Where do we go when we die and are you afraid?

[Gawdzilla Sama]

I agree. 
So who made the universe? and if particles did explode to make the universe, who made those particles? You probably hear theses questions from 'theist's?' on the daily.

That a 'who' was involved at all is an unwarranted presumption. We do get the Kalaam Cosmological Argument fairly often around here.

God created all the gold in the Universe, and he wants us to give him what we find.

[Silver]

In relation to religion, the man behind the curtain is revealed when material gain takes precedence over the message.

[Mister Agenda]

No. There MUST be something more. 

How does your desire for there to be 'something more' affect the odds that there actually is 'something more'?

[Gwaithmir]

No, I haven't read the whole Bible (I'm only up to Leviticus to be honest).

So I haven't read enough to pick or choose. But I'll do what feel is right in my heart. I've noticed that most ethical standards we live by originate from the Bible. So how can people denounce it anyway when they're living by it (indirectly, but still living by it).

Can I ask, do you (as an atheist) believe that you chose to be an atheist so you could sin without a guilty conscience?

PS: Got a lot of time on my hands : )

Of course, it’s easy for us with our 21st Century, materialistic minds to dismiss the Bible as a load of rubbish. But in the actual analysis, that is exactly what the Bible turns out to be---a load of rubbish! It is a book of nonsensical, fantastic stories about talking animals, talking bushes, mythical creatures, people rising from the dead, magic and pseudo-history. It is the creation of ignorant, fallible men, reflecting the prejudices, superstitions, bad theology and fears of the times in which it was written. It promotes slavery, ethnic cleansing, race prejudice, wars of conquest, the subjugation of women, child abuse and genital mutilation. It promotes the worship and celebration of a god who is little more than an egotistical, homicidal, fear-mongering tyrant. It is a book which any reasonable, intellectually honest, and intelligent person should heartily dismiss as bad fiction.

Read the Book of Job with an open mind. Even as a kid, I found it to reveal a God who was far beneath what I reasonably considered to be a moral being. I consider that conclusion to be valid to this day.

Study other religions and cultures with an open mind. You will discover that most ethical standards that we live by are the product of human interaction and invention, not the Bible.

Sin is nothing more than a priestly construct designed to control people through fear and guilt.

I did not choose to be an atheist. My beliefs are involuntary, based upon an honest examination of the evidence, regardless of what that examination might reveal. One has nothing to fear and everything to gain from an honest search for the truth. For me, that search is still ongoing, because there is always the possibility that I might be wrong. As Robert G. Ingersoll once stated:

“Reason, observation and experience──the Holy Trinity of science──have taught us that happiness is the only good; that the time to be happy is now, and the way to be happy is to make others so. This is enough for us. In this belief we are content to live and die. If by any possibility the existence of a power superior to, and independent of Nature shall be demonstrated, there will be time enough to kneel. Until then, let us stand erect.”

Read Thomas Jefferson's letter to his nephew Peter Carr on the subject of religion. His advice is just a valid now as it was back then:

"Religion. Your reason is now mature enough to examine this object. In the first place, divest yourself of all bias in favor of novelty and singularity of opinion. Indulge them in any other subject than that of religion. It is too important, and the consequences of error may be too serious. On the other hand, shake off all fears and servile prejudices, under which weak minds are servilely crouched. Fix reason firmly in her seat, and call to her tribunal every fact, every opinion. Question with boldness even the existence of God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason, than that of blindfolded fear." (Introduction)

[Gawdzilla Sama]

No. There MUST be something more. 

How does your desire for there to be 'something more' affect the odds that there actually is 'something more'?

And why haven't we found out what that something more is?

[arewethereyet]

You say that most ethical standards originate from the Bible...how about this...the Bible was written by men.  Ethics were already in existence and the men wrote from their life experiences in the Bible.  No one claims that all the words in the Bible were directly from a God or Jesus.

The Bible did not "invent" ethics.

True, you guy's didn't claim that. I must not be paying attention.

This reminds me of The Da Vinci Code lol

Yes the Bible was written by men. But it's the word of God.
EDIT: and God is the origin of ethics. No one is more moral than Him

Your statements seem to indicate that you have taken your stance and really don't seem to be wanting to entertain the possibility that your stance may not be correct but is instead what you have been taught.  How many of these things (God is the origin of ethics, no one is more moral than him) did you come to on your own and how many were taught to you?  You may want to open up to the concept that everything you were taught may not be true.

As for the psychology thing...why is it that when someone who is suffering from some sort of mental illness decides to murder their children do they swear it was at God's urging?  Does God create mental illness so that he has people he can commit atrocities through?  

It's starting to sound as though you are going to go with a faith-based form of psychology.

[Silver]

And why haven't we found out what that something more is?

Something more is just being greedy.

[Duty]

Thank you for your recommendation (I did find it a little funny), and you may call me Sharon : )

I have some significant experience in dealing with psychiatric inpatient facilities, and they are indeed frequently populated by people who are so terrified that they might go to hell for all eternity that their sanity has broken and they needed to be sectioned. I mean, if one really believed that there's a real chance of ETERNAL agonizing torture (hell), who wouldn't lose their mind? (rhetorical).

I will just add Sharon that you seem very (ruthlessly? lol) polite and decent and I'm most appreciative and admiring of that, and I wish you well. I studied psychology at university some 20 odd years ago and 'tis a fine subject.

[Shazzalovesnovels]

I agree. 
So who made the universe? and if particles did explode to make the universe, who made those particles? You probably hear theses questions from 'theist's?' on the daily.

That a 'who' was involved at all is an unwarranted presumption. We do get the Kalaam Cosmological Argument fairly often around here.

I'm always presuming things. I also don't think before I speak.

Kalaam Cosmological Argument - Another theory added to my glossary, thanks.

Something HAD to have created it. I can't fathom anything else. And I know, just because I can't fathom doesn't mean it's not possible..


Also, earlier you said that you stopped believing in God and you didn't choose to become an atheist. But you took it one step further and joined an atheist forum, why is that?

---

How does your desire for there to be 'something more' affect the odds that there actually is 'something more'?

And why haven't we found out what that something more is?

When we're dead you'll find out.

---

True, you guy's didn't claim that. I must not be paying attention.

This reminds me of The Da Vinci Code lol

Yes the Bible was written by men. But it's the word of God.
EDIT: and God is the origin of ethics. No one is more moral than Him

Your statements seem to indicate that you have taken your stance and really don't seem to be wanting to entertain the possibility that your stance may not be correct but is instead what you have been taught.  How many of these things (God is the origin of ethics, no one is more moral than him) did you come to on your own and how many were taught to you?  You may want to open up to the concept that everything you were taught may not be true.

As for the psychology thing...why is it that when someone who is suffering from some sort of mental illness decides to murder their children do they swear it was at God's urging?  Does God create mental illness so that he has people he can commit atrocities through?  

It's starting to sound as though you are going to go with a faith-based form of psychology.

Do YOU think there's a possibility you are wrong?
Ever heard of Satan? 


I was looking forward to social psychology.

[arewethereyet]

That a 'who' was involved at all is an unwarranted presumption. We do get the Kalaam Cosmological Argument fairly often around here.

I'm always presuming things. I also don't think before I speak.

Kalaam Cosmological Argument - Another theory added to my glossary, thanks.

Something HAD to have created it. I can't fathom anything else. And I know, just because I can't fathom doesn't mean it's not possible..


Also, earlier you said that you stopped believing in God and you didn't choose to become an atheist. But you took it one step further and joined an atheist forum, why is that?

---

And why haven't we found out what that something more is?

When we're dead you'll find out.

This indicates you already know.

Clever word choice, Christian.