Is everyone an atheist?

**momo8** · 29-09-2008, 09:35 PM

Skeptics Society for me. Skeptic: Home: The Skeptics Society & Skeptic magazine

**Norton** · 01-10-2008, 02:41 PM

Originally Posted by spiff

I doubt there are any 'atheist' groups as such celebrating the absence of god.

There may be a few but I agree there would be little to "celebrate". Most atheist organizations exist to oppose government imposition of "religion" into the laws governing it's citizens.

Originally Posted by November Rain

I would rather stick needles in my eyes than join one.

I feel the same about any organization be it a theist (religious) or atheist organization. Mainstream religions all have one thing in common. Life sucks and if one follows the rules of a particular religion they will be rewarded by having everlasting life (immortality) in paradise or have an end to their suffering as the Buddhists believe.

I think it's important to separate theism and religion. With the exception of Buddhism which doesn't address the subject, all mainstream religions are theists but all theists don't claim a particular religion to be the "true" religion. Both theists and atheists can accept they are mortal and have but one chance at living a rewarding life.

Having had the misfortune to hear the dying words of many avowed atheist, I believe there are very few hard core atheists.

"There are no atheists in the foxholes"

**spiff** · 01-10-2008, 05:50 PM

Originally Posted by Norton

Originally Posted by "spiff"

I doubt there are any 'atheist' groups as such celebrating the absence of god.

There may be a few but I agree there would be little to "celebrate". Most atheist organizations exist to oppose government imposition of "religion" into the laws governing it's citizens.

That's right.

I think it's important to separate theism and religion. With the exception of Buddhism which doesn't address the subject, all mainstream religions are theists but all theists don't claim a particular religion to be the "true" religion. Both theists and atheists can accept they are mortal and have but one chance at living a rewarding life.

Yes, theism and religion are not the same. I prefer the term 'spirituality' which covers all shades of the thing with or without organisation.

Buddhism does recognise the existence of god-like beings, this is prominent in Mahayana Buddhism, but it regards them as temporary manifestations, not the ultimate principle.

Reincarnation is a central tenent of Buddhism, and it features in other religions as well. Most, if not all, religions claim that there is some sort of continuation of existence after death.

**Norton** · 01-10-2008, 05:56 PM

Originally Posted by spiff

Buddhism does recognise the existence of god-like beings, this is prominent in Mahayana Buddhism, but it regards them as temporary manifestations, not the ultimate principle.

Yes recognition of god like beings or manifestations exit but the end game is the cessation of rebirth. Reincarnation only means one has not yet achieved the final state.

**Dalton** · 03-10-2008, 02:31 AM

did anybody see the movie "flat-liners" ?? Maybe we should conduct an experiment...Let some of the true believers test there faith in god....

**sunsetter** · 03-10-2008, 02:57 AM

Originally Posted by momo8

Have you also had close encounters with aliens?

i saw one once, and im certain! dont know what i am, but dont believe in god or anything like religion, i believe there maybe something else, like we are an experiment or something, put here by humans from the future, something like that
dosent evolution say something about religion being compete fantasy?
i dunno, makes for good thinking though

**alphagirl** · 03-10-2008, 03:48 AM

Originally Posted by Dalton

did anybody see the movie "flat-liners" ?? Maybe we should conduct an experiment...Let some of the true believers test there faith in god....

i LIKE IT SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD IDEA

**sunsetter** · 03-10-2008, 12:54 PM

it sure does^

**Bigleg** · 03-10-2008, 04:17 PM

Seems like everyone one I know is an Atheist, I, due to science, see the Bible as a massively floored historical document.

Darwin for me.

**benlovesnuk** · 05-10-2008, 11:11 PM

Darwin for one, though he grew up with religion, just as Einstein did as this is typical of the time, and in most senses still is.
However due to propaganda and also the fact that the term god by scientists can be used in a sense to describe something that isnt in regard the same meaning as that which deity religion gives it, often is used to make an association that he was also not an atheist and in fcat believes in god! however actual biographic reading shows that on a scale that Einstien was almost definitely an atheist this is based on his attitudes whilst he was living.
Although in a sense it is irrelevant to look at people for a reason to be atheist or religious, by all means by data and understandings that they can produce in a scientific or mathematical equation or theory but not just on the flawed concept of having faith, this to the downfall and digression of many people in today for idiom of this inclination that science should have made clear and separate!

oh well they will know they were all atheists when they die and nothing is there infinity!

**HermantheGerman** · 06-10-2008, 02:22 AM

Originally Posted by zedhex

I came accross this one on a blog somewhere, so I thought I'd air it on here for comments:

If you believe in any religion, you must (by definition) not believe in other the hundreds of other faiths scattered around the planet. Therefore, no matter what you believe, you are an atheist by the estimate of the other faiths. For example, if you believe in the Christian god, then you cannot be a buddhist. Therefore the buddhist could call you an unbeliever, and vice versa.

So are we all atheists?

So, why do men have nipples? Because females do.

....and since religion never answered me this simple question...YES I'am an Atheist

**whosyadaddy** · 25-12-2008, 07:10 AM

you don't have to believe in something for it to be true

the truth stands on no-ones shoulders

if *any* religion was true, it would be recognised by every living creature instinctively.

i'm yet to see a lion a tiger or a bear (my, my) go to midnight mass, jumma prayers, light festivals or what have you

but then again, atheism is a bit of a religion in itself

DaffyDuck · 25-12-2008, 11:04 AM

Originally Posted by zedhex

Therefore, no matter what you believe, you are an atheist by the estimate of the other faiths.

Wrong - according to most fundamentalist Christian believers, *anyone* who does not believe exactly as they do, by definition, is a Satanist.

Must be comforting to live in a cookie cutter world.

**Rural Surin** · 25-12-2008, 11:10 AM

Originally Posted by Bigleg

Seems like everyone one I know is an Atheist, I, due to science, see the Bible as a massively floored historical document.

Darwin for me.

I certainly wouldn't use Darwin as a measuring stick for anything, less a standard.

**Rural Surin** · 25-12-2008, 11:12 AM

John Lennon - God

**Kikiat2009** · 25-12-2008, 11:42 AM

organised religion is nothing more than a bunch of fairy tales to keep the massas in line, from a time when there was no law and order.

it's the same as the boogieman, sandman, toothfairy, santa claus, it's all make belief

**Kikiat2009** · 25-12-2008, 11:53 AM

wow, what a slammin' body, I'd become religious for her, no worries

**spiff** · 25-12-2008, 12:56 PM

Originally Posted by whosyadaddy

you don't have to believe in something for it to be true

Yes, and the reverse is also true.

Originally Posted by whosyadaddy

if *any* religion was true, it would be recognised by every living creature instinctively.

There is no instinct which concerns itself with truth. Instincts drive survival-related behaviour.

Originally Posted by whosyadaddy

i'm yet to see a lion a tiger or a bear (my, my) go to midnight mass, jumma prayers, light festivals or what have you

I have yet to see a lion contemplating the nature of the universe and sharing its thoughts with bears. What a silly remark!

**Rural Surin** · 25-12-2008, 01:05 PM

Originally Posted by DaffyDuck

Originally Posted by zedhex

Therefore, no matter what you believe, you are an atheist by the estimate of the other faiths.

Wrong - according to most fundamentalist Christian believers, *anyone* who does not believe exactly as they do, by definition, is a Satanist.

Must be comforting to live in a cookie cutter world.

Cookie cutter...look around, most do.

**spiff** · 25-12-2008, 01:24 PM

Daffy 'dislikes' Christianity, hence his uninformed hyperbole.

DaffyDuck · 25-12-2008, 01:57 PM

Originally Posted by Rural Surin

Cookie cutter...look around, most do.

Not gonna disagree with you there, friend... Seems to correlate with the same demographic representing dumb people in the world.

Thus, I segue right into illustrative examples:

Originally Posted by sunsetter

Originally Posted by momo8

Have you also had close encounters with aliens?

i saw one once, and im certain! dont know what i am, but dont believe in god or anything like religion, i believe there maybe something else, like we are an experiment or something, put here by humans from the future, something like that
dosent evolution say something about religion being compete fantasy?
i dunno, makes for good thinking though

... not sure about the thinking part, there, unless you are not referring to your own. That post was just too scary, for so many different reasons.

Originally Posted by Bigleg

Seems like everyone one I know is an Atheist, I, due to science, see the Bible as a massively floored historical document.

Darwin for me.

This is dependent on the art of reading books, and how many inches off the floor you ingest them? Hence, the Bible is best read while laying flat on the floor. Is that it?

It just makes you want to cry.

**Kikiat2009** · 25-12-2008, 03:02 PM

if I told you I had a conversation with a talking snake, would you believe me, or tell me I've gone bonkers?

**spiff** · 25-12-2008, 03:05 PM

Got some pics of the snake?

**Rural Surin** · 25-12-2008, 03:20 PM

**whosyadaddy** · 26-12-2008, 01:40 AM

Originally Posted by spiff

Originally Posted by whosyadaddy

you don't have to believe in something for it to be true

Yes, and the reverse is also true.

Originally Posted by whosyadaddy

if *any* religion was true, it would be recognised by every living creature instinctively.

There is no instinct which concerns itself with truth. Instincts drive survival-related behaviour.

Originally Posted by whosyadaddy

i'm yet to see a lion a tiger or a bear (my, my) go to midnight mass, jumma prayers, light festivals or what have you

I have yet to see a lion contemplating the nature of the universe and sharing its thoughts with bears. What a silly remark!

1. semantics - the reverse is a trait more consistent with those incapable of construct recognition

2. if an apple drops and your hand instinctively reaches out towards - where's the survival related behaviour?
instinct is 'hard coded' behaviour not contrained by just survival - it's a patterned response
and if animals do not exhibit hard coded behaviour in support of a religion what does that say about the religion?

surely, god would code everything to obey, to recognise his 'greatness'

3. do u speak lion or bear?
grab the concept not the literal.

What a silly remark!

if you didn't understand it - doesn't make it silly

thats what happens when ya always take the blue pill

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