Ask an Atheist

[AV1611VET]

I think I would have to say Christmas.

Same here! I like Christmas too!

Merry Christmas!

 

[2PhiloVoid]

When I say these matters, I mean things related to philosophy. It's true that atheism isn't a worldview, it is only a view on the existence of God or gods. An atheist can believe anything short of a deity. The people I mentioned are people I agree with on a wide range of issues.

Not to be quaint but I think the golden rule is a pretty solid foundation. Treat others like how you want to be treated. But I believe morality on a base level was developed as a result of our evolution as a species. Without it I believe we would be just another one of those extinct species lost to history. We see the foundations of morality in a lot of other animals, especially mammals. Ours have just been more refined due to our intellect. In short I do think we have a solid foundation to base our morals and ethics on but I believe it is natural and innate.

So, how do you overcome David Hume's IS/OUGHT distinction, and what philosophers have you relied upon to do this?

Peace,
2PhiloVoid

 

[TheFriendlyAtheist]

Same here! I like Christmas too!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to you too!

 

[Cearbhall]

So if I pray to God with an urgent need for another (disabled) person, and I give up the control over the need and just let God answer in His own way, then the need is instantly and dramatically filled, like the rain stopped and the sun came out and a path opened up for my car to drive on..... what do Atheists call an event like that?

It sounds like you're describing weather.

 

[TheFriendlyAtheist]

So, how do you overcome David Hume's IS/OUGHT distinction and what philosophers have you relied upon to do this?

Peace,
2PhiloVoid

I haven't studied philosophy in any formal sense. From what I gather Hume is saying that we can not derive morals from reason alone. Is that correct? If that's the case I wouldn't say reason is the only factor in what we decide is morally good. The way I see it our code of ethics are a result of our evolution. I think we use reason to refine our ethical principles. In order for us to survive as a social species we needed a way to coexist and I think empathy was that method.

 

[SkyWriting]

It sounds like you're describing weather.

And a coincidence that happened to be way beyond
what I had prayed for in that instant. All I had asked
for was a place to pull off the road. I hadn't asked
for a cornfield to be flattened in an open circle, slightly
off the road, for the rain to stop, for the ground to be dry
and the sun to come out.

All I had asked for, in the hours of rain, was a place
to pull off the road.

Still, it means nothing to the casual observer.

 

[Cearbhall]

And a coincidence that happened to be way beyond
what I had prayed for in that instant.

Yes.

 

[TheFriendlyAtheist]

So, how do you overcome David Hume's IS/OUGHT distinction and what philosophers have you relied upon to do this?

Peace,
2PhiloVoid

Oh and Hume died in the 18th century, many decades before the theory of evolution was proposed. That may or may not have had an impact on his thoughts, I'm not sure.

 

[SkyWriting]

To be fair, she was just doing a thought experiment. I think it was just a hypothetical question.

I offered a hypothetical answer.

 

[SkyWriting]

So then what do you say about experiences like this that support other religions? What about when a Muslim prays to Allah for a miracle and a miracle happens?

Or Hindu to Vishnu?

God changes people's mind to accept the answer He has already provided.
He also forgives those who call Him by the wrong name.
That's what I meant by name-calling.

 

[Cearbhall]

Obviously I can't call it
chance, becasue that's not what happened.

You don't just pray for a disabled person and have the answers fall from sky.
Not normally.

Right. The fact that it doesn't magically turn out the way you want on most occasions shows you that it's chance.

 

[SkyWriting]

Right. The fact that it doesn't magically turn out the way you want on most occasions shows you that it's chance.

Oh. it's 100% effective. But thanks.

Answered Prayer - Steps 1, 2, & 3

 

[SkyWriting]

There is a small probability all of those things happening to you as you described by chance but there is a much smaller probability that those things happened by divine intervention. We have no way to test which one it was, so to me it is more reasonable to blame it on chance. Again there are a lot of people who pray that don't have there prayers answered.

I personally don't believe in miracles, I think when something improbable happens to me that it is most likely just a random chance occurrence.

Yes. But random chance doesn't answer your personal prayers,
so the results are scientific. if only for one person.

 

[Cearbhall]

1. Are the Jews God's chosen people?

2. Is Israel the Promised Land?

How could any atheist hold either of those beliefs?

 

[AV1611VET]

How could any atheist hold either of those beliefs?

In my opinion, they can't.

 

[Strathos]

Why capitalize 'atheist'?

 

[Dwells]

Hello friendly atheist:

Do you think the world would be better off without religion?

Why do you think anyone (even intelligent people) would believe in God?

What would it take to prove God existed IYO?

 

[Silmarien]

When I say these matters, I mean things related to philosophy. It's true that atheism isn't a worldview, it is only a view on the existence of God or gods. An atheist can believe anything short of a deity. The people I mentioned are people I agree with on a wide range of issues.

Not to be quaint but I think the golden rule is a pretty solid foundation. Treat others like how you want to be treated. But I believe morality on a base level was developed as a result of our evolution as a species. Without it I believe we would be just another one of those extinct species lost to history. We see the foundations of morality in a lot of other animals, especially mammals. Ours have just been more refined due to our intellect. In short I do think we have a solid foundation to base our morals and ethics on but I believe it is natural and innate.

Congratulations, this looks a lot like the beginning of some Neo-Aristotelian metaethics. Which means I get to play.

Do you believe that our mammalian heritage has equipped us with a sense of morality that is, in some objective sense, correct? Or had we evolved differently, could our moral intuitions have been the polar opposite, and what would that mean? If they were truly randomly selected, could it be possible even in principle to use intellect to refine them? In other words, can we use our intellect to determine which of our evolutionary instincts are "good" and which are "bad" if the very concept of right and wrong is based solely in those instincts?

(Don't worry. I'm a theistic evolutionist--I believe that morality is natural and innate as well, though with a teleological twist.)

 

[Tinker Grey]

IBTL

Hello friendly atheist:

Do you think the world would be better off without religion?

Sorry for butting in.

Yes.

Why do you think anyone (even intelligent people) would believe in God?

To quote Michael Shermer (Cite):
"Smart people believe weird things because they are skilled at defending beliefs they arrived at for non-smart reasons."

What would it take to prove God existed IYO?

I don't know, but an omniscient god would, an omnipotent one could make it happen, and an omni-benevolent would want to.

 

[TagliatelliMonster]

So if I pray to God with an urgent need for another (disabled) person, and I give up the control over the need and just let God answer in His own way, then the need is instantly and dramatically filled, like the rain stopped and the sun came out and a path opened up for my car to drive on..... what do Atheists call an event like that?

Confirmation bias.