Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by StarStuff on July 14, 2011 at 2:52am

Wat?

I think a facepalm is warranted here. (in re: the OP)

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Permalink Reply by Kim Roder on July 14, 2011 at 7:20am

For you may be.

 

In the entire discussion i had with you you made no arguements for your idea of the belief and merely asked me questions which i answered.

 

If you don't wish to argue without getting defensive instantaneously don't stay here.

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Permalink Reply by Galen on July 14, 2011 at 7:21am

Your question implies that one or the other is SUPPOSED to be "better."

 

Being an atheist isn't about being "better" it's about accepting reality as it is.  It's about the truth.  Whether I like it or not, whether it's better or not, there is no divine power whatsoever.  It's that simple.

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Permalink Reply by Kim Roder on July 14, 2011 at 7:25am

I used better for the lack of better term. You should understand what I really mean

 

Also a human always should try to better oneself

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Permalink Reply by Galen on July 14, 2011 at 7:55am

But, again, this is about accepting what IS.  You're making it more complicated than it really is.  If I'm standing in the middle of a busy street, the reality is that I'm going to get hit by a car at some point.  Whether I believe this or not is irrelevant, it is simply the reality of what is.

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Permalink Reply by erik112358 on July 14, 2011 at 7:59am

Yeah, if the idea was to create a "better" religion, I think we could do that in pretty short order. But that's not at all the idea.

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Permalink Reply by Kim Roder on July 14, 2011 at 8:10am

I know it is not the idea, but that is what is happening if you look at the progess of atheism on a global scale I think. In my opinion it would compare nicely to the progerss of christianity at its first centuries of development.

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Permalink Reply by Kim Roder on July 14, 2011 at 8:08am

I see what you mean, but if you follow my trail of thought it all comes down to people being uneducated adn therefore atheism startign to fall into categories with religions containing deities.

But maybe its just me reading into things as I believe it is I see more reasons supporting my claim cause they stand out more.

Even if that is what I do the issue is complecated there is nothing that will change that. The arguement of atheism vs religion is invalid so long education at primary and higher levels up to below university does nto improve.

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Permalink Reply by Bill Lewis on July 14, 2011 at 9:57am

Kim, I am sorry, but as an "Agnostic" (Atheist in training), you do no seem to under stand just what an Atheist is.

As to whether we feel we are better, or smarter, it is like observing a hollow log and understanding that the tree died, rotted, harbored zillions of insect life, etc. etc. instead of being one of the herd who pick up sticks and poke the log to see if the "Unga Ka Pulla" will emerge and grant us wishes.

Atheism is the refusal to place any significance of some dogma that can not in any way prove the existence of a supernatural, anything.

Lastly don't blame us for occasionally displaying anger, when in some places we are still burned, hacked to death, buried alive, and in the Christian teaching, just Hated.

Good luck on your travel toward true rational thinking, we will be waiting for you.

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Permalink Reply by Brian Stewart on July 14, 2011 at 11:41am

Atheism is a non-belief in any type of external deity (or that evidence for the existence of such deity exists) and cannot be seen in any shape or form as a religion. Naturally you will get radical atheists, angry atheists, even disillusioned atheists who revert to religion; that is human but it does not imply that atheism is on the road to becoming a religion. Many theologians and philosophers even struggle to classify Buddhism as a religion; it certainly isn't one in the theistic sense and in fact is atheistic in the sense that Buddhists don't believe in external deities.

Religions require faith in something which is prescribed/described by means of scriptures (which may have been been an oral tradition earlier)  of some sort; practiced in terms of rituals and traditions; contains philosophies steeped in mysticism etc etc. Religions are more often than not accompanied by a variety of forms of sanction and punishment if not adhered to; offer incomprehensible and impossible rewards if you do and try to manipulate the lives of adherents in a number of ways. Atheism fails in each case to qualify and will continue to do so. I cannot see how it will ever be possible to use a NON-belief to apply these sanctions etc.

Whether atheism is "better' is a judgement call; this depends on your subjective views, your expectations and your logic and grasp of reality. If your understanding of what atheism (and for that matter this includes your view of different religions) actually is, is faulty, so too will be your judgement of whether it is 'better' or not.

"better" is also a loaded term; better for what, whom, in what sense, when, etc etc.? 

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Permalink Reply by Gaytor on July 14, 2011 at 12:58pm

I tend to agree with the idea that it's also the standardized testing. We teach and require students to repeat back what we say rather than teach them how to think and find information for themselves.

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Permalink Reply by Kim Roder on July 19, 2011 at 5:40am

Thank you for this reply, this was absolutely true, but is it still?

Of course did the church have huge power over education not too long ago, but how much effect do they have on it now.

I think the infinite loop of religion corrupting education and hence more people being "people of faith" is starting to fade. Just check the educational materials provided for todays youth and compare it to before world war II.

I think expendatures such as defense should be eliminated almost completely and go into education and research, but hey who listens to the kids of the world.

 

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