Social lying is what holds society together. I (again) recommend Twain's 'Was It Heaven? Or Hell?' for a detailed perspective.

Happy atheist day!

Poor Baron Munchausen

Maybe Herr Fuggenburger belonged to the Hitler Youth.

If I'm not mistaken, the conversation was about lying to a child, not Nazis.

Hi everybody

I think there are plenty of instances when lying would be appropriate: "Are there any Jews hidden in your basement, Herr Fuggenburger?"

I feel that it's never appropriate to lie.

Afterlife is all about hope.

Nobody said anything about "taking away hope".

If their death is inevitable let them believe what they want to believe. I see no purpose in taking away hope, but I wouldn't be the person instigating the idea of an afterlife.

Why would you lie to a child? Talk about where they were before birth. Nowhere. Oblivion, with no pain or discomfort. Similar to being in a deep, dreamless sleep.

Being polite, yet truthful, is almost always appropriate. Some exceptions will be with young children who are dying; perhaps in those situations it is acceptable to speak of Heaven, angles, etc.

I can't abide delusional beliefs, whether they're flat Earthers, QAnon followers or God botherers. Doesn't matter who they are. I don't need to "win them over". Not worth my time.

@Nay_Sayer Why you not need onion slicer (https://atheistforums.org/thread-12336-p...pid2093219)?

Still, JP, do you feel like you became more intelligent as you stopped wasting brainpower to validate stuff like talking snake, deluge, creationism, immaculate conception?

Well, I for one am glad you've found a way to feel superior to both

I feel that many atheists need a healthier respect and kindness for those who still believe, even if only to win them over if that is the goal.

Though I may not respect religion, I respect all its adherents. When I was a devoted Christian, I was still intelligent, I was just indoctrinated.

And thousands of ignorant Scientologists don't care that LRH was best known as a fiction writer...and still is.