Atheistforums.com

As you can tell from the title... I created a religion for atheists.  You can read about it here... Xeroism (http://forum.nationstates.net/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=372717).

I guess everything is absurd - at first glance.

(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/e0/ff/45/e0ff45c0806e5729dfa1f42111410fd0.jpg)

I can't take any written position seriously if it has emoticon within it...

A religion for atheists is a contradiction in terms.

Quote from: DeltaEpsilon on March 30, 2016, 09:00:38 PM
A religion for atheists is a contradiction in terms.

Then it must be a form of zen ;-)

Xeroism seems to have some of the crazy notions and ridiculous beliefs that other religions have. So that's a plus.

On the other hand, a religion for atheists makes about as much sense as a barber offering free haircuts to bald men.

Its an exercise in futility.

Quote from: SkyChief on March 30, 2016, 11:53:17 PM
Xeroism seems to have some of the crazy notions and ridiculous beliefs that other religions have. So that's a plus.

Are you capable of elaborating? 

Quote from: SkyChief on March 30, 2016, 11:53:17 PMOn the other hand, a religion for atheists makes about as much sense as a barber offering free haircuts to bald men.

Its an exercise in futility.

Because... atheists aren't interested in immortality? 

I have serious problems with pre-determined political notions and religious beliefs being defined as positions and presented as 'options'.

Here is a realistic and a better option. Would you like fries with that?

Quote from: SkyChief on March 30, 2016, 11:53:17 PM
Xeroism seems to have some of the crazy notions and ridiculous beliefs that other religions have. So that's a plus.

On the other hand, a religion for atheists makes about as much sense as a barber offering free haircuts to bald men.

Its an exercise in futility.

Free is always good, especially if you can use additional coupons to get additional free haircuts for your baldness.  Are you against consumerism?

I'm afraid to participate in the poll.  It might be a trick.

Quote from: Xerographica on March 31, 2016, 03:21:37 AM
Are you capable of elaborating? 
Because... atheists aren't interested in immortality?

I will accept that some are. Some are are content living this life the best they can and then pass the torch to the new life.

The secondary reason I became atheist is because it requires zero effort on my part.  Its not a belief system, so it requires no thought or energy. It requires no faith in things that may or may not exist. Atheism is a world-view which is supported with Critical Thinking. Any faith-based religion does not meet the criteria of Critical Thinking.

Xeroism, at some level, requires a certain degree of faith in stuff that doesn't (yet) exist. That's why it is unappealing to me.

I can't take it serious until it achieves tax exempt status, then I'll look to see if there is a easy way to make a buck, tax free of course.

Quote from: Feral Atheist on June 01, 2016, 05:24:57 PM
I can't take it serious until it achieves tax exempt status, then I'll look to see if there is a easy way to make a buck, tax free of course.

Everybody can become a minister. One or two people on the forum are already. I have considered it. If everyone was a minister in a religion and everybody applied for tax exemptions on that basis, the IRS might be forced into reexamining the free pass they give religion if everyone was avoiding taxes because of it.

http://www.themonastery.org/landing/get-ordained?gclid=CKi3zde-ic0CFQERaQodt5IPJQ

Quote from: stromboli on June 02, 2016, 09:52:55 AM
Everybody can become a minister. One or two people on the forum are already. I have considered it. If everyone was a minister in a religion and everybody applied for tax exemptions on that basis, the IRS might be forced into reexamining the free pass they give religion if everyone was avoiding taxes because of it.

http://www.themonastery.org/landing/get-ordained?gclid=CKi3zde-ic0CFQERaQodt5IPJQ

That started a little piece down the road from me in Modesto, CA.  I considered becoming a Doctor of Theology--but at the time, the $20 bucks was earmarked for something else. :)  Actually, my wife did join ($5) I think just to be able to marry people.  She likes to do that sort of thing and has performed 10ish weddings so far--including her  daughter's and step-daughter's (my daughter) weddings.  It is legal--so, for $5 (it was last time I looked) you too can become a minister.  :)))

Quote from: Mike Cl on June 02, 2016, 01:12:00 PM
That started a little piece down the road from me in Modesto, CA.  I considered becoming a Doctor of Theology--but at the time, the $20 bucks was earmarked for something else. :)  Actually, my wife did join ($5) I think just to be able to marry people.  She likes to do that sort of thing and has performed 10ish weddings so far--including her  daughter's and step-daughter's (my daughter) weddings.  It is legal--so, for $5 (it was last time I looked) you too can become a minister.  :)))

Yup!  I stumbled into being ordained quite accidentally about fifteen years ago; I clicked on a button on their website and the next page congratulated me for becoming a new ULC minister.  I almost sent in the money a couple times, and always decided against it eventually.

I think technically I'm defrocked now since the last I read their terms, you are expected to profess a belief in some sort of higher power, even if they don't define who or how many.

Just going to buck the trend and say there is nothing contradictory about being an atheist and religious; religious does not necessarily entail belief in a deity but rather just following the lifestyle guidelines of a religion. You can be culturally religious while not believing in the theology of it, and there is nothing illogical or wrong with that.

Really?  I had not thought about that angle.  How would that work?  Seems to me it would simply be empty ritual.  But that could just be me.

Quote from: Shiranu on June 02, 2016, 02:03:16 PM
there is nothing illogical or wrong with that.

That is correct, because the amount of women a guy can hang out with increases. I've schmoozed churches. I'm not ashamed of it.

Quote from: Mike Cl on June 02, 2016, 04:22:57 PM
Really?  I had not thought about that angle.  How would that work?  Seems to me it would simply be empty ritual.  But that could just be me.

I think it's all a perspective thing. What is or isn't "empty" ritual is completely subjective; they might find it brings them closer to their community, to their ancestors or heritage... or perhaps it gives them a sense of moral or "spiritual" satisfaction. Or it is just a routine they don't want to stop, even if the real reason to do it is something they don't believe in anymore.

QuoteThat is correct, because the amount of women a guy can hang out with increases. I've schmoozed churches. I'm not ashamed of it.

This guy knows what's up :P.

Quote from: Shiranu on June 02, 2016, 02:03:16 PM
Just going to buck the trend and say there is nothing contradictory about being an atheist and religious; religious does not necessarily entail belief in a deity but rather just following the lifestyle guidelines of a religion. You can be culturally religious while not believing in the theology of it, and there is nothing illogical or wrong with that.

Most Jews are secular in just that fashion.

Quote from: stromboli on June 02, 2016, 09:52:55 AM
Everybody can become a minister. One or two people on the forum are already. I have considered it. If everyone was a minister in a religion and everybody applied for tax exemptions on that basis, the IRS might be forced into reexamining the free pass they give religion if everyone was avoiding taxes because of it.

http://www.themonastery.org/landing/get-ordained?gclid=CKi3zde-ic0CFQERaQodt5IPJQ

That is exactly why the Tang dynasty emperor, shut Buddhism and all other non-Chinese religions down, in 845 CE.  The monasteries had been granted tax exemption, and more and more peasants were becoming monks.

You schmooze a synagogue ... you debauch a church ;-)

Quote from: stromboli on June 02, 2016, 09:52:55 AM
Everybody can become a minister. One or two people on the forum are already. I have considered it. If everyone was a minister in a religion and everybody applied for tax exemptions on that basis, the IRS might be forced into reexamining the free pass they give religion if everyone was avoiding taxes because of it.

http://www.themonastery.org/landing/get-ordained?gclid=CKi3zde-ic0CFQERaQodt5IPJQ

Aaaaaand now I'm a minister with an Honorary Doctor of Divinity degree. That's Dr. Hijiri, to y'all. :lol:

I suppose that the drive for immortality is incessant and will lead someday to some sort of AI version of it. I do not like the idea of that. I believe that death gives meaning to life, not in the least way by cutting an individual off from the power that he/she enjoyed while alive ... Eventually, all power would wind up in the possession of a very few minds! - as money is already in the possession of a very few hands ...

Anyway, there would be no need to create a religion around this sort of new nightmare - but, of course, being stupid people quite possibly would.

Quote from: Hijiri Byakuren on June 03, 2016, 12:48:49 AM
Aaaaaand now I'm a minister with an Honorary Doctor of Divinity degree. That's Dr. Hijiri, to y'all. :lol:

Hey Doc--you can now communicate with God.  So, what is He up to these days?????

Quote from: Mike Cl on June 03, 2016, 08:59:22 AM
Hey Doc--you can now communicate with God.  So, what is He up to these days?????

Apparently he's just been jerking off this whole time. Who knew?


Fair and balanced (like Fox News).

Quote from: Baruch on June 02, 2016, 11:19:28 PM
You schmooze a synagogue ... you debauch a church ;-)

Lol. True. Were I of a less savory nature, I could advise how unscrupulous single men could get access to desperate women seeking husbands and take huge advantage of them. Mormonism is full of men who victimize women, and women who were raised to be victimized. And Christianity has their version of Mormon single's wards.

With all the bad stuff I've done at one time or another.............................I've never quite been able to lower myself to televangalism; though I wanted to.    :uchicken:

Quote from: marom1963 on June 03, 2016, 12:58:10 AM
I suppose that the drive for immortality is incessant and will lead someday to some sort of AI version of it. I do not like the idea of that. I believe that death gives meaning to life, not in the least way by cutting an individual off from the power that he/she enjoyed while alive ... Eventually, all power would wind up in the possession of a very few minds! - as money is already in the possession of a very few hands ...

Anyway, there would be no need to create a religion around this sort of new nightmare - but, of course, being stupid people quite possibly would.

Brains in jars will spend their time betting quatloos on drill thralls in the arena.

Quote from: Baruch on June 02, 2016, 11:19:28 PM
You schmooze a synagogue ... you debauch a church ;-)

It would take a lot of effort to make the Catholic church more debauched than it already is... sorry, I have some morals.  :D

Quote from: Xerographica on March 31, 2016, 03:21:37 AM
Are you capable of elaborating? 
Because... atheists aren't interested in immortality?

Immortality is overrated, living forever would be torture.

Forgot about Nation States, 1st went there in 2007 with said name got kicked out when I was being an asshat for wanting more power.

Quote from: Mike Cl on June 02, 2016, 04:22:57 PM
Really?  I had not thought about that angle.  How would that work?  Seems to me it would simply be empty ritual.  But that could just be me.

rituals have symbolic meaning and serve social purposes. They could be linked with some baseline principles which the followers agree with and therefore not be empty. I have been trying to induce the creation of something like that in a social group i know IRL, using memetic warfare and organizing meetings with free drugs. It mainly ends up in a bunch of drunken spergs arguing about collectivism vs individualism, marxism, transhumanism, technology, ethics, random science stuff and trying to trigger our local lesbian radical feminist friend.

Quote from: DeltaEpsilon on August 18, 2016, 10:30:05 AM
Immortality is overrated, living forever would be torture.

A few thousand years would be OK and/or until I've reached a maxim of possible brain states. But forever? No thanks.