truthie

Now you know how it feels...
You have generalized about atheists before, remember?

I hope you have learned a lesson through this experience.

T.

Kassiana

I was wondering if there are some types of people of whom atheism does not fit? That it's actually better if they weren't atheists?
--Of course. There are ex-atheists out there who, for whatever reason, needed/wanted theistic beliefs instead.

DNAinaGoodway

I voted no.

There is too much variation in us for all to be atheists.

There will always be believers.

Bright Life

What she said.



BL

JohNeo

Even atheists have to take certain things like science on faith--no one has the time or the skill to go and scientifically prove everything, and in most cases there is little need to re-test what has already been tested. Faith in things that can be tested is a reasonable faith, faith in things that ultimately are unknowable, well--is not. Scientific claims that are grounded in reason should be accepted unless one is so compelled to disprove a particular claim. The benefit of science is that science can disprove previously held notions, but it takes a postive conclusion to do so. Science doesn't disprove theories and then leave nothing in return.

The ethic of empirical science is such that it does not seek only answers that fit a particular paradigm; rather it often changes paradigms in the process. The purpose of science is not to debunk religious doctrine, but often times it just does. Funny, I can't think of any instances where people went to war over the law of gravity, or when someone was imprisoned and tortured for refusing to believe in the theory of relativity.

My thought is that the debate about "why are we here" assumes that there is intent for everything. Why only describes motive, which requires a personality as the cause. All scientific evidence at our current state of knowledge points to an impersonal universe, and to many the prospect that the only personality we know lies only within evolved mammals is too frightening to accept. We want to believe (collectively) that there is some greater personality out there so that we may feel we have a connection to a greater purpose. The bigger our knowledge of the universe becomes, the more desperate some people become to understand our place in it.

To me, the universe is too big for us to really matter as a whole. But since we are confined to these tiny bodies, we need to find the meaning within and amongst ourselves and be what we are and do our best. I am optimistic, like the late Carl Sagan, that our greater purpose has yet to be tapped and that it is entirely up to us to guide it and achieve it.

I do think that in the absence of faith, people could do quite well if they stuck to what they knew and didn't try to be something they aren't. I believe that religion, despite its good intentions, is so propped up by layer upon layer of lies, riddles and threats that it is not worth believing or preserving. Science does not make us feel special, granted, but it also doesn't threaten us with eternal torment if we get it wrong.

My thoughts that the world would be in chaos without religion only stem from the religious worldview in which I was raised and by which I am still surrounded. Interesting, religion seems to be alive and well, but then so do murder, hate, war, etc. :huh:

So yes, I do think atheism would work best for people. Getting them there of course is the harder part. I guess the best time for people to re-examine faith is when their lives are working, when their mental state is positive and when they can be self-reliant enough to face their fears of mortality.

JohNeo

Biff the unclean

Why is it that every time someone mentions supporting Atheism in public that you feel the need to portray it in such extremes? That would seem to be intentionally misrepresenting opinions by aggrandizing them into something absurd.

Garnet

Bravo JohNeo! :notworthy

TexasRose30

I will have to disagree here. Science does uncover the truth, little by little and in stages. The difference between science and faith is that the scientific method encourages questioning the current theories. As my graduate school research advisor told me, "We're always bending over backwards to prove ourselves wrong and poke holes in our own theories." Show me a religion with that same attitude, and I might have some respect for it. The fact is, our knowledge is always growing and changing, and any method that tries to freeze it (i.e. an arbitrary religious text) is ridiculous.

Texas Rose

Plognark

Well said! :notworthy

TexasRose30

Thanks. I forgot to say, I voted yes on that poll. On general principle, I think honesty and critical thinking would make the world (on average) a better place, and I just don't see religion doing that.

Texas Rose