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Do atheists believe in the existence of friendship?

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Do atheists believe in the existence of friendship?
BrianSoddingBoru4 Offline
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#31
RE: Do atheists believe in the existence of friendship?
May 17, 2023 at 1:49 pm
Quote:Do atheists believe in the existence of friendship?


I'm not at all sure that this is even a valid question. What is there about non-belief in gods that would preclude belief in friendship? One might as well ask, 'Do religionists believe in the existence of plasma TVs?'

Boru
‘I can’t be having with this.’ - Esmeralda Weatherwax
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KerimF Offline
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#32
RE: Do atheists believe in the existence of friendship?
May 17, 2023 at 1:57 pm
(May 17, 2023 at 1:25 pm)BrianSoddingBoru4 Wrote:
(May 17, 2023 at 9:29 am)KerimF Wrote: First, thank you all for taking the trouble to answer my first question by a big YES, though each of you did it by using his artistic talent Smile

Now, it is time for the second question Big Grin

If two persons stand before you, please let me know how you could be sure that friendship exists in them or not. Thank you.

Naturally, the third question will be based on how each of you will answer this second one Smile



Just standing in front of me would give no indication of whether friendship exists in them. As others have said, friendship is determined by the actions of the parties involved.

A friend will help you move. A GOOD friend will help you move a body.

Boru

Very good answer, "Just standing in front of me would give no indication of whether friendship exists in them"
The mentioned actions so far are about helping each other as it is the case in a professional sportive team.
So I am afraid there is something much more important than this. In fact, many people are pleased to help each other even if they are not real friends.
Answering: What is my point?
https://atheistforums.org/thread-49852.html
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Fake Messiah Offline
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#33
RE: Do atheists believe in the existence of friendship?
May 17, 2023 at 1:59 pm
(May 17, 2023 at 1:05 pm)KerimF Wrote:
(May 17, 2023 at 10:53 am)Fake Messiah Wrote: Human relationships, including friendship, consist of giving and taking. And it goes back from mutual grooming in primates to helping a friend move.

So if you have a friend, you usually help him with problems and he helps you. But if it comes down to you only helping him while he never helps you, then you feel used and you don't feel like that person is your friend, and that is because humans have sensitive antennae for detecting violations of reciprocity.

So far, friendship is about helping each other.
Is this enough?!
For example, the members of a sportive team also help each other to win in their games, does this make them a team of friends besides being a professional sportive team?

Seriously? You want an explanation about the difference between colleagues and friends? Let's just say that some things you know by living.
teachings of the Bible are so muddled and self-contradictory that it was possible for Christians to happily burn heretics alive for five long centuries. It was even possible for the most venerated patriarchs of the Church, like St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas, to conclude that heretics should be tortured (Augustine) or killed outright (Aquinas). Martin Luther and John Calvin advocated the wholesale murder of heretics, apostates, Jews, and witches. - Sam Harris, "Letter To A Christian Nation"
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Peebothuhlu Offline
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#34
RE: Do atheists believe in the existence of friendship?
May 17, 2023 at 2:08 pm (This post was last modified: May 17, 2023 at 2:09 pm by Peebothuhlu.)
(May 17, 2023 at 1:42 pm)KerimF Wrote: Your remarks are interesting indeed and billions of people around the world agree with you without hesitation.
Don't you know why?
Well, one of the best algorithms embedded in our living cells lets us not be aware, most of the time, that when we decide to do in every situation, we simply execute some complex conditional instructions for the good of our living flesh (or of others sometimes). I mean, not by a mere coincidence, almost all humans insist to gain their daily bread by their own hands (sort of expression) instead of depending on others for this. Also, they usually try to form sort of gatherings, small or big. This helps them face life better by helping each other, whenever necessary, as wolves do in the forest Big Grin 
I don't know what to say more because you mentioned just two situations "Steady employment. Contact with friends".





Initially, you asked about 'Feel good'.

In actuality, that's really a huge topic.

You've then gone back to using that "Life=Machine"  type trope.

Most people I know simply do not go about 'Gaining their daily bread by their own hands'. They buy it from commercial suppliers/stores like most Western, civilized people. I do, however, understand if you aren't one of such people.

Yes, because your comments are so vague that it's kind of hard to parse the actual meanings or intent of them.

How about you offer something more than the "Life is this, hence this other thing." and engage in a conversation as a suggestion?

How is the weather there? Isn't Musk's rocket a big one?  Those kinds of conversation starters as examples.

Cheers.
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The Grand Nudger Offline
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#35
RE: Do atheists believe in the existence of friendship?
May 17, 2023 at 2:18 pm
A colleague will help you do your taxes. A friend will help you bury a body.
I am the Infantry. I am my country’s strength in war, her deterrent in peace. I am the heart of the fight… wherever, whenever. I carry America’s faith and honor against her enemies. I am the Queen of Battle. I am what my country expects me to be, the best trained Soldier in the world. In the race for victory, I am swift, determined, and courageous, armed with a fierce will to win. Never will I fail my country’s trust. Always I fight on…through the foe, to the objective, to triumph overall. If necessary, I will fight to my death. By my steadfast courage, I have won more than 200 years of freedom. I yield not to weakness, to hunger, to cowardice, to fatigue, to superior odds, For I am mentally tough, physically strong, and morally straight. I forsake not, my country, my mission, my comrades, my sacred duty. I am relentless. I am always there, now and forever. I AM THE INFANTRY! FOLLOW ME!
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KerimF Offline
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#36
RE: Do atheists believe in the existence of friendship?
May 17, 2023 at 2:19 pm
(May 17, 2023 at 1:59 pm)Fake Messiah Wrote:
(May 17, 2023 at 1:05 pm)KerimF Wrote: So far, friendship is about helping each other.
Is this enough?!
For example, the members of a sportive team also help each other to win in their games, does this make them a team of friends besides being a professional sportive team?

Seriously? You want an explanation about the difference between colleagues and friends? Let's just say that some things you know by living.


Let us simplify things and forget all what people may say about friendship.
 
If we, just you and I, will try to be real friends, what is the most important thing, if accepted by both of us, lets our friendship be a real union, practically speaking? It will be so, not just between us, but in front of the entire world.
 
I guess there is no hint clearer than this Smile
Answering: What is my point?
https://atheistforums.org/thread-49852.html
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Angrboda Offline
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#37
RE: Do atheists believe in the existence of friendship?
May 17, 2023 at 2:21 pm
(May 17, 2023 at 2:19 pm)KerimF Wrote:
(May 17, 2023 at 1:59 pm)Fake Messiah Wrote: Seriously? You want an explanation about the difference between colleagues and friends? Let's just say that some things you know by living.


Let us simplify things and forget all what people may say about friendship.
 
If we, just you and I, will try to be real friends, what is the most important thing, if accepted by both of us, lets our friendship be a real union, practically speaking? It will be so, not just between us, but in front of the entire world.
 
I guess there is no hint clearer than this Smile

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KerimF Offline
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#38
RE: Do atheists believe in the existence of friendship?
May 17, 2023 at 2:28 pm
(May 17, 2023 at 2:21 pm)Angrboda Wrote:
(May 17, 2023 at 2:19 pm)KerimF Wrote: Let us simplify things and forget all what people may say about friendship.
 
If we, just you and I, will try to be real friends, what is the most important thing, if accepted by both of us, lets our friendship be a real union, practically speaking? It will be so, not just between us, but in front of the entire world.
 
I guess there is no hint clearer than this Smile

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Sorry, I am afraid that this is also a sort of helping.
Answering: What is my point?
https://atheistforums.org/thread-49852.html
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BrianSoddingBoru4 Offline
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#39
RE: Do atheists believe in the existence of friendship?
May 17, 2023 at 2:28 pm
(May 17, 2023 at 2:19 pm)KerimF Wrote:
(May 17, 2023 at 1:59 pm)Fake Messiah Wrote: Seriously? You want an explanation about the difference between colleagues and friends? Let's just say that some things you know by living.


Let us simplify things and forget all what people may say about friendship.
 
If we, just you and I, will try to be real friends, what is the most important thing, if accepted by both of us, lets our friendship be a real union, practically speaking? It will be so, not just between us, but in front of the entire world.
 
I guess there is no hint clearer than this Smile

(Bold mine)

Again, I reject the premise. I can’t imagine a set of circumstances that would make me try to be your friend.

Boru
‘I can’t be having with this.’ - Esmeralda Weatherwax
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KerimF Offline
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#40
RE: Do atheists believe in the existence of friendship?
May 17, 2023 at 2:39 pm
(May 17, 2023 at 2:28 pm)BrianSoddingBoru4 Wrote:
(May 17, 2023 at 2:19 pm)KerimF Wrote: Let us simplify things and forget all what people may say about friendship.
 
If we, just you and I, will try to be real friends, what is the most important thing, if accepted by both of us, lets our friendship be a real union, practically speaking? It will be so, not just between us, but in front of the entire world.
 
I guess there is no hint clearer than this Smile

(Bold mine)

Again, I reject the premise. I can’t imagine a set of circumstances that would make me try to be your friend.

Boru

Sorry, soon after I wrote you, I somehow predicted your reaction.
I admit that I had to say it differently.

Now, let us forget about me. And imagine any human on earth instead of me. What could be that thing?
Answering: What is my point?
https://atheistforums.org/thread-49852.html
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Do atheists believe in the existence of friendship?

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