People are scared and I don't blame them.

[Gemini]

[...]

1. Muslims are a threat to every culture out there and secular law, because, they seek to replace the order of humans with that of the Divine order while other religions and people have their own culture and also take on cultures of others and make their own rules, as well as implement secular law.  Christianity and Judaism has many of the same original rules of Islam, but, their people don't seek to implement them in today's world.  

[...]

MK, when it comes to abolishing secularism, there is absolutely no difference between Christians, Jews, and Muslims. Every Muslim I've met would be insulted at the suggestion that they are a threat to secular law. They have no wish to "replace the order of humans with that of the Divine." They're just fine with diverse culture and secular law.

By the same token, my uncle would take offense at the suggestion that he doesn't seek to implement the original rules of Christianity and Judaism in today's world. He absolutely does. He wants theocracy, and there's a whole subculture of Christian Dominionists who have the same values. Just as there are fundamentalist Jews who share those values.

This isn't a Muslim thing. It's a religious fundamentalist thing.

[Mystic]

His light.

Which isn't actual light but a metaphor for things unseen.  We're back to the same problem in that God is not manifest in the sense of being apparent to our senses.

It's a metaphor but it's also represents a reality. A reality we all are part of. A reality we see with our souls all the time.

Jormungandr, you know what I don't get. Why is the purpose here in these forums simply to put question things and never affirm anything. Do Atheists truly doubt free-will that no one comes to the defense of the belief in free-will and that we ought to know we have it.

Do people truly not believe in objective value to humans? Is this actually true? 

Why is the truth Beccs found in her own words to be "there is no gods, there is no religions...", why not affirmations about ourselves, like praise, honor, value, beauty of love in objective way....

The attitude here is yes even question that, doubt that....or if people don't doubt it, they don't care to come to it's defense.

It seems people here don't care much about meaning at all. We talk about how we can have meaning without God which is fine, yet, where is the search of higher meaning by others here? No one cares.

The first thing that I cared about when I was Atheist is how I would finding meaning. Is meaning not important to humans? Should they not care?

Why don't people talk about higher meaning and strive for that, why do people settle for such a low standard of that.

What do you value most in life and why?

[RetiredArmy]

I don't know ladies and gentlemen, I'm kinda looking forward to towel-heads coming to my town and trying to enforce Shariah Law.... but, I would like to have a spotter. Any volunteers?

[Iroscato]

One day, your religion will die - just as every other religion in history.

[The Grand Nudger]

You're asking whether atheists doubt this or that as though it were relevant.  It isn't.  Atheists don't believe in god.  Whatever you've attached to that term and consider -instead- of god is your own business.

If god was actually manifest, in any sense, you wouldn't have to argue for it by proxy, now would you?

[Cyberman]

Which is all he's done throughout this topic, because it's all he's got.

[Angrboda]

Which isn't actual light but a metaphor for things unseen.  We're back to the same problem in that God is not manifest in the sense of being apparent to our senses.

It's a metaphor but it's also represents a reality. A reality we all are part of. A reality we see with our souls all the time.

Jormungandr, you know what I don't get. Why is the purpose here in these forums simply to put question things and never affirm anything. Do Atheists truly doubt free-will that no one comes to the defense of the belief in free-will and that we ought to know we have it.

It is in the nature of skepticism to doubt.  People here believe things, but they aren't unified in their belief but in their disbelief.  There are atheists who believe in free will, and those that don't.  What is generally agreed is that free will doesn't have an otherworldly source.

Do people truly not believe in objective value to humans? Is this actually true? 

I think the primary consensus is that these things are poorly understood, but again do not have an otherworldly existence.  Most are fine with not knowing.  Proving that the value we feel is objective has generally come up empty.  Even you resort to metaphors when asked to trace an objective source for value.

Why is the truth Beccs found in her own words to be "there is no gods, there is no religions...", why not affirmations about ourselves, like praise, honor, value, beauty of love in objective way....

I don't think my explanation for any of these would be different than my answer for value.  These things have no obvious explanation.  Most just accept their existence as natural phenomena.  Some embrace skepticism and deny the reality of these things completely.  I think those people are jumping to negative conclusions on the basis of ignorance, but they share the skepticism that such things have a non-natural explanation.

The attitude here is yes even question that, doubt that....or if people don't doubt it, they don't care to come to it's defense.

Perhaps you face the questioning end of their beliefs because they are engaging yours.

It seems people here don't care much about meaning at all. We talk about how we can have meaning without God which is fine, yet, where is the search of higher meaning by others here? No one cares.

Theories about meaning are scarce.  Even supernatural answers don't really explain meaning.  I think many are either unaware that there is a question to be answered, or are comfortable simply not knowing the answer.  If one doesn't have an answer, there's not much to talk about.

The first thing that I cared about when I was Atheist is how I would finding meaning. Is meaning not important to humans? Should they not care?

And I think that not knowing scares you.  It doesn't have that same impact on everyone.  There are a lot of human experiences that we don't have good explanations for.  Being ignorant of the ultimate answers isn't necessarily a threat to most people.  It's just a fact of life.

Why don't people talk about higher meaning and strive for that, why do people settle for such a low standard of that.

What do you mean by higher meaning?  That seems like a euphemism for supernaturally provided meaning.  Are you sure there is such a thing?

What do you value most in life and why?

There is little in my life these days.  Meaning has gone out of my life and I don't see it returning.

[Joods]

Which isn't actual light but a metaphor for things unseen.  We're back to the same problem in that God is not manifest in the sense of being apparent to our senses.

It's a metaphor but it's also represents a reality. A reality we all are part of. A reality we see with our souls all the time.

No. This is not a reality we are "all" part of.  What really steps on my nerves is when some religious person tells me what I am a part of or tells me that I am a creation of god, no matter what I say. Stop dismissing my rights to believe or not believe as I so choose.

It is one thing entirely to have the opinion that you feel there is a god and that that god does this or created that. It is quite another to force those opinions on people who don't share those opinions, by saying such things. No... I don't subscribe to your god non-sense and I don't have to. Nor should I be told that basically, like it or not... I am part of your god's world. No no and no.

Jormungandr, you know what I don't get. Why is the purpose here in these forums simply to put question things and never affirm anything. Do Atheists truly doubt free-will that no one comes to the defense of the belief in free-will and that we ought to know we have it.

There is more than one purpose to these forums. Are part of them to question things and affirm things? Sure. And we do. Just because the majority here do not subscribe to a god, any god for that matter, doesn't mean that we don't affirm anything. Why you ask this after being on these forums for years, is beyond me. Perhaps it is you that is close-minded to the possibility that atheists can and do have interest in other things outside of debating theists.

Do people truly not believe in objective value to humans? Is this actually true?

Perhaps you can provide an example of what you think objective value to humans is.

Why is the truth Beccs found in her own words to be "there is no gods, there is no religions...", why not affirmations about ourselves, like praise, honor, value, beauty of love in objective way....

She has a right to her opinions. That's why. Additionally, I can personally affirm that I have honor, value and beauty of love in my life. Just because I don't subscribe to a magical sky fairy doesn't mean those things are absent from my life. Who said one needs a god to have those things in their life?

The attitude here is yes even question that, doubt that....or if people don't doubt it, they don't care to come to it's defense.

It seems people here don't care much about meaning at all. We talk about how we can have meaning without God which is fine, yet, where is the search of higher meaning by others here? No one cares.

It would seem to me, anyway, that you are trying to find some sort of loophole somewhere to get atheists to subscribe to some sort of deity.
Why would an atheist defend religion? What purpose would that serve?

What do you value most in life and why?

I value love, life, respect, trust, compassion, empathy, peace and freedom. Why? Because they are, in my opinion, important things to have in one's life if one wishes to be happy. If you walk around angry all the time, you're gonna be pretty miserable. Again, my opinion. [/quote]

[JuliaL]

---

It's a metaphor but it's also represents a reality. A reality we all are part of. A reality we see with our souls all the time.

Jormungandr, you know what I don't get. Why is the purpose here in these forums simply to put question things and never affirm anything. Do Atheists truly doubt free-will that no one comes to the defense of the belief in free-will and that we ought to know we have it.

It is in the nature of skepticism to doubt.  People here believe things, but they aren't unified in their belief but in their disbelief.  There are atheists who believe in free will, and those that don't.  What is generally agreed is that free will doesn't have an otherworldly source.

Do people truly not believe in objective value to humans? Is this actually true? 

I think the primary consensus is that these things are poorly understood, but again do not have an otherworldly existence.  Most are fine with not knowing.  Proving that the value we feel is objective has generally come up empty.  Even you resort to metaphors when asked to trace an objective source for value.

Why is the truth Beccs found in her own words to be "there is no gods, there is no religions...", why not affirmations about ourselves, like praise, honor, value, beauty of love in objective way....

I don't think my explanation for any of these would be different than my answer for value.  These things have no obvious explanation.  Most just accept their existence as natural phenomena.  Some embrace skepticism and deny the reality of these things completely.  I think those people are jumping to negative conclusions on the basis of ignorance, but they share the skepticism that such things have a non-natural explanation.

The attitude here is yes even question that, doubt that....or if people don't doubt it, they don't care to come to it's defense.

Perhaps you face the questioning end of their beliefs because they are engaging yours.

It seems people here don't care much about meaning at all. We talk about how we can have meaning without God which is fine, yet, where is the search of higher meaning by others here? No one cares.

Theories about meaning are scarce.  Even supernatural answers don't really explain meaning.  I think many are either unaware that there is a question to be answered, or are comfortable simply not knowing the answer.  If one doesn't have an answer, there's not much to talk about.

The first thing that I cared about when I was Atheist is how I would finding meaning. Is meaning not important to humans? Should they not care?

And I think that not knowing scares you.  It doesn't have that same impact on everyone.  There are a lot of human experiences that we don't have good explanations for.  Being ignorant of the ultimate answers isn't necessarily a threat to most people.  It's just a fact of life.

Why don't people talk about higher meaning and strive for that, why do people settle for such a low standard of that.

What do you mean by higher meaning?  That seems like a euphemism for supernaturally provided meaning.  Are you sure there is such a thing?

---

What do you value most in life and why?

There is little in my life these days.  Meaning has gone out of my life and I don't see it returning.

This means you achieved/found satori?
I enjoy reading your posts when I can.  I find them uniformly insightful and sensitive.
Is enlightenment just finally getting the joke?

[dyresand]

The post was about why I understand Islamphobia exists and is becoming widespread.

I hate to be that guy...but... at this point Islamaphobia to some extinct is to be expected let me be honest here
for a religion to call itself the religion of peace then on one hand has extremists doing terrible things on one hand
and then followers honor killing on another should automatically loose religion of peace standing. I don't see 
peace at all i get that extremists are not true islamists but damn Islam in this day in age is the most violent 
repressive religion out there. They are doing what the christians did long ago the religion itself needs to go through 
changes like christianity did or islam itself at its current rate fill fade out due to the ever growing Islamaphobia.