Atheist, are you one?? - Page 7

**Warren G** · April 14th, 2012, 08:21 AM

I suppose I believe myself to be a deist, along with the founding fathers of my country. I'm a strict believer in science, I can understand the backwards progression of the current universe from the big bang on back to the first molecular reaction responsible for everything we know.

But that's where even the best of scientific theorists can reach back to. We still have no proof, or even plausible theory as to what precipitated the inevitable events of creation. This is referred to as "first cause", and no one knows the reason for it.

"Ex nihil nihil est". From nothing, nothing comes. This isn't religion, this is logic. If you have a creation, you must have a creator. Matter cannot be created or destroyed. You can't make something from nothing.

That's where God enters the equation to me. I cannot prove he exists, that's true. But then again, you cannot prove he doesn't exist.

I don't believe in God because he revealed himself to me, or because I have any proof of his existence whatsoever. I believe because I choose to believe. Rather than believing that there's nothing besides this, I would rather live with the promise of hope.

**palo5** · April 14th, 2012, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GogglesPisano

If I'm honest with myself, I'd have to say I'm an atheist - I just can't bring myself to believe in the mumbo jumbo...

Yes, but familiar rituals and community can give people comfort, Comrade. It doesn't always mean they believe in the supernatural

**billybunter** · April 14th, 2012, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by palo5

Yes, but familiar rituals and community can give people comfort, Comrade. It doesn't always mean they believe in the supernatural

They can also drive peoples apart.

**palo5** · April 14th, 2012, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billybunter

They can also drive peoples apart.

I know what you mean, but quiet and respectful application should get you no enemies, unless criminals oppose you

**Jeff Vader** · April 14th, 2012, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frakas

I just went through this whole thing on another forum, where I said what my opinion on the matter was, and despite my proclamations that I respect the other sides opinion, I got nothing but endless ridicule and a lot of unmitigated insults despite the fact that I didn't lose my cool. To put it mildly, it did nothing for my opinion of the other side's beliefs.

Needless to say, I am not going to specifically state my opinion here, because let's face it, anonymity seems to be a license for some to be a complete a-hole, and I am just not in the mood for more of that.

There's several mods posting on this list, if it was to get out of hand the posts would be pulled pretty quickly and the posters sent a reminder.

If you decide not to post that is your wish, but IMO you'd be prety safe here - unless your views are very extremist.

**Jeff Vader** · April 14th, 2012, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Warren G

I suppose I believe myself to be a deist, along with the founding fathers of my country. I'm a strict believer in science, I can understand the backwards progression of the current universe from the big bang on back to the first molecular reaction responsible for everything we know.

But that's where even the best of scientific theorists can reach back to. We still have no proof, or even plausible theory as to what precipitated the inevitable events of creation. This is referred to as "first cause", and no one knows the reason for it.

"Ex nihil nihil est". From nothing, nothing comes. This isn't religion, this is logic. If you have a creation, you must have a creator. Matter cannot be created or destroyed. You can't make something from nothing.

That's where God enters the equation to me. I cannot prove he exists, that's true. But then again, you cannot prove he doesn't exist.

I don't believe in God because he revealed himself to me, or because I have any proof of his existence whatsoever. I believe because I choose to believe. Rather than believing that there's nothing besides this, I would rather live with the promise of hope.

OK, I work as an engineer and also have a degree in chemistry, so I do have a strong 'belief' in logic, even if it is a sort of 'philosophical logic'. I would prefer to wait and see what else we discover before invoking a creator for something that we can't explain.

Why does there have to be a god ? Would it be so bad if there was none ?

I'm mostly Buddhist, I'm still learning about it by most of what I ahve read about it makes a sort of sense to me. I wouldn't really term it a religion as there is no god and no afterlife but let's not argue semantics.

**palo5** · April 14th, 2012, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Vader

Why does there have to be a god ?

Opium for the masses, Comrade

We also need some non-terrifying way to comfort our children when they ask what happens when they die, and it's not distressing for them if they think they go to heaven and will be back with their family

At any rate, it's better than telling them they will enter the food chain, and that bacteria (or wild Russians) will eat them, and they will eventually be recycled into other matter

**sweatyhat** · April 14th, 2012, 12:37 PM

At age seven I was sent to Sunday school.

I attended twice and asked to stay home just before my third visit. I ashamedly told my parents I thought it rubbish and was surprised at their reaction. Mam said that was fine and that I didn't have to go again. The old man was beaming with pride, I couldn't believe it.

I discovered in later life that both my folks are unbelievers. Not being bigots, they allowed me to form my own opinions rather than opting for the indoctrination you get in some families. Needless to say, I've not been christened.

My nascent atheism was reinforced when at school I became interested in science and worked in that area until my mid-twenties.

**billybunter** · April 14th, 2012, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by palo5

I know what you mean, but quiet and respectful application should get you no enemies, unless criminals oppose you

That is a utopia you're talking about comrade. I only have to look at my own country to see religious zealots poisoning peoples minds.

**billybunter** · April 14th, 2012, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweatyhat

At age seven I was sent to Sunday school.

I attended twice and asked to stay home just before my third visit. I ashamedly told my parents I thought it rubbish and was surprised by their reaction. Mam said that was fine and that I didn't have to go again. The old man was beaming with pride, I couldn't believe it.

I discovered in later life that both my folks are unbelievers. Not being bigots, they allowed me to form my own opinions rather than opting for the indoctrination you get in some families. Needless to say, I've not been christened.

My nascent atheism was reinforced when at school I became interested in science and worked in that area until my mid-twenties.

Exactly the same here. My grandparents were very upset when they found out me and my brother were not going to be christened. Instead of Sunday school me and my old man went fishing or hunting.

April 14th, 2012, 12:37 PM	#68
sweatyhat Woodwose Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: In the mud and rain Posts: 10,869 Thanks: 97,859 Thanked 187,859 Times in 10,563 Posts	Atheist since age seven At age seven I was sent to Sunday school. I attended twice and asked to stay home just before my third visit. I ashamedly told my parents I thought it rubbish and was surprised at their reaction. Mam said that was fine and that I didn't have to go again. The old man was beaming with pride, I couldn't believe it. I discovered in later life that both my folks are unbelievers. Not being bigots, they allowed me to form my own opinions rather than opting for the indoctrination you get in some families. Needless to say, I've not been christened. My nascent atheism was reinforced when at school I became interested in science and worked in that area until my mid-twenties. __________________

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April 14th, 2012, 08:21 AM	#61
Warren G Vintage Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 1,473 Thanks: 5,632 Thanked 32,249 Times in 1,479 Posts	I suppose I believe myself to be a deist, along with the founding fathers of my country. I'm a strict believer in science, I can understand the backwards progression of the current universe from the big bang on back to the first molecular reaction responsible for everything we know. But that's where even the best of scientific theorists can reach back to. We still have no proof, or even plausible theory as to what precipitated the inevitable events of creation. This is referred to as "first cause", and no one knows the reason for it. "Ex nihil nihil est". From nothing, nothing comes. This isn't religion, this is logic. If you have a creation, you must have a creator. Matter cannot be created or destroyed. You can't make something from nothing. That's where God enters the equation to me. I cannot prove he exists, that's true. But then again, you cannot prove he doesn't exist. I don't believe in God because he revealed himself to me, or because I have any proof of his existence whatsoever. I believe because I choose to believe. Rather than believing that there's nothing besides this, I would rather live with the promise of hope.