What does it mean to be an atheist?

Natural Gas

Natural Gas

Active Member
Genesisgrower said:
Cool thing about this world, you can believe what you want. Seriously. No seriously.

Someone mentioned early on that god is a concept of society, cept it's pretty much every society, not just a select few. Sure the gods are different, but the stories are eerily similar. Now this isn't a point to pick a correct or winning religion in my opinion, but a chance to study all of them. Ive read to some extent everyone's good book. I also love astrology and science. To me its all connected.

I could attack atheism with facts (pretty much a modern concept, the only atheist society on record are the Atlantians of Atlantis) but man would I get attacked. Then all the atheist would believe Im some fundamental Christian (Im not) and then theyll go into all the errors of the bible (which are tons).

I could attack Christians, I could attack Muslims, Hindus, Buddhist, etc. etc. Ive studied and currently study them all. It's a non winning proposition. For instance, Buddhist could technically be consider atheist, if you study them. However Buddhism is classified as a religion.

Why most people attack others beliefs Ill never know....
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"A Fire in the Mind", The Life of Joseph Campbell by Stephen & Robin Larsen might be a book of interest to you...Does not explain why people attack beliefs of others but does point to a common origin of the many beliefs of others hold...FWIW
 
Sativied

Sativied

Well-Known Member
Genesisgrower said:
Why most people attack others beliefs Ill never know....
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:confused: You don't have to study religion to figure that one out.

And what's that nonsense about you can believe whatever you want to on this world? Even in the countries that have freedom of religion in their constitution (because the world is not as "cool" as you think) that isn't always true, but in some parts believing what you want will get you killed...

Really... nvm.
 
G

Genesisgrower

Member
Sativied said:
:confused: You don't have to study religion to figure that one out.

And what's that nonsense about you can believe whatever you want to on this world? Even in the countries that have freedom of religion in their constitution (because the world is not as "cool" as you think) that isn't always true, but in some parts believing what you want will get you killed...

Really... you study religions?
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Multiple degrees. Religions actually fall under Philosophies, however if you study Philosophy youll get pointed towards a specific genre and become stuck. If you study religion, you can get the base of any particular region and see how their thinking evolved overtime. Religion is almost the DNA of a culture, where as philosophy is often times the winning argument of an era.

Yes you can believe whatever you want on this planet, but I refuse to get pulled into a free-will debate. Refuse, refuse, refuse. And the world is cool, humans are shitty. For some reason we think the Earth is here for us.
 
Heisenberg

Heisenberg

Well-Known Member
Genesisgrower said:
Why most people attack others beliefs Ill never know....
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Beliefs are questioned and criticized because many humans are interested in progress. How far do you suppose we would be if no one ever questioned another's beliefs? A better answer to seek is why most people do not question their own beliefs.

"Ridiculous beliefs, by definition, deserve ridicule." – Matt Dilahunty

“Ridicule is the only weapon which can be used against unintelligible propositions. Ideas must be distinct before reason can act upon them.” ― Thomas Jefferson
 
G

Genesisgrower

Member
Natural Gas said:
"A Fire in the Mind", The Life of Joseph Campbell by Stephen & Robin Larsen might be a book of interest to you...Does not explain why people attack beliefs of others but does point to a common origin of the many beliefs of others hold...FWIW
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Ill check him out, hell have to go into my booklist though. Im in military science mode thus far this year. Ipad is greatest invention ever to go with free time.
 
G

Genesisgrower

Member
Heisenberg said:
Beliefs are questioned and criticized because many humans are interested in progress. How far do you suppose we would be if no one ever questioned another's beliefs? A better answer to seek is why most people do not question their own beliefs.

"Ridiculous beliefs, by definition, deserve ridicule." – Matt Dilahunty

“Ridicule is the only weapon which can be used against unintelligible propositions. Ideas must be distinct before reason can act upon them.” ― Thomas Jefferson
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I said attacked. Not questioned. If someone comes on here stated, all X are going to hell because of Y. That deserves ridicule. But mostly, I read, stupid X believe Y, so they are ignoramuses. There's a difference in application.

One isn't any smarter just because you know all the buzzwords to start a fiery debate. Who are atheist saving the Christians from? What Christian has successfully converted an atheist. Its a short list Im sure.

So again, I don't get the attacking. Questioning, I love. I love seeing someone's understanding on a subject, especially when I learn something I didn't know. But I can't take when people project misinformation because they think they know something. Hell Im on this board because while Im good at growing stuff (country boy originally), I want to perfect growing "tomatoes". You could be the biggest bigot, racist, sexiest, feminist, asshole, murderer in the world, but if you have the best grow journal on the board, Im subscribing to you.
 
Heisenberg

Heisenberg

Well-Known Member
Genesisgrower said:
I said attacked. Not questioned. If someone comes on here stated, all X are going to hell because of Y. That deserves ridicule. But mostly, I read, stupid X believe Y, so they are ignoramuses. There's a difference in application.
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That would be an attack on the person holding the belief. You prefaced your statement with "I could attack atheism with facts", which seemed to indicate you were not referring to ad hominem attacks. I accept your clarification.

One isn't any smarter just because you know all the buzzwords to start a fiery debate. Who are atheist saving the Christians from? What Christian has successfully converted an atheist. Its a short list Im sure.
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Debate is not about showing who's smarter, it's about finding common ground and examining where opinions diverge and why. Here's a buzzword: strawman. Atheists do not claim to want to save or convert Christians. If Christians confined their faith to expression and celebration, there would be far less debate. You don't have to look far in any newspaper before you see examples of religious encroachment on secular freedom.
 
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