Atheist struggling to answer a question i often propose to myself

[Whateverist]

As for whether belief in God is necessary, I would say probably not for everyday living and scientific inquires about natural phenomena. However, taking a stand is a necessary condition for the fundamental things that I think really matter in life such as values, meaning, and purpose.

Ah, so you're just generalizing from your own druthers to what might be true for others? This is where reason will take you if you feel no need to verify.

[Amarok]

As for whether belief in God is necessary, I would say probably not for everyday living and scientific inquires about natural phenomena. However, taking a stand is a necessary condition for the fundamental things that I think really matter in life such as values, meaning, and purpose.

All which have nothing to do with your religion . And a merely reflections of your narcissism.

[Astonished]

As for whether belief in God is necessary, I would say probably not for everyday living and scientific inquires about natural phenomena. However, taking a stand is a necessary condition for the fundamental things that I think really matter in life such as values, meaning, and purpose.

All which have nothing to do with your religion . And a merely reflections of your narcissism.

The very fact that he's picking and choosing how to interpret his favorite holy masturbation magazine proves him wrong. The very fact that he doesn't understand that is proof he's fucking retarded.

[The Grand Nudger]

That's a fairly good point, particularly as it applies to his restatement of god as absolute.  If he does require absolute this or thats to be satisfied..well, there's nothing absolute about god-meaning, nothing absolute about god-value, nothing absolute about god-purpose.  Ask around, you'll get wildly variable answers to any of those propositions...even from people who contend to worship the same god derived from the same magic book.

[Neo-Scholastic]

As for whether belief in God is necessary, I would say probably not for everyday living and scientific inquires about natural phenomena. However, taking a stand is a necessary condition for the fundamental things that I think really matter in life such as values, meaning, and purpose.

Ah, so you're just generalizing from your own druthers to what might be true for others? This is where reason will take you if you feel no need to verify.

Fair enough. I respect people of high moral character regardless of their beliefs. At the same time when people volunteer what motivates them to do good, refrain from evil, and advise others of the same i respect even more those who can articulate why those character traits are important and worthy. When they cannot do so I pray that they will persevere despite their lack of a guiding philosophy. Personally, I believe that ideas matter and that faulty and incoherent first principles can later manifest themselves by twisting that which is good and lead people astray.

[The Grand Nudger]

I strongly suspect that most non rapists aren't motivated to non rape.  They're just not rapists.  

Ever wonder about that, how you would manage to drudge through your existence if you were transported to some other time or place, when pillaging and raiding (and raping) were relatively common and tolerated, if not entirely accepted or thought of as a moral "good"? Do you think that you might try to convince a few of them not to do that? How would you go about it, understanding that they don't believe what you believe?

Would you preach the gospel...or something else?

(I agree with you entirely on that last sentence btw, )

[Astonished]

I strongly suspect that most non rapists aren't motivated to non rape.  They're just not rapists.  

Ever wonder about that, how you would manage to drudge through your existence if you were transported to some other time or place, when pillaging and raiding (and raping) were relatively common and tolerated, if not entirely accepted or thought of as a moral "good"? Do you think that you might try to convince a few of them not to do that?  How would you go about it, understanding that they don't believe what you believe?

Would you preach the gospel...or something else?

(I agree with you entirely on that last sentence btw, )

The irony is so rich it could be used as a synthetic hemoglobin replacement.

[Whateverist]

Ah, so you're just generalizing from your own druthers to what might be true for others?  This is where reason will take you if you feel no need to verify.

Fair enough. I respect people of high moral character regardless of their beliefs. At the same time when people volunteer what motivates them to do good, refrain from evil, and advise others of the same i respect even more those who can articulate why those character traits are important and worthy. 

I guess you side with Kant in believing that the person who visits his dying mother in the hospital out of a sense of duty is more worthy morally than the one who visits just because of his strong affection for the dying parent.  On the other hand, if you were dying in the hospital which would you prefer to be your kid's motivation?

I place a higher value on moral behavior which is motivated by a coherence between sentiment and reason, than I do that which is reasoned from first principles and then adhered to resolutely regardless of the sentiment doing so engenders.  Morality like jazz benefits from the inclusion of improvisation.

[Minimalist]

I have just figured out my "world view."

The world is fucked up.

I wish I could blame the god who isn't there for it but I suspect that humanity is the cause.