Hypocrite?

That is so true Barrow. "No one really knows for sure".

I like your post, barrow, but beg leave to take gentle issue with the phrase about "The main religions" believing in the same god. You are right that Judaism, Christianity and Islam all have the same god, but I think Hindus might not like to be excluded from the list of "main" religions. Even Buddhism can be counted too, though I know there are arguments that it is not a religion.

Just saying

It's ok Ana.

I'm glad there are christians who don't feel comfortable with a bible being put into a box of gifts for children. It's not really a children's book anyway. Just as books about atheism are not childrens' books. I would feel equally uneasy about an atheist book being put into a box of gifts for children. Adults too, actually, unless they asked.

Sikhism, Jainism, Baha'i, Hinduism, Shinto, Zoroastrianism? Probably more.

Sorry Bags, you already mentioned Hindus.

Zoroastrianism???

My God! You must have searched the web well for that one.

The late great Freddie Mercury was a Zoroastrian. Not so obscure!

I've been to Lourdes. My father took the family there when we touring round s France. He was a GP and I think curious.
The whole family were moved by the experience even my atheist mother!
Incidentally, I had an extremely bad attack of asthma while I was there and my little brother discovered he liked sphaggetti!
The whole atmosphere was very emotionally charged and I could well imagine its effect on susceptible people!

Zoroastrianism is older than Christianity! They believe in towers of silence. Wasn't it originally Persian?

Point taken Bags and absentgrana

Freddie Mercury

That's alright then.

jeni yes and yes.

@JO4 : "Zoroastrianism???
My God! You must have searched the web well for that one."

Or watched The Magic Flute...

That too. Or read 'Just so stories'.

Freddie Mercury, Mozart, Kipling.

Yep. Must be a "main religion" then.

I am not an atheist, I am an agnostic - which means I do not know, and I do not believe anyone else knows the answers to the big questions. People take different routes in the face of this "not-knowing": you can embrace it as part of the human condition and try and lead a good life (my position); or you can search for answers via science (I am not a scientist, but listen to their evidence); or you can search for supernatural answers. I shy well away from the latter as we know where that has led: wars, repression, intolerance, fundamentalism, evangelism, interference with other cultures etc.

Because religion deals in fundamentals it is hard for it not to drift towards fundamentalism, which I define as a desire to make others believe as you do - e.g. by adding a bible to parcel of gifts.

As I have said before on another thread, I have many close friends who are Christians (and 3 of them are vicars) but we feel no "animosity" and neither they nor I seek to influence the others' beliefs, which is as it should be.

I don't know either but I'm still an atheist because I don't believe in any gods. That's all atheist means. It doesn't mean you know there are none, just that you don't believe in any.

Most atheists think it highly likely that there are no gods, but that's not the same as knowing.

So I guess I'm an agnostic as well, but I think atheist is clearer for my position.
A-theist = no belief in gods so far.

And who could argue with that, Bags? What a clear and honest statement of your position.

Just made myself a coffee and realised that I don't feel any need for there to be a god (or gods) either. I expect that's significant in the way I approach life.

You are not alone, Bags - I don't feel that anything is missing from my life because I don't believe in any god.

Goddesses?

Nope, not even goddesses. I think the earth just happens to be the right distance from the sun for life to begin. No planning, no purpose - just blind chance. I find that strangely comforting!

You mean you don't believe in me? after all I am the ORIGINAL domestic goddess!
And pigs DO fly

When I say gods, goddesses are understood, just as when one talks about mankind, or 'man', women are understood. You know that, jeni. You,re just making mischief!