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RE: Opinions on my drive to be an atheist
May 14, 2015 at 5:02 pm
(May 14, 2015 at 4:18 pm)ChadWooters Wrote: Yes, atheism has some psychological benefits that often go unrecognized. The newly converted atheist usually feels relief from the burden of unnecessary guilt. They also usually experience the exhilaration of setting their own goals and values apart from externally imposed expectations. You may continue adhering to the norms of your culture, and many do, but you really don’t have to except to the extent that you can avoid civil penalties and undesirable consequences. If you really are an atheist, you alone decide if ethics are something of value to you. Or not. Nobody can tell you you’re wrong either way.
Well then, it's a good thing that we have our innate sense of empathy, altruism, reciprocity to help us do the right thing.
It's a wonder, that without believing in a god, Bonobo chimps also exhibit empathy, kin selection, altruism, preciosity, etc.
It's almost as if these behaviors evolved, to help us survive in a deadly environment as a social species.
You'd believe if you just opened your heart" is a terrible argument for religion. It's basically saying, "If you bias yourself enough, you can convince yourself that this is true." If religion were true, people wouldn't need faith to believe it -- it would be supported by good evidence.
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RE: Opinions on my drive to be an atheist
May 14, 2015 at 5:03 pm
(May 14, 2015 at 4:38 pm)Stimbo Wrote: I'm reminded of that quote along the lines of "Without a god, we are free to rape and murder all we want. And I do rape and murder all I want. It just so happens that the amount I want is zero."
The thing is, believing in a god does not stop people from raping and murdering. So no matter how one looks at it, it is just a ridiculous idea that being an atheist causes people to do such things.
"A wise man ... proportions his belief to the evidence."
— David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Section X, Part I.
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RE: Opinions on my drive to be an atheist
May 14, 2015 at 5:13 pm
The opinion expressed in the OP comes across as extremely juvenille. I am having a very difficult time believing the poster is married with children with such superficial outlook on the matter.
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RE: Opinions on my drive to be an atheist
May 14, 2015 at 5:21 pm
(May 14, 2015 at 5:13 pm)Cato Wrote: The opinion expressed in the OP comes across as extremely juvenille. I am having a very difficult time believing the poster is married with children with such superficial outlook on the matter.
Agreed.
(May 14, 2015 at 5:02 pm)Simon Moon Wrote: Well then, it's a good thing that we have our innate sense of empathy, altruism, reciprocity to help us do the right thing…It's almost as if these behaviors evolved, to help us survive in a deadly environment as a social species. Human beings also have innate propensities toward greed, lust, and envy. Your selection of only humanity’s positive traits makes for a nice just-so story though.
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RE: Opinions on my drive to be an atheist
May 14, 2015 at 6:04 pm
(This post was last modified: May 14, 2015 at 6:06 pm by cocunningham.)
(May 14, 2015 at 4:43 pm)Rhythm Wrote: @cocunningham, that's awesome...the vacation bit.
Thanks :-D . We had fallen in a rut doing the same thing every day even going to the same place every year for vacation. We stopped really talking to each other in more than in polite uninteresting "how was your day". So adding some spontaneity and going to new places, experiencing new cultures, and trying new foods has done us a lot of good. We drew Scotland this year but my wife is pregnant with our second child so we're hesitant to do any international travel. We'll just have to put it back and draw again until we pull something domestic.
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RE: Opinions on my drive to be an atheist
May 14, 2015 at 9:09 pm
There's gotta be a bar down the street or something..lol.
I am the Infantry. I am my country’s strength in war, her deterrent in peace. I am the heart of the fight… wherever, whenever. I carry America’s faith and honor against her enemies. I am the Queen of Battle. I am what my country expects me to be, the best trained Soldier in the world. In the race for victory, I am swift, determined, and courageous, armed with a fierce will to win. Never will I fail my country’s trust. Always I fight on…through the foe, to the objective, to triumph overall. If necessary, I will fight to my death. By my steadfast courage, I have won more than 200 years of freedom. I yield not to weakness, to hunger, to cowardice, to fatigue, to superior odds, For I am mentally tough, physically strong, and morally straight. I forsake not, my country, my mission, my comrades, my sacred duty. I am relentless. I am always there, now and forever. I AM THE INFANTRY! FOLLOW ME!
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RE: Opinions on my drive to be an atheist
May 14, 2015 at 11:00 pm
For what it's worth.
Been with Pam 30 years, married 25.
I've never been romantic (the concept is alien to me)
Never, ever bought her flowers.
Didn't even exchange rings in our vows.
We have never been happier.
We are soul mates
Neither of us do woo!
Just 2 realistic, practical people.
If anybody has high expectations of any god, it can only end in tears.
No God, No fear.
Know God, Know fear.
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RE: Opinions on my drive to be an atheist
May 15, 2015 at 10:44 am
(This post was last modified: May 15, 2015 at 10:48 am by Won2blv.)
(May 14, 2015 at 6:04 pm)cocunningham Wrote: (May 14, 2015 at 4:43 pm)Rhythm Wrote: @cocunningham, that's awesome...the vacation bit.
Thanks :-D . We had fallen in a rut doing the same thing every day even going to the same place every year for vacation. We stopped really talking to each other in more than in polite uninteresting "how was your day". So adding some spontaneity and going to new places, experiencing new cultures, and trying new foods has done us a lot of good. We drew Scotland this year but my wife is pregnant with our second child so we're hesitant to do any international travel. We'll just have to put it back and draw again until we pull something domestic.
I appreciate your sensible practical suggestions. The problem with my situation is loaded. Me and my wife travel maybe 2-3 months out of the year. We laugh constantly and we see eye to eye in most situations. I really do think that my issue is 2 part, I don't want to be a JW anymore. Not out of spite but out of connivence to the fact that I don't think I even believe in it. But it would crush my wife if she knew that. And the 2nd part is that she is an attractive person but I am not sexually attracted to her anymore. There is a lot more shit involved than just those 2 things but its hard to feel like we can get back to when we were in love. I have struggled for years now and the one thing that kept me in it, was that I would have to cheat on her to get a divorce and I would never do that. So it is a refreshing thought that if there is no god then I don't have to pay heed to that
(May 14, 2015 at 5:13 pm)Cato Wrote: The opinion expressed in the OP comes across as extremely juvenille. I am having a very difficult time believing the poster is married with children with such superficial outlook on the matter.
I know that atheist don't have a clergy or hierarchy but rather respected individuals that speak out as atheists, correct? Matt D from atheist experience is one of these men to many atheists. I saw a lecture once where he said (paraphrased) "people say that you want to be an atheist just so that you can do immoral things, so what, whats wrong with that?"
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RE: Opinions on my drive to be an atheist
May 15, 2015 at 10:53 am
LOL!
The passion is over after less than 7 years and while she's still hot and pretty?!
Can you envision yourself with her, when you're both over 60, ugly, saggy and tired?
Ah, but you're one of those guys that needs to be out on the prowl... just divorce her.
There are offices dedicated to that.
And, yes, if you don't haul all the christian baggage, you can get a divorce for as little as "I don't like being with her anymore".... she needs to sign the paper, too, but I guess the "atheist" word will make that scribble leap out of her pen in the time it takes you to blink.
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RE: Opinions on my drive to be an atheist
May 15, 2015 at 10:59 am
(This post was last modified: May 15, 2015 at 10:59 am by Whateverist.)
(May 15, 2015 at 10:44 am)nicanica123 Wrote: I know that atheist don't have a clergy or hierarchy but rather respected individuals that speak out as atheists, correct? Matt D from atheist experience is one of these men to many atheists. I saw a lecture once where he said (paraphrased) "people say that you want to be an atheist just so that you can do immoral things, so what, whats wrong with that?"
The idea of having a difficult time deciding to believe in invisible, undetectable woo for the sake of the benefits seems whack to me.
If you really think there are immoral things you can do which would bring down upon you the wrath of a limitlessly vengeful god .. well you just aren't an atheist. Calling yourself one probably isn't going to free you up if you really believe in eternal revenge.
I guess I can see how from that twisted view point we might seem to have it good.
I guess what you're really saying is you would welcome a cure for your belief. At least you know you are not well. Let the healing begin! *begins speaking in tongues and bouncing serpents*
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