RE: Why do Atheists spend so much time debatng the existence of God?
October 2, 2013 at 8:51 am
(This post was last modified: October 2, 2013 at 8:54 am by Tortino.)
(October 2, 2013 at 8:43 am)max-greece Wrote: Number of reasons really:
1. Christianity and Islam in particular are very keen to convert anyone and also as an atheist we appear to be fair game. Also worth bearing in mind there are an awful lot of Christians and Moslems out there (with a wild variety of interpretations of things).
Is this really a big problem? How is this any different to getting phone calls from people trying to sell you something?
2. Religious mis-information and the dangers to education. I don't really need to expand on this - Intelligent Design in biology classes - really?
Intelligent design is the philosophy of scientific findings. For example, the finding of the complexity of cells via scientific discovery, is it designed? This is a philosophical conclusion rather than scientific. Furthermore, what is wrong in looking at alternative views?
3. Religion varies from one individual to another and from one branch to another. Some accept science and that's fine - science continues. Some, however, don't and that's a problem because those people are extremely vociferous and can do real damage to our development.
Why should religious not embrace science? I certainly do. Science is the study of the natural world. People think science and religion are at odds, but I think they are not. I will write a thread on this.
4. Religion effectively was above criticism for hundreds of years. You could attack a man's politics and no-one turned a hair, but mention his faith and things got very sticky. Since 9/11 that has changed. Religion is now fair game, as it should be. You can believe what you want to - but if you put it out there expect to have to defend it.
We don't have to defend our world view anymore than Atheists have to defend their view.
5. Related to 4, above, atheists have largely remained silent throughout history. In previous times to be an atheist openly was to court death. Now that the gag has been removed you have to expect some over-exuberance from the newly free.
What does that have to do with now?
That'll cover it for now.
(October 2, 2013 at 8:44 am)Fidel_Castronaut Wrote: Because so many people keep telling us their version of whatever god it is they worship exists and, further, that it hates us.
Really? Well, I cannot speak on behalf of Islam or Judaism, but the doctrine of Christianity is clear that God loves sinners.
But really, we never actually get past the first question; "What's a god?"
Creator of the universe, life and source of all moral goodness.
