Atheism / Satanism

[robvalue]

Yeah, so...

Even for me, if I actually believed there was any kind of god, I wouldn't act any differently. Even if I somehow knew it was one of the popular story book character ones. Don't care, I'd just ignore them until it becomes a problem, as clearly their representation is very wrong in the books. Until they actually show up or contact me, they're obviously not interested.

If I believed there is "some sort of god", or even just didn't accept the claim that there isn't, it would make no difference. Until such time as I actually have any information about this "god" it can't possibly inform my actions. What am I meant to do? It's just too illogical for me to sit around vaguely trying to send messages to it until the vein on my forehead explodes.

So really, even if I was as unsure agnostic an atheist as can be, I reject both the claims that there is and isn't a god, I would still act the same. See, that is the "middle ground", it's just still atheism. That's the common confusion. Atheism gets 2 of the 3 positions.

[Homeless Nutter]

Not to turn internet diarrhea into something interesting or anything, but I think lack of belief is still a belief. And here's why...To lack a belief, you have to be unconvinced by the evidence.  In other words, you have to believe that the evidence is unconvincing.  Even though we do not believe in god, we do so because we believe the evidence is unconvincing.

Really? So what about someone who grew up without ever hearing about religion, god, or evidence for, or against those? Surely - they would not have a belief in god, because that's not something anyone is born with. And the strength of evidence would be completely irrelevant. Would you say they "believe" there's no god, even if they don't have the concept of "god"?


Just because some f***-wits decided to make up some sh*t and inform me about it at some point, means now I have to make up another "ideology", in order to reject it? That's not logical. What can be asserted without proof can be rejected without proof, as Hitchens stated.

What if I say - I am God Almighty and you all need to bow down to me? Is your lack of belief in my godliness just another ideology? And if some fool decides to obey me - does that put him/her on equal ground with rationally thinking people, who'd reject my proposition out of hand? I think not. 

Everything any one of us knows is a "belief", if you want to put it that way. Which makes the word "belief" useless.  If we're going to call lack of belief a belief, then we need to find a new word for what gullible people do when they blindly accept without proof anything, that happens to be emotionally pleasing for them, or is forced upon them under threat. 

[Faith No More]

Yeah, so...

Even for me, if I actually believed there was any kind of god, I wouldn't act any differently. Even if I somehow knew it was one of the popular story book character ones. Don't care, I'd just ignore them until it becomes a problem, as clearly their representation is very wrong in the books. Until they actually show up or contact me, they're obviously not interested.

If I believed there is "some sort of god", or even just didn't accept the claim that there isn't, it would make no difference. Until such time as I actually have any information about this "god" it can't possibly inform my actions. What am I meant to do? It's just too illogical for me to sit around vaguely trying to send messages to it until the vein on my forehead explodes.

So really, even if I was as unsure agnostic an atheist as can be, I reject both the claims that there is and isn't a god, I would still act the same. See, that is the "middle ground", it's just still atheism. That's the common confusion. Atheism gets 2 of the 3 positions.

I get it.  It's just that I'm not sure it's simple enough to say that it's merely a lack of a belief because positive beliefs do come into play.

[Homeless Nutter]

How many atheists [...blah, blah, blah...]

Oh, look! It's back!  Oh, what a good boy! Who's a good boy? Yes, you are. Yes, you are.

 I knew you couldn't live without having strangers calling you out on being a moron. So let me fulfill your desire, moron. Now go back in your trolling corner and lick your own nuts, like before...

[downbeatplumb]

I'm imagining the reaction I would get when being asked questions for a medical questionnaire or something about my religious beliefs, and I say "satanism". That would be hilarious!

Ask a stupid question...

I think you lot have scared him off talking about badgers and drop kicks and such!

I used to work in hospital admissions and peoples religion was one of the questions asked. One week we had an influx of people identifying as Pagan .Never had any before or since, but I'll always remember the look on one girls face when I asked her for her religion and she said " I doubt it's on your list...I'm a pagan" and I answered that she was the forth Pagan I'd admitted that week, her face fell.

[Faith No More]

Really? So what about someone who grew up without ever hearing about religion, god, or evidence for, or against those? Surely - they would not have a belief in god, because that's not something anyone is born with. And the strength of evidence would be completely irrelevant. Would you say they "believe" there's no god, even if they don't have the concept of "god"?


Just because some f***-wits decided to make up some sh*t and inform me about it at some point, means now I have to make up another "ideology", in order to reject it? That's not logical. What can be asserted without proof can be rejected without proof, as Hitchens stated.

What if I say - I am God Almighty and you all need to bow down to me? Is your lack of belief in my godliness just another ideology? And if some fool decides to obey me - does that put him/her on equal ground with rationally thinking people, who'd reject my proposition out of hand? I think not. 

Everything any one of us knows is a "belief", if you want to put it that way. Which makes the word "belief" useless.  If we're going to call lack of belief a belief, then we need to find a new word for what gullible people do when they blindly accept without proof anything, that happens to be emotionally pleasing for them, or is forced upon them under threat. 

You seem to be equating belief with ideology.

Regardless, think of this way.  It's a lack of belief that rests upon a belief, because the foundation for your lack of belief is to believe the evidence is unconvincing.

[robvalue]

I'm gonna rip my brain out and give it a good beating because I get very confused talking about "me" and "my brain" like they are two different things.

Die, die you stupid pink spongy useless bit of crap! Stop fucking with me! I mean, with you! Us! No!

[Homeless Nutter]

You seem to be equating belief with ideology.

Regardless, think of this way.  It's a lack of belief that rests upon a belief, because the foundation for your lack of belief is to believe the evidence is unconvincing.

As I said before - in that case every single thing I - or anyone - has ever known, or even just heard in passing is a belief. Unless you can provide me with any example of something that's not a belief - it's just semantics. Which is fine, except it doesn't mean anything.

And you still haven't addressed the case of someone completely ignorant of the concept of religion or god.

[Fidel_Castronaut]

So OP, apart from wanting to engage in intellectual dishonesty and grind your way to negative credibility, what was your actual purpose in coming here and, further, coming back after saying you were leaving (again and again)?

[Cyberman]

How many atheists does it take to screw in light bulb?
I must know this before answering any of these questions.

One.