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Extraordinary Claims => Religion General Discussion => Topic started by: Givemeareason on May 15, 2015, 03:33:13 PM

Title: Ego and the need for Religion
Post by: Givemeareason on May 15, 2015, 03:33:13 PM
I was recently speaking with someone about egos that we encounter so I decided to tie it in here.   My feeling is that there are big egos and small egos with the fragile egos existing somewhere in between.  The small egos can be perceived as often quiet observant people and are probably often found in churches where they can get the support they need.  The fragile egos are the ones out here making all the trouble.  They too are often found in churches where they can feel better about themselves by exercising their need to control others.  But the big egos are the ones who think for themselves and consequently often find little use for churches.  My guess is that many Athiests have some pretty big egos.  What do you think.
Title: Re: Ego and the need for Religion
Post by: SGOS on May 15, 2015, 03:48:26 PM
I think believing you have a personal god who created you IN HIS OWN IMAGE and who is there listening all the time to fulfill your requests takes a whoppin' big ego and a shit bucket full of arrogance.
Title: Re: Ego and the need for Religion
Post by: Givemeareason on May 15, 2015, 04:22:27 PM
Quote from: SGOS on May 15, 2015, 03:48:26 PM
I think believing you have a personal god who created you IN HIS OWN IMAGE and who is there listening all the time to fulfill your requests takes a whoppin' big ego and a shit bucket full of arrogance.

Actually I think the opposite.  Being a Christian forces a person  to become self rightious in that they must believe they are right.  The reason they became Christian or remained Christian is generally a matter of ego.  The smaller ego seeks security and the fragile ego needs to be satisfied.
Title: Re: Ego and the need for Religion
Post by: 1liesalot on May 15, 2015, 05:00:43 PM
Quote from: Givemeareason on May 15, 2015, 03:33:13 PM
I was recently speaking with someone about egos that we encounter so I decided to tie it in here.   My feeling is that there are big egos and small egos with the fragile egos existing somewhere in between.  The small egos can be perceived as often quiet observant people and are probably often found in churches where they can get the support they need.  The fragile egos are the ones out here making all the trouble.  They too are often found in churches where they can feel better about themselves by exercising their need to control others.  But the big egos are the ones who think for themselves and consequently often find little use for churches.  My guess is that many Athiests have some pretty big egos.  What do you think.

We're in good company then, because God has the biggest fuck off ego of us all.
Title: Re: Ego and the need for Religion
Post by: Givemeareason on May 15, 2015, 05:15:34 PM
Quote from: 1liesalot on May 15, 2015, 05:00:43 PM
We're in good company then, because God has the biggest fuck off ego of us all.

But we all want to recruit christians as athiests?  They like to recruit us.  Dwelling on all the reasons we hate Christianity will not help that cause.  So why don't we first try to understand why they are christian?
Title: Re: Ego and the need for Religion
Post by: 1liesalot on May 15, 2015, 06:05:25 PM
Quote from: Givemeareason on May 15, 2015, 05:15:34 PM
But we all want to recruit christians as athiests?  They like to recruit us.  Dwelling on all the reasons we hate Christianity will not help that cause.  So why don't we first try to understand why they are christian?

I'm sure I'm not saying anything ground breaking but I believe Christians need to take solace in the notion that there is an afterlife. They're afraid to die. It's difficult to persuade people to overcome that.

As for the ones who believe in eternal hellfire, those people I will never understand.
Title: Re: Ego and the need for Religion
Post by: Unbeliever on May 15, 2015, 06:09:16 PM
Quote from: Givemeareason on May 15, 2015, 03:33:13 PM
I was recently speaking with someone about egos that we encounter so I decided to tie it in here.   My feeling is that there are big egos and small egos with the fragile egos existing somewhere in between.  The small egos can be perceived as often quiet observant people and are probably often found in churches where they can get the support they need.  The fragile egos are the ones out here making all the trouble.  They too are often found in churches where they can feel better about themselves by exercising their need to control others.  But the big egos are the ones who think for themselves and consequently often find little use for churches.  My guess is that many Athiests have some pretty big egos.  What do you think.

I think Sigmund Freud has been discredited, and there's no such thing as an "ego."
Title: Re: Ego and the need for Religion
Post by: Green Bottle on May 15, 2015, 06:10:22 PM
Well i dont consider myself as having a big ego, but anyone who asks gets the same answer, im an Atheist and Religion is a lotta shite............................ :shifty:
Title: Re: Ego and the need for Religion
Post by: Givemeareason on May 15, 2015, 06:32:11 PM
Quote from: Green Bottle on May 15, 2015, 06:10:22 PM
Well i dont consider myself as having a big ego, but anyone who asks gets the same answer, im an Atheist and Religion is a lotta shite............................ :shifty:

Well if you stop saying that you might find a lot more people to talk to.
Title: Re: Ego and the need for Religion
Post by: Green Bottle on May 15, 2015, 06:36:07 PM
Quote from: Givemeareason on May 15, 2015, 06:32:11 PM
Well if you stop saying that you might find a lot more people to talk to.
[/quote

But if they're going to spout the usual religious rubbish that i've heard before  over an over again well i dont really want to speak to them..........
Title: Re: Ego and the need for Religion
Post by: aitm on May 15, 2015, 09:55:31 PM
Quote from: Givemeareason on May 15, 2015, 04:22:27 PM
Actually I think the opposite.  Being a Christian forces a person  to become self rightious in that they must believe they are right.  The reason they became Christian or remained Christian is generally a matter of ego.  The smaller ego seeks security and the fragile ego needs to be satisfied.
I kinda have to disagree with the premise. A christian already understands that their god made "them" in "his" image. God after all, is "our" lord. Everything connected with any religion assumes a great familiarity with the creator. This is the basic premise of the whole ego laden bullshit that spurs dozens of phobias and ego laden schizoids. It is the same premise that suffers the backlash of the unanswered prayer where so many go off the fucking whack-a-doodle track. Christians, like any religions are scared shitless, well, real christians are anyway, the majority are not real christians anyway, but the minority are scared shitless about death and yes they need security, but still, the premise of the whole scam is that GOD made YOU in HIS "Image"…my ain't you special eh?
Title: Re: Ego and the need for Religion
Post by: Givemeareason on May 16, 2015, 12:05:40 AM
Quote from: aitm on May 15, 2015, 09:55:31 PM
I kinda have to disagree with the premise. A christian already understands that their god made "them" in "his" image. God after all, is "our" lord. Everything connected with any religion assumes a great familiarity with the creator. This is the basic premise of the whole ego laden bullshit that spurs dozens of phobias and ego laden schizoids. It is the same premise that suffers the backlash of the unanswered prayer where so many go off the fucking whack-a-doodle track. Christians, like any religions are scared shitless, well, real christians are anyway, the majority are not real christians anyway, but the minority are scared shitless about death and yes they need security, but still, the premise of the whole scam is that GOD made YOU in HIS "Image"…my ain't you special eh?

While they might be scared shitless if they lost their faith, I don't think they worry about that much while they are still within it.
Title: Re: Ego and the need for Religion
Post by: Aupmanyav on May 16, 2015, 01:35:48 AM
I am a strong atheist but Eastern thought, Hinduism and Buddhism, have destroyed my ego. Hinduism says I am an illusion, Buddhism says I have no 'atta' (substance) and am only the sum of conditions (skandhas). Otherwise I might have had a big ego. :D
Title: Re: Ego and the need for Religion
Post by: SGOS on May 16, 2015, 06:43:07 AM
Quote from: Aupmanyav on May 16, 2015, 01:35:48 AM
I am a strong atheist but Eastern thought, Hinduism and Buddhism, have destroyed my ego. Hinduism says I am an illusion, Buddhism says I have no 'atta' (substance) and am only the sum of conditions (skandhas). Otherwise I might have had a big ego. :D

Western Christians make a big deal about their humility.  They flaunt it, compare theirs with others, pretend to be loaded with the stuff.  They tell each other they are better than the others who do not have humility.  They do this while they judge others, discriminate, an behave like assholes to those they see as inferior.  Christian humility is a lie that has become a meme, like the belief that "Republicans are good money managers." 

Mostly it's Christians who buy it.  It's an illusion.  Instead of being humble, they puff themselves up like the judgmental egocentric god they created and to which they ascribe all the most abhorrent personality traits that they refuse to see in themselves, and then they proceed to worship this icon of the worst in human behavior.
Title: Re: Ego and the need for Religion
Post by: the_antithesis on May 16, 2015, 09:59:01 AM
Quote from: Givemeareason on May 15, 2015, 03:33:13 PM
I was recently speaking with someone about egos that we encounter so I decided to tie it in here.   My feeling is that there are big egos and small egos with the fragile egos existing somewhere in between.  The small egos can be perceived as often quiet observant people and are probably often found in churches where they can get the support they need.  The fragile egos are the ones out here making all the trouble.  They too are often found in churches where they can feel better about themselves by exercising their need to control others.  But the big egos are the ones who think for themselves and consequently often find little use for churches.  My guess is that many Athiests have some pretty big egos.  What do you think.

I fail to see this as anything but intentional trolling.

Good day.
Title: Re: Ego and the need for Religion
Post by: Givemeareason on May 16, 2015, 10:12:42 AM
Quote from: SGOS on May 16, 2015, 06:43:07 AM
Western Christians make a big deal about their humility.  They flaunt it, compare theirs with others, pretend to be loaded with the stuff.  They tell each other they are better than the others who do not have humility.  They do this while they judge others, discriminate, an behave like assholes to those they see as inferior.  Christian humility is a lie that has become a meme, like the belief that "Republicans are good money managers." 

Mostly it's Christians who buy it.  It's an illusion.  Instead of being humble, they puff themselves up like the judgmental egocentric god they created and to which they ascribe all the most abhorrent personality traits that they refuse to see in themselves, and then they proceed to worship this icon of the worst in human behavior.

You ego is part of you and not what others tell you.  If you feel good about yourself you will feel self confident and ready to face the world head on.
Title: Re: Ego and the need for Religion
Post by: Givemeareason on May 16, 2015, 10:16:02 AM
Quote from: the_antithesis on May 16, 2015, 09:59:01 AM
I fail to see this as anything but intentional trolling.

Good day.

I don't know why you think that.  This thread is certainly as good or better than some of the "I hate religion" threads I have seen here.
Title: Re: Ego and the need for Religion
Post by: SGOS on May 16, 2015, 10:17:14 AM
Quote from: Givemeareason on May 16, 2015, 10:12:42 AM
You ego is part of you and not what others tell you.  If you feel good about yourself you will feel self confident and ready to face the world head on.

Jesus Christ!  You sound like a God damned fortune cookie. 
Title: Re: Ego and the need for Religion
Post by: Givemeareason on May 16, 2015, 12:08:25 PM
Quote from: SGOS on May 16, 2015, 10:17:14 AM
Jesus Christ!  You sound like a God damned fortune cookie.

I don't tell fortunes.  I just wait and see what happens.
Title: Re: Ego and the need for Religion
Post by: Givemeareason on May 16, 2015, 12:17:01 PM
Quote from: Aupmanyav on May 16, 2015, 01:35:48 AM
I am a strong atheist but Eastern thought, Hinduism and Buddhism, have destroyed my ego. Hinduism says I am an illusion, Buddhism says I have no 'atta' (substance) and am only the sum of conditions (skandhas). Otherwise I might have had a big ego. :D


You ego is part of you and not what others tell you.  If you feel good about yourself you will feel self confident and ready to face the world head on.
Title: Re: Ego and the need for Religion
Post by: Givemeareason on May 16, 2015, 12:42:31 PM
Quote from: SGOS on May 16, 2015, 10:17:14 AM
Jesus Christ!  You sound like a God damned fortune cookie.

I see what you are saying now.  Directing that at you, it did sound like something out of a fortune cookie.  Sorry, did  it mean to direct that at you.
Title: Re: Ego and the need for Religion
Post by: Mike Cl on May 16, 2015, 01:31:55 PM
Quote from: Givemeareason on May 16, 2015, 12:42:31 PM
I see what you are saying now.  Directing that at you, it did sound like something out of a fortune cookie.  Sorry, did  it mean to direct that at you.
Are you always drunk?  Or are your brain cells just in a constant state of pickled????
Title: Re: Ego and the need for Religion
Post by: Givemeareason on May 16, 2015, 02:04:25 PM
Quote from: Mike Cl on May 16, 2015, 01:31:55 PM
Are you always drunk?  Or are your brain cells just in a constant state of pickled????

You know how us old people are.  Every time I have to run for the bathroom I forget where I was at and have to start all over again.  Your turn is coming.
Title: Re: Ego and the need for Religion
Post by: Mike Cl on May 16, 2015, 02:06:43 PM
Quote from: Givemeareason on May 16, 2015, 02:04:25 PM
You know how us old people are.  Every time I have to run for the bathroom I forget where I was at and have to start all over again.  Your turn is coming.
My turn?  I'm just as old as you are.
Title: Re: Ego and the need for Religion
Post by: Givemeareason on May 16, 2015, 02:10:26 PM
Quote from: Mike Cl on May 16, 2015, 02:06:43 PM
My turn?  I'm just as old as you are.

So how did you get this without learning anything?
Title: Re: Ego and the need for Religion
Post by: Mike Cl on May 16, 2015, 02:51:43 PM
Quote from: Givemeareason on May 16, 2015, 02:10:26 PM
So how did you get this without learning anything?
Giveme, giveme, giveme.................!  If you are going to throw barbs around, the least you can do is to learn to do it right.  Pay attention, now.

You said "So how did you get this without learning anything?"  ????What?  Being old isn't something you 'get'--it is something you are and are becoming--older and older.  So, this is what you should have said--"How did you get to be so old and not learn anything?"  And then I would have understood you insulted me and not you.  And then I could have become indignant and told you to fuck off.  Instead I just chuckled  to myself and thought--Ahhh, good ole Giveme.......he's at it again.   

So, when you want to insult me or throw something back in my face, LMK and I'll give you a hand.  Okay????
Title: Re: Ego and the need for Religion
Post by: SkyChief on May 16, 2015, 02:54:09 PM
Quote from: Givemeareason on May 15, 2015, 05:15:34 PM
But we all want to recruit christians as athiests?  They like to recruit us.  Dwelling on all the reasons we hate Christianity will not help that cause. So why don't we first try to understand why they are christian?

First, Atheists don't want to 'recruit' anyone.  We are not an organised like the various churches are. We just don't want religious bullshit rammed down our throats.

Second, What makes you think atheist hate xtians? Im sure some do, but that's not what being atheist is about.

That's the beauty of atheism.... we really don't have a mission or membership goals.. We don't need to indoctrinate children into atheism, or frighten them with scary stories of eternal torture in the fiery pits of hell.

Studies have shown that folks are abandoning christianity in droves because they realize what a crock religion is.  At some point in the future, the number of secular/atheist people will outnumber the xtians (in the US, anyway).  Its just a matter of time.

People (especially the millenials) have indicated they have no need for religion . 






Title: Re: Ego and the need for Religion
Post by: Givemeareason on May 16, 2015, 03:08:33 PM
Quote from: Mike Cl on May 16, 2015, 02:51:43 PM
Giveme, giveme, giveme.................!  If you are going to throw barbs around, the least you can do is to learn to do it right.  Pay attention, now.

You said "So how did you get this without learning anything?"  ????What?  Being old isn't something you 'get'--it is something you are and are becoming--older and older.  So, this is what you should have said--"How did you get to be so old and not learn anything?"  And then I would have understood you insulted me and not you.  And then I could have become indignant and told you to fuck off.  Instead I just chuckled  to myself and thought--Ahhh, good ole Giveme.......he's at it again.   

So, when you want to insult me or throw something back in my face, LMK and I'll give you a hand.  Okay????

Yes, I see I left out a word.  You see my mind is faster than my fingers and sometimes they just leave words out.  Looks like you are at the other end of the spectrum.  Your fingers look faster than your mind.
Title: Re: Ego and the need for Religion
Post by: Givemeareason on May 16, 2015, 03:12:10 PM
Quote from: SkyChief on May 16, 2015, 02:54:09 PM
First, Atheists don't want to 'recruit' anyone.  We are not an organised like the various churches are. We just don't want religious bullshit rammed down our throats.

Second, What makes you think atheist hate xtians? Im sure some do, but that's not what being atheist is about.

That's the beauty of atheism.... we really don't have a mission or membership goals.. We don't need to indoctrinate children into atheism, or frighten them with scary stories of eternal torture in the fiery pits of hell.

Studies have shown that folks are abandoning christianity in droves because they realize what a crock religion is.  At some point in the future, the number of secular/atheist people will outnumber the xtians (in the US, anyway).  Its just a matter of time.

People (especially the millenials) have indicated they have no need for religion .

I distinctly remember people saying they wanted to eliminate religion.  Did they want to recruit the Christians or kill them?
Title: Re: Ego and the need for Religion
Post by: Mike Cl on May 16, 2015, 04:21:49 PM
Quote from: Givemeareason on May 16, 2015, 03:08:33 PM
Yes, I see I left out a word.  You see my mind is faster than my fingers and sometimes they just leave words out.  Looks like you are at the other end of the spectrum.  Your fingers look faster than your mind.
There you go again!  Words, Giveme, matter.  You don't seem to be able to grasp that.  Your mind is faster then your fingers and sometimes 'they' just leave words out????  What the hell does that mean?  Who is the 'they' in your mind?  Maybe you should invite two or three of them out of your mind???  So, if somebody asks you--'are you all there?', are they asking if all of your personalities are present?  Is that what drives you to drink--all those 'they's' in your head???  Damn, you must have a hell of a time going to sleep!
Title: Re: Ego and the need for Religion
Post by: Givemeareason on May 16, 2015, 04:25:13 PM
Mike, as I have told you before, you need to lighten up.
Title: Re: Ego and the need for Religion
Post by: Mike Cl on May 16, 2015, 04:56:06 PM
Quote from: Givemeareason on May 16, 2015, 04:25:13 PM
Mike, as I have told you before, you need to lighten up.
I will make a deal with you.  If you start making sense I'll lighten up. 
Title: Re: Ego and the need for Religion
Post by: aitm on May 16, 2015, 05:04:05 PM
Quote from: Givemeareason on May 16, 2015, 12:05:40 AM
While they might be scared shitless if they lost their faith, I don't think they worry about that much while they are still within it.

That statement tells me you either have no grasp on the reality of religion or perhaps you are showing some bias towards it. People don't go to church because they are confident in their "deal" with god. They go because they need the assurance that they may still not go to hell.
Title: Re: Ego and the need for Religion
Post by: Givemeareason on May 16, 2015, 05:47:04 PM
Quote from: aitm on May 16, 2015, 05:04:05 PM
That statement tells me you either have no grasp on the reality of religion or perhaps you are showing some bias towards it. People don't go to church because they are confident in their "deal" with god. They go because they need the assurance that they may still not go to hell.

There are no doubt idiots that think that way.  But  where did you get that idea?  Did you experience Christianity before becoming athiest  or did you just have a run-in with bible thumpers.
Title: Re: Ego and the need for Religion
Post by: SkyChief on May 16, 2015, 05:59:38 PM
Quote from: Givemeareason on May 16, 2015, 03:12:10 PM
I distinctly remember people saying they wanted to eliminate religion.  Did they want to recruit the Christians or kill them?

Honestly, I don't know what their (the folks who want to eliminate religion)  personal goals are. I was only pointing out that collectively, atheist have no agendas with xtians or any other religion, for that matter.

Also there is no desire or need to recruit xtians or believers of other religions into atheism.  That will happen with natural attrition of believers.

If there are any common objectives among (hard) atheists, I would hope that it would be these 3 things;

1) Support separation of church and state; i.e., don't put up silly manger scenes and xmas trees on city property using taxpayer money to pay for the decorations. (the city I live in does this every year and its just wrong  :angry:)

2)Don't allow the courts to force a person to swear oath on a bible. Get the bibles out of the courtrooms.

3)Don't force children to make pledges or oaths with the word god. Keep gods out of the public classrooms. Private schools can do whatever  they want.




Title: Re: Ego and the need for Religion
Post by: aitm on May 16, 2015, 06:55:48 PM
Quote from: Givemeareason on May 16, 2015, 05:47:04 PM
But  where did you get that idea?  Did you experience Christianity before becoming athiest 
Wow. Really? The vast majority of us are ex-nutjobs. We know the babble better than they do because we went in search for ourselves. We didn't just believe what the preachers and ministers told us, we went looking..

That is why I know.