Atheists are mentally ill

[Cyberman]

Not that it matters because we're saved through grace which washes all of that out of your system.

Woah, easy with the proselytising there! You're writing cheques that your evidence needs to cash. If it doesn't matter, why bring it up at all?

Let's not get carried away by this article. It's not a scientific paper or a serious study, it's a petulant blog post in a notoriously biased newspaper by a journalist nursing a sore burn over findings that suggest atheists as a species may have higher IQs than theists. Whether that is true or not is eminently arguable but only peripherally relevant to what this guy was trying to do. He even cites an American pro-religious conservative "think tank" as the source of his rant. Three guesses why he's not taken seriously.

[ParCutz]

But to you all of that is just a byproduct of some kind blind unintentional natural whatever it was that made the universe and it's all going to be dust eventually anyway. There's no real permanence or real relevance to it. You may think there is but what you think doesn't ultimately matter as you're going to end up the same way yourself. In God everything has a permanence, everything has a purpose beyond your own opinion and you are partaking within it, everything you do in some way ultimately does matter in a real way. What would be central wouldn't be a blind chaos that somehow churned out a fully functioning life generating universe but at the heart you have love and that would be ultimate basis of human existence right there. It isn't nature red in tooth and claw or survival of the fittest, it isn't about shoring up treasure on Earth.

********

Sin and Saintliness run on a spectrum though everyone (who isn't Jesus/part of the Trinity of God) is at least little bit grey. Not that it matters because we're saved through grace which washes all of that out of your system.

Are we on your sites preaching to you? If we are, we really need to stop. I know that I am not and will never be. Sheeple will always be sheeple. Those that have more than two brain cells that are actually speaking to each other know better. Is it not odd that religious people fight against other religious people? It is almost like "My father is bigger than your father and he can beat the snot out of you!". Who cares? My father is an @$$hole, oh and he is a minister. Anyway. You are damn lucky that there are a lot of simpletons on this wobbly planet or you would be on-line looking for others like yourself. Why would anyone in their right-minds believe in someone that takes a parc <--, forgets to wipe and leave it there for someone else to flush?

Are atheists mentally ill? I know that I am. I wonder who made me that way?

[Jackalope]

Three guesses why he's not taken seriously.

I'll take "Insufferable Assholes" for $600, Alex.

[pocaracas]

Nowadays, some atheists (and I'm speaking for myself) can cope with the lack of mystical meaning for their life. They see the world as it is and understand it. They find meaning in other things, like their children and grandchildren; culture; entertainment; online forums; etc...

But to you all of that is just a byproduct of some kind blind unintentional natural whatever it was that made the universe and it's all going to be dust eventually anyway. There's no real permanence or real relevance to it. You may think there is but what you think doesn't ultimately matter as you're going to end up the same way yourself. In God everything has a permanence, everything has a purpose beyond your own opinion and you are partaking within it, everything you do in some way ultimately does matter in a real way. What would be central wouldn't be a blind chaos that somehow churned out a fully functioning life generating universe but at the heart you have love and that would be ultimate basis of human existence right there. It isn't nature red in tooth and claw or survival of the fittest, it isn't about shoring up treasure on Earth.

The world is not Black & white.... it has shades of gray.

Sin and Saintliness run on a spectrum though everyone (who isn't Jesus/part of the Trinity of God) is at least little bit grey. Not that it matters because we're saved through grace which washes all of that out of your system.

Hook, line and sinker... awesome!

Reality doesn't conform to mine nor anybody's wishes and desires.

Come back when you have something attesting that reality works the way you want it to. Until then, please keep your wishful thinking to yourself, because we're not buying it.

[Faith No More]

But to you all of that is just a byproduct of some kind blind unintentional natural whatever it was that made the universe and it's all going to be dust eventually anyway. There's no real permanence or real relevance to it. You may think there is but what you think doesn't ultimately matter as you're going to end up the same way yourself.

Does that frighten you? Are you suggesting that beliefs should be based upon how they make us feel?

Have you ever considered that some people don't want to believe in something that is false, despite the consequences? I know I do, and not only does it not frighten me, it doesn't lessen my life or the lives of other.

In God everything has a permanence, everything has a purpose beyond your own opinion and you are partaking within it, everything you do in some way ultimately does matter in a real way.

What I hear you saying is "believing in god gives me a purpose and makes me feel good." Beliefs should be based on facts, not feelings.

What would be central wouldn't be a blind chaos that somehow churned out a fully functioning life generating universe but at the heart you have love and that would be ultimate basis of human existence right there. It isn't nature red in tooth and claw or survival of the fittest, it isn't about shoring up treasure on Earth.

It doesn't matter what is at the center of a belief. What matters is what is true, and the lack of a god doesn't lessen the human experience one bit. I also think it makes it that more important that we learn to make the best of the world we have for each other.

[Ryantology]

But to you all of that is just a byproduct of some kind blind unintentional natural whatever it was that made the universe and it's all going to be dust eventually anyway. There's no real permanence or real relevance to it. You may think there is but what you think doesn't ultimately matter as you're going to end up the same way yourself.

It only matters so much to me. My existence is but the tiniest blip against the timespan of the cosmos. Even if your God did exist, it wouldn't affect my life. I still wouldn't worship a being whose own scriptures depict him as a vile, murderous monster (even if it describes him directly in the opposite manner).

In God everything has a permanence, everything has a purpose beyond your own opinion and you are partaking within it, everything you do in some way ultimately does matter in a real way. What would be central wouldn't be a blind chaos that somehow churned out a fully functioning life generating universe but at the heart you have love and that would be ultimate basis of human existence right there. It isn't nature red in tooth and claw or survival of the fittest, it isn't about shoring up treasure on Earth.

Wishful thinking. A psychological inability to accept reality. Nothing more.

[pineapplebunnybounce]

They may be more prone to certain kinds of mental illness like depression perhaps, if for instance whatever they decided to invest all their happiness into lets them down say family, career, wealth, relationships and so on. Not to say that a theist wouldn't be upset by these things going pear shaped but would be less prone to absolute despair or suicide.

That fact is debatable(although, my experience tells me it is quite possibly true), however, the point of the article was that atheists are mentally ill for being atheists.

And it is a misconception that atheists have to invest their happiness in anything, which seems to stem from the theist view of materialism. It is very possible for an atheist to find internal happiness that isn't completely dependent upon worldly things.

This is a reply to what both of you said.

I'm less inclined to conclude that atheists are more vulnerable to mental illnesses/sadness/depression. Atheists are more likely to invest into their present life than a theist who believes in an afterlife. The more you invest into your afterlife usually results in less investment in your present life. A buddhist monk invests very much into his afterlife/next reincarnation by chanting in the temple everyday and then taking a bowl out on the streets asking for charity. He gave up the chance to see the world. I invest in things that make me happy, if it doesn't make me happy right now, or it won't make me happy within this lifetime, I don't invest in it. Since I'm always picking the option that will make me happy within this lifetime, I have a greater chance of being happy, while the monk's chance of being happy is just the byproduct of his action (which was not done to make him happy).

Bad things happen to everyone, whether or not it's easier to cope if you believe in god is highly debatable. A monk's investment and an atheist's investment can both turn south. I think it's easier to deal with that without the nagging thought that it was a punishment from god.

[Angrboda]

But to you all of that is just a byproduct of some kind blind unintentional natural whatever it was that made the universe and it's all going to be dust eventually anyway. There's no real permanence or real relevance to it. You may think there is but what you think doesn't ultimately matter as you're going to end up the same way yourself. In God everything has a permanence, everything has a purpose beyond your own opinion and you are partaking within it, everything you do in some way ultimately does matter in a real way. What would be central wouldn't be a blind chaos that somehow churned out a fully functioning life generating universe but at the heart you have love and that would be ultimate basis of human existence right there.

[Sword of Christ]

It only matters so much to me. My existence is but the tiniest blip against the timespan of the cosmos. Even if your God did exist, it wouldn't affect my life. I still wouldn't worship a being whose own scriptures depict him as a vile, murderous monster (even if it describes him directly in the opposite manner).

It would effect your existence somewhat if God does exist, and it wouldn't just be my God he would be your God as well. Jesus Christ was not a murderous monster I'm not sure where you're getting that idea. The Old Testament may have had an imperfect view of Gods Moral Justice/Law but even there you see portrayals God as a compassionate being who loved his people and saw his creation as "good", who demanded the Jews treat the aliens in their land with respect as they themselves were once aliens in the land of Egypt. There is an emphasis on the equality of man no matter what your race, nation or ethnicity. This was very much stressed by Jesus himself of course.

Wishful thinking. A psychological inability to accept reality. Nothing more.

It's only wishful thinking if you don't really believe it or think it is a rational view to hold in light of the evidence. God/the Bible/Christ gives you a clearer understanding of the true nature of reality and human life as it really is. If it's wrong it's a delusion but atheism would be a delusion if that's wrong. Someone will have to be wrong of course.

[Chas]

Wishful thinking. A psychological inability to accept reality. Nothing more.

It's only wishful thinking if you don't really believe it or think it is a rational view to hold in light of the evidence. God/the Bible/Christ gives you a clearer understanding of the true nature of reality and human life as it really is. If it's wrong it's a delusion but atheism would be a delusion if that's wrong. Someone will have to be wrong of course.

And I'm quite sure that it is you who is delusional. You believe without evidence.