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Is there life after God?
#1
Is there life after God?
Is there life after God?

A very interesting article by Tim Dean. He raises some interesting points about the social aspect of attending a church or religious congregation and how that may be one of the biggest incentives for religious people to stick with their beliefs and rituals. Some of these people may see going to church as a way to socialise and build community in a way no other organisation or event can. The social aspect of religion is something that probably does not get much discussion or analysis.

Personally, I see no point in believing in fairy tales or making a fool of myself by singing silly hymns and talking to an imaginary friend just for the sake of socialising with other people. Heck, why would I want to socialise with deluded people anyway?

His opening paragraphs summarise nicely what many theists fail to understand about the definition of atheism.

Quote:Because atheism is ultimately only a negative thesis: it simply states that there exists no god or gods. As such, to say I’m an atheist tells you something about what I don’t believe in, but it tells you almost nothing about what I do believe in.

It’s the positive beliefs that really matter – beliefs in values and morality; in how the world is, and how it ought to be; about what constitutes a good life; in how society ought to be run.

His concluding paragraphs indicate that secular philosophies need to provide something for the community to participate in, some sort of inspiration that people may often find in religious organisations in order for religion to start fading away.

While he may or may not have a valid point, my opinion is that people shouldn't need "incentives" in order to be rational and see how nonsense their beliefs really sound. A good enough incentive should be to realise that a Sky Daddy is not looking at everything you do, constantly threatening you with the fear of hell.

Quote:In order for any secular worldview to truly provide an alternative to religion, it has to be more than something we can believe in. It has to be something we can participate in.

Secular philosophies need to evolve beyond their negative statements and dry rational principles to become secular cultures.

They need to reach out and engage the community, bring people together, educate us, lift us when we’re down, inspire us and give us a place in the world.

And if they do so, perhaps much of the argument over atheism might fade away.

Many who are reluctant to turn their backs on religion may not be entirely unsympathetic with the atheist argument, but they may be unwilling to unshackle themselves from an institution that provides them with so much.

When secular philosophies can offer the same or better, and when secularism moves beyond simply stating that God doesn’t exist, then we might truly see an end to religion.

Thoughts?
Christianity: The belief that a cosmic Jewish Zombie who was his own father can make you live forever if you symbolically eat his flesh and telepathically tell him you accept him as your master, so he can remove an evil force from your soul that is present in humanity because a rib-woman was convinced by a talking snake to eat from a magical tree...

Atheist I Evolved!
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#2
RE: Is there life after God?
It sounds like this guy is suggesting that if we are going to take away the crutch of religion, we need to be able to offer an atheist crutch. I'm not sure that is the best approach. I am an atheist because I, eventually, learned that I don't need a crutch.
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#3
RE: Is there life after God?
Quote:A good enough incentive should be to realise that a Sky Daddy is not looking at everything you do, constantly threatening you with the fear of hell.


Far too many people are so fucked up that they cannot handle that much "freedom."
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#4
RE: Is there life after God?
(April 4, 2011 at 12:06 pm)corndog36 Wrote: It sounds like this guy is suggesting that if we are going to take away the crutch of religion, we need to be able to offer an atheist crutch. I'm not sure that is the best approach. I am an atheist because I, eventually, learned that I don't need a crutch.
Agreed. This is coming dangerously close to turning atheism into another religion.
Even if the open windows of science at first make us shiver after the cozy indoor warmth of traditional humanizing myths, in the end the fresh air brings vigor, and the great spaces have a splendor of their own - Bertrand Russell
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#5
RE: Is there life after God?
the answer is absolutly yes ... there is life after death
and read this



In the Name of Allâh, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful
1. I swear by the Day of Resurrection 2. And I swear by the self-reproaching person (a believer) 3. Does man (a disbeliever) think

that We shall not assemble his bones? 4. Yes, We are Able to put together in perfect order the tips of his fingers 5. Nay! (Man denies

Resurrection and Reckoning. So) he desires to continue committing sins 6. He asks: "When will be this Day of Resurrection?" 7.

So, when the sight shall be dazed 8. And the moon will be eclipsed 9. And the sun and moon will be joined together (by going one

into the other or folded up or deprived of their light, etc.) 10. On that Day man will say: "Where (is the refuge) to flee?"11. No! There

is no refuge!12. Unto your Lord (Alone) will be the place of rest that Day 13. On that Day man will be informed of what he sent

forward (of his evil or good deeds), and what he left behind (of his good or evil traditions) 14. Nay! Man will be a witness against

himself [as his body parts (skin, hands, legs, etc.) will speak about his deeds]15. Though he may put forth his excuses (to cover his

evil deeds) 16. Move not your tongue concerning (the Qur'an, O Muhammad ) to make haste therewith 17. It is for Us to collect it and

to give you (O Muhammad ) the ability to recite it (the Qur'an)18. And when We have recited it to you [O Muhammad through Jibrael

(Gabriel)], then follow you its (the Qur'an's) recital 19. Then it is for Us (Allah) to make it clear to you20. Not [as you think, that you

(mankind) will not be resurrected and recompensed for your deeds], but (you men) love the present life of this world 21. And leave

(neglect) the Hereafter 22. Some faces that Day shall be Nadirah (shining and radiant) 23. Looking at their Lord (Allah) 24. And some

faces, that Day, will be Basirah (dark, gloomy, frowning, and sad) 25. Thinking that some calamity was about to fall on them 26. Nay,

when (the soul) reaches to the collar bone (i.e. up to the throat in its exit) 27. And it will be said: "Who can cure him and save him

from death?" 28. And he (the dying person) will conclude that it was (the time) of departing (death) 29. And leg will be joined with

another leg (shrouded) 30. The drive will be, on that Day, to your Lord (Allah)!31. So he (the disbeliever) neither believed (in this

Qur'an, in the Message of Muhammad ) nor prayed!32. But on the contrary, he belied (this Qur'an and the Message of Muhammad )

and turned away! 33. Then he walked in full pride to his family admiring himself!34. Woe to you [O man (disbeliever)]! And then

(again) woe to you! 35. Again, woe to you [O man (disbeliever)]! And then (again) woe to you! 36. Does man think that he will be left

Suda [neglected without being punished or rewarded for the obligatory duties enjoined by his Lord (Allah) on him]?37. Was he not

a Nutfah (mixed male and female discharge of semen) poured forth?38. Then he became an 'Alaqa (a clot); then (Allah) shaped and

fashioned (him) in due proportion39. And made him in two sexes, male and female40. Is not He (Allah Who does that), Able to give

life to the dead? (Yes! He is Able to do all things).



http://www.guidedways.com/hadith_books.php
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#6
RE: Is there life after God?
Why do you think anyone is going to read the drivel from your holy book? I might as well read a page from Alice in Wonderland. It makes just as much sense (if not more).

To be honest, justmoha, I think you're just a fucking troll. Go away.
Christianity: The belief that a cosmic Jewish Zombie who was his own father can make you live forever if you symbolically eat his flesh and telepathically tell him you accept him as your master, so he can remove an evil force from your soul that is present in humanity because a rib-woman was convinced by a talking snake to eat from a magical tree...

Atheist I Evolved!
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#7
RE: Is there life after God?
[Image: Piss+on+head+-+Draw+Muhammad+Day+-+May+20.jpg]
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#8
RE: Is there life after God?
(April 6, 2011 at 6:42 am)justmoha2005 Wrote: the answer is absolutly yes ... there is life after death

At least get the fucking question right first, before you start giving your religious bullshit as answers.

The questions was, is there life after God?
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#9
RE: Is there life after God?
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Uy2jpMqNnio/TB...eJihad.gif
http://www.hf.uib.no/i/religion/populari...er/01b.jpg
http://fc09.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2010/1...pninja.png im having to much fun.
I do not think it is necessary to believe that the same God who has given us our senses, reason, and intelligence wished us to abandon their use, giving us by some other means the information that we could gain through them

-- Galileo Galilei
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#10
RE: Is there life after God?
(April 6, 2011 at 3:28 pm)the6dead Wrote: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Uy2jpMqNnio/TB...eJihad.gif
http://www.hf.uib.no/i/religion/populari...er/01b.jpg
http://fc09.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2010/1...pninja.png im having to much fun.


I'll be happy to have a look at links supporting any posts you make,if you give some idea of their content.

A series of blind links does not constitute a post and may be seen as spamming.
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