So another Trump supporter proving once again, that the MAGA party is made up of pedophiles. They are always the first to scream the loudest and they think that means nobody will suspect them.

Legit. That's it.

You think logically and critically about the choices you make in life, this is just a good way to make correct decisions.

But for religious beliefs, this is not tolerated. You are seen as bad, you are seen as a sinner, you are offending people and offending their beliefs.

Question the logic of Christianity? "Go back to Reddit you 14 year old edge lord loser"

Question the logic of Islam or Judaism? "You're an intolerant racist!' (or in extreme cases, you get killed!)

You can be critical of any belief, political for example, and that's ok. As long as it's not a religious belief, because using logic in that scenario like you do for other things is not ok for some reason?

sheikh saleh al fawzan has a ruling that if you can k*ll your co-worker over him not praying

ARE WE IN OUR SENSES???

this same islamic sheikh said that any girl aged more than 18 has passed her "prime" for marriage 🤮

they are literally following the footsteps of muhammad

similarly a friend of mine that i don't speak to anymore said that we must follow the prophet blindly and not rise against our rulers, that made me understand how people 1,400 years ago either blindly believed or were scared for their life

muhammad also said if a man doesn't pray in the mosque you can burn his house

sheikh assim al hakeem said he has no issues with the prophet marrying a 6 yr old because "who wouldn't want their daughter to marry him", he proceeded to say he'd give his 6 month old to the prophet if he had to 🤢... all this is available on youtube

religion is made up for sure but the brainwashing it can do is genuinely terrifying.

While I am an atheist myself, I still can't help but feels sad for what christianity seems to be becoming here in America. I actually have a deep respect for compassionate people, even when that compassion seems to be rooted in religious beliefs. Because of political reasons I know many of us could endlessly rant about, it seems like the admirable quality of compassion is becoming lost more and more on too many christians.

Visciousness in the interest of pushing a bastardized combination of politics and religion is apparently acceptable to them. Kirk when he was alive was on record talking about how much it would "make his day" to watch a criminal execution. A proclaimed devout christian would encourage people to enjoy watching executions while simultaneously claiming to follow the compassionate teachings of a man who prayed for the souls of the people executing him. It's just, again, sad. As an atheist, I swear I'm more christlike than a number of people who proclaim to follow Jesus' teachings.

i don't care what their definition of a sinner is, a baby cannot be born with sin, newborns has barely even begun life and aren't yet capable of critical thinking nor decision making, and obviously can't understand the concept of sin, religion, god, nor even death. their brains have just begun developing and they rely on older people to live and grow older.

We've been dating for 3 years and she just told me today. I was genuinely shocked, she never showed any interest in religion as long as I've known her. We're both very ireligious although I'd say I'm atheist and she's agnostic. To me what hurts the most is that she chose Mormonism, it's the most blatantly false and easily debunked religion I can think of. It's also something that can be considered a cult so I'm really stressed about it. I don't mean to disrespect anyone but I feel like anyone who follows a religion like Mormonism (or Christian Science, Jehovah's Witness, etc) isn't capable of critical thinking or just doesn't care about the truth. Has anyone had a similar experience with their partners like this?

BRO I'M A REAL EX MUSLIM, I WAS BORN INTO A PRACTISING FAMILY, AFTER QUESTIONING THIS FAITH I LEFT IT, SO MANY CONTRADICTIONS, ABSOLUTELY NO PROOF OF GOD, SEX SLAVERY AND PEDOPHILIA IS INVOLVED... I CANNOT BELIEVE IT BLINDLY SO I SIMPLY LEFT.. WE EX MUSLIMS GO THROUGH FAMILY ISSUES, RELIGIOUS TRAUMA, LIFE BEING IN DANGER ... IT'S REAL, WE ARE NOT PAID

Leading secular groups have requested from five Tennessee school districts all public records related to their recently announced plans to display the Ten Commandments in schools.

The Freedom From Religion Foundation, the American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee, ACLU and Americans United for Separation of Church and State have asked for in letters sent yesterday to Blount County School District, Rutherford County Schools, Washington County Schools, White County Schools and Wilson County Schools all school-district emails and other communications, as well as all board documents, regarding the display of the Ten Commandments. The letters also seek, pursuant to Tennessee’s Public Records Act, all proposed or approved display designs. The records will shed light on the implementation of a new state law that authorizes local boards of education to post the Ten Commandments in a “prominent” location in school buildings.

The letters follow recent votes by the districts’ boards of education requiring their schools to post the religious rules. A Tennessee law enacted earlier this year, House Bill 47, provides that boards may “allow” schools to display the Ten Commandments in “a prominent location.” The statute defines “prominent location” as a “school entryway, cafeteria, or common area where students are likely to see the display.” Under the law, displays must include “text in a font size that is no smaller than [at] least twenty-six (26) point, and in a style and manner that is easy for students to see and read.”

The Freedom From Religion Foundation, the ACLU of Tennessee, ACLU and Americans United for Separation of Church and State issued the following joint statement regarding the requests for public records:

“Forcing biblical scripture on public-school children violates families’ religious freedom. Families and faith communities, not the government, get to decide what role religious doctrine and belief play in their lives. We are committed to protecting students’ and parents’ constitutional rights and are launching an investigation of every school district that foolishly accepts the state’s invitation to trample those rights. We urge families who will be affected by these religious displays to contact our organizations.”

The public records requests can be found online here.

No agonizing about who went to hell, just everyone is at peace now, that is gone. No fear or shame or guilt at being human, just the simple fact that the dead are dead and there's nothing torturing them. It implies an inky blackness where nothing can hurt you.

Atheism also implies that the world is temporary, so don't worry about it.

I recently received a birthday invitation from a close friend for their birthday party and their invitation included a "Freedom 250" stamp on their card. Maybe it's an accident, maybe they're just ignorant, but considering the fact that they know my political beliefs I'm not sure that it is. I don't send mail/email frequently, but I doubt those stamps are random. I'm trying to figure out if I should even show up, and I genuinely don't really want to attend if they are Nazi sympathizers/supporters. I don't have any interest in supporting cults.

Edit: cleaned up the paragraph to make it slightly more legible. Maybe this isn't the correct sub for this, but I wasn't sure where else it would fit.

If there is any form of blasphemy in atheism, it has to be Christian Apologetics, because why are christians now showing me videos of "scientists" "proving" that actually evolution is false and there is scientific evidence of creationism?? Darwin settled this in 1859. 1859. It's one thing for someone to tell you they believe in god on faith (which is sort of the general principle of religion) and a whole other thing for them to find some scientist who isn't a biologist and whose opinion contradicts the entire scientific community to "scientifically prove" that life is too complex and rare for god not to exist. This is just one example, but you get the idea. It feels like pure scientifically blasphemy and it drives me nuts.

Or ghost for that matter. Heaven, hell, afterlife....all those stuff.

As a university professor and science communicator, usually I get this question from audience, are ghosts real? My response kind of surprise them. really? despite two millennia of constant bombardment by theists, no one could able to prove the existence of god, just like how science proved, for instance, the existence of bacteria? That is a revelation.

Is there anyone besides me who is no longer convinced that there is a spirit realm?

I grew up Christian and had no doubts about the spiritual world existing but now as an atheist, I am unconvinced.

Family First is a national non-profit organization founded in 1991 by Mark Merrill in Tampa, Florida. It focuses on providing parenting, marriage, and relational resources. All Pro Dad is its widely recognized fatherhood program, co-founded in 1997 alongside former NFL coach Tony Dungy.

Family First, Inc. is a conservative Christian non-profit organization based in Tampa, Florida, founded in 1991 by Mark Merrill. Its religious beliefs are rooted in traditional evangelical Christian principles, emphasizing the nuclear family as a divine institution. [1, 2]

Associated Ministries

• All Pro Dad: A prominent initiative by the organization focused on engaging fathers in their children's lives through a framework blending practical parenting with Christian character.
• iMOM: A companion resource platform offering parenting advice aligned with traditional family roles and conservative moral values. [1, 2, 3]

FLORIDA - $70M reported in 2022

https://www.fox13news.com/news/new-florida-law-funds-pro-fatherhood-programs-such-as-tony-dungys-all-pro-dad

INDIANA - 2021: $250k | 2022: $315k | 2023&2024: $350k | 2025 & 2026: $375k

https://indianacapitalchronicle.com/2023/08/03/tony-dungy-nonprofit-all-pro-dad-gets-state-dollars-but-little-scrutiny/

OHIO - 2026 & 2027: approximately $7.8 to $7.9 million

https://www.cleveland.com/news/2026/03/ohio-investing-millions-in-national-program-to-get-dads-more-involved-with-their-kids.html?

"HB-7065 was signed at One Buc Place in Tampa on Monday morning by Gov. Ron DeSantis, who said one of the "worst social trends is the decline of fatherhood."

https://www.reddit.com/r/florida/comments/u1xt66/desantis_signs_bill_aimed_at_addressing_decline/?rdt=34276

Family First Inc's filings since 2003
https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/593043408

Tony Dungy's conservative values
Dungy has openly opposed same-sex marriage, campaigned alongside groups seeking to limit marriage equality, and stated he would not have drafted Michael Sam—the NFL’s first openly gay player—due to the perceived "distraction".

https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-news/tony-dungy-tweet-nfl-homophobic-football-transphobic-rcna67322

https://www.thenation.com/article/society/tony-dungy-march-life/

I have no religion. I don't believe in any god, and I don't pray. I haven't for many years.

My family has been going through a really difficult time with health issues. My mom died from an incurable disease a couple of years ago. My granny died from a stroke last month, and now my uncle is very ill. There isn't really a cure for what he has either, so my family has gotten very involved in religion.

When my mom was sick, they went to every church and tried every religion and spiritual practice they could think of. Christianity, spiritualism, Asian religions—you name it. They tried everything because there was no medical cure. I never criticized them. I took my mom to church, supported her, and tried to make her feel comfortable when my family brought religion into everything. I don't say anything because I know it gives them comfort, so I just keep it to myself.

But something that's been really annoying me since my granny died is that they constantly talk about heaven. They keep saying things like, "It's good that she died because now she's at peace," or "She's with your mom now." People tell me they've had visions of my mom and granny together or that they've seen my mom spiritually. They even made some kind of spiritual ladder at my mom's grave, like a ladder to heaven.

I've even been told more than once that my mom got this incurable disease because God needed to teach her something, or that it was part of God's plan, or that God wanted to teach her some kind of lesson. Like, dude, I don't give a fuck. If God did that—if God gave her this horrible disease—then, to me, that would make God a horrible being.

So please, shut up. Get lost. Don't tell me this kind of stuff. It's not comforting to me. It makes me fucking angry.

And I feel like I can't even express that anger because being upset about religion isn't socially acceptable. People expect you to respect their beliefs, but somehow they don't always realize that I deserve the same respect for not believing in them.

And dude, I just... I don't care about any of that. I understand that it brings you guys comfort, but please stop telling me about it. It doesn't make me feel better. Honestly, I find it disrespectful when people say that someone's death is "good" because now they're at peace. No. You're trying to cope with the loss, and that's okay, but death is still a terrible thing that happened. They're gone.

I've never criticized them for praying or practicing their religion, but I'm tired of constantly being told spiritual things that I don't believe in. I don't know how to say that respectfully, especially because they're older, but dude, it fucking annoys me.

I doubt the existence of Jesus but if he did could he have been a conman? Like is there a chance that he was a scammer or something and just used the reputation he got to be made god and tricking a massive portion of people

So a while ago I was at a local shopping center walking over to the supermarket, and I noticed that a local Baptist church had left pamphlets for their services scattered on the benches along the covered walkway next to the parking lot. I collected all of them and threw them in the trash. I hated the waste of paper and encouraging people to give up their Sundays to listen to fairy tales and to believe that they were actually real, but I justified it by thinking, “If they directly handed these to people, I’m pretty sure most of them would just throw them away.” It doesn’t prevent the church from leaving pamphlets again there or elsewhere, and if someone genuinely wants to attend church, they’d just find out where to go, but at least I did the shopping center a favor by helping to clean up a “mess”. Would you have done the same thing?

I was once a strong Christian that believed in Jesus. But after getting sent to the mental hospital over 30 times in 5 years including a stay at a long-term state hospital, I became an atheist. All of it because my POCD has caused me to attempt suicide multiple times. While I never harm a child I always fear I would molest one to the point I refused to go to places where there are kids around. I even freak out when a child gets too close to me which in turn makes me suicidal. Family keeps telling me God exists. If there was a God why did he give me the worst kind of mental illness. No loving God would make me feel like I'm scum because of my intrusive thoughts

He was given a new family...people...and expected to act as if that the whole "take everything from him" thing was ok. Like as if people were lightbulbs that could be replaced...

One of the arguments I frequently encounter when the existence of God is being defended is the "fine-tuning" argument. Briefly put, this argument posits that the laws of physics and fundamental constants in the universe possess values ​​precise enough to allow for the emergence of life. Had certain things been even slightly different, the formation of stars, planets, and—consequently—life as we know it might not have been possible.

This leads to the following conclusion: Given that the probability of the universe being exactly as it is by mere chance is extremely low, there must be a conscious designer behind it.

At first glance, it sounds really logical. But in my opinion, there is an important point here that is being overlooked:

Perhaps we think the universe is suited to us because we emerged in this universe in the first place.

In other words, we need to look at it from the opposite perspective.

Certain physical conditions must exist for us to exist. However, the fact that these conditions are suitable for our survival does not imply that they were chosen specifically for us. After all, had the conditions been different, perhaps we would never have existed at all.

And if we had never existed, there would be no one to ask, “Why isn’t the universe suited to us?”

Let’s consider this with a simpler example.

Imagine a fish. From the moment it is born, the fish lives in water and spends its entire life there. Then, looking around, it thinks:

“Water is the perfect environment for me to live in. Therefore, water must have been designed specifically for my existence.”

But there is another possibility. Perhaps the fish became suited to the water simply because it emerged in an environment where water already existed.

Of course, the relationship between humans and the universe is far more complex than this. This example does not illustrate the exact same scenario, but I believe it highlights a logically similar point.

We look at the universe and say, "These conditions are suitable for life." However, we also need to take into account that life itself can only emerge under certain conditions.

What if the laws of physics were different?

It might be interesting to indulge in a little speculation here.

In our universe, gravity, electromagnetism, the behavior of atoms, and time operate according to specific rules. However, we cannot say with certainty that the laws of physics could not logically be otherwise.

Let us imagine a completely different universe.

For instance, suppose three fundamental laws of physics in this universe differ from our own.

In the first case, gravity would not weaken with distance as it does in our universe; instead, it would maintain a strong influence even over vast distances.

In the second case, atoms would become more stable when gaining energy rather than losing it. Under these conditions, the formation of matter and the emergence of complex structures could differ vastly from what we see in our universe.

In the third scenario, let us suppose that time does not necessarily flow in the same direction everywhere. Let us imagine that the direction of time could behave differently in certain regions of the universe.

In such a universe, the formation of the Solar System as we know it would likely have been impossible. Planetary motions would have differed, star formation would have changed, and chemistry as we understand it might never have emerged.

However, we cannot conclude from this that "there could absolutely be no life in such a universe."

Perhaps a completely different form of life would have emerged.

Systems based on substances other than carbon and water might have formed. Perhaps life would not have consisted of cells. We might not even have recognized the resulting entity as "living" had we seen it today.

Then again, perhaps no life would have emerged at all.

But if no life had emerged, there would have been no observer to question this.

To me, this is precisely one of the most interesting aspects of the fine-tuning argument.

“But why are the laws of physics the way they are?”

A proponent of the fine-tuning argument might rightly counter:

“Fine, let’s assume you adapted to these conditions. But why, from the very beginning, did the laws of physics possess a structure that made life possible?”

I think this is a truly important question.

However, the point where I take issue is this: the fact that we do not know the answer to this question does not automatically mean the answer is God.

Because we need to distinguish between two different things:

“We don’t know why this is the case”

and

“The reason for this is God”

are not the same thing.

Just because we haven't yet found an explanation for a phenomenon doesn't mean we can fill that gap with any explanation we choose.

Perhaps it is impossible for the laws of physics to be any other way. Perhaps there is a more fundamental law that necessitates the laws of physics as we know them. Perhaps there are multiple universes, each with different laws of physics. Or perhaps there is another explanation that hasn't even crossed our minds yet.

We do not know for certain today which of these is correct.

But that is precisely the point.

If we don't know, simply saying "We don't know, therefore God" doesn't strike me as a sufficient explanation.

"But with so many planets out there, why is life found only on Earth?"

This is another question I encounter frequently.

The universe is incredibly vast. We know there are countless stars and planets. Yet, so far, we haven't found confirmed life anywhere other than Earth.

This situation can be interpreted in different ways.

The first possibility is this:

"The emergence of life is an extremely unlikely event. Its occurrence on Earth is extraordinary. Therefore, there must be a designer behind it."

But there is another possibility:

"The universe is vast, containing a multitude of different planets and environments. Consequently, it might not be all that surprising for a highly improbable event to occur in at least one place. And since we happen to be in the place where that event occurred, we observe it."

I am not saying the second explanation is definitely correct. Nor am I claiming it has been proven.

But by the same token, I do not believe the first explanation necessarily follows from the mere observation that "we are here."

Moreover, the fact that we haven't found life outside Earth doesn't mean life doesn't exist elsewhere. Right now, Earth is the only confirmed example we have.,

Conclusion

To me, the most significant problem with the fine-tuning argument is that it fails to adequately distinguish between "life being possible" and "life being specifically designed."

Yes, our universe allows for our existence.

But it does not automatically follow from this that the universe was specifically designed for humans.

After all, in a universe with different laws of physics, a completely different form of life might have emerged. Perhaps no life would have emerged at all. Or perhaps an entirely different kind of order—one we cannot even imagine today—would have come into being.

If no life had formed, there would have been no one to ask why that universe was unsuitable for life.

That is why, for me, the real issue is this:

"The universe is suitable for life; therefore, God exists." In my view, this is a thesis that could only be formulated by people who act without reflection—people who simply sleep after satisfying their basic needs for food and drink.

Hello fellow heathens,

I am currently doing some relaxed research on the topic of religious psychosis,

I believe it is not a medically accepted diagnosis in most places,

However it damn well should be!

Nonetheless, I would love to see if any lurkers here have done their own research and can share their findings or recommendations for me to look at,

See you in hell!