Can.... we all agree that when any theists tries to say the world is ending or the nwo is happening...
can we all just please agree they are crazy and ignore them...

(January 2, 2015 at 3:25 am)ronedee Wrote: And now that God has been ceremoniously and conveniently stripped from society... EVERYTHING will be based on public opinion.

Assertion, made without evidence.

Quote: The lines will be blurred; and goal posts with wheels on what was once a moral foundation. ONE, that held all else to a higher standard.

The morals that christianity espouses, when they aren't transparently abhorrent (and conveniently interpreted to not be by apologists) are co-opted from normal human morality, and then promptly misrepresented as being the invention of, and sole property of, the christian god. It is, of course, an easily falsified proposition; countries exist where christianity is not the majority religion, and the crime rate is not significantly higher. Leaving aside that crime rates are lowering in America, they are significantly lower in secular Australia, for one. The idea that, sans the christian god, morality is nonexistent is a laughable one.

Quote:Even atheists must agree,

Nope.

Quote: that the society as we are now morphing into is due to a lack of instilled morality. I've heard here, that empathy is all that one needs to build a moral bases..... I ask, where do you find that in the general public?

Empathy is a trait that is naturally occurring within humanity, as it is a social species; it is then fostered and developed by one's upbringing, but it will exist regardless of that.

Quote:Who finds empathy, and where? A video game, or sniper movie? Perhaps an evening of s&m porn will make one empathetic?

All three of those things are regular viewing for me, and I've never committed a crime. Evidently, the things you're shrilly whining about are not the contributors to moral decay that you claim.

Quote: No, there is no tap for empathy. We hope some parent, somewhere is teaching their child how to empathize.... and not to walk by a bleeding person in the street who may be our child!

Do you know anything at all about the biological development of empathy, before you decided that there isn't one?

Quote: Do you not find it strange that our society is now embracing almost everything that is counter to our sense of natural order?

Don't mistake your opinions on what's natural, for the factual case: many of the things you claim to be unnatural are naturally occurring. How arrogant, to assume that the things you approve and disapprove of are some kind of "natural order."

(January 2, 2015 at 1:22 pm)whateverist Wrote: Not like ronny to duck a challenge. Hard to imagine he'd start a thread if he was too busy to participate. Could it be that he has realized the errors of his position and just doesn't know how express his regrets? We'll see.

Hey whateverist, yup! Very busy... But I can say that no one has really moved me to say much more than I have! There is a stark difference in "opinions", and beliefs. Obviously!

But, I've seen more than most in my line of work! Hopefully I'll be retiring soon. And maybe I'll get some of those rose-colored telescopes everyone here is wearing.... from way, WAY out in the suburbs.

I am troubled that no one here is vigilant, or even concerned about our ever encroaching, corrupt government. Its just accepted as "progress"!!

My major concern is that lies are the norm these days. And there are no consequences for lying. From the top on down! That alone bothers me the most. I have no answers: for myself, or for my children; I just tell them, that is the way life has become. Get used to it. Stand up for what is right when you can. And don't trust anyone!

I won't go into all my examples because it really isn't necessary, or fruitful. Lets face it, everyone's purpose here is to kill both the message and the messenger.

I read every post. Thanks to most of you for chiming in! Fuck you to mini! And the biggest waste of good paper was Rythms.

(January 2, 2015 at 11:44 pm)ronedee Wrote: Hey whateverist, yup! Very busy... But I can say that no one has really moved me to say much more than I have! There is a stark difference in "opinions", and beliefs. Obviously!

But, I've seen more than most in my line of work! Hopefully I'll be retiring soon. And maybe I'll get some of those rose-colored telescopes everyone here is wearing.... from way, WAY out in the suburbs.

have a fun time in your retirement and enjoy it.

(January 2, 2015 at 11:44 pm)ronedee Wrote: I am troubled that no one here is vigilant, or even concerned about our ever encroaching, corrupt government. Its just accepted as "progress"!!

we are making progress and the economy is getting better. no government in this world isn't corrupt over something the united states even allies have "shadow" wars for interests and back door deals. get with it and it helps us out in the end.

(January 2, 2015 at 11:44 pm)ronedee Wrote: My major concern is that lies are the norm these days. And there are no consequences for lying. From the top on down! That alone bothers me the most. I have no answers: for myself, or for my children; I just tell them, that is the way life has become. Get used to it. Stand up for what is right when you can. And don't trust anyone!

Well take a look at your religion first. Most abrahamic religions claim to be the most moral when the fact is when these things are really and truthfully moral, Slavery (immoral), Racism (indecent immoral), Killing in the name of god (super imoral), rape (immoral), that covers most of it. Well get with it there is a media bias want real news get on the internet and dig around for it.

(January 2, 2015 at 11:44 pm)ronedee Wrote: I won't go into all my examples because it really isn't necessary, or fruitful. Lets face it, everyone's purpose here is to kill both the message and the messenger.

Say what you want to say. You have after all joined atheist forum knowing full well what we might say. None is here to kill both the message and the messenger lets get real if you say something we have intelligence and we can think for our selves. If you have a message share it as the theists might like it other wise we wouldn't really care. Nor we believe in god god or that the bible is truth for it is not.

Quote:I am troubled that no one here is vigilant, or even concerned about our ever encroaching, corrupt government.

I am very, very troubled. The thing is, it is people who think like you who are just about entirely responsible for just about everything that is wrong with it.

(January 3, 2015 at 12:26 am)Ryantology (╯°◊°)╯︵ ══╬ Wrote:

Quote:I am troubled that no one here is vigilant, or even concerned about our ever encroaching, corrupt government.

I am very, very troubled. The thing is, it is people who think like you who are just about entirely responsible for just about everything that is wrong with it.

Ill have to agree with you on that. Since when is religion not corrupt at all.. and since when are the people who are following it are not corrupt as well... history it proves religion and religious people to be very corrupt.

(January 2, 2015 at 11:09 am)robvalue Wrote: If there's no God, how can we do what God wants us to do?

And if there is a god, which one do we listen to? Which is the head god?

(January 3, 2015 at 1:41 am)IATIA Wrote:

(January 2, 2015 at 11:09 am)robvalue Wrote: If there's no God, how can we do what God wants us to do?

And if there is a god, which one do we listen to? Which is the head god?

If a god existed i want it to be Zeus or some really frilly fru fru god (just for it to piss of Christians).

(January 2, 2015 at 11:44 pm)ronedee Wrote: But, I've seen more than most in my line of work! Hopefully I'll be retiring soon. And maybe I'll get some of those rose-colored telescopes everyone here is wearing.... from way, WAY out in the suburbs.

I wonder if you'd agree that every perspective comes with advantages but also challenges. I flat out disagree with your perception about the decay of morality. I think you have your rose colored glasses on when you look toward the past. People have never been saints. It might be that when people believed in eternal damnation it exerted a real deterrent but I have my doubts. People were also in more physical peril in the past and subject to more desperation. Desperation led to the same extreme measures in the past as it does now.

(January 2, 2015 at 11:44 pm)ronedee Wrote: I am troubled that no one here is vigilant, or even concerned about our ever encroaching, corrupt government. Its just accepted as "progress"!!

You've got that wrong. Lots of people here are fed up with government. I'm still convinced it can and should be a force for good. But is there corruption? You bet. Look at the way the republican party is willing to throw everyone under the bus to prevent anything getting accomplished under a democratic administration. I hate that. It isn't a football game. Both those in the majority and those who aren't should owe a good faith commitment to do the best for the governed that they can.

(January 2, 2015 at 11:44 pm)ronedee Wrote: Lets face it, everyone's purpose here is to kill both the message and the messenger.

Disagree. Some have axes to grind. You do too. One of the functions of a site like this will always be to enable those coming out from under the oppression of being raised in a religious family to vent and work through those feelings. Meh. It is what it is and none of us are held here against our wills.

(January 2, 2015 at 3:25 am)ronedee Wrote: It seems that the time is ripe for opinion and lies to replace truth and morality.

And now that God has been ceremoniously and conveniently stripped from society... EVERYTHING will be based on public opinion. The lines will be blurred; and goal posts with wheels on what was once a moral foundation. ONE, that held all else to a higher standard.

Even atheists must agree, that the society as we are now morphing into is due to a lack of instilled morality. I've heard here, that empathy is all that one needs to build a moral bases..... I ask, where do you find that in the general public? Who finds empathy, and where? A video game, or sniper movie? Perhaps an evening of s&m porn will make one empathetic? No, there is no tap for empathy. We hope some parent, somewhere is teaching their child how to empathize.... and not to walk by a bleeding person in the street who may be our child!

Where will ALL the good people come from? Per society (and atheist) wishes, God and His people will diminish. But then, Allah and his cohorts are their replacement! A New World Order needs a new minor annoyance.... Oui? Do you not find it strange that our society is now embracing almost everything that is counter to our sense of natural order? Its actually, mind boggling! And at a pace that is making heads spin! Or roll as Allah and our govt would have it!

And the NWO will of course be how many people you have on your side of the street! And how sharp your sword is. So stock up on vittles and candles. And get ready for a bumpy ride. Its not gonna get better. I'm usually an optimist. Not lately. I'll probably be one of the first to go anyway! I don't take to change very well.

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