Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Tarnaak · 05-07-2003, 06:54 PM

Having read and responded to many posts, I am curious, as I have yet to find an answer (not that the question has been posed).

For those that are atheist, why are you?

and also,

What do you believe as far as life after death?

I pose this as a serious question. I personally do not know any actual atheist, I do know some that believe in "a god" but not Christianity per se.

Thanks,

James

Pyrrho · 05-07-2003, 07:06 PM

There are many reasons. First, I have heard no reason worthy of the name to believe in any god. Second, the Problem of Evil shows that any God worthy of the name could not be. Third, it is too much trouble to explain to people that they have failed to use a meaningful expression when they utter the term "god", and so I am an "atheist" rather than someone who asks them to explain what they mean by the term "god".

philechat · 05-07-2003, 07:26 PM

What does "a god" means? If the term "god" refers to the sun (as the Egyptians would believe) then of course I believe in the sun. If the term "god" refers to "an object of worship" then people could probably call their bf/gf a god if they were lucky.

Let's say I don't believe in "gods" as defined as "supernatural personal beings whom we worship". I am an atheist with respect to these gods.

Tarnaak · 05-07-2003, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Pyrrho
There are many reasons. First, I have heard no reason worthy of the name to believe in any god. Second, the Problem of Evil shows that any God worthy of the name could not be. Third, it is too much trouble to explain to people that they have failed to use a meaningful expression when they utter the term "god", and so I am an "atheist" rather than someone who asks them to explain what they mean by the term "god".

A follow up question if you dont mind;

What do believe as far as life after death?

WinAce · 05-07-2003, 07:40 PM

Judging by the dependence of the mind on the physical brain, that's fairly obvious...

Starboy · 05-07-2003, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tarnaak
Having read and responded to many posts, I am curious, as I have yet to find an answer (not that the question has been posed).

For those that are atheist, why are you?

and also,

What do you believe as far as life after death?

I pose this as a serious question. I personally do not know any actual atheist, I do know some that believe in "a god" but not Christianity per se.

Thanks,

James

Like everyone on the planet I was born an atheist. I have always been an atheist. The question should be 'Why be religious?' No one has been able to answer that satisfactorily. Mostly what I get is a lot of stupid answers.

Starboy

Straight Hate · 05-07-2003, 07:49 PM

"Why not?"

The flippantly smug works against anything.

Calzaer · 05-07-2003, 08:14 PM

Is there still an Atheist Testimony thread in SL&S?

pariah · 05-07-2003, 08:15 PM

according to my friends, its because its the "cool" thing to do AHGHGHGGGGG

but its because i read the bible once. thats what made me an atheist.

Ricomise · 05-07-2003, 08:57 PM

Hello Tarnaak.

Why am I an atheist? Well, it's a somewhat complicated question, but the short answer is that I have never seen anything that would lead me to believe any such entity exists.

Further, I find that the concept of God as professed by the "Western Religions" to be logically contradictory.

Even though I was brought up in a Christian Church, at some point I realized that no one had ever shown me any credible evidence that God was real. All I had was stories of ancient peoples that contained similar concepts and ideas to the stories of many many other cultures that were not accepted by the religious as true. In the Existence of God forum, you will find many threads discussing the specific reasons many find the concept of God incredible.

As far as "life after death" I find the idea contradictory. One is either alive or not. One is comprised of a complex combination of molecules that interact in a very specific way to make one "conscious." When one dies, those interactions are no longer ocurring, and that "consciousness" ceases to exist. The matter that comprised the individual may remain (and will eventually, change form, i.e. be broken down into its componant chemicals and perhaps be absorbed inyo other living things) but that person, as an individual conscious entity, ceases to be.

THanks, and I hope this helps to answer your questions.

05-07-2003, 06:54 PM	#1
Tarnaak Regular Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: USA Posts: 106	Why are you an atheist? Having read and responded to many posts, I am curious, as I have yet to find an answer (not that the question has been posed). For those that are atheist, why are you? and also, What do you believe as far as life after death? I pose this as a serious question. I personally do not know any actual atheist, I do know some that believe in "a god" but not Christianity per se. Thanks, James

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05-07-2003, 07:06 PM	#2
Pyrrho Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: United States Posts: 7,351	There are many reasons. First, I have heard no reason worthy of the name to believe in any god. Second, the Problem of Evil shows that any God worthy of the name could not be. Third, it is too much trouble to explain to people that they have failed to use a meaningful expression when they utter the term "god", and so I am an "atheist" rather than someone who asks them to explain what they mean by the term "god".

05-07-2003, 07:26 PM	#3
philechat Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Mind of the Other Posts: 886	What does "a god" means? If the term "god" refers to the sun (as the Egyptians would believe) then of course I believe in the sun. If the term "god" refers to "an object of worship" then people could probably call their bf/gf a god if they were lucky. Let's say I don't believe in "gods" as defined as "supernatural personal beings whom we worship". I am an atheist with respect to these gods.

05-07-2003, 07:40 PM	#5
WinAce Beloved Deceased Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Carrboro, NC Posts: 1,539	Judging by the dependence of the mind on the physical brain, that's fairly obvious...

05-07-2003, 07:49 PM	#7
Straight Hate Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Winnipeg, Canada Posts: 4,171	"Why not?" The flippantly smug works against anything.

05-07-2003, 08:14 PM	#8
Calzaer Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Ohio Posts: 2,762	Is there still an Atheist Testimony thread in SL&S?

05-07-2003, 08:15 PM	#9
pariah Banned Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: الرياض Posts: 6,456	according to my friends, its because its the "cool" thing to do AHGHGHGGGGG but its because i read the bible once. thats what made me an atheist.

05-07-2003, 08:57 PM	#10
Ricomise Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 65	Hello Tarnaak. Why am I an atheist? Well, it's a somewhat complicated question, but the short answer is that I have never seen anything that would lead me to believe any such entity exists. Further, I find that the concept of God as professed by the "Western Religions" to be logically contradictory. Even though I was brought up in a Christian Church, at some point I realized that no one had ever shown me any credible evidence that God was real. All I had was stories of ancient peoples that contained similar concepts and ideas to the stories of many many other cultures that were not accepted by the religious as true. In the Existence of God forum, you will find many threads discussing the specific reasons many find the concept of God incredible. As far as "life after death" I find the idea contradictory. One is either alive or not. One is comprised of a complex combination of molecules that interact in a very specific way to make one "conscious." When one dies, those interactions are no longer ocurring, and that "consciousness" ceases to exist. The matter that comprised the individual may remain (and will eventually, change form, i.e. be broken down into its componant chemicals and perhaps be absorbed inyo other living things) but that person, as an individual conscious entity, ceases to be. THanks, and I hope this helps to answer your questions.

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