Atheist, are you one?? - Page 120

**howerd** · February 10th, 2016, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scoundrel

I dont believe you is a rational response based on a high order of probability and on empirical observation of Newtonian physics. But what you have failed to take into account is that I recently sold Faceman some really good tabs of LSD.

Do you still have faith that Faceman is not able to levitate?

Religion thrives on altered states of consciousness i.e. prayer / meditation & sometimes hallucinogens. If I'd dropped a tab & saw someone -(even myself) levitating would I have any faith in the experience being a reflection of reality? At the time perhaps (I've never out & out tripped so I can't say). Afterwards? No.

I've had dreams that seemed real but the definition of a dream is something that is all in the mind. I don't doubt that in their minds religious people experience gods (even if they attribute it to their hearts instead) however they can still be wrong & there's no good reason what so ever to think they are right. If there is I'd love to hear it.

- How many believers say they'd love to hear good reasons why faith is by definition worthless? Not many!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyhKMo15apI

**vinceprince** · February 10th, 2016, 01:46 PM

Is Bernie Sanders a sinister atheist?

Sanders said he believes in God, though not necessarily in a traditional manner.
"I think everyone believes in God in their own ways, " he said. "To me, it means that all of us are connected, all of life is connected, and that we are all tied together."

That's DNA isn't it?

Is that answer enough to satisfy people who don't want to vote for a nonbeliever? It's certainly the most tentative claim of spiritual belief that's ever been made by a major-party candidate, right?

**Nobody1** · February 11th, 2016, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by howerd

Religion thrives on altered states of consciousness i.e. prayer / meditation & sometimes hallucinogens.

Cheap half-truths. The key factors are of socio-economic nature. Existential fears by social and material injustice are the fertile ground. A sincere criticism of religion is first and foremost a criticism of the prevailing socio-economic conditions in which this religion can flourish. Which means it is a critique of capitalism.

You question the concept, but not the causes.

**onehourplus** · February 11th, 2016, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wendigo

We are talking about the ultimate creative force being insecure here

I'm reminded of George Carlin's take on this (paraphrased, since I don't have the exact quote):

God is all-seeing, all-knowing, and all-powerful, but he just can't manage money. It seems to slip through his fingers, and he always has his hand out for more.

**howerd** · February 11th, 2016, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nobody1

Cheap half-truths. The key factors are of socio-economic nature. Existential fears by social and material injustice are the fertile ground. A sincere criticism of religion is first and foremost a criticism of the prevailing socio-economic conditions in which this religion can flourish. Which means it is a critique of capitalism.

You question the concept, but not the causes.

You are ignoring the point I was addressing: "...what you have failed to take into account is that I recently sold Faceman some really good tabs of LSD."

Followed by:

"Do you still have faith that Faceman is not able to levitate?"

I do not doubt that material injustice is a major, perhaps the major motivation for distracting the poor with ju-ju. Sell 'em free altered states instead of giving them an expensive slice of the pie & bingo! You're quids in!

**Faceman675** · February 12th, 2016, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vinceprince

The difference between you and me is that I'm willing to believe something if there is evidence.

You on the other hand are willing to believe even if there is no evidence.

Provide the board with your evidence that there is no God. The Thomas Aquinas quote"To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible" really does sum it up. We can talk past each other till Hell freezes over and neither of us would make a dent in the others beliefs.

With that said the whole exercise of this thread is pointless, but since I don't ridicule atheists the way atheists insist on belittling people of faith, I will try to make my point on a personal level.

I am a Christian. I have never tried in any fashion to force my beliefs on anyone. I have never hurt or caused anyone to be hurt because of my beliefs.

Lets play what if.

What if you are right and there is no God?
1) I have deluded myself my entire life, but what does that mean?
a) My "delusions" have led me to live a better life.
b) My "delusions" have led me to be a kinder more compassionate person.
c) My "delusions" have given solace in times of loss.
d) My "delusions" have given my strength to fight my way out of more than one bout of depression.

What if I am right and there is a God?
1) I spend eternity in Paradise.
2) You spend eternity burning in Hell.

Why do atheists feel an need to insult people of faith? Maybe despite all the claims of certainty you have doubt and therefor a need to build up your beliefs?

**Mal Hombre** · February 12th, 2016, 06:53 PM

Why do Christians take so much pleasure in the damnation of unbelievers? Seems to Me,A real Christian would be so troubled by the prospect of one single soul spending eternity in torment,That He/She would not,Could not rest.He/She would ,could not contemplate a Heaven ruled by a God Who condemned eternally for erroneous decisions made according to the best evidence available.

vef_conn · February 12th, 2016, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mal Hombre

a God Who condemned eternally for erroneous decisions made according to the best evidence available.

Actually, Mal, that's not the reason. As Paul points out in Romans, sin and death entered the world through Adam's decision, not yours or anybody else's.

**Mal Hombre** · February 12th, 2016, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vef_conn

Actually, Mal, that's not the reason. As Paul points out in Romans, sin and death entered the world through Adam's decision, not yours or anybody else's.

We're all damned for one man's bad decision? In any case Paul never even met Jesus,He was just a Jewish bigot,Who had a psychotic breakdown and adopted Christianity.He renade Christianity in His own image and that became the accepted form after all those who had known Jesus died in the Neronian persecutions.

**Wendigo** · February 12th, 2016, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Faceman675

Why do atheists feel an need to insult people of faith? Maybe despite all the claims of certainty you have doubt and therefor a need to build up your beliefs?

That cuts both ways Faceman, many on what I class as the lunatic fringe of believers insult us non believers but on a personal level I just tell them that when we die we are all, believers and non believers. just worm food .... end of.

I cannot prove God does not exist but no one can prove he does exist, the thread is about non belief. I do not believe there is a God, I have not seen a single iota of evidence that he does and videos like this cement my beliefs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_7piBIDBsQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjVe_n_EI58
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSEBkmRQpG0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwwrF7DeFr8

If this is what believers class as proof it's no wonder they are so easily led. If I had God's power for a day I'd make such kooks disappear.

I too will play your game of what if.

What if you are right and there is a God?
1) I have deluded myself my entire life, but what does that mean?
a) My personal morality has led me to live a better life.
b) My own morality has led me to be a kinder more compassionate person.
c) My friends and family have given me solace in times of loss.
d) My friends, family and my own character have given me strength to fight my way out of some bad times.

What if You are right and there is a God?
1) You spend eternity in Paradise.
2) I spend eternity burning in Hell.

You will also spend eternity alongside some of the vilest vermin who ever lived, corrupt priests and popes, murderers, rapists, paedophiles who all converted on the way out to hedge their bets.
Meanwhile believers who have led decent lives will be allowed to burn in Hell. I personally could never follow such a shallow divine egocentric faith.

I always ask those who believe in and preach an afterlife to explain how it works these sort of questions.

Does a newborn baby who had no time to get baptised go to Hell or Purgatory?
Does a baptised child live in the afterlife as a child?
Does a 95 year old live in the afterlife as a 95 year old?
If a parent who dies young say 30 and their child lives a happy life and dies at say 85 will the parent live in the afterlife as a 30 year old and have an older child? How does that work?

The afterlife as it is sold as people being reborn is utter nonsense and if an individual's faith is built on such flimsy tenets then keep it away from me.

I'm happy living my life the way I am and have no room for a large imaginary friend in my life and I'm personally quite happy for believers to live their lives as they wish but just lay off the cheap fire and brimstone amateur dramatics.

Our views on the existence of God are worlds apart and never the twain shall meet.

February 12th, 2016, 06:53 PM	#1197
Mal Hombre El Super Moderador Join Date: May 2009 Location: Adoptive Monkey Hanger Posts: 58,198 Thanks: 773,472 Thanked 856,595 Times in 57,629 Posts	Why do Christians take so much pleasure in the damnation of unbelievers? Seems to Me,A real Christian would be so troubled by the prospect of one single soul spending eternity in torment,That He/She would not,Could not rest.He/She would ,could not contemplate a Heaven ruled by a God Who condemned eternally for erroneous decisions made according to the best evidence available. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. If in doubt, Just ask Yourself What Would Max Do ? It is a porn site,But its a Classy porn site. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

February 10th, 2016, 01:46 PM	#1192
vinceprince 13th Duke of Wybourne Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Me, Here? In a sixth-form girl's dormitory? At 3 in the morning? With my reputation? Posts: 2,089 Thanks: 8,082 Thanked 21,966 Times in 2,076 Posts	Is Bernie Sanders a sinister atheist? Sanders said he believes in God, though not necessarily in a traditional manner. "I think everyone believes in God in their own ways, " he said. "To me, it means that all of us are connected, all of life is connected, and that we are all tied together." That's DNA isn't it? Is that answer enough to satisfy people who don't want to vote for a nonbeliever? It's certainly the most tentative claim of spiritual belief that's ever been made by a major-party candidate, right?