Got a question for an atheist? Fire away, and we’ll get back to you with our answers!
Permanent link to this article: http://patas.co/feedback/ask-an-atheist/
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Got a question for an atheist? Fire away, and we’ll get back to you with our answers!
Permanent link to this article: http://patas.co/feedback/ask-an-atheist/
52 comments
WOW. Just WOW. says:
May 19, 2011 at 04:26 (UTC 8)
Hello. Atheist din ako pero, like most of us, born into a family of Christians so yung nasa birth certificate ko indicates that I’m a Christian. Ano ang marerecommend niyong dapat kong gawin para ma remove ang religion ko? And ultimately, would that be a good thing in general? I mean, we know for a fact kung gaano ka discriminatory ang religion…so…yeah. I guess timbang timbanging ko na lang ng pros and cons.
Luzung Kim L. says:
September 10, 2011 at 12:04 (UTC 8)
There is no proper solution for this 1st, because our constitution technically doesn’t support or rather there is proper due process first in changing your religion based on your document. much more if you would indicate there that you have no religion. PATAS will look forward to this issue in the future thank you for your concern
superadmin says:
May 23, 2011 at 13:20 (UTC 8)
Being an atheist is a matter of self-conclusion and personal experience. Once you know to yourself that you lack a belief in a Supreme Being and you find it unnecessary to acknowledge something that is only presumed by our ancestors during the time na hindi pa nagdedevelop ang science and technology – then all bets are off, you are an atheist.
Concerning sa certificates, you may not put to record sa resume mo or saan mang documents that you are a Christian. Or you may try yung ginawa ng ibang members na talagang linagay sa mga resumes nila that they are atheists, pero that requires responsibility and commitment because of the static situation of our society.
Living as an atheist is a matter of choice, responsibility and individualism, so you really have to be aware of the pros and cons.
Weldrin says:
June 5, 2011 at 04:38 (UTC 8)
hi… isa akong atheist since college days sa UP. now, may teaching position na inalok sa akin sa isang catholic university… una ayoko kasi i will be sharing my talents to the institution who continuously discriminate a lot of minority groups, second, baka maging issue lang ang atheism ko, (dont ask dont tell may apply siguro) but.. help me, what are the policies ba about athiests teaching in ROMANCATs school? eh di ba muslim students and koreans open naman sila? just an example.
superadmin says:
July 5, 2011 at 02:43 (UTC 8)
There is no one atheist policy concerning working with religious institutions. Its just a matter or personal intentions why you work there. As atheists we value our rights of choice; if it feels like we don’t want to work there its up to us. But there are some atheists that study in Catholic schools because its the best school they see when it comes to academic standards minus the religious involvement.
Marissa Langseth says:
July 9, 2011 at 01:00 (UTC 8)
Howdy fellow heathens,
I love you all!
ms M
joseascomia says:
August 2, 2011 at 14:19 (UTC 8)
do you have chapter or programs here in batangas?
Stephanie Grace Rendal says:
August 12, 2011 at 09:47 (UTC 8)
so far, we only have groups in manila, cebu, davao, and iloilo. do you know other atheists in batangas who would maybe like to have a little group of non-believers?
Gabriel Edliberto Cruz says:
August 13, 2011 at 02:38 (UTC 8)
I think there is a freethinker group in Batangas, and the Philippine Atheists and Agnostics Society are in close communication with them. Try finding the Rationals and Darwinians of Nasugbu. http://www.facebook.com/groups/348082573885/
Mickey Browalski says:
August 12, 2011 at 09:35 (UTC 8)
Hello fellow free thinkers,
I’m Mickey and I’m 26 years of age. For a while now I have been searching for atheist society in the Philippines and I’m delightful to have found PATAS. I have been an atheist since I was 14 years of age but I never took or appreciated it fully until I was about 18 years old. Are we still in full function here? What are the activities and how broad are we already in the country? I am from bicol and I like to be involved in charities, my main focus at the moment are unpriviledged children. Do we reach as far as provinces outside Metro Manila to educate people and especially the younger generations about atheism? Thank you and looking forward to getting to know most if not all of you.
Stephanie Grace Rendal says:
August 12, 2011 at 09:53 (UTC 8)
hi mickey. first of all, sorry for the delayed response. i keep expected other people to answer you. maybe they already have? anyway, just in case not, yeah we are in “full function” i guess and there have already been several activities organized by PATAS.
well, you can check them out here:
http://patas.co/category/articles/activities/
http://patas.co/gallery/
Luna Emperatrice says:
August 13, 2011 at 10:07 (UTC 8)
Hello Mickey PATAS is now trying to make its presence felt in different parts of the country. We have chapters in NCR, Cebu, Ilo-ilo and Davao already.
Most of these chapters have their activities and monthly meet-ups planned.
If you have a Facebook account I encourage you to join our group
http://www.facebook.com/groups/Patas.co/
You will meet more Atheists like you and be alerted with the latest happenings within the group.
You will also be directed to the PATAS chapter nearest you.
Thank you and welcome to the club!
DoAtheistsAgree says:
August 12, 2011 at 19:45 (UTC 8)
with divorce and abortion?
Romel C. Tamayo says:
August 17, 2011 at 15:51 (UTC 8)
Hi, ako ay isang Graphic Artist/IT Specialist. I meet these professions, not on public schools, universities or any other existing institutions but through personal study, developing actual skills, trainings and experiences. A former member of IBSA and Public Speaker/Minister, through research, personal study as a broadminded freethinker person I realized and discovered the fact that I am an Atheist. So far, I am independently bring my principle as humanist, pro-peace lover and acknowledge the standard of moral values alone. I want to make a public campaign regarding my discovery but I afraid the feedback and consequences of this religious influenced country! Thanks for vital information for life! From Digos City
TabulaRazzah says:
August 17, 2011 at 21:37 (UTC 8)
Actually, Mr. Tamayo, there’s nothing to fear about regarding this campaign that you aspire to execute. Basta you are convinced of the contents of your program, and you predict its effects upon people then you will receive good feedback on what you do.
I advise you to read the Amsterdam Declaration of 2002 as your guide to teach the basic principles of secular humanism to the public. They are very informative to those who believe that religious interference is not necessary for human social ethics.
In most life coaching programs, the presence of the supernatural is not necessitated. When I attended one, mas naging malawak yung reflection ko about secular humanism. It’s good to see that you are a public speaker; malamang you already delivered speeches to clients about the power of their human potentials. This message is very compatible with secular humanism.
As we deliver these words to people, nagiging self-confident sila and they see the life of quality they have. This in turn will give us the reflection that a Supreme Being is not necessary for a better life.
Yes, religion gave hope to the poor masses, but did it gave them the information they need, as well as the means to see reality and resolve their future with facts presented? As a speaker this is your role to people. The give them the opportunity to see the world, and see to it na they can be good without God pala. hehe
Cheers.
Yieldstress says:
September 2, 2011 at 14:58 (UTC 8)
I cannot say that there is no god but certainly there are no evidence whatsoever to point that there is one.
paperbagman says:
September 7, 2011 at 11:44 (UTC 8)
http://freethinker.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/final6.jpg
this graph might help you.
lostsoul says:
December 31, 2011 at 17:02 (UTC 8)
if there is a god, he’s not doing a good job
Alejandro C. Patagnan says:
September 9, 2011 at 10:41 (UTC 8)
To have religion means to have a belief in supernatural being called God. It’s a belief. Believing is so different from thinking and reason as the means of know or acquiring knowledge. Anybody can believe whatever he wants to believe whether true or false, The question is what act do you perform when you believe? Nothing else but just a form of feeling or emotion. While thinking (a process of knowing) is different. You have to expend an effort, mental effort by choice. Thinking is volitional. You can do it or not by choice. If you don’t do it then perhaps you resort to the result of the thinking of others.
I Come in Peace says:
September 14, 2011 at 21:59 (UTC 8)
“Anybody can believe whatever he wants to believe whether true or false” So you are like saying, it is okay to believe that the Earth is flat, to believe that the world was created in 6 days, to believe that man came from dust and woman was created from the ribs of a man, and to believe that the evidence for these stories can be found in a religious book.
Dwight says:
October 29, 2011 at 20:34 (UTC 8)
Hi there, I was an Atheist before… I just wanna know your stand about the beginning of everything…? Where did everything came from? I know that these questions stood up a long time ago but Im still very much curious for your stand about is, thanks in advance…
simoun says:
December 4, 2011 at 16:07 (UTC 8)
If you ask any one physicist in the world there answer would most certainly be “we don’t know yet”. Although when you search more on these questions you will begin to see that rather a huge chunk of the scientific community already assume that the best explanation for the beginning of the universe came about by the causality of vibrating bubbles. Michio Kaku, one of the most notable theoretical physicists suggest that before the big bang there was nothing, and nothing was unstable, and because nothing was unstable the laws of the universe permitted forces to stabilize hence the void of forces started to vibrate rapidly causing the Big Bang. However, this explanation is the simplest one I can give. If you want a better answer then maybe you can read up on String theory and the unified field theory. By the way, although these theories have yet to be proven because no possible tests can be created at this time most scientists concerned with the matter are rather expecting this theory to somewhat give light to the problem of where did everything come from.
Cheers.
Kenneth Canapi says:
November 14, 2011 at 21:18 (UTC 8)
Pano po ba ako magiging official member ng Philippine Atheists and Agnostics Society (PATAS) Official Group?
Nakasali na po ako sa facebook group page
( http://www.facebook.com/groups/Patas.co/218817984854490/ ) ninyo pero, hindi po ako sigurado kung official member na po ako. Kung ito’y hindi pa sapat para matawag na official member ng org na ito, ano pa ba ang mga kailangang gawin para maging official? (eg: requirements, whatever, etc.)
Thanks! :)
Site Admin says:
November 14, 2011 at 22:54 (UTC 8)
Please send a scanned email of your valid ID and send it to nicole@patas.co
Thank you!
flarex8 says:
November 22, 2011 at 17:34 (UTC 8)
I am a member of Iglesia ni Cristo and I am an Atheist. Frankly, I abhor that religion and it is a pain attending the church services twice a week. I am disillusioned with it but i can’t do anything because my parents pay for my study in college. What should I do? I need moral support from fellow Atheists.
simoun says:
December 4, 2011 at 16:20 (UTC 8)
for starters you should not do anything to provoke discrimination and anger from your family. Being an atheist means we are one to understand that change is a difficult process, one that has steps along a pathway. I would encourage you to still keep on going to church as your family tells you and take that time to truly understand the religion you have been born into. Take this time to make notes on evidences you can see that your religion is portraying that shows clearly inconsistencies in they’re doctrines etc. In that way you are actually honing your skills in argumentation/debate. If you are not into debating then simply hang on there until you finish college. I tell you being a working student to pay for college is a total drag and sometimes you may not be able to pay tuition which leaves you a couple more years of frustration. When the time comes you think that you can stand on your own then you may probably start to sow the seeds of doubt on your parents minds and eventually they will realize what you believe may be different from there’s and it’s not as bad as they thought because then you would have become a successful person in life despite them believing you will crash and burn in hell of your an atheist.
Cheers my friend and I hope you do the best thing. ^_^
rj oczon says:
December 26, 2011 at 10:48 (UTC 8)
I’m glad to found that there is a agnostic association here in phil. Gusto kong sumali dito… I’m a weak agnostic for some time now… matutuwa ang mga tropa kong agnos pag nalaman toh
Site Admin says:
December 26, 2011 at 12:34 (UTC 8)
Please check out our facebook group and join us.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Patas.co/
Just an Alternate Opinion says:
December 29, 2011 at 21:37 (UTC 8)
Hello, I’m a philosophy hobbyist. I’m not an atheist nor an agnostic, and I am not considering becoming one in the future, but I checked out this website on the prompting of an atheist friend, and to be honest, it’s quite interesting.
I just wanted to find out what exactly is your basis for the eradication of the philosophical ‘God’ (not the Christian or Islamic God, but a sentient, non-corporeal Being that established the existence of the universe and the ‘beginning of time’). I can understand the Agnostic skepticism of such a Being, and the impossibility of truly ‘knowing’ (epistemological postmodernism), but I’m still a little bit shaky on the Atheistic evidences and empirical proofs that such a Being’s existence is beyond the realm of possibility or probability.
My personal thanks in advance, and I hope to get your feedback on this, so as to satiate my personal curiosity.
Emil Book says:
January 15, 2012 at 20:02 (UTC 8)
Strong atheism implies that the Judeo-Christian God’s existence is illogical and irrational thus its existence is impossible by logic.
The statement “God does not exist” is falsifiable, hence it is logical to say that “God does not exist” by empirically observing what is “non-existence of God” is defined.
Existence and non-existence should be mutually exclusive where the ‘existence’ is relative to the observer’s time-space frame.
The statement “God do exist” is unfalsifiable, hence it is illogical to say that “God do exist” when existence of It has not been observed.
Emil Book says:
January 15, 2012 at 20:24 (UTC 8)
“…but a sentient, non-corporeal Being that established the existence of…”
My reaction:
Rephrasing your words: “Established by that Being” is unfalsifiable. Thus I can easily suggest also that the “universe is established by a nothingness” where it is also both unfalsifiable.
We end up with two conflicting claims that are both logical but conflicting. Hence, it’s logical but irrational.
Cristy says:
January 8, 2012 at 15:34 (UTC 8)
I was sent to this website by a friend. I just love to point out how you mis-represent other religions to promote your own. Everytime I read an article on an athiest website I come across sentences that use the language of other religions, but you use it incorrectly to stir confusion. I’d just like to point out that you failed to confuse me. I don’t have enough faith to be an atheist.
Romel says:
January 10, 2012 at 10:02 (UTC 8)
To become an atheist is no need to have faith. Faith is sub definition of belief….. a term usually used in religion. Belief need to be encouraged or discouraged from others to make it more stronger or more weaker. Just always realized the fact about presents and future reality and compare it to history. Religious business is rapidly rampant and there’s a clear evidence that all of them are the same… money laundry strategy!
Norm says:
January 28, 2012 at 14:14 (UTC 8)
Cristy, give an example how atheists misrepresent other religions so we can respond accordingly. You don’t need faith not to believe in anything, like you don’t need faith not to believe in fairies. Your statement betrays your ignorance of atheism.
Poldo says:
March 1, 2012 at 13:09 (UTC 8)
The universe doesn’t care what you believe, the wonderful thing about science is it doesn’t ask for your faith. It just asks for your eyes.
http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/beliefs.jpg
sherlyn galang says:
January 23, 2012 at 15:12 (UTC 8)
Ang atheist po ba mga freemason?
Site Admin says:
January 25, 2012 at 02:27 (UTC 8)
No. Before being admitted to a lodge they are required to declare a belief in a Supreme Being.
joey.resada@yahoo.com says:
January 30, 2012 at 07:59 (UTC 8)
Hi,
Where can i find your office here in Davao City?…
Thanks…
ping angob says:
February 12, 2012 at 19:37 (UTC 8)
sa mga kinaukolan …
masaya ako at nakita ko itong PATAS. NOONG bata pa ako nabinyagan ako ng roman catholic …ng maging nag kaisip na ako marami akong tanong about religion at sa bandang huli nawalan na din ako ng paniwala sa anumang religion dahil dito 33 years na akong masama sa tingin ng pamilya at mga kamag anakan ko at sa mga nakakilala sa akin. tingin nilay hopeless at desperado ang mga taong walang paniwala sa mga guni-guni na tulad ng relihiyon.ang punto ko lamang at least now naging matatag ako ng makitang may naging ganitong kamulatan na din sa ating bansa(isa akong ofw). sana makasalamuha ko ang PATAS sa mga susunod na panahon.
Erick says:
February 23, 2012 at 22:24 (UTC 8)
When is the next big meeting? Do you guys even meet? I would love to be there. I’ll bring the potato salad.
JohnP says:
March 4, 2012 at 15:34 (UTC 8)
Hi,
Do you sell books on Atheism? Hirap kasi maghanap sa mga bookstores dito satin. I have many ebooks on this topic but I want a real book so I can carry it wherever I am.
Hope you can help me. Thanks.
Norm says:
March 26, 2012 at 01:35 (UTC 8)
You can find almost anything on amazon.com, but you need a credit card.
Franz says:
March 4, 2012 at 22:48 (UTC 8)
Hi there! I recently left my church and Christianity and became a deist. I share you know, same aspects of your uhm, beliefs such as freedom from religion, rejection of the supernatural and disapproval of evangelism and reliance on human reasoning. Am I welcome in this site? :)
Anonymous Deist says:
March 21, 2012 at 19:31 (UTC 8)
I am also a deist and I also left my church. Im still a member and go to mass on Sunday but on the inside Im not. I am also skeptical of religion in general and I’m also not sure how to tell my friends and family. I mean there’s advice on the internet but there’ s no one right answer unfortunately. :(
It depends on the situation and the question is how and when.
I think instead of promoting skepticism of religion PATAS should just concentrate on giving support to people who left their faith and might get abused by family and friends. ( I mean its ok to tell others you have a different point of view. I just think that this is a very serious problem in our society.) You should post articles on how some Filipino atheists/agnostics/deists/etc. left the church and how they handled it.
niwrad says:
March 18, 2012 at 12:53 (UTC 8)
Yes! hindi lang pala ako nag iisa dito! haha
Norm says:
March 26, 2012 at 01:39 (UTC 8)
Welcome! Hindi ka nag-iisa. Maraming atheist na Pinoy ay halos isumpa ng kanilang mga kamaganak, dahil wala silang kinagisnan kundi ang pananampalataya. Hindi naman nila alam na wala isa mang evidence. Be yourself and be proud!
dont_know says:
March 27, 2012 at 23:50 (UTC 8)
Hi – it’s good to know that there exist a group like this..
I’m a baptized catholic but as early as I was in grade school I always ask myself “does God really exist?.. maybe, maybe not.. don’t know”.. and I am against the roman catholic and other religions asking for payment for religious services..
As a kid I have this theory that ” to put order or to resolve chaos/misunderstanding among people, someone came up with the idea of conceptualizing a “one supreme being”.. a supreme being to rule them all”.. it’s like saying having a leader that everybody has to rely, look into, follow.. you know what I mean..
but… I can’t say I am strong atheist.. I may fall in the category of skeptics or agnostics theist.. I don’t know.. all I know is that as long as a person live his life without disrespecting others then it’s fine..
Now, I tend to read more about free thinkers, atheist, agnostics and the like.. trying to enlighten myself..
cheers!
kristian says:
May 5, 2012 at 23:30 (UTC 8)
Good day!
I am a philosophy student in Cebu and I have grown interest in atheism the moment I realize the seriousness and profundity of philosophy.
When I read about what PATAS is in your “About PATAS” page, I reckon that your advocacy for atheism and agnosticism leans on the importunity for scientific literacy. Thus, you say “We are for pure scientific education, most specifically, sex education and evolution. In these studies we may learn our objective moral values and understand our purpose as we live.”
Despite the nobility of your intentions, which I share, I fear that too much science is just as dangerous as too much religion. Scientific knowledge carries with it the same dogmatizing tendencies as religion. Such is the case of what was called as “Positivism” in history.
While it is true that scientific knowledge is among man’s greatest achievements, it does not, however, exhaust the creative spirit of the human person. There are other equally noble disciplines that promote human individuality and creativity; the Liberal Arts, Literature, and Humanities, for example.
I am telling you this just so you would also find time to emphasize on the more fundamental aspects of atheism, which include, first and foremost, philosophical issues regarding the nature of religion, the sociology and psychology of faith, etc. These issues are far from being scientific but they serve as the vital impetus that move atheism.
Marissa Langseth says:
May 10, 2012 at 08:09 (UTC 8)
Please join us at PATAS-Cebu chapter…thanks for your interest.
kristian says:
May 12, 2012 at 22:14 (UTC 8)
Good day!
Thank you for the invitation. I would surely like to participate and join.
What do I need to do to take part? Is there some sort of registration to be part of PATAS?
Marissa Langseth says:
May 14, 2012 at 20:09 (UTC 8)
Kindly join us on our Facebook forum and send scanned valid ID to marie@patas.co or jasmin@patas.co or rath@patas.co thank you.
Marissa Langseth says:
May 14, 2012 at 20:16 (UTC 8)
Please join us in PATAS-Cebu chapter…thank you!