scumble

Great stuff, very refreshing actually.

Like Alonzo, I've been an atheist since I could ask my Dad if he believed in God. Before then, you could say that I hadn't really thought about such things. My Dad answered in the negative, and so my atheist life began. I've been unusually free of any indoctrination whatsoever.

Does anyone else draw a lot of inspiration from eastern philosophy? I suppose Zen Bhuddism gave me a lot to think about. My concept of spirituality has a lot to do with the innate connection humans have with the world, which is often dulled down or ignored. This means that I feel irrationality has to be taken account of in any worldview.

I'd like to hear some more, since I don't know anyone on the forum very well, partly.

snatchbalance

Scumble,

Very good topic; but very difficult, at least for me, to address in any sort of succinct manner.

I came to be an atheist through a long and twisted path. I have rejected any sort of god, ghost, spirit, etc. I came to this conclusion about 6 years ago. I have never looked back.

At this piont my life revolves around my various relationships, attempts at producing meaningful(to me) art and work, and simply learning new things.

As far as thiests go, I generally divide them into 3 catagories:

1. Those that are still confused, but are still genuinely looking for answers. I have real empathy for such people.

2. Those that are thoroughly deluded and attempt to justify and spread thier delusions. If given a chance they will impose them on others. I generally try to avoid such beings; I generally feel something of a contempt for them. (Of course, this phenomenon is not limited to the religiously inclined; any type of idealogue can be just as guilty.)

3. The unthinking masses. Such people can be very good, productive and worthwhile; I have relations with a number of such people. For whatever reason they seem to have a blind spot, or a need, that just won't go away.

Anyway, I find humor and good cheer to be contagious; I try to spread it around.

I could go on.

SB

Fiach

There is only an empty list for Atheist's World View. Even God is not listed. Atheists are Labourites, Liberals, Tories/Conservatives, Libertarians, Socialists, Fascists, hunters, animal rights advocates, nationalists, one-worlders, drinkers, non-drinkers, smokers and non-smokers, haggis eaters and haggis haters, etc.

An Atheist's world view is not an Atheistic world view for there is no such thing. His/her world view is as varied as the theists. Some theists accept the fact of evolution and some reject it for the Magical Creation of Genesis 1,2. Most of the latter are in the USA, and third world nations.

You cannot predict my political views from my Atheism. I happen to be liberal, yet also a Scottish Nationalist. One of my goals is to restore Gaelic to Scotland as an official language and teach it in the schools. Does any of that sound Atheistic?

Then I already have my mansion on the hill.

<a href="http://image1ex.villagephotos.com/pubimage.asp?id_=471123&uid=37401" target="_blank">http://image1ex.villagephotos.com/pubimage.asp?id_=471123&uid=37401</A>

Fiach

hinduwoman

To me atheism is only a component of my world-view, not the whole thing.

It means, ---
1) don't have to go the temple or perform rituals
2)don't have to worry about hell or heaven
3) I make my own moral values

that is all.

My politics and economic beliefs --- like not having credit cards has nothing to do with atheism.

David Mathews

Hello Everyone,

The most remarkable thing about this thread is the near total absence of any worldviews among these atheists.

I don't imagine that there are any atheists who are more rational than theists:

Atheists are as ignorant about reality as theists. Atheists make as many guesses as theists. Atheists possess as many errors as theists. Atheists are just as imperceptive, and their perceptions are just as fallible, as theists.

You all have demonstrates that Atheism's claim of rationality is an empty, meaningless and utterly false boast.

If anyone disagrees, please do speak.

Best Regards,

David Mathews

philechat

Instead of making blind assertions, why don't you offer some evidence about atheists being irrational?

Atheists do not have a unified worldview. Most existential questions in our lives are, indeed, inaccessible to logic and based on individual choices (that would be, subjective to each person).

The burden of proof lies on the person claiming the (objective) existence of God. If we see no evidences of God we could assume his existence to be irrelevent. Otherwise please prove to me that Ma-Tsu (sea goddess widely worshipped in Taiwan) does not exist and interfere with human lives.

[ July 27, 2002: Message edited by: philechat ]</p>

Liquidrage

This is why many people want you banned David.

It's not that you are smart or clever. It's not that you can be this dumb either.

It's that you are purposely being an ass. You know full well that atheism makes no such claim.
It is you David that makes the claim.
You are lying and being deceitful David by putting forth that which you know is untrue.

Autonemesis

What is a worldview, precisely?

I don't imagine you do.

Why do theists want to backfill their ignorance of reality with ideas of god? Is all knowledge "received" or can you actually teach yourself something new, something that no one else has ever learned before?

I need chain of reasoning for this conclusion, please. I don't see how this follows from what you have said before. It seems like you just abruptly change the subject every few statements, sort of like you are reciting a bunch of unrelated phrases pulled randomly from a hat.

BH, are you running some version of Eliza? Have I uncovered the joke at last?

[ July 27, 2002: Message edited by: Kind Bud ]</p>

scumble

I think, David, if you bother to take in our thoughts, that you will find:

a) none of us claim to have a complete worldview
b) some of us aren't sure what we mean by "worldview"
c) there are valid perceptions of reality here - and you are incapable of offering any argument to counter any of our points.
Firstly, you have a pretty poor imagination. Second, you haven't shown and immensely good record of rationality yourself.

You seem to understand this quite well. The trouble is, Theists claim a superior knowledge of reality. What is your point? Explain please. btw, you've just contradicted your previous statement.
Based on the above comment of yours, that most of us, recognising our ignorance, don't find it wise to believe in things of which we have no experience. It seems quite rational to me not to believe in God when it doesn't have any reality for me, and it's honest.

You already know the answer. If you have better ideas, say something rather than making outrageous claims about atheists.

You're actually rather pathetic David. Why don't you share things with us instead of maintianing this ridiculous front?

Forgetting Dave for the moment, has anyone got more thoughts to contribute?

Fiach - I worded the thread title carefully to avoid suggesting that this is an answer to David's misguided questions.

David Mathews

Hello Everyone,

Wait a second, people, a relax just a little.

The following statement:

Atheism is rational.

Is not a claim of atheists about their atheism?

If it is not a claim/boast of atheists about atheism, I won't need to criticize it.

I must say that in my life I have had numerous conversations with atheists on discussion boards, yahoo groups, newsgroups (alt.atheism, of course, in 1998), and directly face-to-face and also over the telephone. I have read books and magazine articles written by atheists.

Somehow through the course of all this contact with atheism, I got the impression that atheists do make the claim:

Atheism is rational.

Especially in the comparative sense relative to theists and especially Christians.

Now you are telling me that atheists make no such claim/boast. Is that correct?

Best Regards,

David Mathews