WJ

Auto!

Sounds like you are selling the wares again. Isn't atheism just another faith?



Walrus

Automaton

The denial of that which is obviously false.
Because some people started to use the brain God gave them.
How is it rhetorical, you small moon orbiting jupiter?
We didn't ask, you did!

Automaton

Atheism is as much a faith as baldness is a haircolor. (I forgot who I'm stealing this gem of a quote from, but just so you know, I didn't think of it myself.) Atheists may or may not subscribe to various metaphysical belief systems that can qualify as faith.

WJ

Auto!

I'm confused by how you answered that. If atheism says God doesn't logically exist, why discuss it at all? Is that a paradox or a contradiction?



Walrus

Automaton

Atheism is, once again, merely the lack of belief in God. "Strong atheism", the affirmative belief that there is no God, is a metaphysical position that encompasses atheism, but goes over and above that. I don't think strong atheism should really be called atheism, perhaps they should be honest and just state they are metaphysical naturalists. If by "why talk about it?" you are referring to motivation, we do it because it is fun, interesting, and deeply relevant to our lives.
*shrugs*

Anyway, off to bed now. G'night.

WJ

Thanks for your reply.

But it seems like Atheism doesn't logically follow when one is forced to defend there belief about it, as you describe it. If some thing doesn't exist, then I would not know anything about it (or if I did I would not care enough), in order to coherently discuss it.

I think the paradox exists (or an unresolved contradiction) when an atheist cares enough, as you said to "If by "why talk about it?" you are referring to motivation, we do it because it is fun, interesting, and deeply relevant to our lives."

A naive person may ask, why is Atheism (or Theism of course) relevant to your/one's life?

Does that not make sense? In other words, if God the concept doesn't exist, then it follows there is no meaning behind expressing one's belief about that same non-existent concept. So, it is at least a paradox to care enough to express one's feelings about a concept that doesn't exist in the first place. Otherwise, what/who is God? and how does or should the Atheist come to really know any of that?

Walrus

Godless Dave

WJ, I think you misunderstand. No one is saying that the concept of God doesn't exist (actually many concepts of God or gods). We're saying that a real entity to which this concept refers does not exist. What we like to discuss is why so many people believe it does, and what that tells us about humanity.

WJ

Dave!

Likewise about misunderstanding: ...We're saying that a real entity to which this concept refers does not exist."

What is a "real entity" viz. the concept of God?
(How does the Atheist explain or justify that? On what basis...)

Walrus

DMB

WJ:
My family are all atheists. Strangely enough, we don't spend all our time discussing the possible existence of god(s). We have more interesting/important things to talk about.

The only time we talk about it is when confronted by people who believe this stuff. Unfortunately, the world is full of the credulous, far too many of whom are keen to thrust their fictions down the throats of others.

WJ

Good point!!

Too me, that's the way an Atheist should view their belief system. The only problem is, once again, I'm afraid (as logic rears its ugly head here) how do you fend-off those 'religious' people telling us all about the attributes of God?

I would think that just by walking away and saying 'God doesn't exist' would be appropriate. Otherwise, how does/should logic's role help plead your [anyone's] case?

Sincerely,
Walrus

[ April 17, 2002: Message edited by: WJ ]</p>