"You just want to be your own god"?

[vulcanlogician]

When Hindus become atheists, their family says: "You just want to be your own 550 million gods."

[brewer]

When Hindus become atheists, their family says: "You just want to be your own 550 million gods."

Bull...... um....... I mean cow.

[AkiraTheViking]

When Hindus become atheists, their family says: "You just want to be your own 550 million gods."

One of my friend is an Indian Atheist whose family follows Hinduism and he said that his family is ok with it so long as they pray for him and because he'll reincarnate in the next life.

I myself am Indian from a family that follows Hinduism and while I'm out to everyone outside of the family only 2 in the family knows. The way my family is though, if I were to tell them, I'm gonna have a bad time. Plus my mom is over me being gay for a good few years now and I don't wanna put her through that stress again.

[Brian37]

What does this mean?

I've heard this on occasion leveled as criticism against atheists. Intuitively, I think I understand it....but when actually examining it and breaking it down, it doesn't make much sense. 

It reminds me of "you just want to sin". My response is a knee jerk, "Yeah. Those things you call sin, I want to do some of them, yes, and that freedom to choose is important to me." So, with only having a vague assumption about the "you just want to be your own god" accusation, I tentatively say, "...yes. It is true I want to be in charge of my own life, my choices, and my destiny."

Thoughts?

Penn Jillette said it best paraphrasing, something like, " I could rape, sure, but the amount I want to rape is zero".

But that has nothing to do with wanting to be one's own god, that has to do with having empathy and compassion. Not even atheists are gods, nor should we want to act like a God or gods. It just means we don't need superstition to regulate ourselves. 

I really warn, even atheists to not think of ourselves as being 100% in control of our own destiny's. Nobody ever is 100%. It is true that every human can do their best, and try their best, but even with such efforts, bad luck will hit everyone, at some point. nobody lives forever, and no matter how famous our wealthy, friend or foe alike, rich or poor, everyone dies eventually.

If you have been in a car accident that was not your fault, that is an example of someone affecting you beyond your control. You can only do your best. But even in doing such, there are countless factors, despite such that can affect you.

[no one]

You're right, I really don't want to exist.

[Brian37]

You're right, I really don't want to exist.

That is not what I said.

I mean that we as humans do not need a sky hero to guide us. Collectively humans can, when they want to, work to improve life. But individually on a minute by minute and day by day basis, anything can happen, good or bad, and both your luck and bad luck can be beyond your control. It isn't saying you can't control yourself. It is just saying that life is still ultimately a crap shoot. You can only live for the moment and do the best you can.

[no one]

I wasn't talking to you.

I was answering the thread as a whole.

[R00tKiT]

What does this mean?

I've heard this on occasion leveled as criticism against atheists. Intuitively, I think I understand it....but when actually examining it and breaking it down, it doesn't make much sense. 

It reminds me of "you just want to sin". My response is a knee jerk, "Yeah. Those things you call sin, I want to do some of them, yes, and that freedom to choose is important to me." So, with only having a vague assumption about the "you just want to be your own god" accusation, I tentatively say, "...yes. It is true I want to be in charge of my own life, my choices, and my destiny."

Thoughts?

It's probably the most truthful criticism against atheists. The only thing one wins by becoming an atheist is to commit sinful acts without having to deal with remorse.

Atheists wouldn't exist if God almighty answers all wishes. In Islamic eschatology, those who disbelieve will purportedly follow the Antichrist, and the Jews will even consider him to be an incarnation of God. This man will be endowed with abilities that are exactly those atheists usually ask God to have;

- The antichrist will repeatedly perform miracles right before their eyes.
- The antichrist will heal the sick and raise the dead, effectively answering the prayers of the parents of the deceased.
- The antichrist will cause the earth to grow vegetation, will cause livestock to prosper, 

The antichrist or even a more powerful version of him can't be God. If entity x is material, it's subjected to laws of physics, therefore can't be omnipotent.  Ironically, atheists ask for material evidence of an omnipotent entity... The thing is, if there were material evidence for a very powerful entity, we already know it can't be God.

[zwanzig]

Penn Jillette said it best paraphrasing, something like, " I could rape, sure, but the amount I want to rape is zero".

But that has nothing to do with wanting to be one's own god, that has to do with having empathy and compassion. Not even atheists are gods, nor should we want to act like a God or gods. It just means we don't need superstition to regulate ourselves. 

I really warn, even atheists to not think of ourselves as being 100% in control of our own destiny's. Nobody ever is 100%. It is true that every human can do their best, and try their best, but even with such efforts, bad luck will hit everyone, at some point. nobody lives forever, and no matter how famous our wealthy, friend or foe alike, rich or poor, everyone dies eventually.

If you have been in a car accident that was not your fault, that is an example of someone affecting you beyond your control. You can only do your best. But even in doing such, there are countless factors, despite such that can affect you.

Very true. I didn't mean that I can control my destiny the way that God is supposed to. I did mean just the freedom to regulate myself and choose my own path and goals without someone else telling me what to think. So, shorthand destiny. But of course, bad shit happens for no reason sometimes. It's just reality.

[Brian37]

Penn Jillette said it best paraphrasing, something like, " I could rape, sure, but the amount I want to rape is zero".

But that has nothing to do with wanting to be one's own god, that has to do with having empathy and compassion. Not even atheists are gods, nor should we want to act like a God or gods. It just means we don't need superstition to regulate ourselves. 

I really warn, even atheists to not think of ourselves as being 100% in control of our own destiny's. Nobody ever is 100%. It is true that every human can do their best, and try their best, but even with such efforts, bad luck will hit everyone, at some point. nobody lives forever, and no matter how famous our wealthy, friend or foe alike, rich or poor, everyone dies eventually.

If you have been in a car accident that was not your fault, that is an example of someone affecting you beyond your control. You can only do your best. But even in doing such, there are countless factors, despite such that can affect you.

Very true. I didn't mean that I can control my destiny the way that God is supposed to. I did mean just the freedom to regulate myself and choose my own path and goals without someone else telling me what to think. So, shorthand destiny. But of course, bad shit happens for no reason sometimes. It's just reality.

We do always have choices. And most certainly things like choosing to rob a bank, for example, is probably not a very good choice. But all I was getting at is that I really am not fond of the attitude that "if you fail, or never move up in life" you are worth less.

Trump is world famous and I would never trade my life for his. 

There was a show back in the 90s called "Inside The Actor's Studio", in one episode Whoopie Goldberg was the guest. After the interviews when it got to the audience's questions one person asked her, something like, "Can we get where you are at?" 

And her answer is never, for the most part what I hear from famous people, she said, "All of you are capable of being great actors. But most of you, if not all of you, will not sit where I am sitting here now."

Most people, if they live to old age, and if lucky, can pay their bills. Most people will not be famous comedians, or famous actors, or famous musicians, or famous business people, or famous sports stars. Most people pretty much stay in the class they are born into, or if lucky move one rung up to stability. 

But reality is, even with wealth and fame, how many stories do we hear about some famous person dying because of an accident, or drugs or crime, or whatever? I think life is simple. Live now, plan when you can, and just know that tomorrow is not a given. And more importantly, don't let other's people's baggage rent space in your head.

---

What does this mean?

I've heard this on occasion leveled as criticism against atheists. Intuitively, I think I understand it....but when actually examining it and breaking it down, it doesn't make much sense. 

It reminds me of "you just want to sin". My response is a knee jerk, "Yeah. Those things you call sin, I want to do some of them, yes, and that freedom to choose is important to me." So, with only having a vague assumption about the "you just want to be your own god" accusation, I tentatively say, "...yes. It is true I want to be in charge of my own life, my choices, and my destiny."

Thoughts?

It's probably the most truthful criticism against atheists. The only thing one wins by becoming an atheist is to commit sinful acts without having to deal with remorse.

Atheists wouldn't exist if God almighty answers all wishes. In Islamic eschatology, those who disbelieve will purportedly follow the Antichrist, and the Jews will even consider him to be an incarnation of God. This man will be endowed with abilities that are exactly those atheists usually ask God to have;

- The antichrist will repeatedly perform miracles right before their eyes.
- The antichrist will heal the sick and raise the dead, effectively answering the prayers of the parents of the deceased.
- The antichrist will cause the earth to grow vegetation, will cause livestock to prosper, 

The antichrist or even a more powerful version of him can't be God. If entity x is material, it's subjected to laws of physics, therefore can't be omnipotent.  Ironically, atheists ask for material evidence of an omnipotent entity... The thing is, if there were material evidence for a very powerful entity, we already know it can't be God.

What a steamy pile of pony loaf, also known as HORSESHIT. 

Why the hell do you, or Christians or Muslims or Jews even Hindus who believe in Karma, stupidly think that because atheists don't attach human behavior to superstition, that we are incapable of feeling remorse, or regret or guilt? 

Atheists do not think we are perfect. We don't think life is a free for all and you can simply harm others because we accept we are finite. We do value empathy and compassion, we simply do not assign those human attributes to old mythology or superstition.