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RE: Testing the strength of your Atheism
January 21, 2015 at 2:23 am
Any atheist who does end up praying has nothing to be ashamed about anyway, it's not like we've made a promise to the God of atheism. We can do what we want. In such extreme circumstances, you would expect unusual and desperate thoughts to enter your head. I wouldn't consider this a "test" of atheism.
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RE: Testing the strength of your Atheism
January 21, 2015 at 2:50 am
(This post was last modified: January 21, 2015 at 3:10 am by Alex K.)
(January 21, 2015 at 2:23 am)robvalue Wrote: Any atheist who does end up praying has nothing to be ashamed about anyway, it's not like we've made a promise to the God of atheism. We can do what we want. In such extreme circumstances, you would expect unusual and desperate thoughts to enter your head. I wouldn't consider this a "test" of atheism.
I've often said it in discussions. Believers have this charming Catch-22 to discredit nonbelievers. If you're an atheist, and you haven't had deeply traumatizing experiences in your life, they'll tell you that you'll sure find God once you're in dire need (the Hollywood Atheist conversion trope type 1). If you're an atheist and you've had deeply traumatizing experiences in your life, they'll tell you that you're just angry at God (the Hollywood Atheist conversion trope type 2).
No, being poor, sick, in pain, or otherwise having been under extreme duress does not make your thinking clearer or your arguments more valid.
The fool hath said in his heart, There is a God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.
Psalm 14, KJV revised edition
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RE: Testing the strength of your Atheism
January 21, 2015 at 2:53 am
(January 21, 2015 at 1:14 am)PreV2 Wrote: Say you were in building in an earthquake zone and a large earthquake struck.
You were buried and in great pain as concrete trapped your legs and arms.
The hours went by and you heard some activity outside.
As days then passed without any rescue would you then decide to pray
to be rescued as a kinda last resort as the pain increased even more? 
Let's flip this around: your father is dying, and you're at his bedside praying for for his life ... yet he dies. Do you pray even more?
Yeah, I didn't think so.
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RE: Testing the strength of your Atheism
January 21, 2015 at 3:14 am
(January 21, 2015 at 2:23 am)robvalue Wrote: Any atheist who does end up praying has nothing to be ashamed about anyway, it's not like we've made a promise to the God of atheism. We can do what we want. In such extreme circumstances, you would expect unusual and desperate thoughts to enter your head. I wouldn't consider this a "test" of atheism. Heck, no one's perfect, the human mind has it's non-rational tics that are hard to control. I disbelieve in the supernatural but sometimes I hear a noise at night and think, "G-G-G-Ghosts!!" I have to trick myself into calming down by telling myself my pet cat would notice danger before I would.
It's really all about what you at the end of the day honestly believe or don't believe in and how you act based on that.
It is very important not to mistake hemlock for parsley, but to believe or not believe in God is not important at all. - Denis Diderot
We are the United States of Amnesia, we learn nothing because we remember nothing. - Gore Vidal
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RE: Testing the strength of your Atheism
January 21, 2015 at 3:20 am
I'd shout...as loud as I could...
GET ME THE FUCK OUT OF HERE!
If you wish to consider that praying, I won't quibble. But I'd rather see a fireman than jesus.
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RE: Testing the strength of your Atheism
January 21, 2015 at 3:38 am
(This post was last modified: January 21, 2015 at 3:39 am by Thumpalumpacus.)
(January 21, 2015 at 3:20 am)Minimalist Wrote: But I'd rather see a fireman than jesus.
Fuckin' A. Jesus doesn't pack a Hurst Tool.
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RE: Testing the strength of your Atheism
January 21, 2015 at 3:39 am
(January 21, 2015 at 3:20 am)Minimalist Wrote: But I'd rather see a fireman than jesus.
Happy to oblige
![[Image: Sexy-Firemen-Picture.jpg]](https://images.weserv.nl/?url=everybodyneedsalittleromance.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2012%2F11%2FSexy-Firemen-Picture.jpg)
The fool hath said in his heart, There is a God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.
Psalm 14, KJV revised edition
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RE: Testing the strength of your Atheism
January 21, 2015 at 3:40 am
(This post was last modified: January 21, 2015 at 3:41 am by robvalue.)
I'd rather have one guy with a pickaxe trying to get me out than the whole world praying for me, that's for sure.
Praying is retarded on so many levels. If I believe God is responsible for everything, then he is the one who buried me. So fuck him, I'm not gonna beg him to undo his sadism. I don't want to encourage a hero complex.
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RE: Testing the strength of your Atheism
January 21, 2015 at 3:49 am
Uhh.. what does it mean to "test your atheism" anyway? It's not like you have faith in something and you need it to be tested 
"Every luxury has a deep price. Every indulgence, a cosmic cost. Each fiber of pleasure you experience causes equivalent pain somewhere else. This is the first law of emodynamics [sic]. Joy can be neither created nor destroyed. The balance of happiness is constant.
Fact: Every time you eat a bite of cake, someone gets horsewhipped.
Facter: Every time two people kiss, an orphanage collapses.
Factest: Every time a baby is born, an innocent animal is severely mocked for its physical appearance. Don't be a pleasure hog. Your every smile is a dagger. Happiness is murder.
Vote "yes" on Proposition 1321. Think of some kids. Some kids."
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RE: Testing the strength of your Atheism
January 21, 2015 at 3:51 am
(January 21, 2015 at 3:49 am)Lucanus Wrote: Uhh.. what does it mean to "test your atheism" anyway? It's not like you have faith in something and you need it to be tested
It's supposed to be a test whether you'll start believing if you are pressured. (or whether you had been a believer all along and just suppressed it)
The fool hath said in his heart, There is a God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.
Psalm 14, KJV revised edition
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