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Is atheism inherently nihilistic?

  • Yes

  • No


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Noxot

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To not believe in God is not the same as not believing in the concept of infinity.
I guess it depends on your definition of God versus the infinite. But my definition has to be rooted in a self since no one has declared God but those that are a self. And the infinite is not different to me either because I am one of those selves from the infinite self. but I think this requires some kind of spiritual self-knowledge. One could say everything that exists is speaking of the infinite if they are all part of it. A few ways of thinking about reality is
1. The finite has no meaningful relationship with the infinite, it is just an expression that Fades away at the service of the infinite. The finite is just an [bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse] that the infinite had and is done with.

2. The finite has infinite meaning because that is its source and what it is part of, it is the perfect other-self of the infinite. It is like a relationship of a father and a son or of a husband and a wife.

3. The finite and infinite are random mindless purposeless chaos of reality. at best intelligent finite things can make limited kinds of meaning for themselves, but there is no singular infinite meaning which regards little selves such as you and I. The infinite has no meaning, it has no self, it has no integral infinite self which all things are part of. The infinites "meaning" is in the finite things that try to make a meaning for themselves, there is no transcendental Oneness which in purpose gave birth to all diversity and meaning.

my line of thought is that mindless material is not the Ultimate Reality. Infinite material to me would just be one aspect of the infinite mind since material can be seen as mathematical information, which implies a logic and which to me implies a deeper part of reality. Infinite chaos which can produce anything is in my eyes incomprehensible wisdom which does what it wants. both descriptions speak of the same thing but in different ways.

so people might experience themselves as part of the chaos of reality or they might experience themselves as part of the order of reality. What is amazing is that it depends on themselves. self seems like a very important reality to me. By important I mean important to reality, fundamental to reality. We judge reality, we learn about reality, we theorize about reality, we experience reality, we become...
 
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Strathos

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My point is that the delaying actions are ultimately futile since they can't stop the inevitable.
 
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Ken-1122

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I guess it depends on your definition of God versus the infinite.
Well if your definition of God is an inanimate rock that has existed eternally……
But my definition has to be rooted in a self since no one has declared God but those that are a self.
What is a “self”?
You said an awful lot, and I have no idea what you just said. It’s as if we are speaking two different languages here. Anyway; good luck with your belief system


Peace.
 
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the iconoclast

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Hey hey sir

I disagree with what you said. Forget Trump and politics, come have a debate with me.

 
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the iconoclast

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Firstly, I don't accept that your God exists

Hey hey occams barber

Fair enough. What would you need (.e.g. evidence or an experience) for you to accept?

What reason do you have to reject? (Give me examples)

Secondly, I have nothing to be saved from - the idea of salvation is meaningless

The idea of salvation is the deliverance from sin and its consequences. Now you have a meaning, what do you think about this meaning?

Thirdly, I have no interest in an after life. The idea of nothing is perfectly acceptable and not frightening

Well accepting the offer of nothing on earth is one thing. The reality of the actual situation is another.

You fear nothingness, do you fear the concept of an afterlife that may see you judged and on the other side of God?

Ps you may reply with an answer along the lines of you don't believe in hell. To that I'll just ask for you to justify your reason until you give me better depth and argument somewhere.

Have you considered that you may be wrong in regards to your afterlife?

Fourthly - I know you mean well but I'm not a mission field.

Yes you are. We want you and need you. Just remember there is always time.

Please do not insult my intelligence with the not-do-subtle attempts at conversion.

I'm applying the socatratic method and asking questions of you. Usually most people like to talk about themselves. My dear who said I was being subtle hehehe

I have lived quite happily for over 70 years without needing your God.

What do you not need God?

How about this. You are smarter than me and at the ripe old age of 70, you are pretty much set in your ways. I do not have a chance at converting someone else remarkable as yourself.

How about you indulge me and show me why/what/how you have gotten it right. Im no match for you so you have nothing to lose?

Cheers
 
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Larniavc

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That was a lot to take it. I really can’t get my head around the train of thought that only values things that exist for ever.

Does that mean that transitory things have no value to you at all?

I normally have a very busy life what with work and family and friends. Time in my own is really rare and when I get it it is amazing.

But when I started working from home due to Corvid I found I had a lot of time in my own. It was no longer amazing. It became boring.

I sometimes wonder how dull an actual eternal existence would be.
 
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Allandavid

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KCfromNC

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the finite of its own cannot be valued because it does not exist to be valued.

I'll PM you my address and you can send me a check for whatever money you have. After all, since that's finite it can't be valued, so no loss if you give it up and send it all to me.

I mean, all of this philosophizing is fun, but let's see what happens when we actually try to apply these ideas to the real world.
 
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the iconoclast

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Pass. I’m busy watching paint dry...

Sir, YOU must be bored or you lack imagination for a witty reply.

Remember when we had that debate and you knew what you wouldn't accept but did not know what you would? I do, that shows you have a bias.
 
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the iconoclast

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Hey hey

Would you be willing to give it a try and test it out?
 
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KCfromNC

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Hey hey

Would you be willing to give it a try and test it out?
I already said I'm more than happy to take any amount of money from people who feel that something (like their money) being finite is worthless. Let's see how well this theory works in practice.
 
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Ken-1122

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And I'm saying that what they are doing is pointless.
But it is not pointless. Infinity is not necessary in order for something to have a point or value. The fact that I enjoy or value something right now makes it valuable now.
 
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Belk

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Do you have any evidence of infinity or do you take it on faith?
 
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Strathos

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But it is not pointless. Infinity is not necessary in order for something to have a point or value. The fact that I enjoy or value something right now makes it valuable now.

And a million years from now, will anyone remember or care?
 
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