The "I Don't Want To Live On This Planet Anymore" thread

[DeluxeMoustache]

I thought the guy who approached the hostile tribe was a case study of someone who didn’t want to live on the planet anymore.

That’s one way to do it.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by flylock shox

I mean, hey, don't we all want to be saved from eternal misery?

No thanks, I’m cool.

But thanks for the explaination.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by flylock shox

I mean, hey, don't we all want to be saved from eternal misery?

Don't we all want to be saved from watching the Oilers play in our afterlife? Forced to watch for eternity? Sure, of course we do. If eternal misery and Oilers afterlife actually existed. But there is no evidence they do, it's just something some people made up centuries ago.



Wouldn't it suck to have spent your entire life convincing people to believe something that didn't actually exist, then *poof* you are gone? And you just wasted your once chance at life believing in something that didn't exist?

[flylock shox]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Wouldn't it suck to have spent your entire life convincing people to believe something that didn't actually exist, then *poof* you are gone? And you just wasted your once chance at life believing in something that didn't exist?

That's why I'm always nice to those Mormon kids who go around proselytizing: it seems like a crappy, thankless gig, that's being done with the best of intentions. At least most religions don't make teenagers do that.

[Wormius]

I would be curious to know if anybody, without any intervention, would think there is some higher being if they weren’t told. The premise seems off and there is no point. It’s just people being told what to do. Like a lack of free will here.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Wormius

I would be curious to know if anybody, without any intervention, would think there is some higher being if they weren’t told. The premise seems off and there is no point. It’s just people being told what to do. Like a lack of free will here.

I assume it is universal for people to imagine supernatural causes and effects. Some say we are wired to do this.

[flylock shox]

I think it's probably the other way around: that humans are inclined to believe in gods, higher powers, the supernatural etc., and it's only through resisting that natural inclination that we're able to be atheistic.



That's not to say, of course, that organized religion isn't primarily a means of social control. I reckon it is. But spirituality, I think, is just part of the human condition.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by flylock shox

That's not to say, of course, that organized religion isn't primarily a means of social control. I reckon it is. But spirituality, I think, is just part of the human condition.

Exactly.

So I don’t need to hear the spiel from other mortals. I’m a human, it’s part of my condition to think spiritually, leave me alone.

[GordonBlue]

I just don't feel the need to belittle them.

there is often two people from some religion that stand near the train station I use with a rack of pamphlets. they don't preach or bother people, but just stand there saying hi, and hope people come to them.
I don't mind them and often say hi back. it bugs me when I occasionally see an adult mock them. (I can cut dumb kids some slack)

sometimes atheists can't keep their mouths shut, either.

[KevanGuy]

IMO they should be mocked. They're wasting their time and bothering people.

[Oling_Roachinen]

Originally Posted by KevanGuy

IMO they should be mocked. They're wasting their time and bothering people.

Unless you're thinking of someone else, they aren't bothering anyone. A welcoming smile at worst. They won't engage unless other's do first.

[KevanGuy]

I guess you have a higher bar for "bothering". They're using peer pressure to spread their message. Mocking is using another social tool against them

Martyred or Darwined?

Chau was "martyred," said Mat Staver, founder and chairman of Covenant Journey, a Christian ministry that introduces college-age students to Israel through an immersion program.
John loved people, and he loved Jesus. He was willing to give his life to share Jesus with the people on North Sentinel island," Staver said in a press release. "Ever since high school, John wanted to go to North Sentinel to share Jesus with this indigenous people."

https://www-m.cnn.com/2018/11/21/asi...%3Frefresh%3D1

[Wormius]

I am actually kind of curious about this now. I have never exposed my kids to any religion or talked about anything supernatural. Sometimes I joke about a festivus pole for Christmas, I haven’t bashed religion or the existence of supernatural beings to them either. They probably have friends that go to church or so churchy things, so they might see stuff, but tonight I will ask what they think, if they have any spiritual leanings at all or thoughts about death.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Wormius

I am actually kind of curious about this now. I have never exposed my kids to any religion or talked about anything supernatural. Sometimes I joke about a festivus pole for Christmas, I haven’t bashed religion or the existence of supernatural beings to them either. They probably have friends that go to church or so churchy things, so they might see stuff, but tonight I will ask what they think, if they have any spiritual leanings at all or thoughts about death.

I dont know how old your kids are, but I think knowing about this stuff is really important. Its out there, they should be informed at least.

Otherwise they'll turn 18 and run off with some Star-Cult trying to catch a ride on a comet to Betelgeuse by drinking actual 'Comet Kool-Aid.' As in the cleaning solvent.

[Ozy_Flame]

People should introduce topics of religion to children with foresight and discretion, including the ability to make up their own minds about it. That said, Parents need to do what's right for their unique situations.

Religion should be put in the same bucket of abstract thinking as art, music, supernaturalism, philosophy, and anything else that requires the human brain to explore non-scientific concepts.

With my kids one day I want them to believe in the stone-cold truth behind data and math. Loads and loads of data and math, and showing evidence behind every decision that needs rationale!

[OMG!WTF!]

I had no experience or education in religion growing up and I just kind of figured out it was f'ed up as I went along. I think I was much less likely to join a cult than someone who maybe was exposed to religion, decided it was worth rebelling against and joined the opposite of whatever they grew up with.

[GordonBlue]

Originally Posted by KevanGuy

IMO they should be mocked. They're wasting their time and bothering people.

seriously? someone standing on their own, not actively engaging with anyone about their religion, waiting to be approached, deserve mocking?

shouldn't you just ignore them and be smug in your knowledge that you're superior in your thinking, instead of being a jerk for no reason? they're not bothering anyone and what they do with their time isn't our problem either.

I'm not religious but at least I was taught to respect people with differing beliefs.

[Oling_Roachinen]

Originally Posted by KevanGuy

I guess you have a higher bar for "bothering". They're using peer pressure to spread their message. Mocking is using another social tool against them

I would hope everyone has the same bar as me when it comes to being "bothered" by these people.

Either you're talking about a different group of people, or you're pretty intolerant. The group that I'm talking about, and I assume GordonBlue is, will not approach anyone who doesn't approach them. They won't try to hand out pamphlets even. Only those who approach them will they discuss with. I really don't see the peer pressure, there's is no pressure.

If you're annoyed with that, is it just any person showing their religion that would bother you? Like would seeing a Church annoy you? People who wish you a Merry Christmas? Turbans? Kippahs? Why or why not would you not mock those as well?

Knocking on doors? Sure be annoyed. Hanging up insensitive anti-abortion signs on bridges? Be angry. Preaching hate? Should be outraged. Smiling next to a sign? Don't see an issue.

[Weitz]

Originally Posted by Oling_Roachinen

I would hope everyone has the same bar as me when it comes to being "bothered" by these people.

Either you're talking about a different group of people, or you're pretty intolerant. The group that I'm talking about, and I assume GordonBlue is, will not approach anyone who doesn't approach them. They won't try to hand out pamphlets even. Only those who approach them will they discuss with. I really don't see the peer pressure, there's is no pressure.

If you're annoyed with that, is it just any person showing their religion that would bother you? Like would seeing a Church annoy you? People who wish you a Merry Christmas? Turbans? Kippahs? Why or why not would you not mock those as well?

Knocking on doors? Sure be annoyed. Hanging up insensitive anti-abortion signs on bridges? Be angry. Preaching hate? Should be outraged. Smiling next to a sign? Don't see an issue.

The pushy anti-religion people are just as annoying as the pushy religion people.

Luckily in my experience both of those are in the minority.

[Wormius]

I think Kevan was talking about the people who go to different countries and guilt or try to indoctrinate people into following their religion.


I went to university with a guy who early after graduating from engineering, left to become a missionary in Indonesia. I get newsletters every quarter or so about what's going on. The last one actually struck me as harsh as it talked about somebody who recently died and they felt bad because he was a muslim who would probably be suffering in hell now because he rejected being saved and is going to face god as a sinner. This was a rare time when I wrote back and asked him if he had gone off the deep end because the comments were so mean-spirited, I thought. This is in complete constrast to another friend (also weird divergence from engineering) became a Catholic priest. Whenever I see him, I hear nothing about religion, takes offense to nothing, though he might cringe, he is the most easy-going person I know.



The thing here is, you're going to another country with their own cultures and habits and bothering people who are ordinarily going about their lives without the need for these distractions. And there is nothing really noble about this. Worst case is they're going to get people murdered because they changed religions, best case is what? Free English lessons, Jesus swag, and candy.


I am polite to everybody, mostly just out of general shyness and a desire to get out of an awkward situation. My exposure is probably once a year when the neighbourhood JW will spot us at the bus stop and say "hi, can I give you this" and give us a copy of some pamphlet that I politely accept, and then toss into recycling when I get the chance.