This is a quick one.
From FlyingFree333 on you tube. I really like this. Made me all warm and fuzzy on the inside. Not sure if it is his, or from somone else, but I love it!!
Cheers AK.
I am the creator and the destroyer,
I am he that defines all worlds.
I bring life to the lifeless,
I rain death on all that lives.
My judgement is supreme.
I encompass all things,
I am the progenitor of good and evil.
I created sin,
I cause its every pain.
Hell is of my works.
I am the source of all gods.
I create gods on a whim,
I destroy gods with a thought.
I am man.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Friday, October 22, 2010
Seeing someone else become an atheist.
Many people can remember the point in time when they suddenly where no longer a believer, that moment when everything becomes clear, when hours of prayer, hymns and being told Jesus loves you finally no longer holds.
Some describe it as like finally getting a joke everyone else already knew the answer too, the penny drops. But it’s like that but to the power of a thousand. You almost want to stand up and yell “Eureka”.
But it is different for everyone. I clearly remember the moment I knew the truth, and that is why I say to people once an atheist, you can not go back.
The reason for today’s blog, is that last week I got too see that look in another person. It was an honour. We were sitting round, and we were talking about religion and gods and stuff and upbringings, there was one particularly religious person who has just found out I am an atheist, an openly one at that. One of the younger members, early twenties, similar background to me, asked what kind of atheist I was. I was not certain what she meant, so I simply said, “I do not believe in an afterlife, I do not believe in a god, that a god is watching over us, or that we are all born sinners etc… As I was saying this the penny dropped for her, I was saying what she already thought, but had not put it together quite like that before.
She smiled and said something to confirm my suspicion, it was quite moving. She also felt in company, it’s still a bit scorned at for being an atheist in New Zealand, so to realise she was not alone was a nice thought. She is not alone, I have discovered many at work are atheists but don’t say anything. The Christians on the other hand are loud and annoying. But until that point she did not know. And then she knew, she saw clearly. She found someone who felt the same as her and was not afraid to say it, and it was what she felt, and it was Atheism.
It made what had been a crap week, a great week.
Some describe it as like finally getting a joke everyone else already knew the answer too, the penny drops. But it’s like that but to the power of a thousand. You almost want to stand up and yell “Eureka”.
But it is different for everyone. I clearly remember the moment I knew the truth, and that is why I say to people once an atheist, you can not go back.
The reason for today’s blog, is that last week I got too see that look in another person. It was an honour. We were sitting round, and we were talking about religion and gods and stuff and upbringings, there was one particularly religious person who has just found out I am an atheist, an openly one at that. One of the younger members, early twenties, similar background to me, asked what kind of atheist I was. I was not certain what she meant, so I simply said, “I do not believe in an afterlife, I do not believe in a god, that a god is watching over us, or that we are all born sinners etc… As I was saying this the penny dropped for her, I was saying what she already thought, but had not put it together quite like that before.
She smiled and said something to confirm my suspicion, it was quite moving. She also felt in company, it’s still a bit scorned at for being an atheist in New Zealand, so to realise she was not alone was a nice thought. She is not alone, I have discovered many at work are atheists but don’t say anything. The Christians on the other hand are loud and annoying. But until that point she did not know. And then she knew, she saw clearly. She found someone who felt the same as her and was not afraid to say it, and it was what she felt, and it was Atheism.
It made what had been a crap week, a great week.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Me and Social Media (Part Two)
Empire Avenue has been the catalyst to my going all social media. There a great bunch there, and I have met some really nice people.
When I first started on there I was “AtheistKiwi, Pretty much as I am on Blogger and You tube. But then it occurred to me that if I invest in a really religious person they might not like it. And figured they might not invest in me, I was not sure which disturbed me the most, generally I don’t let the risk of offending religious people worry me when I am wearing my Atheist Kiwi hat.
But this was Empire Ave, and I need a good score. Then a person from “Iran” Brought shares in me. While flattering, I was a bit worried. Could me silly call me old fashioned. But hey , it is the “Islamic Republic of Iran” while he did not seem to worried, I felt unhappy about it. So, I changed my name to The Thinking Kiwi. It took a lot of thought to come up with that one. But it could not end there, I had to change on Twitter and then finally face book.
But I have not toned down my content. I am still a bit loud and proud with my stand on religion.
And I refuse to change my You Tube account. So it surprises me when non atheist subscribe to me to help my EA score, god bless them.
I would never sub first, I think that’s a bit mean. Same with Facebook, I very really invite friends, for the same reason, I am hidden behind an alias, they are not, they most likely don’t want “Atheist” splattered on their profiles.
So I guess what I am saying is I am a nice atheist.
To be fair, I have not subbed to overly Religious users on Twitter because “Jesus loves you and died for our sins” tweets would just set me off. So if you are a religious tweeter who has subbed to me, but not I to you, please understand it’s for you own good.
Anyways, that’s part two. There will be more parts soon.
Cheers AK.
When I first started on there I was “AtheistKiwi, Pretty much as I am on Blogger and You tube. But then it occurred to me that if I invest in a really religious person they might not like it. And figured they might not invest in me, I was not sure which disturbed me the most, generally I don’t let the risk of offending religious people worry me when I am wearing my Atheist Kiwi hat.
But this was Empire Ave, and I need a good score. Then a person from “Iran” Brought shares in me. While flattering, I was a bit worried. Could me silly call me old fashioned. But hey , it is the “Islamic Republic of Iran” while he did not seem to worried, I felt unhappy about it. So, I changed my name to The Thinking Kiwi. It took a lot of thought to come up with that one. But it could not end there, I had to change on Twitter and then finally face book.
But I have not toned down my content. I am still a bit loud and proud with my stand on religion.
And I refuse to change my You Tube account. So it surprises me when non atheist subscribe to me to help my EA score, god bless them.
I would never sub first, I think that’s a bit mean. Same with Facebook, I very really invite friends, for the same reason, I am hidden behind an alias, they are not, they most likely don’t want “Atheist” splattered on their profiles.
So I guess what I am saying is I am a nice atheist.
To be fair, I have not subbed to overly Religious users on Twitter because “Jesus loves you and died for our sins” tweets would just set me off. So if you are a religious tweeter who has subbed to me, but not I to you, please understand it’s for you own good.
Anyways, that’s part two. There will be more parts soon.
Cheers AK.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Me and Social Media (Part one)
I was up till a few months ago rather puzzled by this thing called Social Media. I had been to you tube, even joined so I could fav a really cool vid by klfly, he is a very clever Atheist Comedian, I recommend him. Very Funny.
I ended up subbing to others, and then leaving comments on videos of idiots and getting blocked, that was social media, apparently.
I had heard of Twitter, never been there, I had heard of Facebook, ended up there after google searches on occasion, but would never join. I like the anonymity of the internet, I like the fact no one can find me, if I sound like a miserable bastard, you may be right.
And as for this blog, I only started it because I thought I was way cool having the You Tube Channel AtheistKiwi and needed the blog to match.
Then that was about it for a few months, a couple of pointless blogs about the Bible and that’s it.
Then one Friday night, after a few beers and almost ready for bed, just checking youtube to see if this Christian person had replied with more pointless reasons to believe in god when I spotted in my subscriptions a video from Dusty, good vid maker Dusty. A lot of the time worth watching, so I watched. It was about Empire Avenue, wow, we could trade in each other. It was fun. A lot of fun, but if I wanted to do well I was going to have to become a social media person.
But I have stayed anonymous, why? Because I don’t want to be found. But, hey, I got to make friends with others, new people, a global community of like minded people.
I even started to twitter and joined face book. I have now started to flickr, which is great because I have thousands of photos to post.
So far I have about 50 new friends on Face book and 141 followers on Twitter and even my you tube subs has passed 20. And I have got to do something I really love, and that is write. I used to write a lot, I have journals full of crap. I read back sometimes, if I can cope with the cringe, I have tons of letters I wrote to my mother when I was travelling overseas, she lent them back to me a few months after I got back, I have been to chicken to read them. It’s been 20 plus years, I will get round to it one day, before the insects eat them.
Well that’s part one, I will write part two in the next few days, a bit rough, but hey, it’s about traffic and activity on Empire Ave.
Yay, another blog.
AK
I ended up subbing to others, and then leaving comments on videos of idiots and getting blocked, that was social media, apparently.
I had heard of Twitter, never been there, I had heard of Facebook, ended up there after google searches on occasion, but would never join. I like the anonymity of the internet, I like the fact no one can find me, if I sound like a miserable bastard, you may be right.
And as for this blog, I only started it because I thought I was way cool having the You Tube Channel AtheistKiwi and needed the blog to match.
Then that was about it for a few months, a couple of pointless blogs about the Bible and that’s it.
Then one Friday night, after a few beers and almost ready for bed, just checking youtube to see if this Christian person had replied with more pointless reasons to believe in god when I spotted in my subscriptions a video from Dusty, good vid maker Dusty. A lot of the time worth watching, so I watched. It was about Empire Avenue, wow, we could trade in each other. It was fun. A lot of fun, but if I wanted to do well I was going to have to become a social media person.
But I have stayed anonymous, why? Because I don’t want to be found. But, hey, I got to make friends with others, new people, a global community of like minded people.
I even started to twitter and joined face book. I have now started to flickr, which is great because I have thousands of photos to post.
So far I have about 50 new friends on Face book and 141 followers on Twitter and even my you tube subs has passed 20. And I have got to do something I really love, and that is write. I used to write a lot, I have journals full of crap. I read back sometimes, if I can cope with the cringe, I have tons of letters I wrote to my mother when I was travelling overseas, she lent them back to me a few months after I got back, I have been to chicken to read them. It’s been 20 plus years, I will get round to it one day, before the insects eat them.
Well that’s part one, I will write part two in the next few days, a bit rough, but hey, it’s about traffic and activity on Empire Ave.
Yay, another blog.
AK
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Blog Update
Hey Hey all
I had hoped to do 1 or 2 blogs a day, but today was mad. I will attempt to doone latter. Also I want to blog NZ stuff. After all I am in NZ. But I will warn readers with NZ Stuff in the title.
That's it really, and oh yeah, go join www.EmpireAvenue.com if you have not already !!!!
Cheers AK
I had hoped to do 1 or 2 blogs a day, but today was mad. I will attempt to doone latter. Also I want to blog NZ stuff. After all I am in NZ. But I will warn readers with NZ Stuff in the title.
That's it really, and oh yeah, go join www.EmpireAvenue.com if you have not already !!!!
Cheers AK
Saturday, October 16, 2010
If god loves us, why do bad things happen?
One of the things many atheists talk about, and I am sure I have mentioned it myself, is the way a theist believes that if they ignore what you said then it will go away. Well it does not.
They believe that if they say something then that’s it. Like for example I am currently debating a Christian who gets grumpy when ever I mention science, he keeps telling me that religion and science are compatible and showing what science has done does not mean anything.
My reasoning is this: If god did make everything, and he loves us so much, why do we have illness like cancer, mumps, scarlet fever etc….
Now to my reckoning many cancers are now curable and treatable, not because of prayer, not because of miracles, but because of medical science.
Our life expectancy has doubled, not because we attend church, but because we go to a doctor when we are unwell. I have been very ill in the past (actually several times), I now take regular medication to treat my illness, so that I can have quality of life. If I had got this 100 years ago, I would have had a very different outcome. I may not have died, but my quality of life would be dismal. A 1000 years ago, I dare not imagine.
If we had had the treatment just 60 years ago that we have today, both my grand fathers would have lived long enough for me to meet them.
I know my “If god loves us why do bad things happen” is a very simplistic argument for no god, and is even raised by the youngest of children, but it is a bloody good one. I have heard many many reasons as to why god does this, but I am afraid they are all mental answers. Cop outs, quick excuses that are meaningless. Convenient passages in the bible. Lots of those.
Science and reasoned investigation has given us the quality of life many of us enjoy. The most religious countries are the ones that have more disease, poor quality of life, lack of education and a lot of corruption.
I know I am not the first to say any of this, many others have and will continue too, lets hope that one day the religious listen, and realise there simply is no god, we are all alone, there is no after life, this is the only life you get, and thanks to science and geographic location, it’s now twice as long as your great, great, great, great grand uncles and aunties.
Another rant over, I feel better.
They believe that if they say something then that’s it. Like for example I am currently debating a Christian who gets grumpy when ever I mention science, he keeps telling me that religion and science are compatible and showing what science has done does not mean anything.
My reasoning is this: If god did make everything, and he loves us so much, why do we have illness like cancer, mumps, scarlet fever etc….
Now to my reckoning many cancers are now curable and treatable, not because of prayer, not because of miracles, but because of medical science.
Our life expectancy has doubled, not because we attend church, but because we go to a doctor when we are unwell. I have been very ill in the past (actually several times), I now take regular medication to treat my illness, so that I can have quality of life. If I had got this 100 years ago, I would have had a very different outcome. I may not have died, but my quality of life would be dismal. A 1000 years ago, I dare not imagine.
If we had had the treatment just 60 years ago that we have today, both my grand fathers would have lived long enough for me to meet them.
I know my “If god loves us why do bad things happen” is a very simplistic argument for no god, and is even raised by the youngest of children, but it is a bloody good one. I have heard many many reasons as to why god does this, but I am afraid they are all mental answers. Cop outs, quick excuses that are meaningless. Convenient passages in the bible. Lots of those.
Science and reasoned investigation has given us the quality of life many of us enjoy. The most religious countries are the ones that have more disease, poor quality of life, lack of education and a lot of corruption.
I know I am not the first to say any of this, many others have and will continue too, lets hope that one day the religious listen, and realise there simply is no god, we are all alone, there is no after life, this is the only life you get, and thanks to science and geographic location, it’s now twice as long as your great, great, great, great grand uncles and aunties.
Another rant over, I feel better.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Love, the gift from god, WTF???
An argument I have heard many times for god and one that I have also come across in debates with theists, is that love is from god, and without god there would be no love, and we do have love, therefore there must be a god.
One person even thought he was making some kind of sarcastic point, maybe even a strawman, I don’t know, when he asked me if I say to my wife on Valentines Day, “Darling I have a strong chemical reaction in side my head for you”. I told him he was actually right, and if he goes and studies the links he will find that much research agrees with him. He did not take that too well can continued to argue that love was from god.
Even when shown clear evidence that love, be it for a lover, or a family member for a stranger or for a member of a different species, is a chemical process, and was probably a big factor in evolution that allowed us to develop into what we are today.
Even with plain clear evidence, a theist will not drop a silly argument for god. Love has allowed us to form groupings, both family and of friends. That grouping allows survival, achievement and for successful outcomes that benefit the whole group.
Ever lost a close pet? man that hurts, and can make a grown man cry. It’s from a bond we form with the animal, a kind of love. Why the f*ck would an all powerful being want me to have such a strong bond with a cat, only so I hurt when it dies. No, the bond is there so that the cat will provide company, catch mice, and hurl fur balls on the kitchen floor and I will feed it and give it somewhere to sleep for 22 hours a day. We both benefit from that bond, though replacement cat might not draw tears when he dies. The new cat (had it four years now) is mean, it bites, attacks and has even been known to head butt you if you move him off his favourite chair so you can sit there.
Well anyways, love is NOT a gift from god, it’s a chemical process that evolved along with us. Feckn closed minded idiots.
“Where did love come from”, “Huh, you don’t know”, “So it must have come from god”.
“Yes, I do f*cken know, and no it did not come from god, now fuck off”
I am glad I got that off my chest.
AK
One person even thought he was making some kind of sarcastic point, maybe even a strawman, I don’t know, when he asked me if I say to my wife on Valentines Day, “Darling I have a strong chemical reaction in side my head for you”. I told him he was actually right, and if he goes and studies the links he will find that much research agrees with him. He did not take that too well can continued to argue that love was from god.
Even when shown clear evidence that love, be it for a lover, or a family member for a stranger or for a member of a different species, is a chemical process, and was probably a big factor in evolution that allowed us to develop into what we are today.
Even with plain clear evidence, a theist will not drop a silly argument for god. Love has allowed us to form groupings, both family and of friends. That grouping allows survival, achievement and for successful outcomes that benefit the whole group.
Ever lost a close pet? man that hurts, and can make a grown man cry. It’s from a bond we form with the animal, a kind of love. Why the f*ck would an all powerful being want me to have such a strong bond with a cat, only so I hurt when it dies. No, the bond is there so that the cat will provide company, catch mice, and hurl fur balls on the kitchen floor and I will feed it and give it somewhere to sleep for 22 hours a day. We both benefit from that bond, though replacement cat might not draw tears when he dies. The new cat (had it four years now) is mean, it bites, attacks and has even been known to head butt you if you move him off his favourite chair so you can sit there.
Well anyways, love is NOT a gift from god, it’s a chemical process that evolved along with us. Feckn closed minded idiots.
“Where did love come from”, “Huh, you don’t know”, “So it must have come from god”.
“Yes, I do f*cken know, and no it did not come from god, now fuck off”
I am glad I got that off my chest.
AK
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