Marc Perkel, founder of the Church of Reality, a religion dedicated to the belief in everything that’s real, is calling on Atheists to give up on God. Yes, you heard it right… that Atheists should give up on God.
In a letter posted on an Atheist discussion forum, the Church of Reality urges Atheists to switch from an anti-god position to a pro-reality position, stating that Atheists are more obsessed with God than most believers are. Atheism is about what isn’t real. Realism is about what is real. Believers are more interested in what you believe in than what you don’t believe in.
Here is the letter ….
The time has come for Atheism to Evolve
.
OK people, it’s time for Atheism as we know it to die and move on to Realism. Atheism is stuck in the past because you haven’t given up God until you quit obsessing on God.
1) Atheism is about nothing.
2) Atheists think about and talk about God more than believers.
3) Atheism answers none of the great questions about anything.
4) Atheism is stuck in the past.
5) Atheism is ineffective when it comes to converting believers.
6) Atheism is about Theism – thus the name A-Theism
I think you all can agree that when something isn’t working it’s time to try something else. It’s time to move on. It’s time to GIVE UP GOD!
What do we need to do? We need to be pro-reality rather than anti-god. Being pro-reality is far more effective.
Before I go on, this is not about getting anyone to join the Church of Reality. That’s just my way of promoting reality. However, promoting reality is the right answer.
What is the basis of atheism? It’s about God not being real. Note the reality test. When you say “God is not real,” which is the important part, God or Reality? The important part is Reality because Reality is real and God is not.
Atheism causes brain damage and I will demonstrate the brain damage here. You know how you talk to Christians and no matter what you say, Christians don’t get it? That’s because Christians are brain-damaged by spending all their time thinking about what isn’t real.
When I talk to Atheists about reality, they don’t get it. That’s because, like Christians, they spend all their time thinking about what isn’t real. It’s the same thing… and if you don’t understand what I’m talking about here, it’s because of the brain damage. You aren’t going to get it until you truly give up God.
I find it frustrating that Christians have an easier time grasping Realism than Atheists do. I can explain it to a Christian and they not only get it but they are interested in it. It causes them to think. They at least understand it even if they aren’t ready to embrace it. It starts a process. They respect the idea that the pursuit of reality really has value.
My world view is that you are what you think about. If you are thinking about God, you are one of THEM. If you are thinking about reality then you are one of US. And because Atheists think about God more that Christians do, they are actually more brain-damaged.
I have never been a believer so I don’t have a reference for appreciating the God obsession. My way of comprehending Atheism is like my being in a recovery meeting with alcoholics who are all talking about not drinking. Since I’m not a drinker, not drinking isn’t something I dwell on. I just don’t drink. But my not drinking isn’t the same as a drunk not drinking. So even though I’m an atheist, I’m not an ATHEIST!
The recovery from theism may be better described as having 2 stages. The first stage is to decide that the deity isn’t real. That’s the easy part. The second stage is to quit thinking about the deity. Atheism is good for the first stage, but it totally fails the second stage… so Atheism itself is critically flawed.
Believers are not interested in what you don’t believe in. They are interested in what you do believe in… and Atheism offers NOTHING when it comes to what to believe in. So that’s what Atheism is proving to be… a failed strategy.
What should Atheists believe in? That’s easy. You can believe in what the Church of Reality believes in. Believe in everything that is real. Switch from being anti-God to pro-reality. Lose the A-Thiest identity. Change the name. Change the mission.
Atheists of Silicon Valley should become Realists of Silicon Valley. San Francisco Atheists should become San Francisco Realists. East Bay Atheists should become East Bay Realists. It changes the message. To be a Realist means that it’s about reality. To be an Atheist means that it’s about God. I am asking Atheists today to GIVE UP GOD! It’s time to get GOD out of the name ATHEISM that defines who you are!
So – how many of you Atheists out there are ready to give up God and go out and start winning souls for Darwin? If you truly believe in evolution – then let’s evolve!
Nothing unreal exists. — Kiri-Kin-Tha (ST IV)
Atheism is fiction negative.
Realism is reality positive.
Nice Christians are fiction positive.
Nasty Christians are reality negative.
Good example of projection.
Projection? What’s that?
The point about atheism not being a religion is correct. Atheism is no more a religion than not playing basketball is a sport. I also agree that atheists should focus on things other than god.
However, many of us have gotten over the beliefs about god that were brainwashed into us as kids. There are many ways to find a set of guiding principles for your life. Find your own way. Look into Humanism if you need examples of how to be moral without a god.
I find I’m not so concerned about god as I am religion in general. The religious people keep trying to push their beliefs on me, or change to laws to suit them. We can’t stop thinking about religion because we have to be on guard against it.
#2–Marc==we cross posted or I would have checked out your website first. Blows me away==litered with the language of religion. Your logo includes a variation of the christian fish symbol?
I was right. Whole lot of projection going on. A few here agree 100%. Most know, its all on how you define the words/concepts.
Now, I’ll steel myself and go back for another look-see. Would you direct non-believing atheist to any particular spot on your website?
Thanks.
Yeah – Here’s a link for Atheists:
http://www.churchofreality.org/wisdom/different/
What really is a religion but just an organized group of people who establish bake sales once a year? How is that different from say soccer-moms who meet weekly and gossip as they watch their kids kick a ball around.
The true meaning of atheist is NOT about disbelief in God, but NOT NEEDING GOD in their daily lives. In Latian “A” = Without, “theist” = God (or deity). The literal meaning of Atheist is “Without God” …which says nothing about claims that God dosen’t exist, that’s a separate issue all together.
Then you get into the agnostic which are people who believe in a higher power/God, but organized religion has it completely wrong, and they don’t want to make presumptions as to who/what God is.
Religion is really for people, not God. Just as funerals are for the living, not the dead.
Fuck this. The last thing I need is an atheist church. I gave up on religion a long time ago. I see no reason to make atheism into a religion now to fill a gap. I’m perfectly happy with that gap. I’m OK without an authoritative body telling me how to be an atheist.
“So – how many of you Atheists out there are ready to give up God and go out and start winning souls for Darwin? If you truly believe in evolution – then let’s evolve!”
Wow, another wacko who doesn’t understand science or evolutionary theory. I feel a whole pile of pseudo science and logical dodge ball coming on.
I stopped believing in God when I studied Physics.
I stopped believing in reality when I studied quantum mechanics.
OK it isn’t quite true, I do still believe in reality but I’d have a hard time explaining it.
Oh, and on point 5, I have just as much of a problem with proselytizing atheism as I do with any other proselytizing.
I may enjoy a good philosophical debate as much as anyone. However, my point is only to get people to understand my thinking and exchange ideas. I feel no need to convert the religious to atheism.
I do, however, feel a need to convince the religious not to legislate from their religion. However, that’s just a tad different, no?
The Church of Reality isn’t an Atheist church. It’s a Realist church. We are not trying to turn Atheism into a religion. We are disinterested in God and disinterested in Atheism.
There are two kinds of people, those obsessed with God and those who aren’t. Guess which side Atheists and Christians are both on.
#11 – Jess Hurchist,
OK it isn’t quite true, I do still believe in reality but I’d have a hard time explaining it.
Sounds like you really do get quantum mechanics.
Hey #11
I understand your point about quantum physics. How do you tell reality from a simulation? The simulation is made of pixels. What is quantum physics? It’s the PIXELS! We’re made of DOTS! It’s a simulation!
#13 – Marc Perkel,
The Church of Reality isn’t an Atheist church. It’s a Realist church. We are not trying to turn Atheism into a religion.
Then cut the dogma. Even I see it here. I don’t even need Mister Mustard to point it out now.
I’m sticking with good safe antitheism. I know exactly where I stand and why I care about theism. It has a lot to do with the observation that “religion kills folks dead”, as I once saw on a T-shirt.
Yeah yeah. I know “religion doesn’t kill people; people kill people.” Oh wait, that was about guns.
What do you mean when something is not working, it’s time to try something else? Atheism is growing rapidly and has seen steady growth for generations. Its working great.
The many atheists I have known over the years have no problem understanding reality. Reality is easier to understand than statements like this, “I find it frustrating that Christians have an easier time grasping Realism than Atheists do.”
That’s just stupid.
This:
“The recovery from theism may be better described as having 2 stages. The first stage is to decide that the deity isn’t real. That’s the easy part. The second stage is to quit thinking about the deity. Atheism is good for the first stage, but it totally fails the second stage. So Atheism itself is critically flawed.”
I don’t think an atheist wrote this. It’s a troll. If the author claims to have been raised atheist then how does he/she even know anything about the stages of recovery from theism and what those stages might be? It also shows a complete, theist like, misunderstanding of the definition of the word atheist.
Just call yourself a Humanist. Humanism is a positive, reality based belief system.
And if an atheist does not concern themselves with god and religion, then how can we argue with theists? The bible and a good understanding of it is the atheists best weapon. Use it.
Anyway, atheist are smarter anyway.
http://preview.tinyurl.com/5fpcxr
Why would Realists need a “Church” ??? Oh, it’s the TAX EXEMPTIONS, LIKE THE SCIENTOLOGISTS !!!
>>#9 Scottie – Fuck this.
Heheheheheh! I’d say Mr. Perkel has struck a BIG INFLAMED SENSITIVE nerve on this one. As the Great Pundit of Hibbing once said, “Everybody gotta serve somebody”. You may fantasize that you’re the Big Kahoona, but you still woship at some altar.
No matter what you believe, you believe it.
I agree w/ Mr. Perkel; best if you make that belief in something be something good.
“1) Atheism is about nothing.”
Athiesm is about whatever any individual atheist wants it to be about.
“2) Atheists think about and talk about God more than believers.”
I only think and talk about God whenever I read a ridiculous article like this.
“3) Atheism answers none of the great questions about anything.”
Science does, and atheists can think anything they want that is non-theistic.
“4) Atheism is stuck in the past.”
There have been atheists throughout history, and unlike beliefs, the principals of atheism can non change.
“5) Atheism is ineffective when it comes to converting believers.”
Who cares about what other people think? Let them believe what they want to. I choose to believe nothing.
“6) Atheism is about Theism – thus the name A-Theism”
That is the opposite of what is true. Try looking up “A” as a prefix.
I am tired of people saying that atheism is a religion or belief system. It is the lack of these things.
#11–Jess Hurchist == yes, a funny, real post. Many physicists say that or soemthing close. “If you think you understand quantum mechanics, you really don’t understand quantum mechanics.”
I’ll be more simple. I don’t understand it so completely, I don’t even understand what I don’t understand.
Can you help me out a bit? For instance, I have heard for instance that you can’t predict the location of an electron because “When you look at it, it moves.” or soemthing to that effect. But then Scott gave me a few websites, and I find out that statement really means that in order to “see” an electron, you have to bombard it with some kind of partical and that process causes the electron to move–so you know where it used to be, but never where it is.
Is that example close at all? If it is, then the confusion is purely one of language.
Any explanation as to why/how quantum mechanics throws a wrench into “reality?”
The other day, I asked Mother Nature where did we come from? Why do we exist? Where will we go?
In a dream, she said – “I don’t owe you an explanation”. That was all I needed to know. I hope this is helpful to all of you so that we can move on.
# 20
Theism – Obsessed with believing in God.
A-Theism – Obsessed with not believing in God.
Atheism isn’t a religion. But it is a God based obsession. That’s why I’m trying to get Atheists to give up God and accept Reality instead.
The problem is both are about God. Atheists can’t seem to comprehend a world where God is not the subject. Evolve into being pro-reality. Darwin loves you.
#23–marc==this is YOUR church huh? Sounds like you are already lapsed.
I don’t see “obsessed” in either defintion at Merriam Websters.
How close to a search for reality be when you make up your own definitions of common words?
Silly Rabbit.
>>I choose to believe nothing.
Wow. That sounds like a real satisfying and fulfilling life.
Good luck.
I was recently talking to some hard core Catholics about the church of Reality. They asked me how God fits in. I said that we would believe in a God if it were independently observable by non-believers. And they accepted that as a reasonable answer.
Believers are interested in what you believe in, not what you don’t believe in. So Atheism doesn’t reach them because it’s about what isn’t real. But Realist is interesting to them because I tell them up front that we can be converted as long as they can prove it using the scientific method. And if someone from any religion has a good idea I will add it to Church of Reality doctrine.
Atheism is just believing in a concept of God that is unbelievable / unreal. Just another false belief, please move along an get real…
bo:
in order to “see” an electron, you have to bombard it with some kind of particle and that process causes the electron to move–so you know where it used to be, but never where it is.
Is that example close at all? If it is, then the confusion is purely one of language.
Close, but not quite right.. you cannot know the position and direction of a particle’s movement. Observation affects the observed.
e.g. hit an electron with a photon [light] of the right frequency, and the electron can actually ‘leap’ from one orbit to another. Thus the term ‘quantum leap’.. they can only orbit in certain ‘distances’ from the Nucleus (Protons and Neutrons).
Other particles are affected by the ‘fields and quantum particles’ and can’t have their direction of movement AND position both known.
J/P=?
geeze, I wish there were a preview… I can’t read the rant I just posted.
😉
This so called church reminds me more of a bunch of holy rollers than anything else.
I beleive in reality and sure as hell don’t need any guidance from some BS so called church.
I could care less what anyone thinks, but that takes energy that I can use to carry on with life.
# 27 iGod said,
“Atheism is just believing in a concept of God that is unbelievable / unreal. Just another false belief, please move along an get real…”
I nominate this comment as the most retarded in the thread. Second?
I recommend for it’s author:
http://dictionary.reference.com/