Why You Should Be Atheist

[Simon Moon]

At best, people can only have a concept or idea of who they believe God to be. And that concept, when nurtured enough, will easily feel like reality to them. I respect people's beliefs, as long as they don't trample on others, and try to infiltrate our government.

I don't want to become one of those atheists/agnostics who are militant, because that is the very thing I didn't like about religion. It's a fine line, everyone. Have to be careful not to push people away with our own beliefs, just like we don't want religious people to do that to us.

None of this has any relation to what I was asking Vinny, or why.

Vinny constantly posts threads on why not believing unsupported claims,
like the existence of a god, is irrational and that atheists have the burden of proof.

Yet, he has not, to my knowledge, told us what he believes and why he believes it.

I am under the impression he is purposely dodging these questions.

---

Are you requesting that I do them because you want to know? Then phrase it as a request.

Yes.

Please, if you believe a god exists:

Define it.
Explain why you believe it.
Provide evidence for it.

I would sincerely appreciate it.

EDIT: you may want to start a new thread for this.

[*Deidre*]

At best, people can only have a concept or idea of who they believe God to be. And that concept, when nurtured enough, will easily feel like reality to them. I respect people's beliefs, as long as they don't trample on others, and try to infiltrate our government.

I don't want to become one of those atheists/agnostics who are militant, because that is the very thing I didn't like about religion. It's a fine line, everyone. Have to be careful not to push people away with our own beliefs, just like we don't want religious people to do that to us.

None of this has any relation to what I was asking Vinny, or why.

Vinny constantly posts threads on why not believing unsupported claims,
like the existence of a god, is irrational and that atheists have the burden of proof.

Yet, he has not, to my knowledge, told us what he believes and why he believes it.

I am under the impression he is purposely dodging these questions.

Then, my post is relevant. Because all believers (I was one myself a few years ago) only have a concept or idea of God to really cling to. And that's fine, but call it like it is, I say. Call it a belief in the idea of God. That could be your next rebuttal. lol (And it's really not assaulting anyone's beliefs, it's just being honest.)

[Vincenzo Vinny G.]

Are you requesting that I do them because you want to know? Then phrase it as a request.

Yes.

Please, if you believe a god exists:

Define it.
Explain why you believe it.
Provide evidence for it.

I would appreciate it.

I've tried to discuss my views before, but I usually hit a wall of ignorance with many of the atheists around here. They lack familiarity with science, philosophy, epistemology, logic, mathematics, and many of the fields that my views build on. Given their lack of familiarity, their responses amount to hysterical skepticism firing blindly in all directions, like one recent poster who dismissed logic as a means of arriving at knowledge "as a house of cards". Doesn't strike me as a worthwhile pursuit unless people are capable of exercising critical thinking skills and looking new things up to learn about them.

Explaining the rigorous use of reason to an atheist is like explaining quantum mechanics to the amish.

[Simon Moon]

I've tried to discuss my views before, but I usually hit a wall of ignorance with many of the atheists around here. They lack familiarity with science, philosophy, epistemology, logic, mathematics, and many of the fields that my views build on. Given their lack of familiarity, their responses amount to hysterical skepticism firing blindly in all directions, like one recent poster who dismissed logic as a means of arriving at knowledge "as a house of cards". Doesn't strike me as a worthwhile pursuit unless people are capable of exercising critical thinking skills and looking new things up to learn about them.

Explaining the rigorous use of reason to an atheist is like explaining quantum mechanics to the amish.

Why the hell did you want me to express my post as a request if you weren't going to answer it?

Could you at least point me to a thread where you already went over your views?

[*Deidre*]

Yes.

Please, if you believe a god exists:

Define it.
Explain why you believe it.
Provide evidence for it.

I would appreciate it.

I've tried to discuss my views before, but I usually hit a wall of ignorance with many of the atheists around here. They lack familiarity with science, philosophy, epistemology, logic, mathematics, and many of the fields that my views build on.

If you are religious, logic has nothing to do with it. Just saying. You might be mystified by your own belief system, but that doesn't equate to logic. Atheists don't lack famiiarity with science, philosophy, math, etc. Is this how you defend your faith? I can see why you get frustrated. lol I was once a believer, and honestly, you can't convince an atheist of your beliefs, just like an atheist will never be able to convince you why what you believe, is a fantasy or an idea.

But, I wouldn't combat atheists in the manner you're doing, because you are wrong. Atheists are very smart, very astute in most of the subjects you name, so painting them as ignorant, implies that you are somehow superior to us.

I know you don't mean to come across like that but that's sort of how it sounds.

[Faith No More]

I've tried to discuss my views before, but I usually hit a wall of ignorance with many of the atheists around here. They lack familiarity with science, philosophy, epistemology, logic, mathematics, and many of the fields that my views build on. Given their lack of familiarity, their responses amount to hysterical skepticism firing blindly in all directions, like one recent poster who dismissed logic as a means of arriving at knowledge "as a house of cards". Doesn't strike me as a worthwhile pursuit unless people are capable of exercising critical thinking skills and looking new things up to learn about them.

Explaining the rigorous use of reason to an atheist is like explaining quantum mechanics to the amish.

Just because some people won't get it, doesn't mean it won't lead to fruitful discussion, as long as those that talk out of their ass are ignored. As you can see, this forum lacks rigorous intellectual discussions, which is what you claim to be after, so try adding something positive here.

[Faith No More]

Atheists are very smart, very astute in most of the subjects you name...

Stick around for awhile, and you'll rethink that generalization.

[Zazzy]

Everyone IS an atheist. The Christians don't believe in Allah, the Muslims don't believe Jesus was God, and all the other religions poo-poo each others' sacred claims. If you're not worried about Islamic hell, you know just what it feels like not to be worried about Christian hell. The atheist folks on this forum only take this one God further than the theists.

However, I don't like the word "should." What people SHOULD do is whatever is right for themselves that doesn't infringe on other people. I have no problem with theists as long as they keep that to themselves in public. Free thought is only free if people QUIT FUCKING TELLING OTHERS WHAT THEY SHOULD BELIEVE.

[Vincenzo Vinny G.]

I've tried to discuss my views before, but I usually hit a wall of ignorance with many of the atheists around here. They lack familiarity with science, philosophy, epistemology, logic, mathematics, and many of the fields that my views build on. Given their lack of familiarity, their responses amount to hysterical skepticism firing blindly in all directions, like one recent poster who dismissed logic as a means of arriving at knowledge "as a house of cards". Doesn't strike me as a worthwhile pursuit unless people are capable of exercising critical thinking skills and looking new things up to learn about them.

Explaining the rigorous use of reason to an atheist is like explaining quantum mechanics to the amish.

Why the hell did you want me to express my post as a request if you weren't going to answer it?

Could you at least point me to a thread where you already went over your views?

Because I want to answer it?

Ideally to someone who's like "Okay, I see how x fits in with y, but I'm skeptical of z because of a, b, and c, and therefore I disagree with your conclusion."

versus

"FILOSOFY IS KRAP OK? HURRRRR HAHA LOL GOD SUX LOLOL"

I mean, the difference is subtle, but if you look carefully, you'll see it's there.

---

I've tried to discuss my views before, but I usually hit a wall of ignorance with many of the atheists around here. They lack familiarity with science, philosophy, epistemology, logic, mathematics, and many of the fields that my views build on. Given their lack of familiarity, their responses amount to hysterical skepticism firing blindly in all directions, like one recent poster who dismissed logic as a means of arriving at knowledge "as a house of cards". Doesn't strike me as a worthwhile pursuit unless people are capable of exercising critical thinking skills and looking new things up to learn about them.

Explaining the rigorous use of reason to an atheist is like explaining quantum mechanics to the amish.

Just because some people won't get it, doesn't mean it won't lead to fruitful discussion, as long as those that talk out of their ass are ignored. As you can see, this forum lacks rigorous intellectual discussions, which is what you claim to be after, so try adding something positive here.

Rigorous intellectual discussion goes against the very identity of this forum. Snide mockery, shit-talking, personal attacks and any old ignorance is grafted into the DNA of this place, for better or for worse.

Trying to add something positive is like trying to swim up Niagara falls.

---

I've tried to discuss my views before, but I usually hit a wall of ignorance with many of the atheists around here. They lack familiarity with science, philosophy, epistemology, logic, mathematics, and many of the fields that my views build on.

If you are religious, logic has nothing to do with it. Just saying. You might be mystified by your own belief system, but that doesn't equate to logic. Atheists don't lack famiiarity with science, philosophy, math, etc. Is this how you defend your faith? I can see why you get frustrated. lol I was once a believer, and honestly, you can't convince an atheist of your beliefs, just like an atheist will never be able to convince you why what you believe, is a fantasy or an idea.

But, I wouldn't combat atheists in the manner you're doing, because you are wrong. Atheists are very smart, very astute in most of the subjects you name, so painting them as ignorant, implies that you are somehow superior to us.

I know you don't mean to come across like that but that's sort of how it sounds.

Deidre, you're no atheist. You're an agnostic.

And even if you are an atheist, you're not "that" type of atheist. Right?

[Brian37]

At best, people can only have a concept or idea of who they believe God to be. And that concept, when nurtured enough, will easily feel like reality to them. I respect people's beliefs, as long as they don't trample on others, and try to infiltrate our government.

I don't want to become one of those atheists/agnostics who are militant, because that is the very thing I didn't like about religion. It's a fine line, everyone. Have to be careful not to push people away with our own beliefs, just like we don't want religious people to do that to us.

None of this has any relation to what I was asking Vinny, or why.

Vinny constantly posts threads on why not believing unsupported claims,
like the existence of a god, is irrational and that atheists have the burden of proof.

Yet, he has not, to my knowledge, told us what he believes and why he believes it.

I am under the impression he is purposely dodging these questions.

---

Are you requesting that I do them because you want to know? Then phrase it as a request.

Yes.

Please, if you believe a god exists:

Define it.
Explain why you believe it.
Provide evidence for it.

I would sincerely appreciate it.

EDIT: you may want to start a new thread for this.

God can be defined as(Whatever the claimant wants)

They believe because it makes them feel good.

The evidence is argument from emotional appeal(personal experience), tradition and self serving circular reasoning(quoting the holy book to prove the holy book).

Having told them the truth, will they admit this? No.