Do atheists believe in the existence of friendship?

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

The movie?

I definitely don't believe in that.

The cosmic patrol force, There are other colors.  In the comics, they are weak against the color yellow.

The original GL (Alan Scott) was weak against wood. The yellow thing came later. So, the best defense against the Lanterns would be



Boru

[polymath257]

Friendship is the name we put on a series of behaviors and feelings demonstrated by humans toward each. And lack of other behaviors that one associates with not being friends.

Of course friendship exists, because we can see people demonstrating those behaviors toward each other.

If two people are standing before me, and they are demonstrating most or all of the behaviors we associate with friendship, are avoiding the behaviors we associate with not being friends, that is pretty good evidence that they are friends.

For example, if I see them help each other out, go to movies or concerts together, wish each other the best in life, become sad for each other if they are going through tough times, compliment each other, if one chooses the other to be her bridesmaid or best man at their wedding, etc, etc, etc, since that all is part of some of the collected behaviors we associate with friendship, as a third person observing them, I can be pretty sure they are friends.

Could I be wrong? Sure.

But the evidence is pretty compelling they are friends.

And yes, love, friendship, empathy, sympathy, dislike, etc, are all a result of brain function, and brain chemicals.

All you said about friendship is indeed true (and interesting). But I am afraid you missed the most important thing which, if accepted by both sides, their friendship becomes perfect. This thing has nothing to do with chemicals or feelings though almost all people look for it.
In fact, as we will see, the answer is known already by almost everyone here, for being obvious. So, I am surprised how no one mentioned it yet!

Heh? No friendhip is perfect because no human is perfect. And yes, it does have to do with chemicals, ultimately, but there are several steps between the chemical level and the social level.

[KerimF]

I liked you know that I am very serious in starting this thread.
When I was 23 (now 73), I was banned from Catechism on the same day I was telling my students how and when a friendship becomes perfect.
I was banned not because I said something bad, but because I was showing my students how one of the crucial sayings of Jesus could be real. I was told that I shouldn’t teach something not approved by the men in charge of the Church and that saying, I was referring to, is supposed being one of the Heavenly Secrets (beyond humans’ imagination and reasoning).

So, in this thread, we will see together how even some real atheists here can easily see/accept that crucial Jesus’ saying as being possible to exist in reality while billions of Christians around the world are supposed to accept it solely by faith (being a supernatural thing).

Now, let us see the first one who l will find the word (of what makes a friendship be perfect) and for which I was banned, as a teacher, from Catechism, 40 years ago

[Angrboda]

[Peebothuhlu]

Yup. Am now siding with Angrboda.

Talking in pointless riddles is simply not doing you any benefits.

Either get to the point or don't.

[KerimF]

Should this surprise me?
My dogs and cats don't care too. And I fully understand them. After all, they have no choice but to care about how and when to eat good food, sleep in comfortable shelters and live their favorite adventures. This is how natural good dogs and cats are supposed to be.

[arewethereyet]

Should this surprise me?
My dogs and cats don't care too. And I fully understand them. After all, they have no choice but to care about how and when to eat good food, sleep in comfortable shelters and live their favorite adventures. This is how natural good dogs and cats are supposed to be.

'Natural' dogs and cats are out scavenging for food and breeding.  Not laying on the couch watching TV and waiting for their next snack and belly rub.

[Peebothuhlu]

Should this surprise me?
My dogs and cats don't care too. And I fully understand them. After all, they have no choice but to care about how and when to eat good food, sleep in comfortable shelters and live their favorite adventures. This is how natural good dogs and cats are supposed to be.

It's not about 'Not caring'.

So, either stop talking in circles and actually get to and/or make your point... or don't and move on.

I'm too old for the 'Playing coy with concepts' stuff.

[KerimF]

Should this surprise me?
My dogs and cats don't care too. And I fully understand them. After all, they have no choice but to care about how and when to eat good food, sleep in comfortable shelters and live their favorite adventures. This is how natural good dogs and cats are supposed to be.

'Natural' dogs and cats are out scavenging for food and breeding.  Not laying on the couch watching TV and waiting for their next snack and belly rub.

You are right...
Since I believe in the evolution process (thanks to a complex set of pre-programmed instructions embedded in every living thing, since zillions of years), humans (as I) were also evolved from older living beings (though the oldest ones were simply just tiny cells... as we brought into life, you and I, from two tiny living cells that needed about 9 months to let us be out as two human babies
So, in general, a natural human may do what you said besides what my dogs and cats do by following their instincts

[KerimF]

Should this surprise me?
My dogs and cats don't care too. And I fully understand them. After all, they have no choice but to care about how and when to eat good food, sleep in comfortable shelters and live their favorite adventures. This is how natural good dogs and cats are supposed to be.

It's not about 'Not caring'.

So, either stop talking in circles and actually get to and/or make your point... or don't and move on.

I'm too old for the 'Playing coy with concepts' stuff.

Sorry, are you serious?
I mean; are we at school, university or a business meeting?

Most members here just try to pass their free time... and don’t mind to do it for fun by teasing each other in clever ways.

Although what I try to say around here is serious, just one or two members seem serious too.
All others seem they feel better anytime they catch some words, I wrote, by which they can tease me always in a novel way

The problem is that I used to accept others as they are without any bad feeling towards them. This lets some of them be sad, if not upset, for not receiving from me the reaction they were expecting.
Anyway, not all members who were subscribed to this thread, had the chance to read my last post on which I explained the reason for which I started this thread. I am afraid, we will have to wait for not less than 10 hours before ending it. Sorry for any inconvenience.