I know you didn't ask for a deist's response, but I decided I wanted to answer anyway ... against my better judgement.

(October 30, 2011 at 4:56 pm)5thHorseman Wrote: 1) as an atheist, what will happen when I die because I reject faith and superstition, through lack of evidence.

I believe you have nothing to worry about. Whatever happens to your "soul" has long since been decided and there is nothing you can do to change that.

Quote:2) what will happen to my children as they haven't been christened, baptised or genitally mutilated?

Nothing. It's rare for me and Frodo to agree on anything ... but yeah, nothing. Carving one's dick or dumping water on one's head is just human superstition.

Quote:3) my mum is a dead atheist who was a wonderful moral person, kind and accepting of others beliefs, a socialist and altruist who spent her life helping those with mental difficulties. What would happen to her?

I believe it is possible you may see her again. You may not, but you can know that like you, she has nothing to worry about.

Quote:4) because atheists are not gullible enough to believe things without proof and we cannot force ourselves to believe,(I have tried) would god be nice to us because of this?

I don't think God gives a shit about what you choose to believe or what label you assign yourself. He doesn't have to make a decision to be nice or not. Your death, like your life, is simply part of the process.

i appreciate italics with believe.

(November 2, 2011 at 5:53 pm)5thHorseman Wrote: i appreciate italics with believe.

Just out of curiosity, do you like being told that your life and death are just part of the process and essentially meaningless? I think that is more offensive than anything a Christian could tell you. At least I believe you are made in the image of God, deserving of love and dignity, and that you are here to serve a purpose.

(November 2, 2011 at 6:37 pm)Statler Waldorf Wrote:

(November 2, 2011 at 5:53 pm)5thHorseman Wrote: i appreciate italics with believe.

Just out of curiosity, do you like being told that your life and death are just part of the process and essentially meaningless? I think that is more offensive than anything a Christian could tell you. At least I believe you are made in the image of God, deserving of love and dignity, and that you are here to serve a purpose.

I don't mind tbh, i'm accepting of being meaningless, i also understand that people want meaning, that's fair enough, i just don't buy it. I do find it offensive/laughable when people say i'm going to hell, when they dont truly know that, as could be said for my beliefs in a theists position. But obviously we are opposites on belief, so obviously what offends us will be opposite to our core beliefs.

I overly used beliefs there, tired gtg to bed. nice chatting.

(November 2, 2011 at 6:47 pm)5thHorseman Wrote: I don't mind tbh, i'm accepting of being meaningless, i also understand that people want meaning, that's fair enough, i just don't buy it. I do find it offensive/laughable when people say i'm going to hell, when they dont truly know that, as could be said for my beliefs in a theists position. But obviously we are opposites on belief, so obviously what offends us will be opposite to our core beliefs.

I overly used beliefs there, tired gtg to bed. nice chatting.

Well I think your life has meaning and merit. Have a good one 5th!

Quote:I think that is more offensive than anything a Christian could tell you.

So you need to tell your self a fairy tale to get through the day?

Interesting. I always suspected that was what made you people tick.

(November 2, 2011 at 7:28 pm)Minimalist Wrote:

Quote:I think that is more offensive than anything a Christian could tell you.

So you need to tell your self a fairy tale to get through the day?

Interesting. I always suspected that was what made you people tick.

Was this supposed to be a response to a different thread? It makes absolutely no sense in this thread.

(November 2, 2011 at 6:37 pm)Statler Waldorf Wrote: Just out of curiosity, do you like being told that your life and death are just part of the process and essentially meaningless? I think that is more offensive than anything a Christian could tell you. At least I believe you are made in the image of God, deserving of love and dignity, and that you are here to serve a purpose.

I know that this wasn't directed at me, but I'll answer too.

It doesn't bother me to be told that. In fact, I find it incredibly liberating and relieving. It puts my problems and pain into perspective. But it does nothing to quell my desire or ability to love, empathize, and care deeply for living and non-living things. I still want to make the world a better place. In the long run, it doesn't matter. But right here, right now, it does. Also, I don't need to believe that people are made in the image of a deity to know that they are deserving of love and dignity.

Your post #83...which I agree is pretty fucking pointless but you do seem to be saying that you can't face life without thinking that your fairy tales are true.

I find that enormously sad.

Quote:Just out of curiosity, do you like being told that your life and death are just part of the process and essentially meaningless?

When it comes to reality, your desires mean fuck all. To see reality as it is, is to ignore personal feelings and desires and to accept what you see. We are specks living on a speck which is part of a speck and that speck is just part of another speck. Stating that I'm just an insignificant and meaningless speck would in fact be very accurate.

Quote: and that you are here to serve a purpose.

Well being without one to me means you're free to create a sense of purpose for yourself instead of following a pre-set one.

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The best thing about religion is that it's only a belief. A very improbable and silly belief that's based on ignorance.