Freethought & Rationalism Archive

HelenM · 05-25-2003, 03:57 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by GPLindsey
Atheism's biggest problem is that it offers no solace. When a father gets a phone call that his son was hit by a car after a soccer practice and is gone, what comfort does atheism offer? When you are overcome with the banal, petty humdrum of life, but come Sunday you can experience a cathedral full of people belt out "Amazing Grace" with a massive pipe organ backup, what does atheism have to compete with that? What would most people like to listen to in December--Christmas traditionals to feel the warmth of the season, or an atheist pointing out the flaws and contradictions of the Bible?

Atheism has no songs, no festivals, no holidays, no rituals--nothing that appeals to people's emotional need for comfort when they are down, to give them a sense of community when they need it, or to lift them to a loftier plane. I'm an atheist, but I can readily see that atheism's inability to meet most people's emotional needs in these areas is its biggest problem.

Ummm...have you ever been to a sports game? Have you ever been to a classical or contemporary music concert? Have you ever been to a Superbowl party? Have you ever said "I'm sorry" to a friend who is grieving?

Helen

The Lone Ranger · 05-25-2003, 04:20 AM

Better a hard truth than a comforting lie.

AJ113 · 05-25-2003, 04:58 AM

Yep, and truth has the potential to be a much better comforter than fantasies,anyway.

Ronin · 05-25-2003, 05:15 AM

Quote:

When a father gets a phone call that his son was hit by a car after a soccer practice and is gone, what comfort does atheism offer?

I offered my tears...and my arms...and then justice.

Article 2 of 2; 400 words
Published on November 15, 1995, Page C1, Sun Herald, The (Biloxi, MS)

SECOND TRIAL BEGINS ON DUI CHARGE IN FATALITY

Source: SHARON FITZHUGH
THE SUN HERALD
Eighteen-year-old Roy James Fiveash Jr. of Gulfport died on Tegarden Road 2 1/2 years ago on the day he and friends were celebrating his girlfriend's birthday.He and a friend had motorcycles and were heading to Fiveash's apartment to get helmets to take the girlfriends, waiting elsewhere, for a ride.A white Nissan truck backed onto Tegarden Road in front of Fiveash. He lost control and hit a pole, and the blow to his chest and body killed him.

Article 1 of 2; 438 words
Published on November 17, 1995, Page A1, Sun Herald, The (Biloxi, MS)

GULFPORT MAN GETS 20 YEARS FOR FATAL DUI POLICE SAY HOLLOWAY HAS 3 OTHER DUI CONVICTIONS

Source: SHARON FITZHUGH
THE SUN HERALD

A Gulfport man convicted Thursday of driving drunk and causing an April 1993 accident that killed a teen-ager has been convicted three other times for DUI, at least once for driving drunk after the fatal wreck.Circuit Court Judge Robert H. Walker sentenced Stephen Edward Holloway to 20 years in prison Thursday after a jury took one hour to find him guilty.Holloway, 42, was charged in Gulfport with driving under the influence of alcohol and driving without a license in February 1994...

~~~~~~~~

I do this far too many times...precisely because there are no gods or angels around to do so.

I see no problem with this understanding.

GunnerJ · 05-25-2003, 06:08 AM

I guess I'm kind of late, but....

The real, honest to God Biggest Problem for Aleprechaunism!

Aleprechaunism"s biggest problem is that it offers no solace. When a father gets a phone call that his son's soccer practice was cancelled because of rain, what comfort does aleprechaunism offer? When you are overcome with the banal, petty humdrum of life, but come a rainbow you can experience a joyful hope for a pot full of gold, what does aleprechaunism have to compete with that? What would most people like to listen to in March--St. Patrick's Day traditionals to feel the warmth of the season, or an aleprechaunist pointing out the lack of evidence for the Little People and their enchanted kingdom beneath the Earth?

Aleprechaunism has no songs, no festivals, no holidays, no rituals--nothing that appeals to people's emotional need for magic when they are down, to give them a good drink when they need it, or to lift them to a loftier plane. I'm an aleprechaunist, but I can readily see that aleprechaunism's inability to meet most people's magic-dwarf-related needs in these areas is its biggest problem.

Walross · 05-25-2003, 06:15 AM

Quote:

Atheism's biggest problem is that it offers no solace. When a father gets a phone call that his son was hit by a car after a soccer practice and is gone, what comfort does atheism offer? When you are overcome with the banal, petty humdrum of life, but come Sunday you can experience a cathedral full of people belt out "Amazing Grace" with a massive pipe organ backup, what does atheism have to compete with that? What would most people like to listen to in December--Christmas traditionals to feel the warmth of the season, or an atheist pointing out the flaws and contradictions of the Bible?

Atheism has no songs, no festivals, no holidays, no rituals--nothing that appeals to people's emotional need for comfort when they are down, to give them a sense of community when they need it, or to lift them to a loftier plane. I'm an atheist, but I can readily see that atheism's inability to meet most people's emotional needs in these areas is its biggest problem.

Yes.

Atheism is a lack of belief in one particular thing. Nothing more. Why would you expect it to fulfill any function beyond that?

ComestibleVenom · 05-25-2003, 09:43 AM

I don't know, I find it somehow comforting to reflect upon the monstrously beautiful desolation of the universe. You might even say that it's the way that I pray and it helps, even though I never ask for help.

ComestibleVenom · 05-25-2003, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Walross

Atheism is a lack of belief in one particular thing. Nothing more. Why would you expect it to fulfill any function beyond that?

I think it represents a great deal more, because it can be a rather dramatic shift in your view of how you fit into the world.

Now you must FIND your place in the world. There's no magical book telling you you're at the centre. The existential torment of being without a place can really be terrible. The rewards of discovering the realities of your existence are all the more satisfying.

Wayne Delia · 05-25-2003, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by QueenofSwords
Originally posted by GPLindsey
What would most people like to listen to in December--Christmas traditionals to feel the warmth of the season, or an atheist pointing out the flaws and contradictions of the Bible?

Maybe they'd like to listen to something like this :

The restroom door said "Gentlemen" so I just walked inside,
I took two steps and realized I'd been taken for a ride,
I heard high voices, turned and saw the place was occupied
By two nuns, three old ladies and a nurse,
What could be worse
Than two nuns, three old ladies and a nurse.

I know my (Christian) family did - they were falling over laughing when I sang this song last Christmas.

Keep on singing!

The restroom door said "Gentlemen", it must have been a gag
As soon as I walked in there I ran into some old hag
She sprayed me with a can of mace
And slapped me with her bag,
I could tell this just wouldn't be my day,
What can I say?
This just wasn't turning out to be my day...

The restroom door said "gentlemen"
And I would like to find,
That crummy little creep
Who had the nerve to change the sign,
'Cause I have two black eyes
And one high heel up my behind,
So I can't sit with comfort and joy
Boy, oh boy,
No, I'll never sit with comfort and joy.

WMD, a big fan of "Twisted Christmas"

Walross · 05-25-2003, 03:59 PM

Hi ComestibleVenom. You wrote:

Quote:

I think it represents a great deal more, because it can be a rather dramatic shift in your view of how you fit into the world.

Now you must FIND your place in the world. There's no magical book telling you you're at the centre. The existential torment of being without a place can really be terrible. The rewards of discovering the realities of your existence are all the more satisfying.

I don't disagree with you. I guess I just look at atheism as more of a "starting point" if that makes any sense. Being an atheist is simply a matter of not believing in god or gods. Where one goes from there is the important part. Regards,

Walross

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05-25-2003, 04:20 AM	#22
The Lone Ranger Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Eastern U.S. Posts: 1,230	Better a hard truth than a comforting lie.

05-25-2003, 04:58 AM	#23
AJ113 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Hull UK Posts: 854	Yep, and truth has the potential to be a much better comforter than fantasies,anyway.

05-25-2003, 06:08 AM	#25
GunnerJ Banned Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: a place where i can list whatever location i want Posts: 4,871	I guess I'm kind of late, but.... The real, honest to God Biggest Problem for Aleprechaunism! Aleprechaunism"s biggest problem is that it offers no solace. When a father gets a phone call that his son's soccer practice was cancelled because of rain, what comfort does aleprechaunism offer? When you are overcome with the banal, petty humdrum of life, but come a rainbow you can experience a joyful hope for a pot full of gold, what does aleprechaunism have to compete with that? What would most people like to listen to in March--St. Patrick's Day traditionals to feel the warmth of the season, or an aleprechaunist pointing out the lack of evidence for the Little People and their enchanted kingdom beneath the Earth? Aleprechaunism has no songs, no festivals, no holidays, no rituals--nothing that appeals to people's emotional need for magic when they are down, to give them a good drink when they need it, or to lift them to a loftier plane. I'm an aleprechaunist, but I can readily see that aleprechaunism's inability to meet most people's magic-dwarf-related needs in these areas is its biggest problem.

05-25-2003, 09:43 AM	#27
ComestibleVenom Veteran Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 2,320	I don't know, I find it somehow comforting to reflect upon the monstrously beautiful desolation of the universe. You might even say that it's the way that I pray and it helps, even though I never ask for help.

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