First of all, I don't represent any atheist/secular community or affiliation.
Feel free to ask anything, make sure to avoid ambiguous questions so we can keep posts as short and clear as possible, all comments and questions are welcome as long as they are respectful and constructive :)
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Do you go all the way to the base?
Possessed said:
Do you go all the way to the base?
I'm not following, can you please clarify the question?
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You said ask ANYTHING. Did you mean it had to pertain to being an atheist? If so I withdraw the question.
I'll just warn you in advance that we already had a thread for asking atheists (in response to my thread which was a response to the Mormon Q&A thread), so your thread may not be very successful.
This is why The New Thread Thread exists.
This could be retitled "Ask the Weak Atheist Anything," and then we would have a real good use for it.
I considered starting a similar thread, but then decided it probably wouldn't be very popular. Plus, there is a wide variety of atheism, and my beliefs are unlikely to match very closely with that of other atheists.
"Close the blast doors!"
Puggo’s website | Rescuing Star Wars
I have two questions for you:
What are your reasons for believing that their are no gods? I'll take lack of evidence as an answer, but I'd prefer something more specific.
How much historical credit do you give the (canonical) gospels? Do you think Jesus was crucified and buried, but didn't rise from the dead, or do you not think he was crucified at all, or do you think he didn't exist or was only based on someone historical (historical in this case meaning real)? Do you think he was a healer of some sort, or just a preacher, or none of the above?
WRONG THREAD
BTW, your thread title is grammatically incorrect. It should be "non-member" rather than "no-member", but "Ask no member of all churches" would also be grammatically correct.*
RicOlie_2 said:
BTW, your thread title is grammatically incorrect. It should be "non-member" rather than "no-member", but "Ask no member of all churches" would also be grammatically correct.*
*ahem*
RicOlie_2 said:
What are your reasons for believing that their are no gods?
=P =P =P =P =P =P =P
LOL--I can't believe I still do that. It's more muscle-memory than anything, but I hang my head in shame anyway.
Are you happy, as an atheist? Does it content you to so be?
I was once…but now I’m not… Further: zyzzogeton
“It wasn’t the flood that destroyed the pantry…”
RicOlie_2 said:
I'll just warn you in advance that we already had a thread for asking atheists (in response to my thread which was a response to the Mormon Q&A thread), so your thread may not be very successful.
I don't have expectations about where this thread should go so let's see what happens :P
darth_ender said:
This could be retitled "Ask the Weak Atheist Anything," and then we would have a real good use for it.
Puggo - Jar Jar's Yoda said:
I considered starting a similar thread, but then decided it probably wouldn't be very popular. Plus, there is a wide variety of atheism, and my beliefs are unlikely to match very closely with that of other atheists.
Well, actually the plan is to discuss the lack of beliefs and atheism is just ''disbelief or lack of belief in the existence of God or gods.'' so I don't know how many kind of atheists there could be. I understand that atheist can have different opinions on different subjects but there is no set of rules to be a atheist as far as I know :P
RicOlie_2 said:
I have two questions for you:
What are your reasons for believing that their are no gods? I'll take lack of evidence as an answer, but I'd prefer something more specific.
How much historical credit do you give the (canonical) gospels? Do you think Jesus was crucified and buried, but didn't rise from the dead, or do you not think he was crucified at all, or do you think he didn't exist or was only based on someone historical (historical in this case meaning real)? Do you think he was a healer of some sort, or just a preacher, or none of the above?
1-Lack of evidence is pretty specific :P
2-It could be that some parts of the history of Jesus are true, maybe he existed and was a preacher and kind to the poor an sick, but I don't believe he resurrected or that he was the son of god/god himself. Jesus existence as a historical fact (if we ever reach that point) does not prove the existence of a god outside the bible.
RicOlie_2 said:
BTW, your thread title is grammatically incorrect. It should be "non-member" rather than "no-member", but "Ask no member of all churches" would also be grammatically correct.*
Changed :)
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Post Praetorian said:
Are you happy, as an atheist? Does it content you to so be?
Yes and Yes :)
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Were you always an atheist or did you at one time have a religious background? Do you have a deconversion story?
I was once…but now I’m not… Further: zyzzogeton
“It wasn’t the flood that destroyed the pantry…”
Post Praetorian said:
Were you always an atheist or did you at one time have a religious background? Do you have a deconversion story?
My family is roman catholic, but they don't go to the church unless there is a wedding, funeral or baptism. Is more a cultural thing than a devotion. I was baptized and took first communion but the religion thing never stuck on me. There is not much of a de-conversion story, I just asked myself questions about the religions and started reading a little bit on ancient cultures, gods and science stuff.
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RicOlie_2 said:
What are your reasons for believing that their are no gods? I'll take lack of evidence as an answer, but I'd prefer something more specific.
My beliefs are actually rather complex, and relate to the hierarchy of animals. Our abilities of comprehension, and our ability to explore the world around us, far exceeds that of, say, chimps. So it is safe to say that the next species up from us would also far exceed us in such things. To imagine that we could relate to God - who, if he/she/it exists would be SO far above us - is highly unlikely. Furthermore, just as the chimp can't even ask the sorts of questions that we can, were we to pose such questions about "God", or the "meaning of life" to a species higher than us, they would probably respond by saying we aren't even asking the right questions, and that our minds are too limited to make it even worth discussing.
In summary, my belief is that our minds are too limited to even comprehend the questions, let alone recognize the answers. Religion, by contrast, so dramatically simplifies this whole thing that I can't help but believe that it is purely of human construction.
Secondly, I believe that most religions were build as a reasonable attempt to explain the world around us, and to think on a higher level. But it was limited by the tools available at the time, which didn't include science and technology. Given what we have learned about the world and universe around us, I think it would be reasonable to form new religions to try and explain what science cannot, and theorize what might be out there beyond our reach of scientific observation. Instead, most religions just reject science when it contradicts the old books. Since religions respond to scientific observation and inquiry in this manner, which seems contrary to loving and respecting God and His creations, I just can't take it seriously.
How much historical credit do you give the (canonical) gospels? Do you think Jesus was crucified and buried, but didn't rise from the dead, or do you not think he was crucified at all, or do you think he didn't exist or was only based on someone historical (historical in this case meaning real)? Do you think he was a healer of some sort, or just a preacher, or none of the above?
I am not even sure he existed. There is essentially no physical evidence, and no contemporary written record of such. He could just be a mythical figure. It is hard to believe that someone so influential and considered so dangerous (at the time) wouldn't have something written about him during his life.
If he did exist, he sounds like a very, very cool dude. Maybe one of the coolest ever. However, he might also have been a bit whacko insisting that he is the son of God and the savior of mankind. He also must have had some serious charisma. If I had a time machine, he'd certainly be one of my first stops, even though I'm an atheist.
As to the "canon", I can't say I believe any of it. Well, if he really was alive, I would believe that he was crucified, but that's about it. A lot of people were crucified, so that would be reasonable for a martyr of the time.
"Close the blast doors!"
Puggo’s website | Rescuing Star Wars
Post Praetorian said:
Are you happy, as an atheist? Does it content you to so be?
I am extremely glad to have been raised atheist. Our minds and our ability to reason and think for ourselves is an incredible gift, and a lot of religion seems to be about stifling critical inquiry and just accepting "truth" without question. That to me is a waste of a great gift.
As for the heaven/hell thing... if I believed it, I would agree it makes a strong case for choosing to be religious. Unfortunately it all sounds like a big con to me.
"Close the blast doors!"
Puggo’s website | Rescuing Star Wars
Puggo - Jar Jar's Yoda said:
RicOlie_2 said:
How much historical credit do you give the (canonical) gospels? Do you think Jesus was crucified and buried, but didn't rise from the dead, or do you not think he was crucified at all, or do you think he didn't exist or was only based on someone historical (historical in this case meaning real)? Do you think he was a healer of some sort, or just a preacher, or none of the above?
I am not even sure he existed. There is essentially no physical evidence, and no contemporary written record of such. He could just be a mythical figure. It is hard to believe that someone so influential and considered so dangerous (at the time) wouldn't have something written about him during his life.
Do you have any views on the Testimonium Flavianum? Do you consider it good evidence for Jesus' existence?
Puggo - Jar Jar's Yoda said:
Given what we have learned about the world and universe around us, I think it would be reasonable to form new religions to try and explain what science cannot, and theorize what might be out there beyond our reach of scientific observation. Instead, most religions just reject science when it contradicts the old books. Since religions respond to scientific observation and inquiry in this manner, which seems contrary to loving and respecting God and His creations, I just can't take it seriously.
If this were strictly true, then Jews/Christians would still believe the Earth is flat and at the centre of the universe, the Hindus would believe the Earth is supported on the backs of elephants standing on the back of a giant turtle, etc.
IMO, your opinion is being coloured by the vocal minority of backward Fundies. There are plenty of religious people out there who accept science without trying to shove Intelligent Design or other such nonsense into the works.
What's wrong with the Intelligent Design / Theistic Evolution Theory?
RicOlie_2 said:
What's wrong with the Intelligent Design / Theistic Evolution Theory)?
It contradicts all the scientific knowledge about the origins of the earth and humans as a specie :p
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In what way?
EDIT: I should clarify, just in case you aren't familiar with the English term, that this is different than creationism. The Intelligent Design Theory theorizes that God created life through evolution.