The best bit about being atheist is that I can pick and choose the bits of religious festivals I feel like celebrating (like eating Easter eggs or receiving Christmas presents) and drop the not-so-nice bits (I gave up Lent for Lent several years back, and haven’t resumed the habit since).
Anyways, this will make me giggle to myself for the next month or so. So I’ll share, so even if you don’t giggle, at least you’ll know why I am:
Anyways, proper post coming soon…
March 21, 2008 at 13:16
As I understand atheism, you believe that when you die their is nothing, OK?
If that IS the case, then you should not eat meat because you are killing — directly or indirectly — a living being and ROBBING it of its last and only live!
Of course, murder and war should be out too.
Not that you would do it to gain anything — you should be non-violent and non-killing purely out of compassion — and should not want any reward for your good actions, BECAUSE THERE IS NOTHING WHEN YOU DIE, REMEMBER???
eklagvirjulle@live.co.za
March 25, 2008 at 13:16
You are correct in your “understanding” of atheism in that I do believe there is nothing after I die. However, you seem to have completely missed the point of being an atheist, much as if I said that the only belief of a Christian is that you would go to heaven – the belief is true, but it’s not all that matters.
Do animals go to heaven? If not, then people of theistic religions shoudn’t eat meat either, for that precise same reason. I eat meat because it is an important part of my diet – we evolved to need protein.
Murder and war are out – just because, as you said, I am non-violent and non-killing purely out of compassion. Though saying that, I am prepared to fight for what I hold dear – if a man attacked me and my SO on the street say, I would be fully prepared to defend myself and her.
One of my main gripes with Judo-Christian religions is the “be nice so that you’re rewarded” mantra. We should be nice to each other for compassionate reasons, and live an enjoyable and full life, because there /IS/ nothing when you die so you might as well make the most of it.
March 29, 2008 at 00:20
Good cartoon – I liked that!
Point of order – the Christian religion doesn’t ask us to be nice so that we’re rewarded. With Christianity the order is the opposite. Be sinful (not a command but a state we’re stuck in). Be sorry. Be forgiven. Be nice as a grateful response for your forgiveness, though no one manages this completely – we’re just works in progress…
Apart from that, really good blog.