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Permalink Reply by Simon Paynton on December 24, 2011 at 12:18pm

Are you asking the question, do atheists have a different way of seeing life and the world?  Do we have a different sense of humour, do we think differently? 

I've not mixed or had much contact with Christian culture, but when I do, I am struck by how much euphemism they tend to use.  Have you ever received a dressing down from a Christian?  You're left wondering, wtf?  They just won't come straight out and criticise you (or each other).  Rather, you get a string of passive aggression.  This is generalising I know, and maybe it's a UK thing. 

One thing I notice on this site - there aren't any leaders.  All very anarchistic. 

I am a fan of a particular Christian web site.  http://www.relevantmagazine.com/god/deeper-walk/features/26861-even...  for example.  It strikes me how much more willing these people are to question their beliefs than atheists are. 

As an atheist I rely on myself and my own brain to get through life.  But I have seen Christians do the same thing - asking "Jesus, what should I do?"  It amounts to the same thing in my opinion, if it is honestly done, which it can be. 

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Permalink Reply by bob spencer on December 24, 2011 at 1:05pm

Hi Simon thank you for your answer . i will visit the site you recommended. What I'm trying to ask (rather crudely I may add) is that, if the mind is structured by language including say "the self" and given that we are "within" language as it were, does language have a cultural bent (so to speak) as to how we understand the non-existence of "God" which is itself just a word. Is it sort of culturally "twisted" or distorted?

thank you for responding

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Permalink Reply by Simon Paynton on December 24, 2011 at 1:22pm

Hi Bob,

for me to answer that question I would have to speak more than one language, and I only speak English.  It is intriguing, though I am more intrigued with the question of how Christians and atheists might see life differently. 

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Permalink Reply by Simon Paynton on December 24, 2011 at 1:24pm

Although that doesn't mean the discussion's closed.  I'm listening....

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Permalink Reply by bob spencer on December 24, 2011 at 2:02pm

Hi Simon I'm not thinking of different languages like Spanish or French etc.(taking into account they have different cultures)This is difficult to explain as I'm not really very good at explaining it. I'm thinking more in terms of how (say) Wittgenstein changed his mind on the Tractitus when he saw somebody scratch his chin. like gestures and all other non-verbal communication,,,

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Permalink Reply by Simon Paynton on December 24, 2011 at 2:06pm

Bob, you're going to have to spell it all out, if you would - Nuts and Bolts.  Concisely, to save my brain from having to work too hard. 

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Permalink Reply by bob spencer on December 24, 2011 at 3:13pm

sorry Simon  for hurting your brain :). this is one of the points I'm questioning .For me its a "dialogue" that will probably not have an ending...good to hear you're still listening tho. I'm just tying to understand things as best as I can

Bob

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Permalink Reply by Dave Mann on December 24, 2011 at 2:46pm

Hello Bob:

Not to many people here discuss topics like this but more than a few are capable. We tend to be admirerers of the four atheist horsemen plus Stenger and the YouTube Atheists. There would probably be a dozen Zizek fans here but none that have actually read the man.

I have read a lot of Marxist stuff over the last 35 years so I have an appreciation for what you are saying to know that what I feel you are meaning is not what you actually mean.

"there is no such thing as "normal" and that we only have a "cultural."  I believe human rights are universal, not cultural specific. Post-modernism is for me a disease responsible for the decline, almost into irrelevance of the political left (not liberal but a true socialist/communist/anarchist left).

So you and I would probably disagree about most things. 

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Permalink Reply by bob spencer on December 25, 2011 at 8:00am

Hi Dave thanks for your reply. I've not heard of Stenger or Zizek so I've already learnt something new which I will look into. I too believe human rights are universal.

I'm happy to agree and disagree and to agree to disagree

Regards

Bob

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