Ask an Atheist

[TBDude65]

Please forgive me...



So the concept of human dignity is not central to your atheist understanding of man?

What is an "atheist understanding of man?"

I have a historical understanding of man. I have a biological understanding of man. I have a cultural understanding of man. But my absence of a belief in god doesn't factor into my understanding of man.

 

[Cearbhall]

So does that mean that you think human dignity is entirely subjective?
And that it has no objective basis or existence?

I can't speak for any other atheists, but this is an accurate portrayal of my views. I don't know of any being or force who would have the power or ability to make this concept a part of objective reality. To me, it's just a construct that was designed by humans to fill a societal need.

 

[Nithavela]

What happens if you put toast on the back of a cat, butter side up?

 

[Desk trauma]

What happens if you put toast on the back of a cat, butter side up?

Perpetual motion machine.

 

[GoldenBoy89]

What happens if you put toast on the back of a cat, butter side up?

You break the universe.

 

[essentialsaltes]

What happens if you put toast on the back of a cat, butter side up?

I get reprimanded by my spouse.

 

[Daniel9v9]

What brings you to Christian Forums and how did you come across it?

 

[Tinker Grey]

I came here as a Christian member of another board, The King's Table (I don't think that's quite right), that then merged with this one.

 

[Subduction Zone]

What happens if you put toast on the back of a cat, butter side up?

 

[Cearbhall]

Here is what I am conclufing from our conversation so far:
Atheism denies human dignity...
AND
Murdering Christians is not evil...

That pretty much describes atheist USSR...

Well of course it's evil. The disagreement is over whether "evil" has a metaphysical meaning. And I think you're perfectly aware of that, but you've chosen to take the stance that there is no true morality without a theistic foundation.

 

[Nithavela]

What brings you to Christian Forums and how did you come across it?

I actually came her as a seeker and questioned my own spirituality and if there really was a god or gods or whatever. This forum is part of the reason why I turned out like how I did.

Had a longish stint as an atheist, but I didn't like the old grey icon, so I chose humanist. Then I started to realise how short humanity fell of my expectations and here I am.

 

[Desk trauma]

What brings you to Christian Forums and how did you come across it?

FSTDT.

 

[GoldenBoy89]

What brings you to Christian Forums and how did you come across it?

Years ago when I first got interested in the evolution/creation debates just trying to find whatever I could on it, I came across CF. I lurked around for weeks without creating an account and then finally decided to join because I liked a lot of the different users' personalities.

 

[Arsenios]

Well of course it's evil.

Evil is a Christian word...

What does an atheist mean by evil?

The disagreement is over whether "evil" has a metaphysical meaning.

What would its metaphysical meaning be for an atheist?

And I think you're perfectly aware of that...

What was offered was that atheists do not believe in good and evil...

Nor is human dignity anything other than a social norm...

So the obvious question, especially for the good ol' USSR, is this:

How can we say that their murder of 60 million people be evil when there is no human dignity?

but you've chosen to take the stance that there is no true morality without a theistic foundation.

I never offered that stance...

I will offer to you that Christian morality is true morality...

Other moralities are more or less true, depending on their intent in the heart of the one acting on them...

Arsenios

 

[Arsenios]

I actually came her as a seeker and questioned my own spirituality and if there really was a god or gods or whatever. This forum is part of the reason why I turned out like how I did.

Had a longish stint as an atheist, but I didn't like the old grey icon, so I chose humanist. Then I started to realise how short humanity fell of my expectations and here I am.

Sounds like you care about Truth...

Arsenios

 

[Cearbhall]

Evil is a Christian word...

Perhaps to you. Which was exactly my point.

 

[Arsenios]

I can't speak for any other atheists, but this is an accurate portrayal of my views. I don't know of any being or force who would have the power or ability to make this concept a part of objective reality. To me, it's just a construct that was designed by humans to fill a societal need.

Then for you it does not exist...
It is but a useful social fiction...

So what do you think the ethical consequences might be?

Arsenios

 

[Arsenios]

Perhaps to you. Which was exactly my point.

Can you show me an atheistic derivation for the term evil?

A.

 

[Cearbhall]

So what do you think the ethical consequences might be?

The ethical consequences of what?

 

[Arsenios]

The ethical consequences of what?

The ethical consequences of believing that human dignity is but a social convention having no basis in reality...

Do you live unreal social convention and treat people with dignity according to social convention?
OR...
Do you live truth and treat them according to their lack of actual dignity?
OR...
Do you have some other theory?

Can you se why it is a real issue?

Arsenios