An Atheist Poem

Atheism offers nothing to me,
it never has and never will,
it doesn't make me feel good or comfort me,
it's not there for me when I'm sick or ill,
it won't intervene in my times of need or protect me from hate,
it doesn't care if I fail or succeed,
it won't wipe the tears from my eyes,
it does nothing when I have no where to run,
it won't give me wise words or advice,
it has no teaches for me to learn,
it can't show me what's bad or nice,
it's never inspired or excited anyone,
it won't help me fulfill all my goals,
it won't tell me to stop when I'm having fun,
it's never saved one single soul,
it doesn't take credit for everything I achieve,
it won't make me get down on bended knee,
it doesn't demand that I have to believe,
it won't torture me for eternity,
it won't teach me to hate or despise others,
it won't tell me what's right or wrong,
it can't tell nobody not to be lovers,
it's told no one they don't belong,
it won't make you think life is worth living,
it has nothing to offer me, that's true,
but the reason Atheism offers me nothing is because I've never asked it to,
Atheism offers nothing because it doesn't need to,
Religion promises everything because you want it to,
You don't need a Religion or to have faith,
You just want it because you need to feel safe,
I want to feel reality and nothing more,
Atheism offers me everything,
that Religion has stolen before.
-Richard Coughlan.

 

I don't believe it. It's possible that Coughlan thinks atheism does nothing for him, but unconsciously it serves psychological functions similar to those which religion serves for believers. For one thing, it provides the illusion of reality. ("I want to feel reality and nothing more.") Many of us want to feel reality, but as humans, reality (i.e., the truth) is illusive. Even if we "feel" it, it might not be there, or if it is, we can never tell for sure. Atheism may also provide a feeling of freedom, albeit possibly a false one. It provides the satisfaction of honesty and the courage of one's convictions, whether or not the non-belief that induces it is actually true. And depending on the form it takes, it has, contrary to Coughlan, told some to despise others. However much hate is denied, it is easy to spot in the words and actions of some atheists--even on this forum. Can it honestly be said that the poem by Coughlan was not designed and intended to express hatred against a sizable group of people?

 

bob dobbs will actually truely save you. if you will just let him.

 

Nice

 

Atheism has taken on the quality of a religion in recent years.

It's not enough anymore to quietly draw the conclusion that God doesn't exist, it must now be broadcasted, preached, proudly proclaimed from rooftops.

 

It is both hilarious and pathetic at the same time (as with a lot of things ) to see atheists making charicatures of themselves in their urge to proclaim their righteousness.

 

I dunno, everyone I know that was raised catholic eventually tried hallucinogens and dislikes all the guilt and original sin bullshit they were fed since birth.

its not about god, its about lying to children (good intentions or not)

 

^That^

If everyday I told my kids in all sincerity that they needed to "believe in" Santa Clause or else when they died he was going to send their soul to burn in the fires of his toy factory, people would think I was crazy, mean spirited, and depending on my fanaticism, unfit for parenting.

However, it would be totally acceptable if I told my kids in all sincerity that they needed to "believe in" [god x] or else when they died he was going to send their soul to burn in the [place] of his/her [choice,] because people would think I was religious, god-spirited, and depending on my fanaticism, a role model for parenting.

The humorous part is there is actually more evidence, by leaps and bounds, of "Santa Clause" (in various names) than there is for a god, especially the biblical god.

 

Loving parents face the dilemma of trying to do the best for their kids on the basis of their own limited knowledge and abilities. They don't have to "lie" to children (which implies deliberate falsehood). I can remember my mother telling me that God made me to love and to serve Him, and to be happy with Him in Heaven. That was before I started kindergarten at age 5. I don't recall anything about Hell, but I do remember Sister Laurencia's lecture on original sin--very dramatic, with chalk being used to show the soul stained with sin, and the eraser being used to demonstrate God's saving grace. I was 5 at the time. Am I warped? Undoubtedly. But I think I do a reasonably good job of critical thinking. And I'm grateful for the understanding of God and Jesus that I acquired.

 

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awesome poem dude

 

I thought it was nicely done, a great poem in response to the misunderstandings of atheist views.

On a different note, have you ever heard "Atheist Don't Have No Songs?"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWlqpowKkBY"]Atheists Don't Have No Songs-Steve Martin With The Steep Canyon Rangers - YouTube

 

We might add to the list of atheism's proud non-accomplishments: no hospitals, no schools, no universities, and no charitable organizations. In weighing the evils of religion, which you've extensively cataloged, against the good, physicist Freeman Dyson says: "My own prejudice...leads me to conclude that the good vastly outweighs the evil. In many places in the United States, with widening gaps between rich and poor, churches and synagogues are almost the only institutions that bind people together into communities. In church or in synagogue, people from different walks of life work together in youth groups or adult education groups, making music or teaching children, collecting money for charitable causes, and taking care of each other when sickness or disaster strikes." I'm happy to report that atheists in Oklahoma are working to develop counterparts--moving away from a negative concept of what atheism is about.

Question: If atheism, as you say, has no positive content--just the negative of a non-belief--what keeps it from being nihilism? If atheists are mostly really decent people as you say they are (and I know many to be) where do they get their morals and sense of meaning? Answer: Either (1) from the culture or (2) from some ideological system that incorporates atheism. The culture includes a minimum core of right and wrong heavily influenced by Judeo-Christian and Greco-Roman sources. The predominant ideological systems incorporating atheism and giving it direction are: Marxism-Leninism, Objectivism (Ayn Rand), Scientism/naturalism (Dawkins; Alex Rosenberg); Secular Humanism (American Humanist Association); Existentialism (Sartre); etc. So why is that superior?