I'm an aethist....

kicky, you asked my age, now may I ask yours?

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I noticed I'm the other one. I hadn't said anything because I am still in somewhat a state of shock.

Actually, I think kickycan is a pretty smart cookie.

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yea, smart cookie.

How are you tonight?

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HMM.

I believed in God until I was 14.

Then I got smart.

I was real smart for about 10 years or so.

Then I got smarter.

Still getting smarter.

It happens.

Get used to it.

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I was an atheist until I was about 14

Then I got smart.

I've been smart ever since.

Come to think of it I was smart before too.

Meh

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Sounds like lines from the movie 'dumb and dumber'

Hey Lloyd

Hi Harry

lol just joshin ya.

Hey....did you guys go to band camp? That's when they made me stop taking ritalin.

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young_thinker-Welcome to A2K!

I was just about your age when I started to question the existence of a God. The more that I read, and the more that I experienced, the more that I realized that there was absolutely no reason to believe in a God any more than a child believes in the tooth fairy, or the Easter bunny. The entire concept was a myth, the only difference being was that many, many people had bought into that myth.

I am a person who believes in the scientific workings of the universe. Do I believe that we know everything? Absolutely not. I believe that someday, when humanity has evolved to a greater extent than we have at this time, we will understand more, but who knows if and when we will ever understand everything.

If you read the different books of various religions, you will find that there are certain similarities amongst the myths of these faiths. Primitive man had little knowledge of the world. Therefore, anything that was really formidable, like a drought, a flood, etc. he ascribed as the workings of a God, and worshipped that entity. That God had the power that man did not possess.

The fact that this God or Gods was a creation of man, did not seem to deter those people who wanted to spread the word of their God. By doing so, the church and the priestly class attained power over the people, who looked to them for guidance.

People codified the teachings brought down through the centuries, into the various faiths. Most faiths have a number of things in common. There is usually a list of rules for the faithful to follow. Religions have developed festivals to bring people of the same faith together for a common purpose.

Does all this pomp and circumstance prove anything? Definitely not. To this day, there is not a shread of proof that a God exists, and that this so-called God has any interest in the beliefs of humans. No matter how hard the religionists sing the praises of their God, it is a song sung into the air, signifying nothing more than the common longings of a group of people for some answers................................answers that no one has.

Is there something greater than us? Who knows? I certainly don't, and don't believe that I will know in either my lifetime, or you in yours. What I DO know, is that the Gods that the various cultures have concocted, have no more veracity than the Gods that were created by the people of antiquity. It's just that today's Gods have better public relations working for them.

Glad to see you here, and keep on thinking. It will stand you in good stead for the rest of your life.

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If undisputable, unchangeable proof was available one way or the other...we would know.

Mankind knows alot less than they realize.

So whenever anyone goes on and on about what they 'know' or what 'facts' they have as opposed to what they think, believe, feel.......be skeptical.

Don't accept something as truth just because it is pleasing to your ears or just because someone sounds like they 'know'.

Later kid.

P.S. Most of man's words are mere songs sung in the air signifying nothing more than the common longings of a group of people for some answers................................answers that no one knows.

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LionTamerX wrote:

Intrepid said:

Quote:
Men do not live to 800 or 900 years of age now as they did in the bible either.

This could be it's own thread... Is a poorer diet and lack of excercise to blame ?

Any ideas ?

Have to throw my two cents into this idea.

This is one of the very few parts of the bible I think COULD be true. People living for a few hundred years? I think that is possible..
Not sure how I feel about the 800 or so as quoted.. but to people who dont have the exact concept of time as we do today, they could have easily given the title of "400 year old" person to somone who lived for what was seen as a long time.

Go back 3 or 4 thousand years and there were no chemicals in the water, our food were natural and the air was still as pure as you could get it.

With all of those toxins removed, throw in normal probally elevated amounts of exercize and yeah, to me it is quite possible humans lived a lot longer then we do now.

but thats just my guess

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Phoenix32890 wrote:

I am a person who believes in the scientific workings of the universe. Do I believe that we know everything? Absolutely not.

The fact that this God or Gods was a creation of man, did not seem to deter those people who wanted to spread the word of their God. By doing so, the church and the priestly class attained power over the people, who looked to them for guidance.

Is there something greater than us? Who knows?"

Ok phoenix...first you admit mankind does not know everything.

Then you state as a FACT(knowing) that this God or Gods was a creation of man.

Finally, you ask if something is greater than mankind and say....."who knows".

Mankind is not even sure how many planets are in our solar system....How can you know (as fact) that God was a creation of man?

When you said FACT.....did you mean an educated guess or something less than a FACT? If not, please provide your conclusive evidence for the benefit of all mankind.

Is this what you meant by songs sung in the air? Your a bit off key and the lyrics you use just clash.

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Doktor S wrote:

I was an atheist until I was about 14

Then I got smart.

I've been smart ever since.

Come to think of it I was smart before too.

Meh

Smartass!

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Phoenix said:
I am a person who believes in the scientific workings of the universe.

Is this an example of a tail wagging the dog?

Does this mean you BELIEVE the universe operates and is defined by mankind through/by science?

Or science operates and is defined by/through the discoveries mankind makes about the universe?

Both?

OMG it's a ritalin flashback of a brain cloud! Drunk

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young_thinker

Congratulations on your avoidance of the religion virus so far !

However allow me to point out that reliance on "scientific rationality" may not be sufficient to safeguard your position because (a) science itself cannot account for its "origins" and (b) there is a reported "critical age" of around 20 (or so) where "epiphanies" tend to happen. Whether these are are hormonally induced brain states or genuine glimpses of some "higher consciousness" is open to debate, but even in the event of the latter, this does not imply "a deity".

My own position as an atheist is therefore largely based on the recognition of the negative social effects of theism rather than its simplistic or ad hoc rationality. Your own experience of life may eventually lead you to similar conclusions.

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Science cannot account for it's origins?

Was it given to mankind by a higher intellect?

Did mankind birth it and continues to develop it based on observations and experimentations?

Does this mean you BELIEVE the universe operates and is defined by mankind through/by science?

Or science operates and is defined by/through the discoveries mankind makes about the universe?

Both? Which is it?

Epiphanies do not imply nor rule out the possibility of God.

Why do you mention only 2 explanations for an epiphany? This is the markings of a false dilemma fallacy is'nt it?

If both statements are true regarding science and the universe then this creates what is called 'circular reasoning'. No?

My own position as an atheist is therefore largely based on the recognition of the negative social effects of theism rather than its simplistic or ad hoc rationality.

Is this another way of saying that a belief in God is bad for you?

Which social effects? More circles?

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Come on Bartikus, you know very well that religion is a major precipitating or predisposing factor in many armed conflicts!

http://www.religioustolerance.org/curr_war.htm

As for the possible "higher consciousness" aspect of "epiphany" my own limited experience is one of "selflessness" and "connectedness with all of life" NOT being the "child of a separate anthropomorphic deity". Such experiences resist "explanation" since in the very least they transcend the infantile notions of "causality" by some "external agent". The appreciation of non-empirical basis of "causality" and the illusary nature of "time" has even forced theistic scientists into a position of considering a "non-interventionist deity" which makes creationists sound like a bunch of inmates in an asylum.

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fresco wrote:

Come on Bartikus, you know very well that religion is a major precipitating or predisposing factor in many armed conflicts.

I don't know this to be THE factor. Do you group all religions together on this?

Just as money, resources, power, land, survival, fear, jealousy, hate, etc.
have been predisposing factors and I submit are the primary factors since even atheistic nations and peoples have had their fill of blood. Some numbers say...far more so. For the relatively few numbers of people without a belief in God in this world......they sure kill alot. The Bible pins another source.

Adjusted to population.....far more! By the numbers you should see that atheism is far more bloody and therefore not preferable. That is indeed if the reason you are atheist is for the reason you state. The Bible gives another reason.

It is one thing to sound like an inmate in an asylum....it is another to demonstrate it don't you agree?

There are so many major factors for armed conflict yet, it is religion you focus on as the problem and the reason you are atheist?

Circular reasoning that is unfounded in the face of evidence?

http://users.erols.com/mwhite28/warstats.htm

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Bartikus,

Armed conflicts are extensions of tribalism which we share with the higher primates. In humans Religion gives "authority" and "rationality" to such tribalism thereby exacerbating its worst excesses.

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fresco wrote:

Bartikus,

Armed conflicts are extensions of tribalism which we share with the higher primates. In humans Religion gives "authority" and "rationality" to such tribalism thereby exacerbating its worst excesses.

Prove it. Higher primates?

Religions might...my beliefs do not.

Then what is the reason for atheistic armed conflict in the 20th century? Namely China and Russia death tolls?

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shewolfnm wrote:

LionTamerX wrote:
Intrepid said:

Quote:
Men do not live to 800 or 900 years of age now as they did in the bible either.

This could be it's own thread... Is a poorer diet and lack of excercise to blame ?

Any ideas ?

Have to throw my two cents into this idea.

This is one of the very few parts of the bible I think COULD be true. People living for a few hundred years? I think that is possible..
Not sure how I feel about the 800 or so as quoted.. but to people who dont have the exact concept of time as we do today, they could have easily given the title of "400 year old" person to somone who lived for what was seen as a long time.

Go back 3 or 4 thousand years and there were no chemicals in the water, our food were natural and the air was still as pure as you could get it.

With all of those toxins removed, throw in normal probally elevated amounts of exercize and yeah, to me it is quite possible humans lived a lot longer then we do now.

but thats just my guess

I think you're right on the money shewolf!

Plus, time is speeding up...not just the seasons. I mean for good.

It seems to be too, not long after you get up and do a few things, the sun is setting again.

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fresco wrote:

young_thinker

Congratulations on your avoidance of the religion virus so far !

virus?

Funny, I don't remember catching it from anyone. Must have mutated on it's own accord.

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I'm an aethist....

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