(January 14, 2016 at 4:12 pm)athrock Wrote:

(October 18, 2015 at 9:14 pm)Delicate Wrote: I suppose any theist who has read this part of the forum has to chuckle at how terrible atheist critiques of theism are.

But when the laughter dies down, you're left with a troubling realization: There actually is a huge pool of people on this planet who call themselves atheists and post on the internet, but are less familiar with theism than toddlers with the inside of a quantum mechanics textbook.

Where does one go for actually informed atheistic critiques of religion? I'm feeling my brain atrophy after reading some of the threads here.

Yes, I think you are correct. The ignorance and out-right ill-will is astonishing. And I say this even with many of the former believers here in mind.

At the same time, I've noted some real howlers from believers, also, so both sides have issues that need to be addressed - but won't, I suspect, due to a lack of interest in genuine dialogue.

I'm more willing to forgive the believers.

They aren't the ones proclaiming themselves the party of "reezun", "lawjik" and "evidents"

Now you are just being an ass for the sake of it. Oh wait, you were always an ass. I wonder why you get ao much heat.

(January 15, 2016 at 9:28 am)LastPoet Wrote: Now you are just being an ass for the sake of it. Oh wait, you were always an ass. I wonder why you get ao much heat.

I'm correct though. Atheists do pull the whole "i wehrship siyence and noledge" schtick more often than theists do.

(January 15, 2016 at 8:53 am)Delicate Wrote:

(January 14, 2016 at 4:12 pm)athrock Wrote: Yes, I think you are correct. The ignorance and out-right ill-will is astonishing. And I say this even with many of the former believers here in mind.

At the same time, I've noted some real howlers from believers, also, so both sides have issues that need to be addressed - but won't, I suspect, due to a lack of interest in genuine dialogue.

I'm more willing to forgive the believers.

They aren't the ones proclaiming themselves the party of "reezun", "lawjik" and "evidents"

Probably also because you're one of them.  For fucks sake, you talk about having intellectual integrity, but you won't even admit that you are more willing to forgive 'believers' because you're one yourself.  You should at least fucking admit it instead of being a disphit about it.

(January 15, 2016 at 9:37 am)Delicate Wrote:

(January 15, 2016 at 9:28 am)LastPoet Wrote: Now you are just being an ass for the sake of it. Oh wait, you were always an ass. I wonder why you get ao much heat.

I'm correct though. Atheists do pull the whole "i wehrship siyence and noledge" schtick more often than theists do.

That's true.  Christians more often worship what they call God but what might well be Satan for all they know.

As for the OP I'll have you know that while I have no interest in joining a religion, I do find the customs and rituals of primitives to be most fascinating.  

Some people put bird beak banana hammocks on and dance around a bonfire, others prostrate themselves before images of torture and cruelty...in either case the goal is the same and is equally fascinating.

(October 18, 2015 at 9:14 pm)Delicate Wrote: I suppose any theist who has read this part of the forum has to chuckle at how terrible atheist critiques of theism are.

But when the laughter dies down, you're left with a troubling realization: There actually is a huge pool of people on this planet who call themselves atheists and post on the internet, but are less familiar with theism than toddlers with the inside of a quantum mechanics textbook.

Where does one go for actually informed atheistic critiques of religion? I'm feeling my brain atrophy after reading some of the threads here.

 You wont find any atheist that is informed about theism and other important questions dealing about the meaning of life., because Atheism is simply Nothing.
 
 Atheism does not and will never be able to answer the meaning of life, the before and after of life, purpose of life, etc.   This is because it is stuck with physical and  can not and will not talk about anything else but physical.  They lack the comprehension about rising above oneself and try to extrapolate the notion that what they see around them has some intelligent creator.  They are willing to believe that there is sentient life on other planets without proof (just on the notion that there is sentient life here on Earth, WOW!! that was proof).  Yet the notion that there is a higher being above themselves that is responsible for their existence is too complex for them to accept.   Because their ego is too large !! (Larger than the universe).  Furthermore, they will spill out quotes with misguided interpretations from religious books to prove their point.  However, it is very weak, because they don't offer to anyone alternate thought. 

 This is the best an Atheist can do for alternate answer on what exists before birth and after death? NOTHING.  What is the purpose of life? NOTHING.  Where did universe come from? NOTHING.  What should I do? NOTHING.

 What a bunch of LAZY MORONS!!!  If the current religions don't make sense or are contradictory, then don't follow them.  It does not prove God does not exist, nor does it prove that life has no purpose. 
 
 This is way Atheism is dumb and being an atheist is just plain retarded.

Evidence or fuck off.

Define your higher being.  Now, make it not self-contradictory.  Now, put forth a reasonable reason why it created the universe.  Don't worry, we'll wait.

And, I have to ask, who's ego is larger?  Someone who simply marvels at the size of the universe and the incredibly low odds that we're us, or someone who thinks that an unseen parental figure created an environment just for them to live in?

Theists, but modern Christians in particular, suffer from what I'm now labeling the Double Star Trek Fallacy.  They think that everything around them "must be meant for man" while never asking "what does god need with a starship humanity?"  If that's not hubris, nothing is.

(January 16, 2016 at 2:39 pm)ktrap Wrote:

(October 18, 2015 at 9:14 pm)Delicate Wrote: I suppose any theist who has read this part of the forum has to chuckle at how terrible atheist critiques of theism are.

But when the laughter dies down, you're left with a troubling realization: There actually is a huge pool of people on this planet who call themselves atheists and post on the internet, but are less familiar with theism than toddlers with the inside of a quantum mechanics textbook.

Where does one go for actually informed atheistic critiques of religion? I'm feeling my brain atrophy after reading some of the threads here.

 You wont find any atheist that is informed about theism and other important questions dealing about the meaning of life., because Atheism is simply Nothing.
 
 Atheism does not and will never be able to answer the meaning of life, the before and after of life, purpose of life, etc.   This is because it is stuck with physical and  can not and will not talk about anything else but physical.  They lack the comprehension about rising above oneself and try to extrapolate the notion that what they see around them has some intelligent creator.  They are willing to believe that there is sentient life on other planets without proof (just on the notion that there is sentient life here on Earth, WOW!! that was proof).  Yet the notion that there is a higher being above themselves that is responsible for their existence is too complex for them to accept.   Because their ego is too large !! (Larger than the universe).  Furthermore, they will spill out quotes with misguided interpretations from religious books to prove their point.  However, it is very weak, because they don't offer to anyone alternate thought. 

 This is the best an Atheist can do for alternate answer on what exists before birth and after death? NOTHING.  What is the purpose of life? NOTHING.  Where did universe come from? NOTHING.  What should I do? NOTHING.

 What a bunch of LAZY MORONS!!!  If the current religions don't make sense or are contradictory, then don't follow them.  It does not prove God does not exist, nor does it prove that life has no purpose. 
 
 This is way Atheism is dumb and being an atheist is just plain retarded.

So to you any one who does not conform to your view that a magic man created the universe, time and all in it from nothing oh and hates the gays and for some time eating pigs but that's ok now coz he sent himself to die for himself to somehow atone for things he could just us of let us off of coz all powerful but can be defeated by iron carts, knows everything but sends down scouts.
If we don't agree with this then we're retarded?