Freethought & Rationalism Archive

catman · 12-17-2002, 09:20 PM

Philosoft--you are right it is a stereotype--but I have found it to be most common among atheist I have met on the internet. In real life, too. I once had this college professor using his lunch hour promoting marxism on his own. I was finally able to convince him that living in a state having equality and state regulated occupations forced upon you would do much make people lack the motivation and drive that a capitalistic nation compels people to have without it being forced. But even after I got him to give up on marxism his left wing views were still too much for me. I hate the very thought of that guy.

Amie · 12-17-2002, 09:23 PM

Hi catman
I really hope that everything works out with your family...

however regarding this statement:

Quote:

But I am giving god til Friday to answer my prayers concerning my family.

and this one

Quote:

Once I become an atheist the next time, I will not become a christian ever again.

so if your prayers are not answered to your liking you'll go from believing in god to not just because he has not met a deadline? seems like a silly reason to be an atheist...

Quote:

I almost hope that they don't get answered.

then why pray at all?

Infinity Lover · 12-17-2002, 09:42 PM

Like Amie (hallo schat

) I don't quite see what you're up to.

Atheism is a lack of belief thus reached and maintained through reason.

It sounds like you don't believe in the supernatural, but chose to remain a Christian anymway, and are now looking for some justification for yourself. And that's a silly sound.

Beoran · 12-18-2002, 12:25 AM

Atheism is just a very minute idea that can be compatible with many different politcal and cultural vews. Atheism means just that you don't believe that god(s) exist. You need not become a marxist, certainly not.

catman · 12-18-2002, 08:13 AM

Goddamn it--it looks like my prayer is going to be answered. Things are looking up family wise and this is only fucking Wednesday. Well, I am not going to be a christian like I was any more no matter what. I need some peace of mind.

Philosoft · 12-18-2002, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by catman:
Philosoft--you are right it is a stereotype--but I have found it to be most common among atheist I have met on the internet.

I don't know how many atheists you have interacted with online, so I suppose it's possible most or all of them have been Marxists or communists or socialists of one kind or another.

Now, if you've only interacted with two or three, I hope you can see the problems generalizing those cases to a population might cause.

OTOH, if you claim to have met 60 or 70, I would say one of two things:
1. You are mistaken. The atheists in question either are not socialists or exist in fewer numbers than you recall.
2. You have been exclusively visiting socialist/marxist/communist-atheist websites.

Quote:

In real life, too. I once had this college professor using his lunch hour promoting marxism on his own. I was finally able to convince him that living in a state having equality and state regulated occupations forced upon you would do much make people lack the motivation and drive that a capitalistic nation compels people to have without it being forced. But even after I got him to give up on marxism his left wing views were still too much for me. I hate the very thought of that guy.

Is it possible you are generalizing from one or two cases like this?

Beoran · 12-18-2002, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by catman:
Goddamn it--it looks like my prayer is going to be answered. Things are looking up family wise and this is only fucking Wednesday. Well, I am not going to be a christian like I was any more no matter what. I need some peace of mind.

I remember a catholic priest stating that
"goddamn" was ths shortest and most powerful prayer in existance. Bah. Anyway, it sounds like you still are stuck some where upon the idea of prayer. You need not pray. If things work out in your family, then it is because you and your family members have found a way to make things work.

philechat · 12-18-2002, 01:25 PM

"If he knows all, why warn him of our needs and fatigue him with our prayers?"

~Percy Bysshe Shelley

Perhaps we should leave God alone so that He may, well, just have a moment of Bach?

catman · 12-18-2002, 04:48 PM

Well, I have been studying this thing about the brain. We really have two brains in one head. Anyway, I didn't pray to god what I wanted to happen because it says in the bible that god knows your needs even before you ask for them. So--I just merely gave god a deadline to meet in accordance to the timing in my right brain. So, it looks like now that god is finally going to resolve some issues with my family. If anyone would care to read my study of the brain I will gladly post it. It is becoming very lenghty but it is one of the most fascinating things I have ever written. I can now read about topics on the brain and how our thought process and dreams work and laugh at them because I know more--thanks, apparently, to god. I will start a new thread and post my discertation any way--it may take several posts. Nope it only took one post--check it out.

[ December 18, 2002: Message edited by: catman ]

Philosoft · 12-18-2002, 05:12 PM

Catman,

Your reaction to your "answered prayer" is decidely odd. Regards the family situation you speak of, was whatever happened so unlikely that a supernatural explanation is preferrable? It certainly seems strange that the J-C God would answer a prayer that was apparently given so mockingly, as if God was answering your prayer out of spite because he is aware of your unease with Christianity. Although it seems like you don't give God much credit for being a nice guy.

12-18-2002, 04:48 PM	#19
catman Banned Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Ohio Posts: 102	Well, I have been studying this thing about the brain. We really have two brains in one head. Anyway, I didn't pray to god what I wanted to happen because it says in the bible that god knows your needs even before you ask for them. So--I just merely gave god a deadline to meet in accordance to the timing in my right brain. So, it looks like now that god is finally going to resolve some issues with my family. If anyone would care to read my study of the brain I will gladly post it. It is becoming very lenghty but it is one of the most fascinating things I have ever written. I can now read about topics on the brain and how our thought process and dreams work and laugh at them because I know more--thanks, apparently, to god. I will start a new thread and post my discertation any way--it may take several posts. Nope it only took one post--check it out. [ December 18, 2002: Message edited by: catman ]</p>

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12-17-2002, 09:20 PM	#11
catman Banned Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Ohio Posts: 102	Philosoft--you are right it is a stereotype--but I have found it to be most common among atheist I have met on the internet. In real life, too. I once had this college professor using his lunch hour promoting marxism on his own. I was finally able to convince him that living in a state having equality and state regulated occupations forced upon you would do much make people lack the motivation and drive that a capitalistic nation compels people to have without it being forced. But even after I got him to give up on marxism his left wing views were still too much for me. I hate the very thought of that guy.

12-17-2002, 09:42 PM	#13
Infinity Lover Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,047	Like Amie (hallo schat ) I don't quite see what you're up to. Atheism is a lack of belief thus reached and maintained through reason. It sounds like you don't believe in the supernatural, but chose to remain a Christian anymway, and are now looking for some justification for yourself. And that's a silly sound.

12-18-2002, 12:25 AM	#14
Beoran Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Belgium Posts: 75	Atheism is just a very minute idea that can be compatible with many different politcal and cultural vews. Atheism means just that you don't believe that god(s) exist. You need not become a marxist, certainly not.

12-18-2002, 08:13 AM	#15
catman Banned Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Ohio Posts: 102	Goddamn it--it looks like my prayer is going to be answered. Things are looking up family wise and this is only fucking Wednesday. Well, I am not going to be a christian like I was any more no matter what. I need some peace of mind.

12-18-2002, 01:25 PM	#18
philechat Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Mind of the Other Posts: 886	"If he knows all, why warn him of our needs and fatigue him with our prayers?" ~Percy Bysshe Shelley Perhaps we should leave God alone so that He may, well, just have a moment of Bach?

12-18-2002, 05:12 PM	#20
Philosoft Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Southeast of disorder Posts: 6,829	Catman, Your reaction to your "answered prayer" is decidely odd. Regards the family situation you speak of, was whatever happened so unlikely that a supernatural explanation is preferrable? It certainly seems strange that the J-C God would answer a prayer that was apparently given so mockingly, as if God was answering your prayer out of spite because he is aware of your unease with Christianity. Although it seems like you don't give God much credit for being a nice guy.

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