This is an explanation of special purpose that does not require god.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFVzql3qoe4

although very sweet your take is no different than a Christian one in the end. It is based on a perspective of "self" with zero observational evidence. So you go ahead and follow this sweet and loving child like path. Your slant is really why I have no trouble with religion. In the end, it is trying to help others. And I am for that.

(June 10, 2014 at 6:12 am)naimless Wrote: LastPoet, I make no apology for what I have typed or what you may have not read properly. If Dawkinsian 7/7 atheism does not apply to you then maybe my post also does not.

Given that a leading prominent atheist invented a scale for atheism, I'd suggest the perception of the words "atheist", "god", and indeed the range of belief/disbelief is differing amongst atheists.

It would be folly to expect an apology of one so full of himself, like you so greatly demonstrate. Ultimately it would be pointless to do so, as I am not aiming to convince you, my first post to you in this tbread could be resumed by the following sentence:

You are full of shit.

(June 10, 2014 at 4:36 am)naimless Wrote: Hi OP. I agree that atheism, particularly of the Dawkinsian variety, can often-times be the cause of severe depression and end up diminishing the standard of one's living, due to a variety of reasons, some of which you have touched upon.

That must be why countries with higher levels of organic atheism have higher standards of living and lower murder rates.

(June 10, 2014 at 4:36 am)naimless Wrote: It has been my experience to not expect the majority of this forum to have the intelligence to grasp what you are trying to discuss. Indeed the majority of this thread have already proven that they cannot hold an attention span for anything greater than four letters.

I'm glad you've finally found someone you can feel superior with.

(June 10, 2014 at 4:36 am)naimless Wrote: I find it quite ironic how some of the most pre-determined 7/7 nihilistic atheists can have a problem with a person believing in what is deemed a fantasy in their perception.

Can you name two 7/7 nihilistic atheists who post on this forum?

(June 10, 2014 at 4:36 am)naimless Wrote: If god/life etc. is meaningless and beyond free will and depressing and there are no moral consequences to one's actions then why not do heroin, or indeed believe in a utopic dogma of some description that makes one feel on top of the world.

Heroin is bad for you, m'kay? Reality may not be good for you, but the alternative is worse.

(June 10, 2014 at 4:36 am)naimless Wrote: But no, anything beyond being a ridiculing keyboard warrior trapped in one's own ego appears to be out of the comfort zone of most self-proclaimed "free-thinkers", at least those I have had the unfortunate experience of wasting time with already.

I guess irony isn't fatal.

(June 10, 2014 at 4:36 am)naimless Wrote: Whilst I do not 100% agree with your conclusions, I understand the questions you ask. As clever as it may try to be, I don't think 2014 peer reviewed atheistic science holds the wise answer, nor do I expect this forum or thread to. If anything I suspect it can just reaffirm one's "gut instinct" or intuitions more-so than positively expand one's intellect or "brain wiring".

I've noticed that when people say 'atheistic science', they mean 'science'. As much as some of us would like to take credit for science, it is its own thing.

(June 10, 2014 at 4:36 am)naimless Wrote: I don't really care to judge either way. But certainly I find any person with abnormal experience/beliefs in the universe more entertaining than the status quo dogmatic atheistic behavioural pattern.

Fiction tends to be more entertaining than nonfiction.

(June 10, 2014 at 4:36 am)naimless Wrote: Indeed I would go as far to say that people who have a life of exceptional value, such as a leading artist or sports star, will have an exceptional belief in themselves and/or a higher power that the majority of forum members here would ridicule for no reason other than they consider it delusional and it frightens their ego to see someone else living their dreams.

There is no conflict between being an atheist and being a leading artist or sports star. Some actually ARE (gasp!) atheists! Caring about art or sports isn't delusional, and accomplishment is accomplishment, no matter what quirky beliefs someone may hold.

I'm going to make another point here which is that no amount of intelligence or great things we do in life will ever make up for a lack of pleasure because in order to have such value towards these things is to have pleasure in the first place (as pleasure is what allows us to give value towards these things). So it would be illogical to say that these things have greater value than our pleasure.

(June 10, 2014 at 11:24 am)LastPoet Wrote: It would be folly to expect an apology of one so full of himself, like you so greatly demonstrate.

Thank you. You have learned well.

(June 10, 2014 at 4:36 am)naimless Wrote: Hi OP. I agree that atheism, particularly of the Dawkinsian variety, can often-times be the cause of severe depression and end up diminishing the standard of one's living, due to a variety of reasons, some of which you have touched upon.

Namely, a childish need for lifetime parental guidance by an adult Santa Claus to bring you gifts and remind you what a special snowflake you are.

(June 10, 2014 at 4:36 am)naimless Wrote: It has been my experience to not expect the majority of this forum to have the intelligence to grasp what you are trying to discuss. Indeed the majority of this thread have already proven that they cannot hold an attention span for anything greater than four letters.

Or maybe, just maybe, if no one takes your arguments seriously, you make poor arguments.

(June 10, 2014 at 4:36 am)naimless Wrote: I find it quite ironic how some of the most pre-determined 7/7 nihilistic atheists can have a problem with a person believing in what is deemed a fantasy in their perception.

Then you clearly don't know what "nihilistic" means. Try a dictionary.

(June 10, 2014 at 4:36 am)naimless Wrote: If god/life etc. is meaningless and beyond free will and depressing and there are no moral consequences to one's actions then why not do heroin, or indeed believe in a utopic dogma of some description that makes one feel on top of the world.

Your lack of secular morals does not constitute the nonexistence of secular morality. It just means you're a shitty person who needs religion to appear normal.

(June 10, 2014 at 4:36 am)naimless Wrote: But no, anything beyond being a ridiculing keyboard warrior trapped in one's own ego

Holy shit, do you read your own posts? What is this, fucking amateur hour? You think hiding behind a monitor, hunched over a keyboard makes you a moral superior? Clean the Dorito crumbs out of your keyboard, finish your Mountain Dew, and go outside.

(June 10, 2014 at 4:36 am)naimless Wrote: appears to be out of the comfort zone of most self-proclaimed "free-thinkers", at least those I have had the unfortunate experience of wasting time with already.

You've just described yourself, yet again. Hilarious.

(June 10, 2014 at 4:36 am)naimless Wrote: Whilst I do not 100% agree with your conclusions,

http://www.grammar-monster.com/easily_co...ile_whilst

(June 10, 2014 at 4:36 am)naimless Wrote: understand the questions you ask. As clever as it may try to be, I don't think 2014 peer reviewed atheistic science holds the wise answer, nor do I expect this forum or thread to. If anything I suspect it can just reaffirm one's "gut instinct" or intuitions more-so than positively expand one's intellect or "brain wiring".

What's "atheistic science"? Science deals in empirical evidence, not unsupported presuppositions and irrational belief. Your personal opinion is as worthless as your word salad. Science doesn't give a fuck about your opinion.

(June 10, 2014 at 4:36 am)naimless Wrote: I don't really care to judge either way. But certainly I find any person with abnormal experience/beliefs in the universe more entertaining than the status quo dogmatic atheistic behavioural pattern.

English is clearly not your strong suit. Self-contradiction appears to be.

(June 10, 2014 at 4:36 am)naimless Wrote: Indeed I would go as far to say that people who have a life of exceptional value, such as a leading artist or sports star, will have an exceptional belief in themselves and/or a higher power that the majority of forum members here would ridicule for no reason other than they consider it delusional and it frightens their ego to see someone else living their dreams.

Says the troll with such a poor quality of life in his mother's basement he feels compelled to seek out people he disagrees with and whine at them through an internet connection as he is incapable of improving his own life circumstances, and needs to feel superior to others to reinforce his pathetic self image.

(June 10, 2014 at 12:59 pm)naimless Wrote:

Too stupid to provide an actual response?

Yes. You are too stupid to provide an actual response.