We're not confused. Many of us used to be christians of various sorts. Many of us have read the bible and studied writings regarding various dogmas, doctrines, and theologies. Atheists as a group know more about religion than most believers. We aren't atheists because we know too little about christianity, we are atheists because we know a whole hell of a lot about christianity in all it's iterations than those who profess to believe.

Well said.

@Black
"Trusting" non-existent this or that's is a stretch for the phrase "makes sense". Similarly, trusting a unicorn because "your prayers have been answered" only works up until the point at which you look into whether or not your prayers have actually been answered, and if so, whether or not it;s likely that a unicorn was answering them. I've also never heard a "reasonable" explanation for the trust given to whatever god you like to float your prayers off too. By definition.

I appreciate that you'd like to control the flow of a conversation, that seems to be a common urge for your folks, just doesn't work here.

"Stop asking me to demonstrate my gods existence, it's uncomfortable and I really like talking about him...:pout:"

Very true.

(March 10, 2012 at 8:49 pm)Minimalist Wrote: By not having an invisible friend?

I think not, son.

No, you're confused if you think that faith by default, is a blind endeavor.

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(March 10, 2012 at 8:49 pm)Sciwoman Wrote: We're not confused. Many of us used to be christians of various sorts. Many of us have read the bible and studied writings regarding various dogmas, doctrines, and theologies. Atheists as a group know more about religion than most believers. We aren't atheists because we know too little about christianity, we are atheists because we know a whole hell of a lot about christianity in all it's iterations than those who profess to believe.

I don't believe that atheists are confused by default. Atheists are suppressors of what they want to ignore. What I am accusing some here of being is being confused about the notion that faith is a blind endeavor, as I said in the above post. And, just as many atheists have not come across theists who offer a good enough reason to embrace theism, I have not come across many atheists who offer a good enough reason to embrace atheism. "Since I can't see God" or "evil exists" are common examples for excuses in denying God, such challenges do not cause me to respect ones who hold to atheism for such elementary reasons. Frankly, it's easier to respect one who admits that God is there, except one hates Him. That I can understand, and respect. To say He's not there? Such does not give me pause. Atheism, in my view, is the height of cowardice. Second is agnosticism.

(March 10, 2012 at 9:39 pm)black36 Wrote: I don't believe that atheists are confused by default. Atheists are suppressors of what they want to ignore.

You are wrong,, we don't ignore religions, infact most atheists gladly jump into the fray anytime anyone tries to justify a belief with 'god' or 'goddidit!'. You want me to believe in god? pray to for him to stop hiding from his preported creation.

Quote:What I am accusing some here of being is being confused about the notion that faith is a blind endeavor, as I said in the above post. And, just as many atheists have not come across theists who offer a good enough reason to embrace theism, I have not come across many atheists who offer a good enough reason to embrace atheism.

Oh? Faith, to the best of my knowledge its the paradigm of believing without reason, but perhaps you can show me where I'm wrong. If you read your bible that's what that storybook has to say about faith. And you are making the most common misconception about atheists that religionists make: That we have to convince you of something. Not at all my fellow human, the burden of proof is on you, the same way the burden of proof is on me when I say that there is an invisible pink pixie on my garage. You are an atheist regarding all other gods mankind as come up with, I just extend that notion 1 more god than you.

Quote: "Since I can't see God" or "evil exists" are common examples for excuses in denying God, such challenges do not cause me to respect ones who hold to atheism for such elementary reasons. Frankly, it's easier to respect one who admits that God is there, except one hates Him. That I can understand, and respect. To say He's not there? Such does not give me pause. Atheism, in my view, is the height of cowardice. Second is agnosticism.

You are so special you can see god, too bad us, sub-human baby eating satanist coward atheists can't see it. You take god as it was always there, that either there is a god or the world doesn't make sense anymore. Actually the world makes perfect sense to me and I don't need that set of beliefs to make my life worth.

But please do explain your reasoning as why atheists (or agnostics for that matter) are cowards. I am always ready for some laughs.

I doubt I could put it any better than LastPoet. However, black36, you seemed to ignore the bit that many atheists used to be christians. Ironically, my own journey to atheism started with wanting to find out for myself what god wanted given the endless contradictory versions that keep springing up. It took years, but I finally realized god, Jesus, church, and religion are all smoke and mirrors. As for god, I don't hate him - I do think that as a literary character he does rank right up there with Pap Finn (from The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn) and Sauron (from The Lord of the Rings) in terms of evilness.

Hey hey now, Sauron isn't evil, Sauron just is..lol.

Quote:No, you're confused if you think that faith by default, is a blind endeavor.

"Faith" is an excuse not to think.

To be fair we all have faith in something.