I have no problem reconciling an anti religious position with focusing on positive themes. The positive themes for me concern creating a fair, just world. Religion is the very opposite of that. Religion is the antithesis of all momentum towards a better world, their phoney smiling popes and disingenuous spiritual banter notwithstanding. So we discuss religion to help neutralise its impact. But that's not the goal. The goal is a fair and secular world. Religion in just in the way and holding us back.

Eh, just grow yourself.
I let them be, if it makes them them happy then whatever, as long as they leave me alone.
If their opinion or ideology is forced on me I will either defend myself or go on the offensive against them. I don't look for a fight but I will not be imposed upon.

well, since atheism isn't a religion and has no rulebook, atheists are a diverse group, and some are bound to be negative while others are positive. i can understand both. i don't think about whether or not there are any gods all day long, but if i encounter a proselyte or suddenly get told that i can't possibly be a moral person because i don't belong to the club, then i can't help getting a little testy, if you'll pardon the patriarchal reference. but there are lots of categories here besides religion. in that category, some antitheism is bound to emerge. if you don't like it, find a category you like better, or don't respond to the antitheistic posts and favor milder ones, and/or make some positive posts yourself. it should work out )

g

Well I really try to keep things in perspective. We are in a fight for the future of the planet; a choice between mass extinction and the end of our civilization or telling the fossil fuel industry and their mealy-mouthed minions in the usurper Administration that they can shove their coal-fired power plants and their stinky, anachronistic gasoline and diesel-powered internal combustion engines up their money-lined asses. And the pathetic religious morons who who have been duped into going along with (enabling) the fat cats because thgey pay lip service

Why do you want to talk about religion at all? I find it much more possitive not to talk about religion.

Just like those that are sent converts to religion are often the most fervent, so to are those that have escaped its clutches. The difference, however, is that for those that have escaped religion there is often a lot of anger and/or pain for the years of lies and abuse. It is like someone finally getting out of an abusive relationship, but still see everyone around them still stuck in thier's.

I myself try to focus on what I can do to make the world a better place. Like many things that starts at home, or in my case community. I am active in speaking up for change and for more understanding. I focus on my students and preparing them
I tell them often that "I am teaching them how to think, not what to think." If you know how to think you can succeed in any situation, but if you are only taught what to think you will only be successful in a very specific situation, often one that thousands are often trying to fit into that one narrow slot. I focus on ending bullying and fostering acceptance and understanding. I teach how to break down an argument to its base elements so that it can be measured and evaluated for validity. I work on fostering community and civic involvement.

If the religious fundamentalists are successful in turning 'merca into a theocracy, are you willing to accept that cheerfully? If not then you had better put some ant-theism in your Agnosticism and A-theism and get to the voting booth on election days.

Until the dominant paradigm shifts to something other than a iron age sky god myth I will talk about it. When they stop trying to put their BS into textbooks and laws then I'll stop talking about. I also spend time learning new things, reading good books, drinking good wine and craft beer and having a good time. All things in balance.

It passes i used to be a proper keyboard warrior when i first became an athiest now i ahve other hobbies its just a phase most people go through

I'm not really much into names.
But when asked, I will say that I am an Agnostic Atheist.
Atheist, because I don't believe in any such nonsense of a deity or anything like that.
The Agnostic, is because I don't have any empirical evidence to prove it either way.

I also Will add Anti-theist, because of the harm that religion has, and still does cause quite a bit of harm.

I think a lot of people that have let go of such beliefs, at some point show somewhat of a resentment towards religion (understandidly so), because of all the harm it does.
Personally, I was never a believer, I was not brought up in a religious household. But the more and more I learn of what religion has, and still does, I will spek out about it.
IMHO, religion should be looked at with contempt, and ridicule.

I agree there is too much negativity and sneering at theists.

I tend to think about the ways my life benefits from my lack of religion (I was never particularly religious, although my mother was).

For example, I find the fact there is no god quite liberating in that I am responsible for my actions and I can live my life to please myself and my family. I'm raising my kids to understand that I am atheist, but if they take a different path I will support them. There is great freedom if being able to offer that flexibility.

I enjoy the fact that my freedom from god pisses other people off.

I value the fact that I have greater freedom to take an unbiased view of the world and its politics. I can accept that in some circumstances religion has a positive role to (but I have never met a theist who would say that about atheism)

I am not scared of eternal damnation, or judgement from a higher being

My life is not a competition to be the most pious person in church.

I can concentrate on things that make me happy, not things that other people (or a god) think I should be doing

I don't have to get up early every Sunday!

I find there is far more "tolerance" for believers, than there is for anti-theism.
I'm an anti-theist. I have nothing but contempt for all belief systems that
claim any kind of gods.
I only tolerate them because it's required by law.
They hold entirely too much influence on the lives of all people.
If I, or anyone else, doesn't believe in your (general) bullshit, WHY should
my life be even slightly impacted by it????
It shouldn't, and that's why I'm an anti-theist.

I don't see anything remotely "negative" about wanting all people to be free
of the influences of religion.
I find working toward freeing people of their delusions to be an extremely positive thing, and I don't appreciate people like you trying to make anti-theists sound so
negative. We aren't. That's just YOUR perception, and perceptions are wholly subjective, and not necessarily rooted in any kind of fact.
I also find encouraging logical, rational thought to be extremely inspirational.

Enjoy your day.

As far as ways to participate proactively I enjoy the existence of non theistic religions. Buddhism, taoism and hinduism are worth studying if you grew up ensconced in western assumptions of monotheism. I also like the new secular "religions" like Satanic Temple, Dudism and Pastafarianism. These might seem antitheistic in a lampooning way because they sort of are, but Satanic Temple seems pleasantly politically proactive and thats another positive direction to focus some discontent into. Outside of that Id say look into mingling at some unitarian universalist churches, or volunteer at soup kitchens, homeless shelters, any kind of public service project that church folks might try to support... Go volunteer with them and show them that godliness isnt the only source of compassion under the sun.

It's not really surprising that after having been suppressed in a predominantly religious society for so long, non-believers that felt trapped and ex-believers who feel duped now express that as anti-religious sentiment.

Those feelings will mellow with time. In the meantime, it's important that anti-theists (in which I'd include myself) learn effective ways to communicate with theists. Arguments using apologetics rarely accomplish anything except widening the divisible by causing both sides to dig their heels in. It's better to take time to understand why people feel the need to lean on something like faith, then try to guide them towards a more evidence-based way of thinking.

Personally, I'd love to see a time when atheists don't need to discuss atheism because it's become the status quo.

@RussRAB -- I'm making this response to you a separate comment so that others can see it and respond.

''''''''''''''''''''''''

Okay, now I understand much better. Now, let's see if this makes any sense to you. You've noticed, I'm sure, how people who have recently accepted the Dead Jew on a Stick as their savior and the Man in the Attic as their Daddy of Daddies tend to go way overboard. They can't stop talking about it. They just have to convert anyone they meet and make critical comments regarding those who are on their way to the Basement Furnace because of their sinful ways. What most of them are doing is trying to convince themselves. A few of them convince easily, others go on like that for a long time.

With this in mind, do you suppose it is any different for those who have recently taken a step toward what they once perceived as the Lake of Fire? Some of them are nearly overcome with uncertainty and even fear. Some feel like everyone is peering at them and they just know the Big Dude is. No major transition is easy for the majority of human beings, and some changes are terrifying. That's one element driving this negative push-back against religion and theism.

Then we have our madder-than-mad folks who are responding to what they see as a lifetime of suppression. Some have suffered some horrible loss and that has kicked them into the arena of eternal anger aimed that what was once their Imaginary Friend in the Clouds and anything associated with it. Some of them grow out of it. Many do not. That is another source of sour reactions to anything that even hints of their ex BFF above the Trees or anything that is associated with it.

We have our military wing. Our strike force. Some of them have gained notoriety in their negative rhetoric. Most of them see it as their solemn duty to deride the church or synagogue or mosque or.... They are people with a mission. The mission? Bring down the institution of religion however it manifests itself. They are vocal. They are visible. They are legion. They are in-your-face. They are, more often than not, right.

We have our usually silent activists who, when conditions warrant, join ranks with our military wing. Want to teach creationism in our schools? Be ready to be confronted with these people. When something comes along that riles them, makes them come out of their comfort zone, they can be downright frightening in their attack mode. I'm one who identifies with this gang of thugs -- that's what they call us when we rise up, you know -- who would drive the enemy into the sea when their hackles are raised.

Of course there is no distinct line separating one group from the other. They all blend into a spectrum of response to things religious. Where in this panorama of response to magic woo would you point your finger and say, "There! That's what bugs me the most and I wish they'd stop it?"

I have never felt compelled to argue theism with a believer. To each her or his own, I feel. Although there have been a few occasions when I got tired of certain people's shit and defended my conclusion that there are no gods.

I've had to explain to people my side of things so that they understand that I exist beyond their philosophy and now they ask me can they pray for me. I tend to try neutrality as a base of conversation to avert someone bringing out the active shooter in me because there are so many out here that the church has slapped around. The debates can get a little heady sometimes so I seek a gray area that allows the both of us to move on peacefully. Then I go home and play a video game that lets me shoot people. LOL!!!

Work, hobbies, continuing education, self-improvement....etc.

And, also, friends and family if that is a priority.

There are plenty of discussions and conversations going on here that are nonreligious. All my posts, for instance.

By the way, this website has a bit of a learning curve, so here's some info, in case you need it.

For members who are open to dating, certain thumbnails and profiles have a heart symbol on them with a percentage. This identifies which members are open to dating, and the percent shows approximately how compatible others are with them.

You gain website points by uploding a recent photo of your face, answering all the profile questions and writing a bio, which also earns website points, and helps other members get to know you.

Commenting on posts and writing your own posts earns more points. At level two you can private message people, and at level eight you get an agnostic T-shirt.

If you want to date, the website uses profile algorithms to find member matches, so the more details one includes, the better the match.

Many people prefer to see a written profile talking about interests, hobbies, and backgrounds that can be quickly perused to find others with similar interests..

In case you didn't know yet, to find members near you, click on the "Browse" button at the top of the page, then on "Members," and enter your preferred search parameters.
Click on the "Discuss" button, then "Nearby" to find members near you also.
Or click on the "About" button at the top left of the page to find links to FAQ or the website tutorial.

You can check for local events on the "Events" tab in the drop-down menu under the "Discuss" button, above.

Points are now being given to level 3+ members who chat. You can see chat rooms on the group main page.

I remain anti-religious simply because my non-belief sprang out of once having believed. I find too many people claiming to be atheist just so they can get away from religious association without feeling the pressure of religion. I'm not talking about those people who have never believed. I'm talking about those who deny existence of gods, then go ahead to believe any other supernatural thing that ever came along. It makes me ask how they would even know what they believe. Such people are like those who believe in all diseases - except one. I often look at them as having a copout position.

I'm not going about daily thinking that there is no god, but I do use my new knowledge to fish out how others think. I can be around people just a short time and know if they are theists and to what degree, and I can also detect quickly how racist they are. This goes on into politics and other indoctrinations. The positive thing to me about being agnostic/atheist is that I believe I have these abilities simply because I no longer believe in gods and I can look at things critically. I would have it no other way.

Firstly, that we are given just half a century of adult life perhaps to enjoy and learn to appreciate all the wonders that nature gives. Only fifty chances to watch the seasons with all their natural and cultural significance for one, a hundred sciences to learn about, and if you want any more ideas just browse the list of groups on this site. Secondly, that when I reach the end of life I will have the comfort of knowing that I have done the best I can for as many other people as I can, there is still a lot of help needed in the world.

Said it before, I'll say it again.....still don't care

I'm at a point in my life where most days I don't think about religion at all. Most of my religious discussions comprise of the words "that's cool" and "gotcha" and that's pretty much it. Any time I spend thinking about religion is generally spent on learning more about religions I'm unfamiliar with that interest me. But to each their own. That's just kind of my jam.

I think where I'm at is healing from a lifetime of religion. I am interested in the negative effects of religion because it helps me understand where I'm at and what I need to do to move forward. I get tired of too much negativity and don't enjoy groups that focus only on that. For me, I've found a lot of support on this site with figuring out how to get past my religious conditioning and rebuild my life.