Quote from: Nero on January 14, 2008, 01:22:57 PM
Show me the romance in atheism.
I mean, if you think about it, isn't it rather dull?
No beauty in such a concept, if you ask me.
And not all theists submit to anyone.
But you're my girl.

Good to see you again, Nero.

Wing Walker

Quote from: Pica Pica on Today at 05:09:29 PM

QuoteI think there is romance in being a freak occurrence.

You would. Smiley

But let us examine the alternatives to intelligent design. A big bang? Now there's a dull thought.
And then that positively stomach churning 'descended from apes' thing. Such an affront to my sensibilities. *shudder*

And Tasha, babygirl, thinking men choose for themselves what to believe. Wink

Aetheists HUH! Religion HUH!
Transsexualism YAY!!!!

QuoteA big bang? Now there's a dull thought.

If the evidence points in another direction, we'll adapt our understanding.  Dull?  It's absolutely amazing.  Think of all that stuff inside something that becomes a singularity and within an instant expands to form all the matter in our universe.  Explosive stuff!

Quote
And then that positively stomach churning 'descended from apes' thing. Such an affront to my sensibilities. *shudder*

Actually, the evidence suggests that mankind and apes descended from a common ancestor.  It was not an ape.  Even the fossils that we have of prehistoric people (who are not human) are not very ape like.  It may be that the apes descended from creatures much more human like than we care to admit   That's not a bad thing.  I envy the apes sometimes.  They don't waste all their resources trying to kill each other.

An atheist has no faith or belief.  Atheism is a lack of belief in a divine being.  It's like believing that there is no salt on your french fries.  The salt  is either there or it isn't. 

Cindi

Except some atheists take it more personal than that.

I'm fond of the apes, but they do put their resources into killing people who are not in their group. They kill foreigners out of fear too. Sad really.

QuoteIt's like believing that there is no salt on your french fries.  The salt  is either there or it isn't. 

Not exactly, it could be in another dimension.

It is little wonder why some non believers take it personal when they are affronted daily by a barrage of fundamentalist fodder.  I don't blame them much for reacting.  I know many atheists who do not however.  They merely shake their heads and wonder why people can be so silly to do some of the things that they do.

In terms of resources Pica.  I hear you and understand what you are saying.  But apes do spend time collecting food and enjoying the sun.  Here in the US, we have managed to "spend" our collecting food time by creating massive debt towards our military actions.  Indeed, the productivity of our great nation counts for naught in many respects, for we squander it in such a non productive way.

Cindi

I read some of the comments here about atheist's, and i am very offended. Don't even get me started  on what i think about YOUR RELIGION. I'm an atheist and and i wouldn't say I'm proud of it, but i have more  morals than any christian.

Quote from: Cindi Jones on January 14, 2008, 11:23:14 PM
  It's absolutely amazing.  Think of all that stuff inside something that becomes a singularity and within an instant expands to form all the matter in our universe.  Explosive stuff!

Yes, the opening and closing eye of Brahma, cycles of the ages all in the blink of an eye.

QuoteActually, the evidence suggests that mankind and apes descended from a common ancestor.  It was not an ape.  Even the fossils that we have of prehistoric people (who are not human) are not very ape like.  It may be that the apes descended from creatures much more human like than we care to admit   That's not a bad thing.  I envy the apes sometimes.  They don't waste all their resources trying to kill each other.

Again, much to be said for the apes. They will kill and chimps even fight 'wars' over foraging grounds. But they have yet to develop 'rocks of mass destruction.' LOL And they do seem to understand their profoundly contingent selves better than we do, who strut about often enough with an individual thinking that he is sufficient entirely unto himself.

I don't know that it requires a god or even a Goddess (altho I have known Her for forty years and truly do love Her) for someone to see the beauty of the universe, the earth and the family of living and sentient creatures, but ... More's the merrier, does it hurt to invite Another, or 9000 Others, to join with us?

Nichole

Quote from: Diane on January 15, 2008, 03:18:00 PM
I read some of the comments here about atheist's, and i am very offended. Don't even get me started  on what i think about YOUR RELIGION. I'm an atheist and and i wouldn't say I'm proud of it, but i have more  morals than most christians.

fixed

Quote from: Diane on January 15, 2008, 03:18:00 PM
I read some of the comments here about atheist's, and i am very offended. Don't even get me started  on what i think about YOUR RELIGION. I'm an atheist and and i wouldn't say I'm proud of it, but i have more  morals than any christian.

ditto

Before I go, a morsel for thought........
"God favors the bigger battalions"---Voltaire

God cares not for human history. We do that ourselves, whatever name we march to. Faith is about the individual and infinity. I have no say in your conversation (or lack of) with God. It is easy to not believe (there are alot of facts, but all the facts in the world do not add up to truth). Believe me, as a thinking animal, I have been through all of that. I am no longer a Christian, but I am not an athiest.

Do not watch the talking heads on TV or listen to college professors and judgemental Christians and say "what fools these ignorant Christians". They don't matter. We all die, that's what this is all about, anyways...what happens when I, (your name here), pass from this Earth? Only you can answer that question.

It is not fear of punishment. It is a need springing from deep inside that there is a reason for our suffering. And a happy ending to this roller coaster story called the human life, however long it may be.

Me, personally...despite all the great minds of religion, philosophy, literature and science that I encountered and read and studied...in the end, only I can figure that out. And I have no idea. It's a big Universe.

Do not judge others. Each of us will be judged in the end anyways...I still think, and wonder. Dogma, religious or scientific, cannot prevent the human mind from thinking. We were made to think. But I also choose to believe, as Einstein said, "just in case"

Legum servi sumus ut liberi esse possimus

Atheism is just another belief system.  It's a belief system based on non-belief of other systems. 

I prefer no belief systems, it makes life less complicated.

In my view, all thinking people should have an open mind knowing that it is not possible to know it all, either through science or through faith... this is not fence-sitting (as though taking sides is a virtue!!!)..... this is being open-minded realizing that the stream of knowledge and discoveries is unending and science is not the only source for this. However, it is my experience that followers of science seem to be more open-minded than those who profess faith in a particular religion.

to be honest, i am an atheist and I find the atheist rhetoric dull, unhelpful and petty.

Quote from: Jeannette on January 29, 2008, 12:20:16 AM
In my view, all thinking people should have an open mind knowing that it is not possible to know it all, either through science or through faith... this is not fence-sitting (as though taking sides is a virtue!!!)..... this is being open-minded realizing that the stream of knowledge and discoveries is unending and science is not the only source for this. However, it is my experience that followers of science seem to be more open-minded than those who profess faith in a particular religion.

What she said. Are we behaving like the men and women of all ages, thinking there is nothing else to know?
Brutal.