[mono15591]

The only reason I put that table in here is because no one used it yet .

What do I think when someone brings up Atheism? Christopher Hitchens
He is probably one of the most well known Atheist but he's a complete ass. Their is another guy with an awesome beard but I don't know his name.

Can I change the question because the OPs question is kind of lame.
I think a better question would be. When someone talks about "god" what are they really talking about?

Are they talking about some all powerful being that watches over humans and answers prayers? or is it more of a feeling that you have to try to determine if something is morally right or not? or is it more of a, for lack of a better word, imaginary friend that offers you comfort when hard times present themself.

[besten]

Assume atheism is right, and there is no god, no hell or heaven,just die and that's it. Wouldn't it be "logic" to take my neighbour's money coz he spends it on whores so I can treat and cure my sick son??
what shall stop me then? law?? I can make it a full proof crime. I take whatever I want even if it's not mine as long as I can get away with it..
I think human will distinct if people knew there is no god.

This post has been edited by besten: 11 March 2010 - 09:30 AM

[WolfCoder]

If the only thing keeping you from killing, stealing, committing crime and not spending any effort in grammar is a belief in the existence of god, then you have some serious problems.

This post has been edited by WolfCoder: 11 March 2010 - 07:17 AM

[besten]

I just used "logic" of the same mind that was able to deny god. If I can deny God because I just can't see him, why can't I deny morals when it comes against my needs. If any human logic and theory can contain God, well, it doesn't make him a god, for the finite can never contain the infinite.
About my grammar, I'm a self-taught man,sure there will be mistakes .

This post has been edited by besten: 11 March 2010 - 09:27 AM

[WolfCoder]

Saying "Well 'God' is outside ________" for anything such as "logic" is just playing the shell game. Of course, this is what I assume you're trying to argue because... Well your post doesn't really make that much sense.

[Brewer]

When I hear someone say that they are an "Athiest", I am usually somewhat skeptical of them. Many people, for whatever reason, desire to use Athiesm as a channel to make them seem cooler.

The first thing that bugs me is that most people can't recognized or respect the difference between Athiesm and Agnosticism. I am Agnostic. While I may reject the view of a "God", I am not arrogant enough to believe that everything just is. I believe logic, and logic says that "something" had to create "everything"; if this is the case, then what created "something"?

The second thing that bugs me is when a person doesn't even understand what Athiesm is and where it came from. A guy did not just wake up one day, decide he doesn't believe in the existance of a higher power, and call this Athiesm.

So, to conclude, when I here the word "Athiesm", I think of ignorant people who have no idea what they are talking about. Don't worry however, I think about this when I hear of any religion.

[WolfCoder]

Quote

...I am Agnostic. While I may reject the view of a "God", I am not arrogant enough to believe that everything just is...

This is actually a form of Atheism because you do at least reject the view of a "God".

Quote

...So, to conclude, when I here the word "Athiesm", I think of ignorant people who have no idea what they are talking about...

Oh really? I'm not an Atheist at all myself and have a strong sense of spirituality these days. However, many Atheists I have listened to sound very far from ignorant. The ones I've heard sure know much more about religion than you do making you the measurably ignorant one.

[LaFayette]

Why is this debate such a big deal in America?

I havent read all pages but it seems to me that many people use the word "agnosticism" in the
sense that it somehow should mean "open-minded atheism". According to me they are not even concerning
the same issue. One concerns believe and the other one knowledge.

Most atheists are in fact also agnostic (ask them if they would bet their life on it) and there are probably quite alot of theist agnostics out there aswell (that's right, you can believe in god and be agnostic about it. Being a believing atheist is contradiction in terms though)

This post has been edited by LaFayette: 18 March 2010 - 12:04 PM

[Brewer]

WolfCoder, on 18 March 2010 - 10:46 AM, said:

This is actually a form of Atheism because you do at least reject the view of a "God".

Atheism is the view of no higher power, this higher power could be God, Buddha, the prophet Muhammad, or any other deitie. Agnosticism can be summed up as simply: "I don't know what created everything."

WolfCoder, on 18 March 2010 - 10:46 AM, said:

Oh really? I'm not an Atheist at all myself and have a strong sense of spirituality these days. However, many Atheists I have listened to sound very far from ignorant. The ones I've heard sure know much more about religion than you do making you the measurably ignorant one.

The people you speak to are most likely a lot smarter than the people I tend to speak to. I am in high school, theres a lot of ignorance in the place where I spend a good part of my days.

And in all honesty, I do hope that one day I meet the people you are talking about. I will always welcome a conversation with a person who has something intelligent to say, even if I disagree with them.

[WolfCoder]

Quote

Why is this debate such a big deal in America?

I wish I knew. What is it with this place and creationism/intelligent design/cdesign proponetists invading education being a problem at all? Historians and those adept at Social Sciences are welcome to answer.

Kr0w, on 18 March 2010 - 11:57 AM, said:

...
The people you speak to are most likely a lot smarter than the people I tend to speak to. I am in high school, theres a lot of ignorance in the place where I spend a good part of my days.
...

Well then don't make blanket assumptions using High School students, that's something a creationist would do like go around and ask random high school students scientific questions they don't know.

And don't use size 1 font it's really really hard to read.

[Brewer]

WolfCoder, on 18 March 2010 - 11:09 AM, said:

Well then don't make blanket assumptions using High School students, that's something a creationist would do like go around and ask random high school students scientific questions they don't know.

And don't use size 1 font it's really really hard to read.

You're right, I probably shouldn't have made that assumption. I was just speaking from personal experiences.

However, I am not budging on the size 1 font.

[dorknexus]

Quote

Why is this debate such a big deal in America?

America is one of the most religious nations in the world yo diggity.
Atheists are also some of the most mis-trusted members of American society, more than minorities, more than politicians. We're fucked.

This post has been edited by Dark_Nexus: 18 March 2010 - 11:56 PM

[LaFayette]

Quote

Atheists are also some of the most mis-trusted members of American society, more than minorities, more than politicians. We're fucked.

Yeah, I know. Wasnt it Reagan who said that atheists are anti-american or something. So it not strange that in the light of such things that some people choose to define themselves even more strongly as atheist, whilst other look for a middle road and gets hung up on the "agnosticism vs atheism" thing.

Historically the U.S has had plenty of religous "mood swings" where religion has risen or sunken in importance. Hopefully the current climate will stirr down in the long run so that people can believe or not believe in whatever they like without the next guy caring of feeling threatend by it.

[WolfCoder]

I'm not an Atheist, but it doesn't exactly matter since I would get lumped into the pile of heathens for being un-Christian. Pretty much any view that doesn't match the religious majority is "un-American" in that sense.

[Galois]

hailFromGallifrey, on 15 April 2009 - 08:44 PM, said:

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word atheist?