A common sense approach to Atheism
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Just to share...interesting read....not that I agree with him in everything though....
http://home.rmci.net/cbolton/ATHEIST.HTM -
do u agree Atheism only brings despair, what is your view on this pple?
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i've read the first 2 sentences and i gave up..Originally posted by laoda99:do u agree Atheism only brings despair, what is your view on this pple?
another attempt to create "theyness" vs "weness"? -
nope.. it illuminates!Originally posted by laoda99:do u agree Atheism only brings despair, what is your view on this pple?
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Like what earthling experienced, laoda, i regret to say, i read the first two sentences of the article and i gave up reading conscientiously, then i just glance thru the rest of the article.
Urm it doesnt seems to argue against atheism. The author merely state rather than putting his reasons why atheism is unbelievable. -
do u agree Atheism only brings despair, what is your view on this pple?
wrote tis during my lunch
By wat u describe, it seems tat your faith give u hope. Actually I can give u hope too as well as long as u have faith in me.
I give u a chocolate look alike and taste alike ball, sell u for $10,000 then tell u to swallow it. After which all your sickness and pain will be reduced, your longevity can be extended and everything u do, it will help to u to be more successful than without swallowing it. However in order for it to work, u just need to place absolute faith in the ball. The more stronger a faith u put in the ball, the more stronger the effect of the ball will be
See, if your faith in tat ball is true, u have hope too isn't it ? -
what you suggested is stupidity, not faith.Originally posted by stupidissmart:wrote tis during my lunch
By wat u describe, it seems tat your faith give u hope. Actually I can give u hope too as well as long as u have faith in me. I give u a chocolate look alike and taste alike ball, sell u for $10,000 then tell u to swallow it. After which all your sickness and pain will be reduced, your longevity can be extended and everything u do, it will help to u to be more successful than without swallowing it. However in order for it to work, u just need to place absolute faith in the ball. The more stronger a faith u put in the ball, the more stronger the effect of the ball will be
See, if your faith in tat ball is true, u have hope too isn't it ?
the faith that people have in a religion is not generated overnight.
many believers, christians or otherwise, turned back on their religion. only those whose faith are built over years and years of practise will stand the test of time. -
Hmmm, how can a person without faith, give an illustration about faith, explain it as if he knows everything about it? As dragg suggests, it is indeed stupidity.Originally posted by stupidissmart:wrote tis during my lunch
By wat u describe, it seems tat your faith give u hope. Actually I can give u hope too as well as long as u have faith in me. I give u a chocolate look alike and taste alike ball, sell u for $10,000 then tell u to swallow it. After which all your sickness and pain will be reduced, your longevity can be extended and everything u do, it will help to u to be more successful than without swallowing it. However in order for it to work, u just need to place absolute faith in the ball. The more stronger a faith u put in the ball, the more stronger the effect of the ball will be
See, if your faith in tat ball is true, u have hope too isn't it ?
It is similar as a person without knowledge teaches one how to be a doctor sometimes. I think aunties that can be found in coffeeshops and markets would be your best companion then. -
what you suggested is stupidity, not faith.
wat is the difference between the faith suggested by me and the faith tat u have
the faith that people have in a religion is not generated overnight.
many believers, christians or otherwise, turned back on their religion. only those whose faith are built over years and years of practise will stand the test of time.
If u think it is stupidity then perhaps u should think back on the usefulness or accuracy of the idea of "faith"
Is the length of a faith important in determining its relevance ? If it is relevant then all religion probably never have a chance to start and everyone remains as wat christian call, pagans since it is the one with the longest history. If by your thinking any new thinking such as christainity should never really started since it is probably really generated overnight sometime along the timeline of men history
anyway, u 2 r bacially guilty of the below stating rather than putting the reasons why is my analogy wrong. Why do u think your faith is any different ? -
everybody can be a christian, or otherwise, overnight. but how long will his faith last? only time will tell.Originally posted by stupidissmart:wat is the difference between the faith suggested by me and the faith tat u haveIf u think it is stupidity then perhaps u should think back on the usefulness or accuracy of the idea of "faith"
Is the length of a faith important in determining its relevance ? If it is relevant then all religion probably never have a chance to start and everyone remains as wat christian call, pagans since it is the one with the longest history. If by your thinking any new thinking such as christainity should never really started since it is probably really generated overnight sometime along the timeline of men history
anyway, u 2 r bacially guilty of the below stating rather than putting the reasons why is my analogy wrong. Why do u think your faith is any different ? -
i dun know Dragg....but what if he say "i give you the chocolate ball, and you have to believe in it and renew ur faith with it everyday and after 20 years, you can swallow it and ....."Originally posted by dragg:what you suggested is stupidity, not faith.
the faith that people have in a religion is not generated overnight.
many believers, christians or otherwise, turned back on their religion. only those whose faith are built over years and years of practise will stand the test of time.
then it wouldnt be overnight right?
let's be critical in the whole text and not pick on the small points....
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nobody is picking on small points.Originally posted by nightzip:i dun know Dragg....but what if he say "i give you the chocolate ball, and you have to believe in it and renew ur faith with it everyday and after 20 years, you can swallow it and ....."
then it wouldnt be overnight right?
let's be critical in the whole text and not pick on the small points....
his comparison to a religion that has such a long history is ridiculous. -
stupidissmart is right again on this point. +1.Originally posted by stupidissmart:wat is the difference between the faith suggested by me and the faith tat u haveIf u think it is stupidity then perhaps u should think back on the usefulness or accuracy of the idea of "faith"
Is the length of a faith important in determining its relevance ? If it is relevant then all religion probably never have a chance to start and everyone remains as wat christian call, pagans since it is the one with the longest history. If by your thinking any new thinking such as christainity should never really started since it is probably really generated overnight sometime along the timeline of men history
anyway, u 2 r bacially guilty of the below stating rather than putting the reasons why is my analogy wrong. Why do u think your faith is any different ?
again, either we are on different frequency from these already "instilled" people or that they do not see the woods for the trees in the similarity of the analogy... -
but you seem to be "zhi zhuo" adamant on the length of time...Originally posted by dragg:nobody is picking on small points.
his comparison to a religion that has such a long history is ridiculous.
so i say if the chocolate ball analogy is extended to an infinite length of time for the bearer of the ball to instill his faith, wont it be the same? -
as an atheist, i believe you need a certain faith too..
the faith that events are random in nature..
the faith that if you put in enough efforts, you will reap the benefits.. though you might not get 100% since the outcomes can be random.. but at least you know you will be heading towards a certain outcomes you want to persue..
the faith that when i die, i will just turn into ashes..
the faith that i'm here because my mother and father mated and produce me..
so what's wrong wif holding on to such faiths? -
nothing wrong...
but apparently, people like to differentiate the faith with God and faith of other things...
i dun know why also...hai~~...
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he has faith in himself.....Originally posted by AMD2004:Hmmm, how can a person without faith, give an illustration about faith, explain it as if he knows everything about it? As dragg suggests, it is indeed stupidity.
It is similar as a person without knowledge teaches one how to be a doctor sometimes. I think aunties that can be found in coffeeshops and markets would be your best companion then.
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Originally posted by stupidissmart:
wrote tis during my lunch
By wat u describe, it seems tat your faith give u hope. Actually I can give u hope too as well as long as u have faith in me.
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Earthlings...Originally posted by earthlings73:as an atheist, i believe you need a certain faith too..
the faith that events are random in nature..
the faith that if you put in enough efforts, you will reap the benefits.. though you might not get 100% since the outcomes can be random.. but at least you know you will be heading towards a certain outcomes you want to persue..
the faith that when i die, i will just turn into ashes..
the faith that i'm here because my mother and father mated and produce me..
so what's wrong wif holding on to such faiths?
There is nothing wrong, if u believe u can control ur own destiny.
The fact is, we can't
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yes, we cant.. as atheist.. i also believe that we cant..Originally posted by laoda99:Earthlings...
There is nothing wrong, if u believe u can control ur own destiny.
The fact is, we can't
just that atheists believe the randonness of events.. christians believe in the acts of god.. buddhists believe in past life retributions..
at the end of the day.. how you lead your life depends on what's your belief system.. nothing more and nothing less..
why would atheism lead to despair? -
My opinion is: atheism offers no hope of salvation at all for the individual.Originally posted by earthlings73:yes, we cant.. as atheist.. i also believe that we cant..
just that atheists believe the randonness of events.. christians believe in the acts of god.. buddhists believe in past life retributions..
at the end of the day.. how you lead your life depends on what's your belief system.. nothing more and nothing less..
why would atheism lead to despair?
For the poor/oppressed/doomed, atheism does not provide hope at all.
For the rich/better off, there is no hope too. They do not have a reason/aim why they are trying to be as successful as possible, becoz afterall, despite how successful u r in life, u just die like the rest. Probably u die richer and later, due to medical technology that can prolong ur life (doesn't mean u will die happier too. There are many rich men's diseases around and living longer only prolong the agony).
what is ur take? why atheism illuminates? -
i dun know, but i thought, its better for the poor/oppressed to provide hope themselves rather than plainly dependent on higher beings. E.g. if they are oppressed => civil revolution like the french revolution in Les Mis, etc...if you are poor, you struggle and work yourself up to earn more money through education or sheer hardworking and diligence and wanting to learn...etc..Originally posted by laoda99:My opinion is: atheism offers no hope of salvation at all for the individual.
For the poor/oppressed, atheism does not provide hope.
For the rich/better off, there is no hope too. They do not have a reason/aim why they are trying to be as successful as possible, becoz afterall, despite how successful u r in life, u just die like the rest. Probably u die richer and later, due to medical technology that can prolong ur life (doesn't mean u will die happier too. There are many rich men's diseases around and living longer only prolong the agony).
what is ur take? why atheism illuminates?
if you are rich/better off, you can provide hope yourself too, like do good to your people, volunteer, find meaning in life! cuz seeing other people smiles/happy can also make you happy etc...and also you can still pass on the riches to your family and children even if you cannot used them all...and finally, there is an aspiration that once you retire you have enough money to tour, enjoy your later days, play golf, etc. -
ah....there is a difference in believing in one's belief system and believe in GOD....Originally posted by earthlings73:at the end of the day.. how you lead your life depends on what's your belief system.. nothing more and nothing less..
but that's my own opinion only... -
In these cases, we are assuming that people know how to take care of themselves and be positive in all cases. The fact is: not all of us can. Not all places pple can afford to have revolutions.Originally posted by nightzip:i dun know, but i thought, its better for the poor/oppressed to provide hope themselves rather than plainly dependent on higher beings. E.g. if they are oppressed => civil revolution like the french revolution in Les Mis, etc...if you are poor, you struggle and work yourself up to earn more money through education or sheer hardworking and diligence and wanting to learn...etc..
if you are rich/better off, you can provide hope yourself too, like do good to your people, volunteer, find meaning in life! cuz seeing other people smiles/happy can also make you happy etc...and also you can still pass on the riches to your family and children even if you cannot used them all...and finally, there is an aspiration that once you retire you have enough money to tour, enjoy your later days, play golf, etc.
I dun think many of us can be like SIS, believing he can handle his life well with his own effort, standing up and continue his life when he fell. If all of us can do so, there would be no premature ending of lives. We will not need to turn to agony aunts, counsellors or even divine intervention/inspiration.
My opinion: atheists are more self-centered/tend to do things for themselves only. Even when doing good things, it is tend to make oneself feel happier/better, more than doing it for others/GOD. This is my own opinion only; I maybe wrong. -
i believe SIS has his pillars of support too, just that it is not a religious one. Perhaps friends or relatives can give him the support that he needs, i am still pondering whether what my gp teacher said is right in its terms ...Originally posted by laoda99:In these cases, we are assuming that people know how to take care of themselves and be positive in all cases. The fact is: not all of us can. I dun think many of us can be like SIS, believing he can handle his life well with his own effort, standing up and continue his life when he fell. If all of us can do so, we will not need to turn to agony aunts, counsellors or even divine intervention/inspiration.
"Is going to the church not fashionable?"
I just feel that it is not right, but then again it is just me