Atheism is just rejection of theistic claims. There are irrational atheists, just as there are some theists who are ok with evolution and cosmology. The two are not related.
Moving on.
1) Ignoring that Dawkins is not the atheist pope, there are reasons that we often say religion does bad things. Just because our lives don't matter in the grand scheme of things doesn't mean that we can't form a moral philosophy that helps us categorize things as either good or evil. It might not matter to the universe, but it matters TO US. And really that's all that matters. We can build perfectly good moral philosophies which would help us make those determinations.
2) This one was worded poorly, but I think I understand what you were trying to say. See above, it doesn't matter to the universe if we all die out and we all believe stupid shit and hurt each other. But it does matter to us. I honestly don't care what you believe, except that people tend to use their beliefs to change their actions. And while it might not matter in the grand scheme, I am a selfish creature who wants to live in the best world possible.
3) I don't know how the universe came to be. That does not mean I get to assume any damn placeholder I want. I need a positive reason to believe in something specific. Until then, I simply state that I don't know and be done with it. And most atheists I have heard will admit that they don't know.
4) I'm educated in science, but not a cosmologist. I know only that that the expansion of the universe from a super dense point is supported by the evidence we currently have. We don't know what happened in the first yoctosecond but after that we have a fairly good working model. And that's ok. People much smarter than I are working on that first itty bit of time. We aren't coming to these conclusions because that's just what's popular. We've been circling and circling and this seems to be what we are closing in on. If it is found to be wrong tomorrow, then I will accept that.
5) I don't believe that there is such a thing as "consciousness" or a soul. I think it's just a very complicated set of algorithms. But let's put that aside. Atheism is simply one position on one thing. There is nothing else. There are atheists who are 9/11 truthers, and atheists who are Buddhists, and atheists who believe the president is a secret shape-shifting reptile. As such how can it be reasonably claimed that atheism is "dogmatic" when we can't agree on anything except that theists haven't met their burden of proof?
6) Each atheist has their own philosophy which they have to build for themselves. Some are good, some are bad. Each idea has to be addressed by itself so its merit can be determined.
If you think that your answers are better ok, why? And can you convince me of that?
I have never thought that being an atheist allowed me to do "whatever I wanted." In fact, as many others will point out I am sure, quite the opposite. Christianity gave me an excuse to behave badly. I was a sinner, I couldn't help being bad. Just acknowledge how horrible you were and trust in Jesus. But as an atheist I have no excuse. I can be a good person, and I have to be accountable to myself for it.
Moving on.
1) Ignoring that Dawkins is not the atheist pope, there are reasons that we often say religion does bad things. Just because our lives don't matter in the grand scheme of things doesn't mean that we can't form a moral philosophy that helps us categorize things as either good or evil. It might not matter to the universe, but it matters TO US. And really that's all that matters. We can build perfectly good moral philosophies which would help us make those determinations.
2) This one was worded poorly, but I think I understand what you were trying to say. See above, it doesn't matter to the universe if we all die out and we all believe stupid shit and hurt each other. But it does matter to us. I honestly don't care what you believe, except that people tend to use their beliefs to change their actions. And while it might not matter in the grand scheme, I am a selfish creature who wants to live in the best world possible.
3) I don't know how the universe came to be. That does not mean I get to assume any damn placeholder I want. I need a positive reason to believe in something specific. Until then, I simply state that I don't know and be done with it. And most atheists I have heard will admit that they don't know.
4) I'm educated in science, but not a cosmologist. I know only that that the expansion of the universe from a super dense point is supported by the evidence we currently have. We don't know what happened in the first yoctosecond but after that we have a fairly good working model. And that's ok. People much smarter than I are working on that first itty bit of time. We aren't coming to these conclusions because that's just what's popular. We've been circling and circling and this seems to be what we are closing in on. If it is found to be wrong tomorrow, then I will accept that.
5) I don't believe that there is such a thing as "consciousness" or a soul. I think it's just a very complicated set of algorithms. But let's put that aside. Atheism is simply one position on one thing. There is nothing else. There are atheists who are 9/11 truthers, and atheists who are Buddhists, and atheists who believe the president is a secret shape-shifting reptile. As such how can it be reasonably claimed that atheism is "dogmatic" when we can't agree on anything except that theists haven't met their burden of proof?
6) Each atheist has their own philosophy which they have to build for themselves. Some are good, some are bad. Each idea has to be addressed by itself so its merit can be determined.
If you think that your answers are better ok, why? And can you convince me of that?
I have never thought that being an atheist allowed me to do "whatever I wanted." In fact, as many others will point out I am sure, quite the opposite. Christianity gave me an excuse to behave badly. I was a sinner, I couldn't help being bad. Just acknowledge how horrible you were and trust in Jesus. But as an atheist I have no excuse. I can be a good person, and I have to be accountable to myself for it.
