(April 19, 2015 at 4:54 pm)Lek Wrote: As I was driving home from bible study and worship service today I came to a realization. It's not that all christians are joyful, even though they should be, but the only people I've come across in my life that I would consider joyful have been christians. I see joy as different than happiness, in that it is a deeper contentment, and is there whether one's life is going well or not. It's present even in times of great sickness and dying. It's knowing that, no matter what happens, things are okay--not just that they will be okay, but they are okay.
Do you know what selection bias and sample rate error are?
It's kinda easy to see others as happy when that group is in the majority. I doubt Christians living in Iraq are happy right now. I doubt gays and atheists living in the middle east have as much luxury as you claim to have here in the west. And it isn't like Muslims living in the United states have an easy time.
And it is offensive(not like an insult) but this argument offends my sense of logic.
Our species groups, and when we surround ourselves with like minded people of course our mood is going to be better on average. But this argument you put here assumes that atheists cant feel joy the same way you do. That is special pleading. You are not arguing for a real god. You are falling for your own emotions.
Atheists feel joy and pain and anger and love just like everyone else. Not because we are atheists, but because our species evolution produces those emotions in all of us.
