optimist

"How do these people abhor hate, prejudice and bigotry via their philosophical opinions?"

First off, if you can justify the rejection of hate by postulating a non-existent God, than an atheist can do it by postulating a non-existent morality. If all you want is a morality, why don't you make-up one less imaginary thing and stay with a self-justifying moral system.

I once had a friend who was a Christian, but whenever they came across some atrocity or bigotry in the Bible, they just assumed it as incorrect. My question to her was, if the Bible is the source of your moral code, by what standard are you judging the events in the Bible?

Obviously she had a sense of right and wrong not stemming from her religion, and she simply refused to abide by the parts of her religion that conflicted with her innate moral system. I would expect this is how most people work. They are born and raised with a certain moral sense, and while they say the Bible or religion is where it comes from, it is really just how they are. A good person will continue to be a good person even if they turn atheist.

I don't think you can give a rational justification for morality under either system, but you can (obviously) have an irrational morality under either.

optimist

"My concern is not with atheism as a philosophical proposition but with atheists as individuals, groups and leaders over nations."

A poem from a book of poetry one of my physics professors wrote:

LET US PRAY

The plains of Persia bear the stench of bodies
rotting in the sun--for
Jihad and the wrath of the Ayatollah;
Behind the Star of David and the ancient
prophecy of Kings
Israelis cower in terror of car bombs and
Make war on their neighbors; the Moral
Majority defends the morality of
Nuclear weapons, and seek to deny as unholy
Abortion, and the right of women to free choice;
An aging President, firm in his faith, discusses
with friends
Nuclear holocaust as the long awaited fulfillment
Of Revelation in our time; the masses,
frightened, turn to fatalism
Or to prayer--Let us all join with them
And pray devoutly for Godless leaders.

Clutch

Sincerely David Mathews,

Read my post.

David Mathews

Hello Everyone,

Does anyone doubt the capacity of atheists to behave in as violent and hateful a manner as anyone else?

I suppose that an atheistic nation can commit moral evils (such as genocide, repression, oppression and slavery) as any theistic nation.

Does anyone disagree?

Sincerely,

David Mathews

Vogelfrei

David Matthews,

Does the desire to post on this board neccesarily discourage hate, bigotry, etc.? Clearly not...but only a dishonest debater would claim that this is relevant, since the desire to post on the board is not related to the sorts of things that cause hate, bigotry, or the reverse.

Hopefully you can see the relevance of this to the lack of restraint or advocation of any position by atheism.

tronvillain

David Mathews, read Clutch's post. Please.

John Page

I love atheism.

Synaesthesia

I suggest that the belief in God is not so important as the culture as a whole. The Christian's desire to avoid hell is, as with the atheist, not so important as the desire to help people, to do what is right for your society and for yourself.

Well, the fact of the matter is that people have to learn about love from their families, their culture, their friends, their enemies.

It's no different with anyone, is it? God doesn't teach you about love, your parents, your community does. If they so choose to preach hatred and violence, that is what you will learn, as surely as if you were an atheist.

Regards,
Synaesthesia

Autonemesis

Hello Everyone,

I am beginning to have doubts about aphilately's devotion to the concept of love and especially the universal love which is commanded by Christianity and the other great hobbies of the world.

What I want to know:

1. How does aphilately define "Love"?

2. Does aphilately command or advocate "love" among aphilatelists?

3. Does aphilately command or advocate "love" in between aphilatelists and Christians?

4. Does aphilately command or advocate "love" in a universal sense?

5. Aphilately does not forbid nor even discourage hate. Yes or No? Please explain.

6. Aphilately does not forbid nor even discourage prejudice and bigotry. Yes or No? Please explain.

7. Aphilately has no command against violence. Yes or no?

Sincerely,

Kind Bud
<a href="http://www.thekindbud.com/dmathew1" target="_blank">Kind Bud's Home Page</a>

[ July 23, 2002: Message edited by: Kind Bud ]</p>

phaedrus

Sigh yet another god thread in this forum, shouldnt this be in EOG or secular lifestyle or something?

David Mathews

I am beginning to have doubts about atheism's devotion to the concept of love and especially the universal love which is commanded by Christianity and the other great religions of the world.

Why have you "begun" to have doubts now? What are the reasons behind the start of this doubting process?

Why should atheism have "devotion" to the concept of love or universal love?

1. How does atheism define "Love"?

Just like human beings do. How do you define love?

2. Does atheism command or advocate "love" among atheists?
3. Does atheism command or advocate "love" in between atheists and Christians?

Are you under the impression that atheism has book of BS or commandments? It doesnt command or advocate anything, it just represents a non-belief in the concept of god. Human beings do not require religion to do things

4. Does atheism command or advocate "love" in a universal sense?

5. Atheism does not forbid nor even discourage hate. Yes or No? Please explain.

6. Atheism does not forbid nor even discourage prejudice and bigotry. Yes or No? Please explain.

7. Atheism has no command against violence. Yes or no?

See above....

PS : Why dont you go to all the threads you started and respond to what people say? Does your god forbid you to respond?