alpineranger
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- Feb 3, 2001
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Originally posted by: RightIsWrong
I will end on this also....
Gravity is not believed to but known to exist. The varying degree of accuracy WRT the amount of gravity can be argued but the statement in and of itself cannot.
Originally posted by: bl4ckfl4g
Originally posted by: Atreus21
But it's not enough to simply say what does not exist.
Actually for me that is enough. I don't believe in god and he doesn't exist.
Originally posted by: Atreus21
What do atheists believe?
I would assume that atheists believe in atheism, simply that there is no god.
It follows that any religion that worships a god is erroneous.
If you agree with that premise, please read on.
But it's not enough to simply say what does not exist. What do atheists truly believe in? What do they propose gives order to the universe? I would expect science and reason. I wouldn't expect an atheist to say he or she believes in nothing, because atheists tend not to be nihilists, and nihilism doesn't really exist anyway.
Assuming atheists do believe that rational, scientific reasoning is the only way to discern truth, then it follows that atheism must be a religion unto its own, simply with a different god. When I think about it, people engage in a religion generally out of a search for the truth, and they find God. An atheist engages in the same thing for the same reason, and finds reason and logic.
That's my point. If atheists are atheists because they seek the truth about order to the universe, then they're behaving just as religions behave, although atheism has no organization like the Papacy or such.
I'll put in another way that's not as convoluted.
In my opinion, religions don't worship God. They worship Truth, and to them, that truth is God. How are atheists any different, except that they name their God something else?
I hope not to ignite any tempers.
Originally posted by: hopeless74
i wonder how many atheists turn to god on their deathbeds..
Originally posted by: Red Dawn
I don't believe in God, Christianity, Islam, Hindu or any of that because I consider the source of all that nonsense, ancient man.
Originally posted by: Atreus21
Originally posted by: judasmachine
There is nothing to believe. The Earth is here, we are here, and that's that. Morality comes from a sense of compassion, and a foreknowledge of the consequences of ones behavior, not from a long storied guy in the sky.
Okay, but you contradict yourself. You say there is nothing to believe, then you tell me what IS. You've told me what you do believe in. You're using reasoning, and that means you believe in reasoning.
Not the age but the ignorance.Originally posted by: bamacre
Originally posted by: Red Dawn
I don't believe in God, Christianity, Islam, Hindu or any of that because I consider the source of all that nonsense, ancient man.
To ignore the value of an idea solely because of its age is not wise.
Originally posted by: Atreus21
Atheists don't believe shit.
Okay, so you don't believe in Mathematics?
Originally posted by: hopeless74
i wonder how many atheists turn to god on their deathbeds..
Originally posted by: ZzZGuy
Originally posted by: hopeless74
i wonder how many atheists turn to god on their deathbeds..
That is out of fear, which does not make it any more true.
For me, I am immortal through my children and their children and their children's children's.
And yes I would be terrified to die right now as I have no children.
Originally posted by: JohnOfSheffield
Originally posted by: RightIsWrong
I will end on this also....
Gravity is not believed to but known to exist. The varying degree of accuracy WRT the amount of gravity can be argued but the statement in and of itself cannot.
http://www.theonion.com/content/node/39512
It's just a belief that pulls you towards earth. :disgust:
Originally posted by: sirjonk
Originally posted by: hopeless74
i wonder how many atheists turn to god on their deathbeds..
Probably around the same amount as the number of people who watch something horrible happen and conclude that there is no god.
Originally posted by: hopeless74
Originally posted by: ZzZGuy
Originally posted by: hopeless74
i wonder how many atheists turn to god on their deathbeds..
That is out of fear, which does not make it any more true.
For me, I am immortal through my children and their children and their children's children's.
And yes I would be terrified to die right now as I have no children.
fear maybe, but imo i think its realization.
Originally posted by: Hayabusa Rider
The religious and the atheist have always struck me as the same. One says "God exists" the other says "God does not exist".
Since no one can prove or disprove God by a scientific method, the whole argument comes down to which side yells the loudest. As I cannot know with certainty, I will defend the right of either side to have an opinion, but it's an opinion without a basis other than belief.
Seems to me the solution to a fear of death is a medical cure for aging, not a panic-induced belief in a god.Originally posted by: RightIsWrong
Originally posted by: hopeless74
Originally posted by: ZzZGuy
Originally posted by: hopeless74
i wonder how many atheists turn to god on their deathbeds..
That is out of fear, which does not make it any more true.
For me, I am immortal through my children and their children and their children's children's.
And yes I would be terrified to die right now as I have no children.
fear maybe, but imo i think its realization.
It isn't realization....it is rationalization. They are rationalizing that they are better off making some claim now so that in the minute chance that there is a god....they have hedged their bets.
Originally posted by: ricochet
Originally posted by: Hayabusa Rider
The religious and the atheist have always struck me as the same. One says "God exists" the other says "God does not exist".
Since no one can prove or disprove God by a scientific method, the whole argument comes down to which side yells the loudest. As I cannot know with certainty, I will defend the right of either side to have an opinion, but it's an opinion without a basis other than belief.
The burden of proof is on those making the claim. Those lacking in belief shouldn't have to prove anything.