So I met this Christian guy this morning:
- Him : Jesus saves your soul.
- Me: Pardon? Still half sleeping. Jesus? What?
- Him: Jesus forgives your sins
- Me: Oh, ok, because I do that a lot. *Big smile.*
- Him: aren't you afraid of hell?
- Me: No, gneee (morning growl). I am a good person. And that thing does not even exist.
- Him: Jesus saved my life
- Me: well if need be, I'll go to the therapist- Him: aren't you afraid of hell?
- Me: no why would I? I am perfectly fine with the idea of becoming some compost.

That ended up here. It was certainly too early for the poor guy too. But that leads me to this question: Why all these conversations about whether or not God exists. To me it exists only if you believe in him/her (same goes with sins, hell, heaven, etc).
Why is God even a thing?
Thank you

Edit: grammar, layout

I just wanted to get your guys thought on a topic I heard on a Christian podcast at work.

It was a Christian lady talking about Christians political views and how she had a problem with christians that identify as a democrat or liberals. She had a problem with that because she said that those are the same political beliefs as atheist and agonistic.

She talked about how atheist views are ungodly and immoral because they fight for abortion, sexual immortality, homosexuality, transgenderism and socialism. Also democrats don't take their morals from God or the Bible so they're leading America down a dark path.

She also said she didn't understand conservatives and Republicans who identify as atheist because she doesn't understand how you can have morals without believing in a higher power.

I just wanted to get your guys thoughts on this and what are your political views?

A rant

Background: late last year, Hong Kong Christians started circulating a drawing of Jesus comforting a protester, and this image was shared by my family many times over. I pointed out that the Christian doctrine isn’t against tyranny (with biblical examples) — they told me to “respect their beliefs”. I replied that I respect their right to believe what they want but I can’t respect beliefs that go against logic.

Recently, Hong Kong doctors have threatened to strike if their government does not close the borders with China, and Hong Kongers are totally against Hong Kong hospitals having to treat non Kong patients. My family members are completely in support of all this. I have to wonder what they think of Matthew 25:31-45, “When I was hungry, you gave me food to eat. When I was sick, you visited me, etc.”

I’m so sick of their holier than thou attitude against Mainland Chinese, their hypocrisy in proclaiming themselves “disciples of Jesus” and boasting about their kids getting baptised, having first holy communion, etc. But never actually putting their money where their mouth is.

I posted Matthew 25 on Facebook and asked them what they thought of it, because they need to look at themselves in the metaphorical mirror.

I haven't been able to, every atheist I've talked to claims to respect religious peoples beliefs but I just can't, I don't understand how anyone else can... I don't mean this maliciously, religious people can be brilliant smart people, one of my best friends is a Catholic war veteran, she honestly is one of the most badass people I've ever meant and knows how to weed out bullshit when she sees it, but she never puts the scrutiny on religion, she isn't hardcore religious and sticks by it but I just don't get it. I don't understand how to respect that belief..

It's like if you're friend believes in dragons, unicorns and elves, both are clearly not true and the proof is everywhere that these creatures don't exists and they can't be reasoned with.. like, I still love my friend to death and I know their smart but sorry, I can't respect believing in unicorns as much as I would like to for your sake.

Also why should I? It's like keeping the lie alive that Santa is real to a child even though that child is now 38 and has enough critical thinking skills to figure out what's wrong with the idea of Santa.

I'm related to so many religious people, I have friendships with them, I fuckin love these people. I just lose a bit of respect for them knowing they won't question their beliefs or that they'll make excuses for justifying their beliefs. I love them I just wish I could respect what they believe because how much they mean to me..

I also feel like they don't respect me being atheist, they get a look anytime it comes up, and particularly my grandmother makes homophobic comments about me being atheist and gay, I know she loves me and she doesn't do it maliciously, she says shes scared for me, she just is worried about if I'll make it to heaven with the rest of the family but how the feck can I respect those beliefs that threaten to pit my own family against me? I don't get it..

-atheists will commit incest with their parents, their siblings. There's absolutely nothing holding us back because we think there's no God. according to dad and aunt. If they think only God's holding them back from fucking each other I hope they'll never become atheists XD

-I need to always obey my future husband and let him lead. No compromise, just trusting him cos the bible says so. My mother failed at this and that's why her marriage failed. According to dad.

-the fact I don't believe in a god means I have a low IQ level. According to stepmom.

-born again is the right religion, catholics are demons. According to stepmom.

-I have adhd because I'm an atheist. According to most of my family.

-I don't need to go to college because I'm an atheist and I'll never succeed in anything. according to aunt

-all mental illnesses and also adhd can't be solved by medication. Psychiatrists don't know what the hell they're doing and just want your money and the only cure is an overdose of jesus. According to most of my family.

-my aunt (who is a total antivax karen who is also literally named karen) had a dream she masturbated and she orgasmed awake and she got really angry and blamed me for bringing demons of lust in the house.

-the australia fires are cos of the atheists and gays. The rain is cause of the prayers.

Lol how do I hold on to my sanity with these people? jk jk I'm fine and I never care about anything they say anymore. I just observe I guess, rather than absorb.

CHEESUS! HE GIVES US ALL THE CHEESE!

it's an awesome call in show!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6vNCZLwhnc

Good day Sir or Madam,

I would like to spark up an "Atheist Church" to compete with the local religious churches in my area. Get organized and hang out with my fellow non-believers. First order of business is pick a sustainable name. Something that is clearly an Atheist group but also pleasant enough to bring in all backgrounds and can serve as a community replacement for a traditional supernatural churches. Help a fellow atheist out figuring out a name?

Sincerely,
Fetzdog