Why are there religious people?

[Archaeopteryx]

So, what do you believe, Archaeopterix? All we can tell from the term "atheist" is that you believe that no gods exist. We have no clue what else you may or may not believe. Can you tell us?

Thanks for asking. Given the variety of beliefs I have, could you narrow the question down to something more specific? Or would you like me to talk more generally about my attitude to life? Because I could do that also.

 

[Colter]

No, that is not my argument. The point I was making is this: you know nothing about what atheists actually believe, beyond knowing what they don't believe. Yet you feel confident pontificating on the matter as though you were an expert. As this exercise has illustrated, you haven't got a clue.



Of course we believe things about the world. Since when was atheism defined as not believing anything?

Plead all you want, when atheist promote Godlessness then they are promoting their beliefs about the world. Some promote the assumed virtues of a Godless society. Yesterday on another thread here someone actually did say atheism is defined as what they don't believe.

 

[Archaeopteryx]

Plead all you want,

If you think I'm pleading then you have seriously misread the tone of my post. I have exposed your ignorance. You know next to nothing about what I believe, beyond knowing that I don't believe in a god. Despite this, you have no qualms about sermonising on what atheists like myself think. You might as well admit it: you don't care what we actually think. All you care about is fixing a label to us and reinforcing your existing preconceptions about what atheists are like. Those preconceptions reveal themselves whenever you rattle on about "godless ideals," "doctrines of doubt," and the most oxymoronic of them all, "atheist theology." Your understanding of what atheists are like is shallow, and this sort of empty rhetoric doesn't disguise that fact. You may think you know us well, that you know what makes us tick, but you really haven't a clue.

 

[Colter]

If you think I'm pleading then you have seriously misread the tone of my post. I have exposed your ignorance. You know next to nothing about what I believe, beyond knowing that I don't believe in a god. Despite this, you have no qualms about sermonising on what atheists like myself think. You might as well admit it: you don't care what we actually think. All you care about is fixing a label to us and reinforcing your existing preconceptions about what atheists are like. Those preconceptions reveal themselves whenever you rattle on about "godless ideals," "doctrines of doubt," and the most oxymoronic of them all, "atheist theology." Your understanding of what atheists are like is shallow, and this sort of empty rhetoric doesn't disguise that fact. You may think you know us well, that you know what makes us tick, but you really haven't a clue.

This has always been a simple issue, atheist have beliefs, that bothers you, maybe you though atheist were exempt from having beliefs? I don't know. I have repeatedly said that atheist are diverse, I have atheist friends, one of my best friends is agnostic. My younger sister is atheist, I know atheist in the 12 step programs, and have a number of friends who were rabid atheist before finding the Urantia revelation. So there is no need to explain that atheist are diverse and super special unique people.

 

[Archaeopteryx]

This has always been a simple issue, atheist have beliefs, that bothers you, maybe you though atheist were exempt from having beliefs? I don't know.

It seems that you care so little that you're no longer even reading the posts you're responding to. Where did I say that atheists are exempt from having beliefs? Where did I indicate that atheists lack all beliefs? In fact, in an earlier post, I clearly stated that atheists do hold beliefs about various matters. That's not the issue. The issue is that you have a tenuous grasp on what atheists are like and what they really think because you don't care enough to listen.

I have repeatedly said that atheist are diverse, I have atheist friends, one of my best friends is agnostic. My younger sister is atheist, I know atheist in the 12 step programs, and have a number of friends who were rabid atheist before finding the Urantia revelation. So there is no need to explain that atheist are diverse and super special unique people.

Yes, you have repeatedly emphasised diversity, only to neglect it later on.

 

[Colter]

It seems that you care so little that you're no longer even reading the posts you're responding to. Where did I say that atheists are exempt from having beliefs? Where did I indicate that atheists lack all beliefs? In fact, in an earlier post, I clearly stated that atheists do hold beliefs about various matters. That's not the issue. The issue is that you have a tenuous grasp on what atheists are like and what they really think because you don't care enough to listen.



Yes, you have repeatedly emphasised diversity, only to neglect it later on.

This is confusing Arch, outside of this particular topic of "belief" you do express what you think or believe in other replies, I respond to those beliefs about topics. I do listen or read very intently. Over the coarse of my life I have had some of the same kinds of objections and questions around the inconsistencies of religions that you and others express here. I am a natural born skeptic of religion.

 

[bhsmte]

I do listen or read very intently.

Your posts would tell us otherwise.

It is quite clear, you have your own self manufactured belief of what an atheist is, that is likely something that makes you feel better about your own beliefs. You are so set on what you perceive atheists to be, that it doesn't allow you to absorb what atheists actually say, on their own behalf.

I understand why you need to stick with your own manufactured perceptions, as they bring you comfort.

 

[Archaeopteryx]

This is confusing Arch, outside of this particular topic of "belief" you do express what you think or believe in other replies, I respond to those beliefs about topics.

Yet when asked about those beliefs you draw a blank.

I do listen or read very intently.

I agree with bhsmte; your posts often suggest otherwise. As an example, in your previous response, you were apparently under the impression that I had claimed atheists have no beliefs, even though I had explicitly acknowledged the opposite.

Over the coarse of my life I have had some of the same kinds of objections and questions around the inconsistencies of religions that you and others express here. I am a natural born skeptic of religion.

Then you can relate to our skepticism of your religious claims.

 

[Colter]

Your posts would tell us otherwise.

It is quite clear, you have your own self manufactured belief of what an atheist is, that is likely something that makes you feel better about your own beliefs. You are so set on what you perceive atheists to be, that it doesn't allow you to absorb what atheists actually say, on their own behalf.

I understand why you need to stick with your own manufactured perceptions, as they bring you comfort.

Again you are practicing psychological projection.

In the context of a religious forum, it is a safe assumption that one who identifies as an atheist does not believe in God, they have a different belief about the origins of life, the cosmos etc. If I am wrong then perhaps the national atheist society needs to launch a world wide campaign to explain to us what you mean if you in fact you DO believe in God.

We should not have to write a dissertation explaining that we realize each one of you is different. Some may like to dip their chips in catsup, others may not. Some atheist play tennis others may like horseshoes. We get that!

But on this religious forum when you promote your ideas of Godlessness we will address those. There are other forums for potato chips.

 

[bhsmte]

Again you are practicing psychological projection.

In the context of a religious forum, it is a safe assumption that one who identifies as an atheist does not believe in God, they have a different belief about the origins of life, the cosmos etc. If I am wrong then perhaps the national atheist society needs to launch a world wide campaign to explain to us what you mean if you in fact you DO believe in God.

We should not have to write a dissertation explaining that we realize each one of you is different. Some may like to dip their chips in catsup, others may not. Some atheist play tennis others may like horseshoes. We get that!

But on this religious forum when you promote your ideas of Godlessness we will address those. There are other forums for potato chips.

Your own posts speak for themselves.

 

[Colter]

Your own posts speak for themselves.

As do yours, I'm not hiding that I believe something, pretending to be neutral, innocently inquisitive, while simultaneously mocking faith and practicing poor armchair psychology.

 

[bhsmte]

As do yours, I'm not hiding that I believe something, pretending to be neutral, innocently inquisitive, while simultaneously mocking faith and practicing poor armchair psychology.

Your personal perceptions are always entertaining.

 

[TheBarrd]

Thanks for asking. Given the variety of beliefs I have, could you narrow the question down to something more specific? Or would you like me to talk more generally about my attitude to life? Because I could do that also.

Serious question:
You know that folks like me cannot prove that God exists.

You must also realize that there is no way to prove that He does not exist, as well, right?

That being so, how is it that your stance isn't based on faith just as mine is?

 

[Archaeopteryx]

As do yours, I'm not hiding that I believe something, pretending to be neutral, innocently inquisitive, while simultaneously mocking faith and practicing poor armchair psychology.

Poor armchair psychoanalysis is what you are becoming reputable for here.

 

[Archaeopteryx]

Serious question:
You know that folks like me cannot prove that God exists.

You must also realize that there is no way to prove that He does not exist, as well, right?

That being so, how is it that your stance isn't based on faith just as mine is?

Lack of faith is not the same as faith. To illustrate, consider the following question: how much faith does it take to not believe in Thor or Odin?

 

[bhsmte]

Serious question:
You know that folks like me cannot prove that God exists.

You must also realize that there is no way to prove that He does not exist, as well, right?

That being so, how is it that your stance isn't based on faith just as mine is?

If there was substantial evidence to show your God exists, then it would require faith to believe that God does not exist.

Since this objective evidence does not exist, why would it require faith to conclude this God likely does not exist?

 

[Colter]

Poor armchair psychoanalysis is what you are becoming reputable for here.

You find it difficult to admit when you are wrong.

 

[Archaeopteryx]

You find it difficult to admit when you are wrong.

Doctor, heal thyself.

 

[HitchSlap]

Serious question:
You know that folks like me cannot prove that God exists.

Yes, we know.

You must also realize that there is no way to prove that He does not exist, as well, right?

Right. You can't prove a negative.

That being so, how is it that your stance isn't based on faith just as mine is?

How much faith does it take to believe Santa doesn't deliver presents to all the good boys and girls the world over on Christmas eve?

 

[quatona]

Serious question:
You know that folks like me cannot prove that God exists.

You must also realize that there is no way to prove that He does not exist, as well, right?

Yes, it´s easy to produce unfalsifiable claims. I could produce ten unfalsifiable claims in less than five minutes. If you think that making an unfalsifiable claim puts everyone who doesn´t believe that your claim is correct in a state of "faith" you are simply mistaken.

That being so, how is it that your stance isn't based on faith just as mine is?

No, I am merely refusing to believe an unfalsifiable, unsubstantiated claim. I don´t even hold a counter position, I don´t hold any beliefs or "faith" regarding gods.