Atheist Alliance Page 27

Started by Shining Raichu May 7th, 2011 3:50 AM
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Phantom

Uh, I didn't do it

Age 32
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Minnesota
Seen September 18th, 2017
Posted September 18th, 2017
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11.8 Years
I don't think a lot of the people coming in to argue for religion's sake know exactly what atheism is.

It's a lack of faith. They don't 'believe in that god, but I believe in this one'. They don't believe in any god. They simply agree that there isn't a god or higher power.

Now, yes there are different types of atheists, including agnostic/weak atheism. Standard cookie cutter atheist does not believe in ANY higher powers. I get people can believe or not believe whatever the hell they want, but it just doesn't make sense to me that a Thelemite can be an atheist. It just doesn't work. Either you believe in higher power(s) or not.

Also, AChipOfftheOldBrock, Shining Raichu is the founder of PC's The Rainbow Connection... Which a few here, including myself, are members.

Esper

California
Seen June 30th, 2018
Posted June 30th, 2018
Atheism is sometimes hard for people to grasp. It's a lot like people who choose not to have romantic relationships. Lots of people assume they can't maintain a successful a relationship or "just haven't found the right one yet." They assume relationships are the right way to be and that for anyone who doesn't have one there's something wrong. Sound familiar?

But more than that it's a choice like religion is, only it's a choice to have nothing in that area of their life. Atheism isn't a religion any more than a person without a relationship is in a relationship.

Phantom

Uh, I didn't do it

Age 32
Female
Minnesota
Seen September 18th, 2017
Posted September 18th, 2017
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11.8 Years
True.

I'm a huge fan of Sam Harris. He's a bit... forthright, but he isn't afraid to get down and dirty and get straight to the point.

From his essay, "There is No God, and You Know It"...

"It is worth noting that no one ever need identify himself as a non-astrologer or a non-alchemist. Consequently, we do not have words for people who deny the validity of these pseudo-disciplines. Likewise, “atheism” is a term that should not even exist. Atheism is nothing more than the noises reasonable people make when in the presence of religious dogma."

A bit of reading lit.

10 myths - and 10 Truths - About Atheism
Misconceptions about atheism <- I suggest believer wanting to come into this thread and debate read this.

Shining Raichu

Expect me like you expect Jesus.

Age 32
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Posted December 21st, 2017
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12.3 Years
On the subject of "misconceptions about atheism", one that I run into a lot that's not on that list is that people choose atheism because it's easy. When you're an atheist, there are no restrictions placed on your life in the hope of attaining an afterlife and so it gets a reputation for being the "easy way out". But I haven't found this to be true at all. Just as with choosing any religion, choosing the absence of religion is not without sacrifice. Personally, I think the hardest part of forsaking a belief in God is abandoning the concept of destiny and God's Great Plan, and in turn, the notion that you are inherently any more or less special than anybody else.
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Phantom

Uh, I didn't do it

Age 32
Female
Minnesota
Seen September 18th, 2017
Posted September 18th, 2017
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11.8 Years
Personally, I think the hardest part of forsaking a belief in God is abandoning the concept of destiny and God's Great Plan, and in turn, the notion that you are inherently any more or less special than anybody else.
Which is why so many of die hard religious people can't even begin to understand how someone can not believe in god. To them you are literally condeming yourself to Hell, and you have no qualms about it. They feel compelled to save you, after all, it's what any good person would do for someone else in need.

To us, this just comes off as unbearably annoying and needlessly bothersome.

Shining Raichu

Expect me like you expect Jesus.

Age 32
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Posted December 21st, 2017
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I could most likely go to Google and find the answer to this, but what would be the point of that when it may generate discussion? :P

Can somebody please explain to me what exactly is Pascal's Wager?
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Phantom

Uh, I didn't do it

Age 32
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Minnesota
Seen September 18th, 2017
Posted September 18th, 2017
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11.8 Years
I could most likely go to Google and find the answer to this, but what would be the point of that when it may generate discussion? :P

Can somebody please explain to me what exactly is Pascal's Wager?
Pascal's Wager is considered the safe route, and is used by many theists to confirm their beliefs.

Pascal was a French guy who made a wager. Basically he said that it's safer to believe in God and be wrong, than to not believe in God and be wrong.

Esper

California
Seen June 30th, 2018
Posted June 30th, 2018
Oddly enough, Pascal's Wager isn't one I ever heard when I was growing up and butting heads with people over religion. (I attribute this to it being a more philosophical argument, and philosophy requires a little more critical thinking than just telling someone they're wrong.) I did hear "Maybe you evolved from apes, but I didn't!" more than once though.

Oryx

CoquettishCat

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I came to Pascal's Wager by thinking on my own, but after a while I decided it couldn't actually work. Because there's no "faking" belief in God, and if God was real he would totally know that you were just saying you believed in him and what was really in your heart. Also it doesn't address the fact that believing in God when God isn't real, if you're not 100% certain and content in your religion, hurts you in the long run in the one life you have, so it is harmful to believe in God at times. Aaaand it doesn't address the thousands of religions in existence. For all we know Greek gods are the real gods, and they prefer you be an atheist than worship a fake god or something. Who knows?


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Spinor

&lt;i&gt;&lt;font color=&quot;b1373f&quot;&gt;The Lonely Physicist&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/i&gt;

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If Pascal's wager is logical, it applies for anything, no? According to Pascal's wager, I should also practice Buddhism just in case the ultimate goal really is Nirvana, because if I don't, I might be reborn into a cricket or something. On the other hand, I should practice Islam just in case Allah banishes me to Jahannam if I don't! Pascal's wager doesn't really hold any water at all.

Phantom

Uh, I didn't do it

Age 32
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Seen September 18th, 2017
Posted September 18th, 2017
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^ Hense why it's easily overturned.

It's normally used by Christians, since Pascal was a Christian philospher. It's a last resort argument for believers when approached by non believers.
Male
Bored-topia
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Posted May 9th, 2014
449 posts
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^ Hense why it's easily overturned.

It's normally used by Christians, since Pascal was a Christian philospher. It's a last resort argument for believers when approached by non believers.
Hum, truth be told, I thought like that for a while (as in, believed in pascal's wager) but then I realized it's just really stupid. And I also think that if a christian uses that as a reason to believe, he's not really christian at all.... if you believe, it's because you believe God is real, not to be safe.

Mana

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Posted August 18th, 2021
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I got preached at today at uni by some guy from a union doing a survey :P Was lovely.

He seemed to think there was more evidence for Jesus living than there was Julius Caesar... It was pretty weird. He didn't like how I said his evidence was rubbish :X.
Age 30
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Posted December 26th, 2016
585 posts
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I got preached at today at uni by some guy from a union doing a survey :P Was lovely.

He seemed to think there was more evidence for Jesus living than there was Julius Caesar... It was pretty weird. He didn't like how I said his evidence was rubbish :X.
It's easy to deal with such people. Just quote Dr. House: "Oh, you're selling religion? I'm sorry, I bought some islam yesterday." They go away after than xD