Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Wyz_sub10 · 01-07-2003, 06:18 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Amie
Not difficult to understand just a different belief. Like Gemma, I too am interested in what leads people the conclusions they come to...

I think what I would stress, though (and this may seem like splitting hairs) is that, for many atheists, it is not an active belief at all. They simply do not think about it.

I don't believe that there's a ghost haunting my parking garage (nor has anyone suggested as much). Technically you could call this position a 'belief'. But it is a 'belief in the negative'. By the same token, you would have a google of beliefs - belief that orange donkeys aren't stealing your celery, belief that car honks do not sound like Andy Griffith to everyone but you, belief that schizzel isn't a froopy on the mizam, etc.

Do you see the distinction I am trying to draw? I too, BTW, am interested in beliefs and their origins.

Quote:

Gemma I started a couple of threads in Secular Lifestyle asking questions. I think thats really the best way to gain an understanding of anyone...
take care of yourself at school...
Much love
Amie

I'll take a look at those threads, but....ah, never mind.

And thank you for the well-wishes, but I have long since finished university and am done grad school.

Proxima Centauri · 01-07-2003, 07:04 AM

The trouble is, I fear Gemma Therese can't think beyond,
"

Roman Catholic Faith is Good!
Atheist Arguments are bad!
I'm wonderfully superior to the Atheists because my Faith is Stronger than any Rational Argument

"
Is there any way we can help her to think better?

Gemma Therese · 01-07-2003, 07:23 AM

Wow, a whole thread dedicated to me! I feel so important!

By the pyschology of atheism, I wonder how people's minds go from theistic -> atheistic, remain atheist, or remain theist, or go from atheist to theist.

There is a book by that same title somewhere.

I am interested in people in general, and I almost went into social anthropology.

Gemma Therese

Proxima Centauri · 01-07-2003, 07:46 AM

Go to the home page of the Internet Infidels Type the word, "DECONVERSION" into the search engine at the top right of the page. You will find the material which interests you.

Taffsadar · 01-07-2003, 09:06 AM

It's easy to understand an atheist. Just belive that there isn't a ghost in your oven. Thats atheism in a nutshell.

KnightWhoSaysNi · 01-07-2003, 09:53 AM

Gemma,

Here's an excerpt from Dan Barker's Losing Faith in Faith: From Preacher to Atheist:

Quote:

But my mind did not go to sleep. In my thirst for knowledge I did not limit myself to Christian authors but curiously desired to understand the reasoning behind nonChristian thinking. I figured the only way to truly grasp a subject was to look at it from all sides. If I had limited myself to Christian books I would probably still be a Christian today. I read philosophy, theology, science and psychology. I studied evolution and natural history. I read Bertrand Russell, Thomas Paine, Ayn Rand, John Dewey and others. At first I laughed at these worldly thinkers, but I eventually started discovering some disturbing facts--facts that discredited Christianity. I tried to ignore these facts because they did not integrate with my religious world view.

For years I went through an intense inner conflict. On the one hand I was happy with the direction and fulfillment of my Christian life; on the other hand I had intellectual doubts. Faith and reason began a war within me. And it kept escalating. I would cry out to God for answers, and none would come. Like the battered wife who clings to hope, I kept trusting that God would someday come through. He never did.

Also, check out the atheist testimonies if you haven't done so already.

01-07-2003, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Nightshade
Gemma,

Here's an excerpt from Dan Barker's Losing Faith in Faith: From Preacher to Atheist:

For years I went through an intense inner conflict. On the one hand I was happy with the direction and fulfillment of my Christian life; on the other hand I had intellectual doubts. Faith and reason began a war within me. And it kept escalating. I would cry out to God for answers, and none would come. Like the battered wife who clings to hope, I kept trusting that God would someday come through. He never did.

Yes but his faith was empty and built upon the brushwood of the protestant church. Notice how for Barker there was "no rest by day or by night" and you can read the rest of the above quote in Rev.14:6-12.

Ronin · 01-07-2003, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Was this thread about the political agenda of anti-theism, or about the psychology of atheism?

It is about ~ "helping Gemma Therese understand the psychology of atheism", Loverboy.

Contrasting the Raelians with the Vatican was my way of trying to indicate to Gemma how one can better understand the psychology of atheism.

It really isn't at all difficult to see the ludicrous nature of theism when put in the context I presented.

My post also offers how an atheist may be psychologically disposed to refute such nonsense in order to bring some sanity to an addle-brained world.

Oh...and I'm *not* anti-theism, rather I am pro-rational thought.

rdalin · 01-07-2003, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Gemma Therese
By the pyschology of atheism, I wonder how people's minds go from theistic -> atheistic, remain atheist, or remain theist, or go from atheist to theist.

There is a book by that same title somewhere.

I am interested in people in general, and I almost went into social anthropology.

Gemma Therese

I've been an atheist all my life. I can't conceive of any reason to change.

What's the philosophy of theism? Why do people continue to believe in something that to me is obviously false?

Regards,

Richard

Keith Russell · 01-07-2003, 07:35 PM

Greetings:

I never believed, though for a time during my childhood I really wanted to.

At best, I was an agnostic, then became atheist.

I like the 'ghost' analogy. I don't look at the stars and say 'there's no 'God' there'; Ie look at the stars, and see only the stars...I don't think of 'God' (not even to think of the absence of 'God') at all.

Keith.

01-07-2003, 07:04 AM	#12
Proxima Centauri Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: England, the EU. Posts: 2,403	How do we Help Gemma Therese? The trouble is, I fear Gemma Therese can't think beyond, " Roman Catholic Faith is Good! Atheist Arguments are bad! I'm wonderfully superior to the Atheists because my Faith is Stronger than any Rational Argument " Is there any way we can help her to think better?

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01-07-2003, 07:23 AM	#13
Gemma Therese Senior Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: new york Posts: 608	Wow, a whole thread dedicated to me! I feel so important! By the pyschology of atheism, I wonder how people's minds go from theistic -> atheistic, remain atheist, or remain theist, or go from atheist to theist. There is a book by that same title somewhere. I am interested in people in general, and I almost went into social anthropology. Gemma Therese

01-07-2003, 07:46 AM	#14
Proxima Centauri Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: England, the EU. Posts: 2,403	Go to the home page of the Internet Infidels Type the word, "DECONVERSION" into the search engine at the top right of the page. You will find the material which interests you.

01-07-2003, 09:06 AM	#15
Taffsadar Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: The land of the free, Sweden Posts: 27	It's easy to understand an atheist. Just belive that there isn't a ghost in your oven. Thats atheism in a nutshell.

01-07-2003, 07:35 PM	#20
Keith Russell Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Overland Park, Kansas Posts: 1,336	Greetings: I never believed, though for a time during my childhood I really wanted to. At best, I was an agnostic, then became atheist. I like the 'ghost' analogy. I don't look at the stars and say 'there's no 'God' there'; Ie look at the stars, and see only the stars...I don't think of 'God' (not even to think of the absence of 'God') at all. Keith.

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