Atheist here (Ask me anything)

[Janser]

Not all theists do this. Put away the broad brush ok?

The best form of defence is attack,
what theists do not think Atheists are wrong for not thinking like a theist?
the broad brush works both ways.

 

[b&wpac4]

what theists do not think Atheists are wrong for not thinking like a theist?

I think Republicans are wrong, but I can respect their viewpoint and understand the underlying reasons for their beliefs and stances (well... most of the time anyway). The same goes for how I view atheists. I may believe they are wrong, but I can completely relate to the viewpoint and understand the logic behind it.

 

[Skeptic90]

MY BROTHER,

Unfortunately, the above is a false assumption. The mind is largely controlled by electro/chemical events which are highly influenced by feelings, emotions, desires, etc., which are endemic to man's material being.

I think its the other wat around which the electrochemical events influence thoughts feelings and emotions to a certain point. Its like a machine that does nothing but generate and gather ideas. We are an idea machine.

It is the spirit in man which channels the TRUTH because it is not influenced by externals as is the mind, but is directly plugged into the Source of all TRUTH--God. It was for this reasons that Jesus could rightly state, "I am the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE." (John 14:6)

We don't believe in such spirits, just that that is natural like our thoughts and emotions. Critical thinking is the way to the truth in my opinion. I could ask my dog for guidance and get the same results as in talking to spirits, all I have to do is believe it works.

Also Nice quote from your favorite quote, it is simply meaningless to us atheist. It is as meaningful as someone citing, i don't know, A little mermaid.

Secondly, the mind is merely a glorified computer--processing data fed into it by the senses--and the prime law of computers--"Garbage in/garbage out"--pertains. Given that the atheist mind has, for whatever reason or lack thereof, programmed itself to accept a world-view devoid of God or all that this basic and overarching Reality entails--is it any wonder that the atheist mind produces faulty ideas and concepts as a result of the skewed data fed into it?

We just accept what is real, the natural if you will. That that is not supported with evidence, we will simply not take. Simple as that. We are open to new ideas, so if you can make the supernatural, natural, we are open to it. All we are asking to believers give us the 'data', sufficient enough and concrete enough to accept it.

Its like a guy tells you to buy him a piece of paper that he claims is worth millions. We don't take that, we need more proof in order to make a reasonable transaction. Is there anything wrong with being a skeptic? Is there anything wrong with doubting? Is there anything wrong of saying that we don't know?

Ya gots it bassackwards!

ABBA'S FOOL,
ephraim

Check your logic.

 

[Janser]

I think Republicans are wrong, but I can respect their viewpoint and understand the underlying reasons for their beliefs and stances (well... most of the time anyway). The same goes for how I view atheists. I may believe they are wrong, but I can completely relate to the viewpoint and understand the logic behind it.

Then you are the one exception to the rule, I apologise to you,
What did you think about the rest of the post? or did you not read it?

 

[b&wpac4]

Then you are the one exception to the rule, I apologise to you,
What did you think about the rest of the post? or did you not read it?

As I said, I can truly relate to the atheist in terms of accepting what they see in the world around them. No, I don't think you program yourself to disbelieve in God, and I also don't believe the line in Psalms about fools disbelieving in God is meant to atheists in the present day but for ancient Hebrews who, if we believe the source, had prophets and miracles going on around them constantly.

Believe me, there was a period of time where I held many atheist thoughts, although I always would say I was agnostic because I didn't fell I possessed enough evidence to completely reject God, just not enough to believe. The reason I do believe is the survival of the Jewish people. There have been far too many times in history were the deck was stacked against them and they should have perished, but somehow they endured and survived. Sure, you can obviously tell me that it's all coincidence that they survived with their culture and beliefs intact, but I have trouble with all of those coincidences. At some point I feel that there must be a reason for the coincidences.

 

[Mela Monkey]

When we die we die just like all the other animals on the planet,
some people can not live with that hanging over their heads so they manufacture a God to stop it happening and 'ay Presto!' we have a religion.

Hmm.. yea, I get what you're saying, but

Nothing after death makes life seem like such a waste of time to me.

Don't you think it would be better to have something to look forward to after death?

 

[nicknack28]

Hmm.. yea, I get what you're saying, but

Nothing after death makes life seem like such a waste of time to me.

Don't you think it would be better to have something to look forward to after death?

I think many would respond by saying that no life after death would make life anything but a waste of time. It would be literally all the time you will ever have.

If there were an afterlife, life would seem like a waste of time. Why would I want to be stuck here in this world if I've got a better longer one already in waiting for me? Might as well off myself (though suicide is frowned upon by many religions).

 

[Mela Monkey]

I think many would respond by saying that no life after death would make life anything but a waste of time. It would be literally all the time you will ever have.

If there were an afterlife, life would seem like a waste of time. Why would I want to be stuck here in this world if I've got a better longer one already in waiting for me? Might as well off myself (though suicide is frowned upon by many religions).

Well, for me at least, having something to look forward to makes life more exciting. I would like to consider myself someone who is less afraid of death because of christianity.

Thanks for your view on this

 

[Eudaimonist]

Unfortunately, the above is a false assumption.

I was talking about symbols, not making assumptions. The brain in the atheist icon is a symbol, not some literal statement. You seem to want to take things literally.

My answer to your literal question is that reality trumps fantasy, and therefore brains trump "spirits". That's my answer. Thank you for playing.


eudaimonia,

Mark

 

[Eudaimonist]

I've got a question, do you guys believe that there is any sort of afterlife? Or is it, you die and that's the end of everything.

I don't think that anything unique to us as individuals survives death. Life may continue, but not our own.

But I am life-focused, not afterlife-focused. Life is an end-in-itself to me, not merely the means to some imagined future. It's the journey that matters, not the destinations.

So for me life on earth is sacred. I don't think it is good to long for some better form of existence when you have a great one here and now. Even if you believe in an afterlife, or suspect one might exist, it's better to live as if you don't have one, so that you'll appreciate this life and live it to the fullest. Life each moment as if it is your first and your last.


eudaimonia,

Mark

 

[Janser]

Hmm.. yea, I get what you're saying, but

Nothing after death makes life seem like such a waste of time to me.

Don't you think it would be better to have something to look forward to after death?

That's the reason religions exist throughout the world they give people a hope that death is not the end,
it's a long shot but if people are unable to accept the realities of life they will cling to the religion that promises it and fight with anyone who would try to take that hope away.

(though suicide is frowned upon by many religions).

I think suicide is the very first thing they made a sin, the last thing leaders want is for all of their people to start killing themselves prematurly what good would that do them? they can control them with religion the last thing they want is for that same religion to take them away.

Well, for me at least, having something to look forward to makes life more exciting. I would like to consider myself someone who is less afraid of death because of christianity.

It's for people like you religions were designed and as I wrote somewhere else, religion is cheaper than drugs.

 

[Dragons87]

I think many would respond by saying that no life after death would make life anything but a waste of time. It would be literally all the time you will ever have.

If there were an afterlife, life would seem like a waste of time. Why would I want to be stuck here in this world if I've got a better longer one already in waiting for me? Might as well off myself (though suicide is frowned upon by many religions).

Hm. Interesting. Paul and Peter had a similar thoughts. But they didn't think that this life was not worth living--it's worth living (the emphasis on "living"). It's just this life itself is less worth than the life to come.

"Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us." -- 1 Peter 2:11-12

Christians are aliens and strangers in the world, Peter said. But he doesn't say "sit around and wait for your death to come" or worse, "top yourself". But he says: "abstain from sinful desires" and "live good lives", which are very much active acts of life. Peter's conclusion is: live this life!

And what is the purpose of our lives on earth? It is so that God may be glorified.

Paul says the same:

"But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." -- Philippians 3:13

"Straining", "press on"...these are words of life, not of resignation or waiting around.

That's the reason religions exist throughout the world they give people a hope that death is not the end,
it's a long shot but if people are unable to accept the realities of life they will cling to the religion that promises it and fight with anyone who would try to take that hope away.

I think suicide is the very first thing they made a sin, the last thing leaders want is for all of their people to start killing themselves prematurly what good would that do them? they can control them with religion the last thing they want is for that same religion to take them away.

It's for people like you religions were designed and as I wrote somewhere else, religion is cheaper than drugs.

In that sense, Janser's comments, while understandable, do not accurately describe the Christian view of the life now.

We are very much aware of the realities of life. We view it as a struggle, or, "a war against the soul", as Peter describes it. And the reason why we continue to war against the temptations (realities) of the world is because we believe that victory over those realities is ahead, the prize that Paul described. If victory is ahead, why on earth would we want to admit defeat by topping ourselves?

Therefore, people who have a relationship with Christ should be the first people to spring into action and the last people to give up in this life.

 

[ephraimanesti]

.It's for people like you religions were designed and as I wrote somewhere else, religion is cheaper than drugs.

MY DEAR SISTER,

Given that TRUE RELIGION was purchased with the precious Blood of God's Son, i would hold that it is far from cheap and that it is the antithesis of "drugs", requiring, as it does, a complete surrender to reality rather than an attempt to escape from it.

What you are describing is the atheistic world-view which is analogous to a person tightly squeezing their eyes shut and solemnly averring that there is no light to be found anywhere as far as they can see--a very sad situation indeed, but easily remedied.

SIMPLY OPEN YOUR EYES!

ABBA'S FOOL,
ephraim

 

[Janser]

Given that TRUE RELIGION was purchased with the precious Blood of God's Son.

That's only what Christians believe, however there are 4 billion people on this planet who are not Christians.

Thankfully I am not your sister.

 

[nicknack28]

What you are describing is the atheistic world-view which is analogous to a person tightly squeezing their eyes shut and solemnly averring that there is no light to be found anywhere as far as they can see--a very sad situation indeed, but easily remedied.

SIMPLY OPEN YOUR EYES!

ABBA'S FOOL,
ephraim

Really now, emotionally driven opinions of people are great to keep in your head, but they just aren't needed at all on discussion forums. It's completely fine if you strongly disagree with others and feel a need to correct them... but leave the preaching in your head. If you're moved to bring people to your point of view you're perfectly welcome to do so through some nice reasoned conversation with points, counterpoints, etc., but here you're just offering a needless and unproductive characterization.

To be fair, many others do the same from time to time (including atheists of course), but I noticed a recent increase in the use of big red bold text... not just here but in other threads as well.

Thank you.

 

[Nostromo]

Writing in big letters makes it true.

 

[Janser]

Writing in big letters makes it true.

I knew that.

 

[ephraimanesti]

Of course. However, Christianity is unique, because "message" and "messenger" are one. I don't know whether anyone has tried to claim to be the "message" as well as the "messenger" before Jesus. Maybe someone has, but I don't think that person has made the impact that Jesus has done so in human history

I don't even think Jesus did, so there

MY FRIEND,

Yes, many times in the Gospels and in Revelations referred to Himself as both "the Messenger" and "the Message."

For example,

"Jesus said to her, 'I AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE. HE WHO BELIEVES IN MY SHALL LIVE, EVEN THOUGH HE DIES.' " (John 11:25)

"Jesus answered, 'I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE.' " (John 14:6)

Not only this, of course, but He is also the Gift AND the Giver:

"Jesus answered her, 'IF YOU KNEW THE GIFT OF GOD AND WHO IT IS THAT ASKS YOU FOR A DRINK, YOU WOULD HAVE ASKED HIM AND HE WOULD HAVE GIVEN YOU LIVING WATER.' " (John 4:10)

Our Lord, Jesus Christ, is as unique as it is possible to be! There is not, never has been, and never will be, even a weak second to Him!

ABBA'S FOOL,
ephraim

 

[Tinker Grey]

Our Lord, Jesus Christ, is as unique as it is possible to be!

Each human is as unique as at is possible to be.

 

[Skeptic90]

MY DEAR SISTER,

Given that TRUE RELIGION was purchased with the precious Blood of God's Son, i would hold that it is far from cheap and that it is the antithesis of "drugs", requiring, as it does, a complete surrender to reality rather than an attempt to escape from it.

What you are describing is the atheistic world-view which is analogous to a person tightly squeezing their eyes shut and solemnly averring that there is no light to be found anywhere as far as they can see--a very sad situation indeed, but easily remedied.

SIMPLY OPEN YOUR EYES!

ABBA'S FOOL,
ephraim

"Seeing patterns where there are none is a sign of schizophrenia"- took this from watching bones lol.

Us atheists see the world how it is. I don't know, but I don't know how much more realistic can you get.Now claiming that there is something there, without even proving there is something there, well that is 'unrealistic', thats were faith comes in. That is why its called faith.

Did you even read my prior responses?

Now the first part of your argument says that what you believe is the true religion. What makes the other religions? Sorry if I am being harsh here, but just look back what you just said. Is that what a drunken person or a sober person would say? Claiming that you are right, that everyone else doing things wrong, there is a light that you see, claiming that a zombie saved them.

What I do ask is to you show us the 'light', in other words the facts, evidence. That is the only way we will believe what you believe. Imagine us as moderates, and you are some political party. Show us why do we need to join your political party. Don't cite from some random book we take to consideration as much as the next book. Just present us with some hard evidence that we ourselves can evaluate and that is repeatable and reliable that anyone can prove that first proves that god is real, and which religion he prefers to be true.