(September 21, 2009 at 8:56 pm)Demonaura Wrote: If there are no gods then we cease to exist. The evidence of our good life DOES NOT DISSAPEAR! We have likely bettered the world for the next generation, our children and the future of the human race.
The points you bring up to which I won't respond just seem like the same points I already responded to, it seems senseless to keep starting over.
All of the evidence of your good life DOES DISAPPEAR! You die, your children die, and the human race DIES. Do you believe the universe and the human race lasts forever and that the memory of you will last at all?
Demonaura Wrote:If, as most atheists believe, there is no afterlife then this life of ours is very precious and the greatest gift we could ever give would be to improve the lives of those who will come after us.
Why are you concerned about the lives of those who come after you? How can you live for future people - how have you determined that they are worth more than you? Shouldn't you live for you?
Demonaura Wrote:However, just like saying that all atheists don't because we think it is not worth the trouble is it a gross generalisation and just plain wrong.
Go back and read what I wrote. There's no use in attacking a strawman.
Demonaura Wrote:Even in above examples though, being devout does not equal being good. You can be a bad person and be devout and hate yourself. You won't be stable but I hope it gets my point accross.
Bad people aren't devout to the just gods, whilst hating themselves. Someone might be forced into that position, but it is unstable, dishonest (thus not devoted), and will simply result in their demise. Being honestly and freely devoted to the just gods equals being good.
Demonaura Wrote:You can also be good without being devout to a just god.
How? ...since just saying it doesn't make it so. Explain why you would be good - essentially why would you give up your own means, even your own life, for the sake of another when everyone is doomed to destruction (which is what happens according to people who could care less about the gods). In simpler terms, why would you be good for no reason? It doesn't make any sense in context of destruction. Why wouldn't you instead be rational and look after your own livelihood and survival?
Demonaura Wrote:As far as your question to how the gods could not care: They may care, they may thank you and reward you for your devotion over all those years. But, a truly just god is not so egotistical as to punish you for not following exactly what he wants. He knows that you have free-will and might set your own path in life.
So the just gods might not mind if you, in setting your own path, railroaded and stamped out as many other people as you could - to win or be better or get ahead in life. But then how could the gods be just? Is it egotistical to have standards or is it just?
