[X] My Assistant

[LiteSpeed]

So I was talking to the person next to me in class today, and brought up the topic of Atheism as I often do. I don't often befriend people who believe Atheists are evil and will go to Hell just cause they don't believe in a higher power, blah blah blah. So I figured I'd ask the member base here. What's your view on being Atheist?


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Personally, I don't see a problem with having your own thoughts and beliefs. It's not like either side can be 100% proven, you just usually lean towards the side you think is better argued or supported.

This post has been edited by LiteSpeed: Jan 15 2011, 04:19 AM

[LiteSpeed]

But how can we be so sure that that was the case back then? There was no paper to write it down on if they didn't kill, as trees are alive, and supposedly there was only Adam and Eve. How did it get passed on then? And if it did happen to, like all messages transmitted verbally, it would get altered by mishearings and other factors. For all we know, it could be a tale made up by someone. There's no actual proof as of yet that can decide if a deity exists or not, but there's a lot more proof going with atheists than against.

Also, if humans were supposed to be perfect, then wouldn't we have the knowledge and sense of wrong and right to avoid sins overall?

[FancyGranola]

But how can we be so sure that that was the case back then? There was no paper to write it down on if they didn't kill, as trees are alive, and supposedly there was only Adam and Eve. How did it get passed on then? And if it did happen to, like all messages transmitted verbally, it would get altered by mishearings and other factors. For all we know, it could be a tale made up by someone. There's no actual proof as of yet that can decide if a deity exists or not, but there's a lot more proof going with atheists than against.

Also, if humans were supposed to be perfect, then wouldn't we have the knowledge and sense of wrong and right to avoid sins overall?

Too bad we aren't perfect. That's why God is there to guide us. Only God is perfect. To acknowledge that humans are perfect is ignorant. We wouldn't have eaten from the Tree of Knowledge if we were perfect. Yet, we would not know that things are good and bad. So was eating from the Tree good or bad? A perfect being would know this answer. But only God would know. He sent us away from the tree for us to learn that we made a choice that can not be taken back. Again, this situation is the whole "two sides of the same coin" argument.

That's why I'm not Christian. I hate the reward system. It makes God look like a big time company that's always doing those buy one, get one free things. "Believe in me or burn for eternity!" Seriously? If that's how God is, I'd rather be an atheist. (Even though I'm pagan.xD) If the only way to get to heaven is believe in god, then he isn't a loving god. Because someone can be an atheist and a wonderful person. But because of the fact the fact that they don't believe in god, they'll go to hell? While someone can be a horrible, cruel, heartless person and go to heaven just because they believe in god? I wouldn't want a god like that.

So people should believe in a religion because of the reward system. Yes, of course! That is exactly why people believe in Christianity.

"So if I believe in God, I get sent to heaven."
"So if he does not exist, there is a 50/50 chance that I will go to heaven"

"I do not believe in God."
"There is no way I can go to heaven."

This idea is flawed on the base principles.

Religion isn't about all the rewards a person can reap, it is about faith in God that he will be a guidance. Rewards are just a icing on the cake. God knows all and sees all, he would know that a person just believes in the rewards and not God himself. People that places these "safe" bets on God...

Get your head out of the sand. Again, God isn't just a being that churns out rewards. So if you do not like the rewards, you do not believe in the religion. What the hell? Religion is far more complex than your little one-sided thought process. Religion is a belief system that provides hope.

[Reyo]

But how can we be so sure that that was the case back then? There was no paper to write it down on if they didn't kill, as trees are alive, and supposedly there was only Adam and Eve. How did it get passed on then? And if it did happen to, like all messages transmitted verbally, it would get altered by mishearings and other factors. For all we know, it could be a tale made up by someone. There's no actual proof as of yet that can decide if a deity exists or not, but there's a lot more proof going with atheists than against.

Also, if humans were supposed to be perfect, then wouldn't we have the knowledge and sense of wrong and right to avoid sins overall?

Too bad we aren't perfect. That's why God is there to guide us. Only God is perfect. To acknowledge that humans are perfect is ignorant. We wouldn't have eaten from the Tree of Knowledge if we were perfect. Yet, we would not know that things are good and bad. So was eating from the Tree good or bad? A perfect being would know this answer. But only God would know. He sent us away from the tree for us to learn that we made a choice that can not be taken back. Again, this situation is the whole "two sides of the same coin" argument.

That's why I'm not Christian. I hate the reward system. It makes God look like a big time company that's always doing those buy one, get one free things. "Believe in me or burn for eternity!" Seriously? If that's how God is, I'd rather be an atheist. (Even though I'm pagan.xD) If the only way to get to heaven is believe in god, then he isn't a loving god. Because someone can be an atheist and a wonderful person. But because of the fact the fact that they don't believe in god, they'll go to hell? While someone can be a horrible, cruel, heartless person and go to heaven just because they believe in god? I wouldn't want a god like that.

So people should believe in a religion because of the reward system. Yes, of course! That is exactly why people believe in Christianity.

"So if I believe in God, I get sent to heaven."
"So if he does not exist, there is a 50/50 chance that I will go to heaven"

"I do not believe in God."
"There is no way I can go to heaven."

This idea is flawed on the base principles.

Religion isn't about all the rewards a person can reap, it is about faith in God that he will be a guidance. Rewards are just a icing on the cake. God knows all and sees all, he would know that a person just believes in the rewards and not God himself. People that places these "safe" bets on God...

Get your head out of the sand. Again, God isn't just a being that churns out rewards. So if you do not like the rewards, you do not believe in the religion. What the hell? Religion is far more complex than your little one-sided thought process. Religion is a belief system that provides hope.

What of the belief system where I keep the possibility in mind...because he just might exist?

[FancyGranola]

What of the belief system where I keep the possibility in mind...because he just might exist?

I thought we were talking about Atheists not Agnostics.

[Reyo]

What of the belief system where I keep the possibility in mind...because he just might exist?

I thought we were talking about Atheists not Agnostics.

We are, but it seems like a lot of the comments have become an attempt to convert people to other religions. Shame that I've had to do it myself to try and respond to the other people who are doing it.

This post has been edited by Reyo: Nov 22 2010, 12:34 AM

[FancyGranola]

We are, but it seems like a lot of the comments have become an attempt to convert people to other religions. Shame that I've had to do it myself to try and respond to the other people who are doing it.

An attempt to convert... That's funny. The guilt is placed on both sides.