both.

Half of New Testament forged, Bible scholar says – CNN Belief Blog - CNN.com Blogs

wordywalt comments on Oct 24, 2017:

Likely true. Most of the New Testament is simply cultural mythology.

Not sure if this has been posted or not but I am curious about what denomination/religion people ...

wordywalt comments on Oct 24, 2017:

Both of my parents were Methodists and I was raised in the Methodist church.

Does anyone believe that theists are generally honest and sincere in their claims?

wordywalt comments on Oct 24, 2017:

Some are, but many are not.

Considering that religion has gone to war with us should we go to war against religion?

wordywalt comments on Oct 23, 2017:

The goal is to rid ourselves of harmful practices imposed on us, not to harm, humiliate, or dominate others. The goal should be to grease the skids as that religion will become obsolete and do itself in.

Why does a large core component of the Black community still cling to the religion of their former ...

wordywalt comments on Oct 23, 2017:

It is "the curse of culture" -- once beliefs, practices, and behaviors become a part of a culture, they channel and limit that which follows. If you can find it, read a brilliant opinion piece by Paul Bohannon, anthropologist.

What are your thoughts on “foul” language?

wordywalt comments on Oct 23, 2017:

I don't believe in insulting people or in gratuitous use of sexual emphases. Otherwise, it all has its purpose.

What is something that most people don't know about you?

wordywalt comments on Oct 23, 2017:

As I don't know you, if I don't tell people I know, then I ain't gonna tell you either.

I'm sure there are many of you that, like me, live in areas overflowing with churches, and ...

wordywalt comments on Oct 23, 2017:

The simple answer is that most businesses that use such advertising ploys do so to try to increase sales. It is their judgment that more people are likely religious, so they appeal to religion as a sales gimmick.

As a photographer I get asked many times what photos I'd never take, my answer is very few, the odd ...

wordywalt comments on Oct 23, 2017:

Deliberately offending others, even if their beliefs are not correct, is hurtful, therefore immoral.

What is the point of living?

wordywalt comments on Oct 23, 2017:

There is no point, in and of itself. Live simply exists. We create meaning by our own thoughts and actions, compounded over time and lives to create culture.

What's your phobia?

wordywalt comments on Oct 23, 2017:

What does that have to do with agnosticism!

Thoughts on Satanism?

wordywalt comments on Oct 23, 2017:

I will never commit myself to membership in an organization which believes in a non-existing being.Gree yourself from all of that crap -- including Satanism.

I am going through a very rough patch in my life right now.

wordywalt comments on Oct 22, 2017:

Be sure to reach out to trusted friends if you need aid.

did you loose faith, or gain a sense of reality?

wordywalt comments on Oct 22, 2017:

I gradually gained a sense of reality grounded in fact, science, and experience.

Do you think there is only one human race?

wordywalt comments on Oct 22, 2017:

There is one human species. Race is an artificial concept.

Has the Earth ever been visited by extraterrestrials?

wordywalt comments on Oct 22, 2017:

Who knows. I havbe better things to do than wonder about things that are impossible to know.

What other things do you look for in a mate, besides being an atheist?

wordywalt comments on Oct 21, 2017:

If I were looking for a mate, the things I would be looking for are personality (warmth, caring, empathy, open to experience, win-win philosophy to life, non judgmental), intelligence, values focused on treating others with dignity and respect.

was ignorance bliss , or are you happier as a non believer ?

wordywalt comments on Oct 21, 2017:

I am much happier as a non-believer. I feel much more free, much more in control of my choices, much less guilt-ridden and doubt-ridden, much happier.

Can science and religion realistically be reconciled?

wordywalt comments on Oct 20, 2017:

No, the two can never be completely reconciled. Some scientists who consider themselves Christians simply choose to act as though there are areas of thought and belief to which scientific evidence and proven facts do not apply.

Do you believe that experience leads to beliefs?

wordywalt comments on Oct 20, 2017:

We all build our own patterns of meaning and patterns of action based on our interpretation of events and experience. That is what enables us to deal with the world we interact with. In general, the vast body of psychological evidence shows that we act our way into believing, not vice versa. We act, see what the results are and build our patterns of behavior accordingly.

If you research you will find out that cannons/bible was written 311 A.

wordywalt comments on Oct 20, 2017:

You underestimate religions. Most are self=perpetuating mind control organizations that prey on emotionally vulnerable people and coerce people into believing.

If you could nominate an Atheist to lead our nation, who would that be and why.

wordywalt comments on Oct 20, 2017:

Gender, color, or presence or absence of religious beliefs are all minor considerations. The "biggies" are belief in and action to support a vigorous democracy, full support of civil rights, true concern about ALL of our people, ability analyze facts and issues and make wise decisions, and ability to negotiate with others to reach productive consensus, and personal honesty , integrity and empathy..

Evangelicals in Government

wordywalt comments on Oct 20, 2017:

All members of the religious right who seek to impose their views on us have feet of clay We must find and expose their hypocrisies. At the same time, we must oppose also fight the comingling of politics and religion in court.

I want a path to follow though I don't believe how to find meaning w out a god?

wordywalt comments on Oct 19, 2017:

I don't understand your question. Do you mean that you would like for someone to point out a path to finding personal meaning in life?

In your opinion, why did Christianity not 'stick' with you?

wordywalt comments on Oct 19, 2017:

My movement away from religion started in my teen years. I was active in my church and a youth fellowship leader, and had read the Bible from cover to cover 3 times by the age of 15. Still I did not like being made to feel "a sinner"l for have normal thoughts and teenage urges. The more I read the Bible, the more I noted discrepancies, obvious fictions, and simply weird stuff (as in Revelations). I also began to see the hypocrisy in the behavior of more than a few adult "Christians." All together, these things drove me away from religion and into the realm of agnosticism. As I grew older gained the knowledge and courage to reject all aspects of religion At the age of 80, I do not fear death. I reject all of the theology -- belief in any god, existence of Satan, belief in life after death, even having a "soul" I am simply a biological being who has lived a full life and will die. When I die, there will be no funeral and no burial. I will live on only in the minds of friends and family and in the beliefs and actions of those I have influenced. The more

I've been puzzling for years over how to create more, and better communities for atheists.

wordywalt comments on Oct 19, 2017:

Be careful. It is that same desire to belong, and or the need to gain power by being a member of a group that leads most people into both religious groups or ideological groups. Any such group will develop dogmas and leaders to enforce the dogma. Such leaders can be or become self-serving demagogues who will try to lead people into immoral beliefs and acts.

Reconciling "belief" systems with people on the "agnostic-atheist" spectrum.

wordywalt comments on Oct 19, 2017:

That is an issue of personality. It arises from two sources: (1) the desire to dominate, and (2) the perceived need to create and/or belong to a belief community.

What music makes you happy right at this moment?

wordywalt comments on Oct 19, 2017:

Violin Concerto No. 1 in g minor by Max Bruch -- 27 minutes of movement from quiet , but deep feeling to joyful exuberance.

Boyfriend is agnostic, I'm an atheist. How to cope with disagreements?

wordywalt comments on Oct 19, 2017:

Movement from being an agnostic toward atheism is largely a matter of courage and maturity. Over time most agnostics finally get the courage to admit that they are atheists. Don't argue, but ask questions which allow the person to clarify their own thoughts. Give him time and space. He will get there.

Has anyone been able to maintain or be currently maintaining an intimate relationship with a ...

wordywalt comments on Oct 18, 2017:

Yes. My wife of 23 years is a devout Catholic and I personally reject all religious beliefs for myself. We both respect each other's right to believe as we choose (so long as both, in our beliefs an actions, treat others with dignity and respect). We make NO attempts to convert the other to one point of view.

As an atheist, I enjoy discussing metaphysics and philosophy, but recently I find myself getting ...

wordywalt comments on Oct 17, 2017:

Read what the German philosopher Feuerbach had to say as to why humans created religion. Also read Erich Fromm's ESCAPE FROM FREEDOM, as why humans willingly give up their freedom of thought to become "true believers" in total system ideologies -- both religious and political. Would be glad to discuss them with you.

Would you raise your children religious just to fit in?

wordywalt comments on Oct 17, 2017:

No. I did not. Religion was not pract5iced in my house. I gave my 2 daughters the choice of explorinf religion if they wanted to. Both are now college educated, successful mothers.

Do you think all religious are equal?

wordywalt comments on Oct 16, 2017:

All religions are based on ungrounded cultural mythology and superstition. Still some religions treat people with greater dignity and respect than others. They do less damage.

How do you deal with people who want to "save" you?

wordywalt comments on Oct 16, 2017:

I tell them that they have the right to believe as they wish and I will respect that so long as their beliefs to not demean or hurt others. Similarly I have the right to believe as I see fit, and that attempts to convert me are showing disrespect for me, my rights, and my beliefs.

How do you deal with Door-knockers?

wordywalt comments on Oct 16, 2017:

Politely tell them you are not interested.