Autonemesis

Is there any chance we'll "convert" you?

Then why should we bother answering? Tell me, what is desirable about answering this question, vs. not answering it?

Amen-Moses

Because it's the truth?

Amen-Moses

DarkBronzePlant

In agreement with some of the other posters here, I'll move this thread to Misc Religious Discussions. But before I do, with regards to Solomon's question...

There's no "should" or "shouldn't", IMHO. If you don't believe in the existence of any gods, then you have no choice but to be an atheist. If you do believe in one of the multitudes of alleged gods out there, then you have no choice but to not be an atheist.

MollyMac

Logical because there's no evidence for any kind of god or afterlife.

Desireable because I know this is the only life I have and I don't have to worry about what comes after it. I am free to think things through for myself and decide what is right or wrong without having to worry about anything written centuries ago by ignorant savages.

JL

I think atheism is desirable because it is more logical.

I have as many reasons for thinking this way as the day is long and they're all wasted breathe to a Christian who believes. It's a personal decision based largely on emotions and values. I can't turn over every rock in the universe looking for some sort of god, which seems to be no less than what some would require who fear eternal reprisals.

And what could I do to convince the believer whose fear of hell is only a face-saving mask to cover the fact that they derive their feelings of self-worth and purpose from their religion?

All I can say is I find the evidence to indicate the absence of gods, I don't have any carrot of absolutes and eternity to coax them with.

GeoTheo

It makes it easier for you to become a secular humanist and to gain academic credibilty.

I ate Pascal's Wafer

Welcome to the boards, Solomon. I do hope you enjoy it here.

Well, I won't tell you what you should or shouldn't do. It's up to you to come to your own conclusions about things.

Atheism is more logical than theism mainly because theism isn't supported by any available evidence. So far, there is no solid evidence supporting the existence of a supreme deity. It takes faith to believe in that which is not supported by evidence, and that's why atheism is more logical. The atheist does not depend on faith, but rather evidence.

In the past, people thought lighting and rain was caused by a god. They could not explain them any other way because they did not have the technology and understand of the world to fully comprehend the real reason behind lighting and rain, so they made up a reason. That reason was God. Since then, gods have come and gone as we expanded our knowledge.

As time went on, we learned that those phenomenon were not really caused by the supernatural. Instead, when we finally discovered the truth about those events, we learned that they were simply natural occurances.

Where am I going with this? The origin of life and the universe is very similar to the phenomenon of lightning and rain of past years. People today cannot explain the origin of life and the universe, so they make up an explanation--just as those in the past have done with lightning. At this moment we simply do not have the capacity to understand the origin of life and, more importantly, the universe. In the future we may finally come to understand it, but there is no reason to use the supernatural to explain something we do not understand at the moment. The intellectually honest answer to those questions is, "I don't know."

Comparing Atheism and Agnosticism is like comparing grapefruit and jellybeans. Atheism deals with belief, and agnosticism deals with knowledge. One can be both at the same time. I am an agnostic atheist. I do not believe in God, but I also admit that there could be a deity in a supernatural realm out there somewhere. I think the probability of God existing is roughly the same as the probability of a bulimic leprechaun with halitosis living in my shoe, causing it to stink. Sure, they could exist, but I doubt it.

Well, the reasons I listed above are some of the reasons I'm an atheist. You can take it or leave it if you like, but they work for me.

-Nick

One of the last sane

Not to mention, on the Christian boards you don't get pictures of MadKally dressed only in a towel.

----------> running away

philechat

Can't help but be one, after personally studied 6 different religions. And suffered greatly from it . Benefits? Nah, ignorance is bliss. Well...at least now I dwell in freedom and worry not about what's outside Life itself. And yes I often got annoyed by the religious who seem to dwell comfortably in one spoon-fed system.

I am "agnostic atheist" like several others. And I think the Tao is in many ways more credible than the Biblegod.

Starboy

Solomon,

Where is your great wisdom? The answer is as old as the chicken and the road. It is:

BECAUSE YOU WANT TO BE!

Starboy