When/ how did you become an atheist?
- Thread starter spidergoat
- Start date
How can humans have "higher thought" than animals or plants - since we're all just biomechanical systems?
How can elephants be stronger than humans?
And indeed, how can a human make a gun and bullets and shoot the elephant, and then take the time to cut its head of and mount it on a giant redwood plinth? Or, indeed, want to in the first place?
Because its supposed to describe a large part of a persons belief in one simple word.
Some people still fail to understand it though.
It isnt that simple. An Atheist believes something does not exist, what if he\she were convinced something does not exist?
Basically it is like acknowledging that there may be some possibility because if there were no possibility then why apply a name to something that does not\never did exist? You cant make one, you cant say "one day one will exist".
In other words not convinced. If that is true and it must be because you do not give names to things that you know do not and have never have existed then why is there a name for it? Why call yourself\describe yourself\name yourself after something when your position is it does not exist?
How about this: I am a lamp. But wait humans are not lamps, why call yourself a lamp?
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Brilliant post John.
Let me try and answer some of your questions.
The reason there is a word for atheist is because there is something called theists in the world. If there hadn't been theists in the world, no word would have been necessary to describe someone who doesn't believe in a god. It has nothing to do with whether you're convinced or not.
I don't really understand your lamp question. Could you explain it?
Only some of them.
How about: because a large proportion of people claim that it does exist.
That was another thread. Let's not discuss it here.
Joey why are you posting in a thread about how you became an atheist, when you're not an atheist?
You answer my question first.
If you want to criticise my avatar, do it in "free thoughts" or in a PM.
If you want to discuss whether atheism is a religion, I suggest you make a thread about it. You're derailing this thread with your posts. That's all I'm saying.
If you want to criticise my avatar, do it in "free thoughts" or in a PM.
If you want to discuss whether atheism is a religion, I suggest you make a thread about it. You're derailing this thread with your posts. That's all I'm saying.
Why do you have a modification of my avatar if you're not me?
I doubt it, since it isn't.
Maybe an analogy for theism and atheism is like a child who is rebellion against their parents. If the parents say X, the child will say that Y must be true. If theism says marriage is between man and women, atheism says it has to be Y; add gay marriage. A true individual, not a rebellion idenity, with make a new ritual for the new partner arrangement.
The rebellious child lacks he own identity, apart from the parents, and therefore needs to detach himself and differentiate by first being contrary. Eventually, the child finds themselves and begins to develop objectivity. Then there is truth in many places.
To paraphrase Mark Twain; When I (atheism) was young, my dad (theism) was such an idiot, I could not stand be around him. Now, it is many years later, I am amazed how much my dad has learned. Once atheism grows up, it will see things clearer as it stops being irrational in its attempt to find is own identity.
For example, the basic familty unit is the most efficient set up, requiring the least government suppliment. The rebellious atheist will need to be contrary to common sense, simply because his dumb dad said it first. Once he grows into an individual, then it can be objective.
The rebellious child lacks he own identity, apart from the parents, and therefore needs to detach himself and differentiate by first being contrary. Eventually, the child finds themselves and begins to develop objectivity. Then there is truth in many places.
To paraphrase Mark Twain; When I (atheism) was young, my dad (theism) was such an idiot, I could not stand be around him. Now, it is many years later, I am amazed how much my dad has learned. Once atheism grows up, it will see things clearer as it stops being irrational in its attempt to find is own identity.
For example, the basic familty unit is the most efficient set up, requiring the least government suppliment. The rebellious atheist will need to be contrary to common sense, simply because his dumb dad said it first. Once he grows into an individual, then it can be objective.
I'm just rebelling against bullshit.
Because the phenomenon of religion exists. It's slightly more important than bigfoot in it's effect on society, so there is a term for it.
I wonder if there's a particular reason why theists have to come up with inane (and incorrect and derogatory) analogies for the simple concept of not believing something they do.
Because they're used to being spoon-fed?
"It ain't the parts of the Bible that I can't understand that bother me, it is the parts that I do understand."
"If there is a God, he is a malign thug."
"If there is a God, he is a malign thug."
Mark Twain
Some of the nature systems have reached higher electro-bio-chemical-mechanical forms capable of wider sensing and higher thought considerations. A plant or a snail may but sense sun, moisture, light, dark, insects, warm, cold, ph…
There are such hierarchies in man-made forms, too, such as in a car versus a bike.
Theists may be unsettled as just being a part of organic nature, as they are never so humble but desire special status, even to the point of being God-made and having reward.