Official ATHEIST/AGNOSTIC THREAD

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  • Fazeem_Blackall
    Fazeem_Blackall Members Posts: 4,216 ✭✭
    edited July 2011
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    fiat_money wrote: »
    No, the belief or position that there is nothing "supernatural" is metaphysical naturalism or just naturalism, atheism is the lack of belief or disbelief in gods/deities (which are also called "supreme beings", "the creator", etc). Because of this, atheism is not a "set of beliefs", since it is only a lack of belief or disbelief in one thing, the existence of ? (s); whether these proposed ? (s) are called "gods", "deities" "supreme beings" or "the creator".

    So, since atheism doesn't fit the definition of "religion" and it is not exclusive to religion, atheism is not a religion.
    So then by your Argument it is not a religion and therefore has no place in this forum on Race and Religion since it does not corespond to either category Correct???
  • Rock_Well
    Rock_Well Members Posts: 2,185 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited July 2011
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    it's a set of personal beliefs based on selective facts. put into practice, it's a religion.
    main difference is that it's a religion with a foundation that denies an objective ? . Buddhism is similar in this sense.
  • fiat_money
    fiat_money Members Posts: 16,654 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited July 2011
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    So then by your Argument it is not a religion and therefore has no place in this forum on Race and Religion since it does not corespond to either category Correct???
    The bolded is true, atheism is not a religion.

    I don't care what people discuss in what forums nor do I run these forums.
  • fiat_money
    fiat_money Members Posts: 16,654 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited July 2011
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    it's a set of personal beliefs based on selective facts...
    Such as?
  • Fazeem_Blackall
    Fazeem_Blackall Members Posts: 4,216 ✭✭
    edited July 2011
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    fiat_money wrote: »
    The bolded is true, atheism is not a religion.

    I don't care what people discuss in what forums nor do I run these forums.
    You obviously care enough to respond to this and other threads, So Why Side Step a straight forward Question??? Either it is a Religion and has a place for Discussion in this forum on Race and Religion or it is not a Religion and has No Place in this Forum, so which is it???
  • Disciplined InSight
    Disciplined InSight Members Posts: 13,478 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited July 2011
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    it's a set of personal beliefs based on selective facts. put into practice, it's a religion.
    main difference is that it's a religion with a foundation that denies an objective ? . Buddhism is similar in this sense.

    So true..I've said this so many times. Yet nobody wants to realize that.
  • thedesolateone
    thedesolateone Members Posts: 4,526 ✭✭✭✭
    edited July 2011
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    religionist see religion everywhere
    atheism means you disbelieve in the existance of ? /gods and nothing more
  • fiat_money
    fiat_money Members Posts: 16,654 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited July 2011
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    Why Side Step a straight forward Question??? Either it is a Relgion and has a place for Discussion in this forum on Race and Relgion or it is not a Religion and has No Place in this Forum, so which is it???
    Your question assumes that I somehow care what topics are discussed in what forums.

    I don't, so there is no need for me to answer a question that is based on a false premise.
  • Fazeem_Blackall
    Fazeem_Blackall Members Posts: 4,216 ✭✭
    edited July 2011
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    You obviously care enough to respond to this and other threads, So Why Side Step a straight forward Question??? Either it is a Religion and has a place for Discussion in this forum on Race and Religion or it is not a Religion and has No Place in this Forum, so which is it???
    fiat_money wrote: »
    Your question assumes that I somehow care what topics are discussed in what forums.

    I don't, so there is no need for me to answer a question that is based on a false premise.
    Still dodging and still caring enough to respond and post so the premise is validated by your posts...
  • @My_nameaintearl
    @My_nameaintearl Banned Users Posts: 2,609 ✭✭
    edited July 2011
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    I don't think you're gonna get anybody to budge on this one, Solomon.
  • fiat_money
    fiat_money Members Posts: 16,654 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited July 2011
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    Still dodging and still caring enough to respond and post so the premise is validated by your posts...
    So now you're using faulty "rules" along with a faulty premise.

    Reminds me of the "Does your mother know you're ? ?" trick kids like to play. They usually make up "rules" like "You have to answer with 'yes' or 'no'." to get people to validate their false premise.


    But yeh, I respond because this is mildly-amusing and I'm easily-amused. Same reason I don't care where people post things; if something is amusing/interesting enough for me to respond, the location is moot.
  • BiblicalAtheist
    BiblicalAtheist Members Posts: 15,668 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited July 2011
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    Theist: There is a ? !

    Atheist: I reject your notion!
  • Ishi
    Ishi Members Posts: 4,649 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited July 2011
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    This thread has proven that Fazeem is the king of quoting..
  • Jonas.dini
    Jonas.dini Confirm Email Posts: 2,507 ✭✭
    edited July 2011
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    I look at religion as propaganda, and just like other types of propaganda, some are more harmful than others. Like I think that both Fox News and the New York Times are propaganda, but personally I think Fox has a more destructive influence on society. With religions, same thing, two different religions are both propaganda, but one may create more problems than the other.

    I feel like I'm stating the obvious, so why even ask this question? Because in the progressive community and in the academy (in the social sciences and the humanities) the dominant narrative is that all religions are basically the same and as such we should just accept them all equally. I understand the purpose this narrative serves, it is designed to promote tolerance in a multicultural society, but is it not also intellectually dishonest? And if it is dishonest, is it a noble lie, so to speak?
  • Fazeem_Blackall
    Fazeem_Blackall Members Posts: 4,216 ✭✭
    edited July 2011
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    fiat_money wrote: »
    So now you're using faulty "rules" along with a faulty premise.

    Reminds me of the "Does your mother know you're ? ?" trick kids like to play. They usually make up "rules" like "You have to answer with 'yes' or 'no'." to get people to validate their false premise.


    But yeh, I respond because this is mildly-amusing and I'm easily-amused. Same reason I don't care where people post things; if something is amusing/interesting enough for me to respond, the location is moot.
    Or is it answering honestly will be contradictory to your Posting behaviour and fear the implications...
  • Ishi
    Ishi Members Posts: 4,649 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited July 2011
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    Well in America i think without a doubt you would agree Christians are the worst its 2011 and homosexuals don't have the right to get married in most states lol

    They can believe in anything they want but when people feel the need to push it onto others in there daily life's that's when it crosses the line.
  • Chike
    Chike Members Posts: 2,702 ✭✭✭
    edited July 2011
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    I'm not a follower of any religion, but I like Rastafarian, buddhism and hinduism beliefs.
  • Rock_Well
    Rock_Well Members Posts: 2,185 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited July 2011
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    diesel-time-zone-watch.jpg

    It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that above is the result of someone's work.

    images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSroVg5wWlguSScqZU57a0geeoUfcBk9br2oWqsjR6CnXOpfQKUNw

    It doesn't take a religious nut to know that there is someone behind the manufacturing of the above vehicles.


    EYCK,%20Jan%20van2.jpg

    It doesn't take a prime minister of intelligence to know that the above is the result of someone's work and ideas either.
    We can go on and on. With anything physical. We are able to behold invisible truths, made visible through someone's work are we not?


    Well. Couple questions: Who's work is this (below)??

    Who's created all the things in this image, captured in a shot by Hubble?
    Tadpole%20Galaxy.jpg

    How great of an author must there be to have created such works, including all else in the universe that exists but isn't seen by us.
  • fiat_money
    fiat_money Members Posts: 16,654 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited July 2011
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    Ah, a derivative of the "I can't understand something, so it much be the work of a magical/supernatural being/entity." argument.

    A timeless classic.

    ibJXZ6.png
  • alissowack
    alissowack Members Posts: 1,930 ✭✭✭
    edited July 2011
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    The problem is that some people would rather it be that rocket scientists tell them how something came to be. And in return, there are some people who would rather define ? by the amount of tricks He can do.
  • @My_nameaintearl
    @My_nameaintearl Banned Users Posts: 2,609 ✭✭
    edited July 2011
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    The objections to the old watchmaker argument should be well known by now, but I'll list them anyway.

    1. It implies the watchmaker is more complex than the watch, and since complexity implies design here, the designer must also have been designed. If a special exemption can be made for one complex thing like a watchmaker, it can also be made for the watch.

    2. It is already a known fact that complexity can arise from mindless natural processes. There is mathematical proof of this as well, if you want to look up the "infinite monkey theorem."

    3. The watch analogy is faulty to begin with. We already know with common sense that a watch is made out of various materials by a team of people. We have no similar references at all to apply such an analogy to the entire universe. We'd need to have compared multiple universes in order to do this.





    So, I hope that answers your questions. I'm surprised people are still trotting out this old watchmaker thing, but I guess pastors are still spreading it around.
  • alissowack
    alissowack Members Posts: 1,930 ✭✭✭
    edited July 2011
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    The objections to the old watchmaker argument should be well known by now, but I'll list them anyway.

    1. It implies the watchmaker is more complex than the watch, and since complexity implies design here, the designer must also have been designed. If a special exemption can be made for one complex thing like a watchmaker, it can also be made for the watch.

    2. It is already a known fact that complexity can arise from mindless natural processes. There is mathematical proof of this as well, if you want to look up the "infinite monkey theorem."

    3. The watch analogy is faulty to begin with. We already know with common sense that a watch is made out of various materials by a team of people. We have no similar references at all to apply such an analogy to the entire universe. We'd need to have compared multiple universes in order to do this.





    So, I hope that answers your questions. I'm surprised people are still trotting out this old watchmaker thing, but I guess pastors are still spreading it around.

    But if complexity is a mindless natural process, then who is to say that even your explanation against the watchmaker analogy is mindless? Why should anybody interpret what you...or even I say if our ability to reason doesn't even have ground that it can stand on?
  • @My_nameaintearl
    @My_nameaintearl Banned Users Posts: 2,609 ✭✭
    edited July 2011
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    Why would our conversation have no ground to stand on simply because we were not magic'd into existence by a jealous ? ? We evolved to be tool users instead of fast swimmers or sharp-toothed fighters. As a result, we can coherently discuss even the most abstract of concepts. At least I can. I'm not sure about you.
  • alissowack
    alissowack Members Posts: 1,930 ✭✭✭
    edited July 2011
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    Why would our conversation have no ground to stand on simply because we were not magic'd into existence by a jealous ? ? We evolved to be tool users instead of fast swimmers or sharp-toothed fighters. As a result, we can coherently discuss even the most abstract of concepts. At least I can. I'm not sure about you.

    Why would you assume I am making the case for ? in my response? Was it just a mindless natural process? I'm saying that if you going to define complexity that way, then the foundations for reason will fall apart. The person who is using reason must also be reduce to a mindless natural process.
  • @My_nameaintearl
    @My_nameaintearl Banned Users Posts: 2,609 ✭✭
    edited July 2011
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    Reason having been produced naturally does not rob it of its soundness and value. The foundations of reason have nothing to do with a supernatural grand design unless you can explicitly show otherwise. You seem to just enjoy bloviating. THATS RIGHT BLOVIATING
This discussion has been closed.