A little introductory Theology Thursday~

When I used to tell people I was studying Asian Studies and Religious Studies I would always get weird looks and then the “funny” question of “Oh so you want to be nun?”

No I don’t. Well it’s my last resort. They give you a roof over your head, a bed and food and in return I just need to pray a bit and do community work and marry a deity I don’t believe in.

Which leads onto the other question “If you’re an atheist why are you studying religion?”

You don’t have to be English to study English Lit or a computer to study computer science.

In my opinion religion is the core of every civilisation and is still an integral part of communities behaviours and histories. Religion is multi-faceted and fascinating. Not only does it tell us about the human psyche, such as our fears, needs and wants, it often contextualises and makes sense of persecution and traumatic histories of a nation (such as Judaism). 

I am an atheist because I do not believe that there is a “higher being or power”. I see religion as a tool that people use against each other, especially the powerful. However, I do not discourage others from believing. It can be a force for good and can be a positive force. I believe my thoughts are my own and thus everyone has the right to believe in religion or not.

“Atheism is more than just the knowledge that gods do not exist, and that religion is either a mistake or a fraud. Atheism is an attitude, a frame of mind that looks at the world objectively, fearlessly, always trying to understand all things as a part of nature.” – Emmett F. Fields

Quotes against religion I like:

Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions. It is the opium of the people”. – Karl Marx

Can you really talk about atheism and religion and not bring up Marx :p

I mean look at this majestic beard! 

“All religion, my friend, is simply evolved out of fraud, fear, greed, imagination, and poetry.” Edgar Allan Poe

Quotes in favour of religion I like:

“No man can be called friendless who has God and the companionship of good books.” Elizabeth Barrett Browning

United Church of Christ

“The world doesn’t revolve around “me”; I have to contribute to the world. Whenever I attend my local church we are exhorted to share, to love, to care for others, to forgive: that the meaning of life is not to be found in material things, but in looking after our fellow humans. For all the potential flaws of the person giving the sermon – not to mention my own deficiencies – I’d rather have this regular reminder of what I should be striving for than to hear no message at all.” Joseph Parker

Every fortnight I will be doing a Theology Thursday where I will be exploring and discussing a topic within religion. If you want me to research and discuss a specific topic I would be more than happy, just let me know in the comments below 🙂

I would really like the comments of these posts to be friendly discussions and not arguments. Any hate comments will be deleted.

Thanks for reading! I hope you are having a lovely day~