16 Mar 07
Originally posted by whodeyNo, PLEEZE write volumes about the benefits of your conversion; we're all on pins and needles!
Being a Christian I could write volumes about the benefits of my conversion, but instead I thought it would be interesting to hear from the other side. So have at it, how has being an atheist enhanced your life?
16 Mar 07
Originally posted by whodeyBeing an atheist hasn't enhanced my life directly, why would it? It's just a denial of the existence of god, nothing more.
Being a Christian I could write volumes about the benefits of my conversion, but instead I thought it would be interesting to hear from the other side. So have at it, how has being an atheist enhanced your life?
I live my life as I live my life. Fortunately, god has nothing to do with it.
16 Mar 07
2 edits
Originally posted by whodeyThe same way that it has benefitted you, in not believing in 99.9% of the other religions in the world (assuming 1000 religions). We just get an extra 0.1% benefit. Here, take a look at all the benefits you already receive from not believing. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_religions) Just take that last step! 😀
Being a Christian ( snip ). So have at it, how has being an atheist enhanced your life?
I'm giving theists the benefit of the doubt - some atheists would claim that the last 0.1% is extremely important. After all, it lets in some "magical thinking". I.e. going from 0 to 1 is a lot more harmful than going from 1 to (say) 11.
17 Mar 07
Originally posted by EcstremeVenomQuite the opposite in my opinion. It means you are on your own. You have to figure out yourself what's right and what's wrong. If you have done something wrong, you have to deal with it yourself. You don't have a god who will forgive your sins. And you only have this life which will end with your death, so what you do with your lifetime is more important than it would be if you believe in eternal life (well, actually you could be an atheist and still believe in eternal life, I guess).
atheism is much easier, no responsibility to some higher being
17 Mar 07
Originally posted by Jesse CusterI was only trying to assess from you how it has benefited you. Believe it or not I did not begin this thread to get into a contest to see who is better off as to whether it be the atheist or the theist. After all, I have been in far to many of these types of threads and in all honesty it never goes anywhere other than giving all involved a migrane. Also, if the atheist really thought that the grass was greener on the other side I am sure he would choose it. Therefore, I don't see how my rantings would change their position. I was just merely interested what atheists thought in terms of how it has benefited them.
The same way that it has benefitted you, in not believing in 99.9% of the other religions in the world (assuming 1000 religions). We just get an extra 0.1% benefit. Here, take a look at all the benefits you already receive from not believing. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_religions) Just take that last step! 😀
I'm giving theists the benefit ...[text shortened]... agical thinking". I.e. going from 0 to 1 is a lot more harmful than going from 1 to (say) 11.
17 Mar 07
1 edit
Originally posted by NordlysDo you find that you are better off because you find that men and women of faith are "weaker" for feeling that they need a higher power to lean on than those who do not?
Quite the opposite in my opinion. It means you are on your own. You have to figure out yourself what's right and what's wrong. If you have done something wrong, you have to deal with it yourself. You don't have a god who will forgive your sins. And you only have this life which will end with your death, so what you do with your lifetime is more important tha ...[text shortened]... nal life (well, actually you could be an atheist and still believe in eternal life, I guess).
17 Mar 07
Originally posted by whodeyI answered by comparing it to your benefits (which are easier for you to understand and shorter for me to explain).
I was only trying to assess from you how it has benefited you. (SNIP) I was just merely interested what atheists thought in terms of how it has benefited them.
I never took any offense and I didn't mean any in return.
17 Mar 07
1 edit
Originally posted by whodeyI'll give you a more personal answer:
Being a Christian I could write volumes about the benefits of my conversion, but instead I thought it would be interesting to hear from the other side. So have at it, how has being an atheist enhanced your life?
It has freed up some of my mental resources to more practical things. Last time I believed I was only about 14 or so, I couldn't have been that sophisticated. I imagine that if I were still a believer, I would be using up much more resources trying to figure out how I should behave.
It's a lot simpler to go with "minimize or eliminate any suffering you may cause with your actions" than with a convoluted and contradictory religious belief system.