Atheism not needed for a life of greater value/pleasure

[Mister Agenda]

Hi OP. I agree that atheism, particularly of the Dawkinsian variety, can often-times be the cause of severe depression and end up diminishing the standard of one's living, due to a variety of reasons, some of which you have touched upon.

That must be why countries with higher levels of organic atheism have higher standards of living and lower murder rates.

It has been my experience to not expect the majority of this forum to have the intelligence to grasp what you are trying to discuss. Indeed the majority of this thread have already proven that they cannot hold an attention span for anything greater than four letters.

I'm glad you've finally found someone you can feel superior with.

I find it quite ironic how some of the most pre-determined 7/7 nihilistic atheists can have a problem with a person believing in what is deemed a fantasy in their perception.

Can you name two 7/7 nihilistic atheists who post on this forum?

If god/life etc. is meaningless and beyond free will and depressing and there are no moral consequences to one's actions then why not do heroin, or indeed believe in a utopic dogma of some description that makes one feel on top of the world.

Heroin is bad for you, m'kay? Reality may not be good for you, but the alternative is worse.

But no, anything beyond being a ridiculing keyboard warrior trapped in one's own ego appears to be out of the comfort zone of most self-proclaimed "free-thinkers", at least those I have had the unfortunate experience of wasting time with already.

I guess irony isn't fatal.

Whilst I do not 100% agree with your conclusions, I understand the questions you ask. As clever as it may try to be, I don't think 2014 peer reviewed atheistic science holds the wise answer, nor do I expect this forum or thread to. If anything I suspect it can just reaffirm one's "gut instinct" or intuitions more-so than positively expand one's intellect or "brain wiring".

I've noticed that when people say 'atheistic science', they mean 'science'. As much as some of us would like to take credit for science, it is its own thing.

I don't really care to judge either way. But certainly I find any person with abnormal experience/beliefs in the universe more entertaining than the status quo dogmatic atheistic behavioural pattern.

Fiction tends to be more entertaining than nonfiction.

Indeed I would go as far to say that people who have a life of exceptional value, such as a leading artist or sports star, will have an exceptional belief in themselves and/or a higher power that the majority of forum members here would ridicule for no reason other than they consider it delusional and it frightens their ego to see someone else living their dreams.

There is no conflict between being an atheist and being a leading artist or sports star. Some actually ARE (gasp!) atheists! Caring about art or sports isn't delusional, and accomplishment is accomplishment, no matter what quirky beliefs someone may hold.