(February 12, 2016 at 1:52 pm)TrueChristian Wrote: The more I read about individual Atheists, the more attractive (or at least sensible) atheism appears to be

Check out the religious views of Albert Einstein: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religious_...t_Einstein

While he isn't an atheist exactly, he is somewhat close to it. In that he thought "God" didn't play an active role in human existence, and morality was determined from how human beings treat eachother and what is best for humanity.

Atheism isn't a fear based philosophy and doesn't use rewards of unreasonable happiness, or threats of agonizing torture to get people to do what it wants. Strangely enough.. I've found that places where atheism is dominant are also places where human flourishing and human dignity are the most.... promoted.

I don't think Soviet Russia, North Korea, or Maoist China count as "atheist" either. All three of them were heavily religious in that they were/are based on "emperor worship" of the dear leader. Moreover, Communism was the sacred text, that noone was allowed to deviate from without severe consequences. These nations hardly encouraged free thought or rational inquiry, and were anti-freedom the same way many organized religions are.

The more I read the history of the planet earth, the more.... inconsequential the human race appears. We are indeed the most advanced animal, and it's tough to think beings with our level of reasoning and intelligence could arise (even ever so gradually) from the primordial muck that has made up millions of years of evolution. Still though. We are oh so new as a species.

If God existed.. I suppose it woudl follow that it was part of his plan to create dinosaurs, and they were his beloved and cherished creation. Before he decided to murder them for not obeying him. From a Catholic persepctive, the extinction of the dinosuars makes a lot of sense. How often did the dinosuars recieve the blessed sacrament? Go to communion?  Have a devotion to the Blessed Mother? Attend mass, or even thank God for the love and blessing he gave them?

The dinosaurs refused to do this did not do any of it not even once !  Luckily God made a new race where at least some of it's members woudl engage in the following .

I realize though.. if I fully deconvert, I woudl have to replace my relgion... not with another religion... but with something else. Nature abhors a vaccuum. Should I just replace my reading of the bible and religious books with fiction, philosophy, or study of biology/science?

Thoughts please!

Einstein like most public figures back then had to hint at not believing without directly saying the dreaded "a" word. He was an atheist, and he paid lip service to theism to be  polite. His "god" was metaphor for nature, nothing more.

(February 12, 2016 at 2:13 pm)TrueChristian Wrote:

(February 12, 2016 at 2:05 pm)abaris Wrote: Friendly advice. Go take a mirror and fuck yourself. Takes less typing and it's what you're constantly doing anyway.

You know how I feel about the word "fuck right?   . So... incredibly rude....

On noes. Someone made a animal grunt at TrueChrisitan that he doesn't like the sound of.  

Grow the FUCK up. Seriously.

Quote:I realize though.. if I fully deconvert, I woudl have to replace my relgion... not with another religion... but with something else. Nature abhors a vaccuum. Should I just replace my reading of the bible and religious books with fiction, philosophy, or study of biology/science?

Becoming an atheist is not a choice. It is simply not being convinced that gods exist.

Atheism is usually a byproduct of critical thinking and skepticism, when correctly applied to the god claim.  

I did not have to replace my god beliefs with anything else. Critical thinking is just fine. 

I don't have beliefs in UFO abductions or bigfoot. What do I need to fill the vacuum by not having those beliefs?

(February 12, 2016 at 5:20 pm)Aroura Wrote: Guys, if there is the remotest chance there is a shred of sincerity here, I think we ought to treat him a bit nicer.

Came here as a half assed Poe, changes his standpoints like other people their underwear. Usually shit and run threads without participating in other threads at all. Well, let's see - he shouldn't persue a career as a used cars salesman, that's for sure.

(February 12, 2016 at 1:52 pm)TrueChristian Wrote: The more I read about individual Atheists, the more attractive (or at least sensible) atheism appears to be

Check out the religious views of Albert Einstein: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religious_...t_Einstein

While he isn't an atheist exactly, he is somewhat close to it. In that he thought "God" didn't play an active role in human existence, and morality was determined from how human beings treat eachother and what is best for humanity.

Atheism isn't a fear based philosophy and doesn't use rewards of unreasonable happiness, or threats of agonizing torture to get people to do what it wants. Strangely enough.. I've found that places where atheism is dominant are also places where human flourishing and human dignity are the most.... promoted.

I don't think Soviet Russia, North Korea, or Maoist China count as "atheist" either. All three of them were heavily religious in that they were/are based on "emperor worship" of the dear leader. Moreover, Communism was the sacred text, that noone was allowed to deviate from without severe consequences. These nations hardly encouraged free thought or rational inquiry, and were anti-freedom the same way many organized religions are.

The more I read the history of the planet earth, the more.... inconsequential the human race appears. We are indeed the most advanced animal, and it's tough to think beings with our level of reasoning and intelligence could arise (even ever so gradually) from the primordial muck that has made up millions of years of evolution. Still though. We are oh so new as a species.

If God existed.. I suppose it woudl follow that it was part of his plan to create dinosaurs, and they were his beloved and cherished creation. Before he decided to murder them for not obeying him. From a Catholic persepctive, the extinction of the dinosuars makes a lot of sense. How often did the dinosuars recieve the blessed sacrament? Go to communion?  Have a devotion to the Blessed Mother? Attend mass, or even thank God for the love and blessing he gave them?

The dinosaurs refused to do this did not do any of it not even once !  Luckily God made a new race where at least some of it's members woudl engage in the following .

I realize though.. if I fully deconvert, I woudl have to replace my relgion... not with another religion... but with something else. Nature abhors a vaccuum. Should I just replace my reading of the bible and religious books with fiction, philosophy, or study of biology/science?

Thoughts please!

If you are legit, you don't have to really replace it with anything other than "all religions are wrong" and default to generic deism. I held this agnostic stance for years, but when I finally decided I wanted to resolve the question, I started reading books that took apart the bible, did a lot of biblical and historical research myself. After considering the origins of biblical myth (Panbabylonism) there was no doubt about the origins of religion, all religions.

(February 12, 2016 at 5:20 pm)Aroura Wrote: Guys, if there is the remotest chance there is a shred of sincerity here, I think we ought to treat him a bit nicer.  Yes, I want him in the club.  People can be real jerks when going through a crisis of faith, because it can be a painful experience.  That doesn't mean we should all be jerks back.

I'd like to offer him a helping hand.  If he just keeps trolling, then yeah, ignore him, but this post looks more like a confused cry for help if you ask me.

Ahhh .. not even a little bit?  J/K

Welcome to the atheist religion, TC.  It's all good on this side.  All sweetness and wonder.  You'll love it.  See you at the BBQ?

(February 12, 2016 at 1:52 pm)TrueChristian Wrote: [...]I realize though.. if I fully deconvert, I woudl have to replace my relgion... not with another religion... but with something else. Nature abhors a vaccuum. [...]

You can easily replace religion with a large butt-plug.

(February 12, 2016 at 5:32 pm)abaris Wrote:

(February 12, 2016 at 5:20 pm)Aroura Wrote: Guys, if there is the remotest chance there is a shred of sincerity here, I think we ought to treat him a bit nicer.

Came here as a half assed Poe, changes his standpoints like other people their underwear. Usually shit and run threads without participating in other threads at all. Well, let's see - he shouldn't persue a career as a used cars salesman, that's for sure.

Does it really matter if he's a troll or POE or not, if his arguments, the same ones made by theists, are refuted?

If a theist is observing from the sidelines, and he or she sees the same arguments they use being refuted, I don't think it matters if the argument is from a troll or POE or not.

(February 12, 2016 at 5:52 pm)Simon Moon Wrote: Does it really matter if he's a troll or POE or not, if his arguments, the same ones made by theists, are refuted?

If a theist is observing from the sidelines, and he or she sees the same arguments they use being refuted, I don't think it matters if the argument is from a troll or POE or not.

Oh, for me it does matter. I'm not in the habit of being taken as a wanking toy for a troll or a Poe. He's a phony, as opposed to every true true christian coming here, obnoxious as some of them are. Encouraging him in his shit and run posting spree, is playing his game. So, no. I'm not gonna find any friendly word for a person like that.

The important thing is: vertical or horizontal impact crushers? Choose wisely.

(February 12, 2016 at 5:44 pm)Whateverist the White Wrote:

(February 12, 2016 at 5:20 pm)Aroura Wrote: Guys, if there is the remotest chance there is a shred of sincerity here, I think we ought to treat him a bit nicer.  Yes, I want him in the club.  People can be real jerks when going through a crisis of faith, because it can be a painful experience.  That doesn't mean we should all be jerks back.

I'd like to offer him a helping hand.  If he just keeps trolling, then yeah, ignore him, but this post looks more like a confused cry for help if you ask me.

Ahhh .. not even a little bit?  J/K

Welcome to the atheist religion, TC.  It's all good on this side.  All sweetness and wonder.  You'll love it.  See you at the BBQ?

Lol, will there be babies

Ha, it sure isn't all sweetness and wonder, I think that's why he's being a troll.  It's hard for the deeply indoctrinated.  I was quite a biotch for a while after realizing I'd basically been lied to my whole life.