Freethought & Rationalism Archive

god-free · 12-22-2002, 05:11 PM

I stumbled upon this website, and it supported a hunch I have long held -- does anyone really believe in God?

<a href="http://www.mrlizard.com/disbelief.html" target="_blank">http://www.mrlizard.com/disbelief.html</a>

Any thoughts?

god-free

Starboy · 12-22-2002, 05:16 PM

It is pretty much the same way I see it, but I would have added several more points.

openeyes · 12-22-2002, 05:35 PM

I recently "came out" to my family that I was atheist, and one of the points I made in my letter is that people really make decisions based on it affects their lives now, whether they say they believe in god or not. I think one would have a difficult time convincing many people they really don't believe, but as "Lizard" pointed out, people don't really live like they think "God" will intercede and do something major. As many of us have found out that had a god-belief at one point, it is very freeing to realize and admit that it's just you that has to figure it out--no one "upstairs" is going to help.

lpetrich · 12-22-2002, 06:07 PM

This reminds me of a line from a disaster movie:

How is it that miracles only happen in the Bible?

Or consider the miracles that many medieval saints had allegedly worked.

And compare/contrast the miracles allegedly worked by present-day would-be saints like Mother Teresa.

As David Hume had pointed out 250 years ago, where did all the miracles go? Why have they slowed down and become so tiny?

lpetrich · 12-22-2002, 06:10 PM

Also, there is the interesting curiosity of people acting as if they are afraid of going to Heaven. And how nobody turns a funeral into a celebration of someone's arrival in that alleged place.

lpetrich · 12-22-2002, 06:16 PM

I'm reminded me of a discovery the late Dr. Isaac Asimov had once made. He once heard a low rumbling, which he discovered had come from the air conditioner of a Christian Science church.

He thought about Christian Science beliefs, and he laughed long and loud. Why would they need an air conditioner if they believe that hot weather is not real and that they can simply pray away the sensation of heat?

Vicar Philip · 12-22-2002, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by lpetrich:
<strong>As David Hume had pointed out 250 years ago, where did all the miracles go? Why have they slowed down and become so tiny?</strong>

A common Christian excuse that I have been hearing more and more for this very question is that "god doesn't work that way anymore because he sent Jebus down." Apparently, the Son of God did more than wash away our sins, he also took away the necessity for miracles to occur.

Of course, it couldn't be that shortly after the supposed biblical miracles we began to enter the Age of Reason, and Science (damn her!) began to explain away the stone-age superstitions held by primitive man.

Vicar

Amie · 12-22-2002, 06:28 PM

Well I read it and of course I don't agree with all of it, there were some good points though...

Quote:

Why, then, does it bother preachers when people publish books saying there is no god -- if not for the fact their own faith is so weak as to be, frankly, non-existent? No one believes, not even -- especially not even -- those who preach belief the loudest. They shout 'Believe!' in the hopes of silencing their own voices of doubt, but the voices are never truly silent, though the soul grows hoarse from screaming.

I don't necessarily think that people who preach are just trying to "silence voices of doubt"...
however I could see that this was his idea of the believers protesting too much about the non believers...
Using that same line of thinking I wonder what he would say about the atheists who appear to be anti-theists and ridicule the theists for maintaining God belief? does he think they "shout don't believe in hopes of silencing their own voices of doubt"?
...probably not...

The Other Michael · 12-22-2002, 06:30 PM

Hi Vicar,

I guess God wanted to give us a 1500 year "tapering off" period, instead of cutting us off of miracles cold-turkey.

Mighty thoughtful of Him/Her.

cheers,
Michael

Infinity Lover · 12-22-2002, 11:14 PM

Can anyone truelly understand what goes on in other people's minds?

Now there's something I strongly doubt.

12-22-2002, 05:11 PM	#1
god-free Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Earth Posts: 20	Does anyone really believe in God? I stumbled upon this website, and it supported a hunch I have long held -- does anyone really believe in God? <a href="http://www.mrlizard.com/disbelief.html" target="_blank">http://www.mrlizard.com/disbelief.html</a> Any thoughts? god-free

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12-22-2002, 05:16 PM	#2
Starboy Banned Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Tallahassee, FL Reality Adventurer Posts: 5,276	It is pretty much the same way I see it, but I would have added several more points.

12-22-2002, 05:35 PM	#3
openeyes Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Minnesota Posts: 4,215	I recently "came out" to my family that I was atheist, and one of the points I made in my letter is that people really make decisions based on it affects their lives now, whether they say they believe in god or not. I think one would have a difficult time convincing many people they really don't believe, but as "Lizard" pointed out, people don't really live like they think "God" will intercede and do something major. As many of us have found out that had a god-belief at one point, it is very freeing to realize and admit that it's just you that has to figure it out--no one "upstairs" is going to help.

12-22-2002, 06:07 PM	#4
lpetrich Contributor Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Lebanon, OR, USA Posts: 16,829	This reminds me of a line from a disaster movie: How is it that miracles only happen in the Bible? Or consider the miracles that many medieval saints had allegedly worked. And compare/contrast the miracles allegedly worked by present-day would-be saints like Mother Teresa. As David Hume had pointed out 250 years ago, where did all the miracles go? Why have they slowed down and become so tiny?

12-22-2002, 06:10 PM	#5
lpetrich Contributor Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Lebanon, OR, USA Posts: 16,829	Also, there is the interesting curiosity of people acting as if they are afraid of going to Heaven. And how nobody turns a funeral into a celebration of someone's arrival in that alleged place.

12-22-2002, 06:16 PM	#6
lpetrich Contributor Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Lebanon, OR, USA Posts: 16,829	I'm reminded me of a discovery the late Dr. Isaac Asimov had once made. He once heard a low rumbling, which he discovered had come from the air conditioner of a Christian Science church. He thought about Christian Science beliefs, and he laughed long and loud. Why would they need an air conditioner if they believe that hot weather is not real and that they can simply pray away the sensation of heat?

12-22-2002, 06:30 PM	#9
The Other Michael Honorary Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: In the fog of San Francisco Posts: 12,631	Hi Vicar, I guess God wanted to give us a 1500 year "tapering off" period, instead of cutting us off of miracles cold-turkey. Mighty thoughtful of Him/Her. cheers, Michael

12-22-2002, 11:14 PM	#10
Infinity Lover Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,047	Can anyone truelly understand what goes on in other people's minds? Now there's something I strongly doubt.

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