Atheism

The thread was created for atheists "conversation, sharing of ideas and resources, etc." according to the opening statement.

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@edgarblythe,

What kind of sharing of ideas and resources are available to atheists and anyone wanting to understand them?

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@edgarblythe,

Seeing that to be an Atheist takes more ridiculous belief than to be a Theist, perhaps bad company is a good thing ? If Atheists had brains like they claim, they would admit the impossibility of proving a negative and call themselves Agnostic. I am Agnostic so you would be in great company Very Happy

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@Intrepid,

If you see a statement on here and ask someone the source or meaning of their thoughts, you are likely to get a reply.

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@Ionus,

The reason for explicitly rejecting God (rather than keeping alive the possibility of God as agnostics do) is that God's rejection simplifies an atheist's analysis of how to live a productive and happy life.

As an atheist, I have reject the notion of God and have accepted that life has no intrinsic meaning or purpose which I am obliged to realise because "God wants me to". Once you understand that life is without any meaning, you are free to evaluate what in life is most important to you. You are free to make the world a better place in the way that you personally think is best.

If I even allowed that God might exist, doubts might linger about whether God would approve of what I was doing. This would slow me down and weaken my resolve.

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@Oylok,

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that life has no intrinsic meaning or purpose

You can do the same thing as an Agnostic without being put in the position of having to prove their is no God.

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Once you understand that life is without any meaning, you are free to evaluate what in life is most important to you. You are free to make the world a better place in the way that you personally think is best.

You are free to rape and murder. Non-christian societies have existed before.

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If I even allowed that God might exist, doubts might linger about whether God would approve of what I was doing.

No, because you would have to assume that the God that exists is a personal God and as there is no proof for any God, you would still have the option you expressed above.

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@Oylok,

I reject god on the face of what we all understand about god. His admonitions and judgments aren't consistent nor is logical to us humans. If he created us, he must surely understand that a loving god doesn't destroy all humanity by wholesale flooding of this world.

There has also been research done on the "power of prayer." It doesn't work. Sometimes it works when the patient believes in prayer, but not for third party patients.

Why do humans ask for god's favor during war and sports events?

It doesn't make any sense - common sense.

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@aidan,

One problem I have always had as an atheist was not being able to stand having dinner with Christians. I couldn't stand it when they shamed me into closing my hands in prayer as they said Grace. I always thought of theological questions purely in logical terms, and since my dinner companions could not prove God's existence, what right had they to make me bow to God? (I always felt like a hypocrite whenever I acquiesced and pretended to join them in prayer to a god in whom I did not believe. But I did not want to insult them, so what else could I do?)

However, thanks to one of the posts in this thread (by a non-atheist), I can at least understand where the other side is coming from--how and why they believe life ought to be about gratitude and giving, even unto the least among us. Thus, Grace before dinner now makes more sense. I left the Church before I ever really understood the ritual.

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@Oylok,

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One problem I have always had as an atheist was not being able to stand having dinner with Christians.

sit

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@Ionus,

Quote:

Oylok: You are free to make the world a better place in the way that you personally think is best.

Ionus: You are free to rape and murder. Non-christian societies have existed before.

Well, I actually find the best accepted Christian beliefs (such as "don't rape or murder") to be fairly intuitive. I think a society of smart, honest, virtuous atheists would agree by consensus that rape and murder were fairly rotten ideas for "making the world they wanted." Smile

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Oylok: If I even allowed that God might exist, doubts might linger about whether God would approve of what I was doing.

Ionus: No, because you would have to assume that the God that exists is a personal God and as there is no proof for any God, you would still have the option you expressed above.

Personally, I have found that unless I resolve once and for all that God does not exist, then God will always keep on nagging at me to think of God--for example, whenever I read books like ANNA KARENINA or THE BROTHERS KARAMAZOV, both of which make compelling arguments for becoming a Christian.

1 Reply

@cicerone imposter,

Since I too am an atheist, I really have no counter-arguments ready. I will leave it to the religionists to reply if they dare, and I really hope they answer you with some thought-provoking theodicy -- instead of just thoughtless idiocy. Laughing

Good in peace, my fellow heathen, Wink

Oylok

1 Reply

@Oylok,

Oylok, I do that too, but not because I believe in their god. I just do it out of respect for those who believe.

On the other hand, there have been many instances where a prayer was being said, and I would see others not bowing their heads or closing their eyes - and these were a church functions!

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@aidan,

My first reply to you was rather impersonal, although I did not intend it to be that way.
Let me just say, thank you for the enlightening post about god and gratitude.
I learned a lot about the meaning of god.
That was what I meant to show in the first reply.
(Hopefully you have not put me on "ignore" and are reading this.) Smile

Thanks,
Oylok

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@cicerone imposter,

Yeah, I just never had much respect for religious people before. Most of the time you aren't reading soul-searching posts from those people, and it's the same old "I believe", "I believe", etc. They never tell you why they believe (or at least they never really explained it me). I mean I thought they were great people, and I respected them as such. But as far as their beliefs went ... what can I say? It just seemed like a delusion. I do appreciate where they are coming from now.

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@Oylok,

Oylok wrote:

Good in peace, my fellow heathen

Oops. That should read "Go in peace...", and I'm sure you knew I was just kidding about the "heathen" part, right???

Cheers,
Oylok

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@Oylok,

You're welcome and thank you for your kind reply. I do see it.
I don't put people on ignore - I'm a very curious person - I'm always interested to see what people have to say. That's the reason I'm here (on this forum).
Even the inanities and hostility help me learn something - even if it's only to learn something about the type of people who will continue uttering the inanities and hostility- I hadn't ever been exposed to that very much.
It's all part of my continuing education.
And I have to say - I've learned ALOT!
And I'm happy to be able to say it's been enriching and a good experience for the most part.
Another thing I can be grateful for.

Good in peace - that works too.

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@cicerone imposter,

You have rejected a PERSONAL God. What stops a God from existing that is not concerned with us ?

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@Oylok,

We dont say grace in our household...we thank the cook....much safer that way.

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@Oylok,

Quote:

Well, I actually find the best accepted Christian beliefs (such as "don't rape or murder") to be fairly intuitive.

As in the Roman Colosseum ? Or an Aztec Temple ? Or the Vikings ? Or the Mongols ?

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I have found that unless I resolve once and for all that God does not exist,

Even though the impossibility of proving a negative makes your resolution silly ?

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@aidan,

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even if it's only to learn something about the type of people who will continue uttering the inanities and hostility

I will take that as a compliment. Thank you (makes low sweeping Walter Raleigh type bow).

1 Reply

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