Atheists: What If You Are Wrong?

[Texas Ranger]

Look dude, who is going to recognize the difference at a glance? And since when is the flag of Texas look like a Confederate flag? You want a symbol of battle and self-sovereignty, that's fine, but you shouldn't pick something that is going to be mistaken as being racist more than it will be recognized as you intend. It would be like someone using that cross that unfortunately resembles the Nazi swastica. Sure, obviously that individual wouldn't intend that, but is it really worth it to invite yourself a chance to try to make people feel stupid because they didn't notice the small details that make your flags slightly different than normal Confederate flags? Also, they still are racist.

Those who are against the display of the flag are those who are ignorant of what it truly stands for and for what it represented during and since the Civil War. As far as i'm concerned it represents Southern pride, heritage, & history.

A lot of people who know nothing of American history seem to believe the Civil War was all about slavery, but that was just one of the issues of that war. It was mainly about the Confederacy's right to secede from the Union and govern itself as they saw fit, sort of like a spouse's right to divorce out of a marriage that isn't working.

I think it's egoistical and ignorant to believe that those of us who respect the Confederate flag hate blacks or wants to bring back slavery or anything else from those days. Most people who feel positively about the flag have great respect for all people, blacks included, and find the notion that the Confederate flag represents hatred of blacks to be absurd and insulting.

 

[PsychoSarah]

Those who are against the display of the flag are those who are ignorant of what it truly stands for and for what it represented during and since the Civil War. As far as i'm concerned it represents Southern pride, heritage, & history.

A lot of people who know nothing of American history seem to believe the Civil War was all about slavery, but that was just one of the issues of that war. It was mainly about the Confederacy's right to secede from the Union and govern itself as they saw fit, sort of like a spouse's right to divorce out of a marriage that isn't working.

I think it's egoistical and ignorant to believe that those of us who respect the Confederate flag hate blacks or wants to bring back slavery or anything else from those days. Most people who feel positively about the flag have great respect for all people, blacks included, and find the notion that the Confederate flag represents hatred of blacks to be absurd and insulting.

Then you are going to get insulted, a lot, because that is what many people view the Confederate flag as. There are other ways to show your pride for your heritage (pride is a sin anyways, so I don't know why you want to show it), there are other, less sensitive symbols. And to be frank, plenty of people won't give a crap how you feel about the flags and will still be offended by them.

 

[Texas Ranger]

Then you are going to get insulted, a lot, because that is what many people view the Confederate flag as. There are other ways to show your pride for your heritage (pride is a sin anyways, so I don't know why you want to show it), there are other, less sensitive symbols. And to be frank, plenty of people won't give a crap how you feel about the flags and will still be offended by them.

Well, that's life i guess.

 

[PsychoSarah]

Well, that's life i guess.

Just don't lecture people or treat them as ignorant for viewing the flags as racist. Why not a Republic of Texas flag? You know, for when the state was completely independent. It has all the messages you want, without the potential to be confused as racist, and it shows pride in your heritage.

 

[Texas Ranger]

Just don't lecture people or treat them as ignorant for viewing the flags as racist. Why not a Republic of Texas flag? You know, for when the state was completely independent. It has all the messages you want, without the potential to be confused as racist, and it shows pride in your heritage.

I'm not lecturing anyone. I could care less what people think to be honest. I fly the Confederate Flag and the Texas flag with pride!

 

[PsychoSarah]

I'm not lecturing anyone. I could care less what people think to be honest. I fly the Confederate Flag and the Texas flag with pride!

Why not both flags then, why only the Confederate battle flags?

 

[Texas Ranger]

Why not both flags then, why only the Confederate battle flags?

In my avatar? Maybe i'll alternate the two.

 

[znr]

We gotta get you more prepared to be in this sub section!

Think about it. If an Athiest has no belief in God, then what logically follows is that he / she does not believe in hell. I understand where you're hoping that your conviction is powerful and that you think everyone should, as a result of your belief, just believe. It doesn't work that way. Every person needs to find their path to God, or not. Usually words are never enough. Actions are better.

 

[Gadarene]

We gotta get your more prepared to be in the sub section!

Think about it. If an Athiest has no belief in God, then what logically follows is that he / she does not believe in hell. I understand where you're hoping that your conviction is powerful and that you think everyone should, as a result of your belief, just believe. It doesn't work that way. Every person needs to find their path to God, or not. Usually words are never enough. Actions are better.

There seems to be a common misconception among Christians that one doesn't need to be competent as a witness in order to do so.

 

[znr]

Don't bother. It's not the issue.

In my avatar? Maybe i'll alternate the two.

 

[znr]

Yeah...

Well, that's true.

There seems to be a common misconception among Christians that one doesn't need to be competent as a witness in order to do so.

 

[Eight Foot Manchild]

Atheists, do you ever worry what will happen to you if you are wrong in your disbelief in God and He really does exist.

No. Even if there is a 'god', the chances that it is the vengeful Yahweh-type are infinitesimally minute.

Do you find the thought of there being no afterlife depressing?

Not even a little bit.

How do Atheists conquer the fear of hell?

By the fact that there is no reason whatsoever to expect it exists. I am exactly as scared of going to Hell as you are scared of going to Tartarus.

 

[JGL53]

It is a symbol of resistance to tyranny, and the right of self government. What's the problem?

That is a joke. The confederate flag, aka stars and bars, is a symbol of racist ignorance. Someone has been feeding you a lot of hogwash, dude.

Instead of derailing this thread further why don't you start one on the subject of the confederate flag and I'll be glad to explain the facts to you - including the fact that the civil war was fought over slavery.

Just a heads-up on my bonifides:

1. I was born in Mississippi and have live here all my life - 65 years.

2. All my relatively direct male ancestors who were of age on both my father's and mother's side of the family fought in the civil war for the confederacy - as far as I can tell . None died in battle to my knowledge, but several were seriously wounded.

3. Some were slave owners and some were not. They all fought nevertheless to defend the institution of slavery.

 

[alien444]

Those who are against the display of the flag are those who are ignorant of what it truly stands for and for what it represented during and since the Civil War. As far as i'm concerned it represents Southern pride, heritage, & history.

I agree with you: it does stand for Southern pride, heritage and history--unfortunately it can (and often does) stand for "No Blacks Allowed"

A lot of people who know nothing of American history seem to believe the Civil War was all about slavery, but that was just one of the issues of that war. It was mainly about the Confederacy's right to secede from the Union and govern itself as they saw fit, sort of like a spouse's right to divorce out of a marriage that isn't working.

The Civil War was about economics and preserving an economic way of life in the South, that happened to be based on using humans as farm animals.. As it progressed Slavery became even more of a central issue as All of America was being forced to look at the morality of their collective actions and tacit approval.


I think it's egoistical and ignorant to believe that those of us who respect the Confederate flag hate blacks or wants to bring back slavery or anything else from those days. Most people who feel positively about the flag have great respect for all people, blacks included, and find the notion that the Confederate flag represents hatred of blacks to be absurd and insulting.

PsychoSarah and Gadarene have made this point nicely but to reiterate: When Atheists go to sleep at night they are concerned about hell as much as you are concerned about being reincarnated as a grasshopper when you die. If you believe in God you should be more worried about worshiping the wrong God than someone who does not believe in any man-made God should be worried about hell.

And...... there is certainly nothing wrong with being proud of your heritage, but you know (as everyone does) that the confederate flag (in any form) has been, can be, and will be, used as a symbol of racism. The swastika was a symbol of peace for thousands of years in Hindu (among others) culture, but it would still be absurd to get a swastika tattoo on your forehead because you believe in peace.

 

[lesliedellow]

That deity might be a jerk, who knows?

Like I said, not much of a deity.

 

[Armoured]

Atheists, do you ever worry what will happen to you if you are wrong in your disbelief in God and He really does exist. Do you find the thought of there being no afterlife depressing?

Do you ever worry that maybe the Hindus are right? Or the Scientologists?

 

[Eudaimonist]

Atheists, do you ever worry what will happen to you if you are wrong in your disbelief in God and He really does exist.

This might be difficult for you to relate to, but I don't worry about this at all. It would be like worrying what Zeus or Odin might do.

Do you find the thought of there being no afterlife depressing?

Depressing? Not exactly.

While I love life and don't want to see it end more quickly than desirable, I find comfort in the idea that I have lived my life, and for the rest of eternity I will always have lived my life. While the past might not exist in the present, nothing can change the past. I had an opportunity to live and to be who I am.

Think of your life as being like a story in a book. It is no less of a book for having a last page with the words "The End". The point of life is to make your story a good one.

Perhaps I am a "glass is half full" kind of person, but since I don't feel that I was promised an afterlife, I tend to "count my blessings" and focus on what I can have.

How do Atheists conquer the fear of hell? Especially if they have come from a Christian background and been raised to believe in such things?

Time. It may take a few years to adjust to one's new worldview, during which time one might feel a few nagging doubts. The brain needs time to rewire. After that distance, hell seems silly and fictional.

It is a symbol of resistance to tyranny, and the right of self government. What's the problem?

As long as you personally don't support slavery, I have no problem with your flags. Self-government is a great political ideal, and one I share. The flags do send the wrong message to others, unfortunately.


eudaimonia,

Mark

 

[Eudaimonist]

Very few atheists die as atheists.
Nearly all of them become Christian...

LOL! That's very funny. I imagine that Christians tell themselves that.

I imagine that you have statistics to back that up?


eudaimonia,

Mark

 

[Jeremy E Walker]

I would be happy to be wrong, I don't worry about that. The thought of no afterlife is extremely depressing, although I will mention that atheists only don't believe in deities, I know atheists who believe in ghosts and the afterlife. Not me personally though.

If god is such a narcissist that me not believing in it is justification for punishing me eternally, I don't think I would have enjoyed having to worship it for all eternity in heaven anyways. Besides, I am a 5th generation atheist, if belief matters and I chose to be a believer I would be eternally separated from the people I care about most.

Also, Pascal's Wager has long since been destroyed. What if you are wrong and you should have been worshipping Vishnu this whole time?

Interesting comments.

So even if you had evidence that you were in need of justification before God and this came only by virtue of Christ's atoning work on the cross, that you would reject this offer of Salvation?

Why?

Because you have friends and family that you think would reject it and you would miss them?

That seems odd to me that you would reject so great A Love because of the fact that some family members and friends might reject this Love.

Seems strange to me to say the least.

How do you know you would not be an influence in their lives and they would come to accept this priceless offer as well?

 

[bhsmte]

If he allowed that to happen, he wasn't much of a deity.

You could say the same, by looking at the bible and saying the same thing.