Spirituality
25 Apr 06
25 Apr 06
I felt this is worthy of a post. He articulates a sentiment I've tried to express in this forum before.
Life is a gift to all of us. And yet, when one is an atheist, they are sometimes bothered by perhaps well meaning but nevertheless annoying theists, who accuse them of not caring about the life of anyone or anything. It's an odd reaction, because for the atheist, this life is it. In our view, we humans get a few decades on average, a tiny arc of consciousness across the infinite ocean of space-time, a blink of the cosmic eye, in which the universe can be uniquely aware of itself through each of us. And accepting that there is likely nothing afterward, nothing but the comforting non-existence that preceded conception, makes this time far more precious to the atheist, than many theists seem willing to contemplate.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/11/15/23544/992
25 Apr 06
Originally posted by David CWorth a rec!
I felt this is worthy of a post. He articulates a sentiment I've tried to express in this forum before.
Life is a gift to all of us. And yet, when one is an atheist, they are sometimes bothered by perhaps well meaning but nevertheless annoying theists, who accuse them of not caring about the life of anyone or anything. It's an odd reaction, beca ...[text shortened]... lling to contemplate.
[b]http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/11/15/23544/992[/b]
I wonder if life after death scenarios as in theism and reincarnation are really a lack of humilty, believing oneself too important to die....
26 Apr 06
1 edit
Originally posted by David CWell, that's fine and dandy if everyone thought altruistically. Take a look around pal. Nature has programmed us with lots of evil "ME" genes geared for survival. Even the founders of america, atheists at heart, had to declare that men were created equal with inalienable rights to justify their rebellion.
I felt this is worthy of a post. He articulates a sentiment I've tried to express in this forum before.
Life is a gift to all of us. And yet, when one is an atheist, they are sometimes bothered by perhaps well meaning but nevertheless annoying theists, who accuse them of not caring about the life of anyone or anything. It's an odd reaction, beca ...[text shortened]... lling to contemplate.
[b]http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/11/15/23544/992[/b]
26 Apr 06
Originally posted by RegicidalJust the other day I listened to a speech given by Richard Dawkins commemorating 30 years since the release of 'The Selfish Gene'. He suggested that the title was probably a mistake and had created much controversy where none was needed. He suggested an alternative title - 'The Altruistic Gene' might've been better.
Well, that's fine and dandy if everyone thought altruistically. Take a look around pal. Nature has programmed us with lots of evil "ME" genes geared for survival. Even the founders of america, atheists at heart, had to declare that men were created equal with inalienable rights to justify their rebellion.
26 Apr 06
1 edit
Originally posted by amannionalright
Why is life unfair?
It just is. Life is life. Any notion of fairness or otherwise must surely be a anthropomorphic filter that we impose on it.
The desire for some eternal justice factors into it since life is perceived unfair.
happy?
26 Apr 06
Originally posted by RegicidalWhat has accepting the finitude of one's life got to do with altruism? Atheists would want to prolong their lives as long as possible since they accept that they only have one life to live.
Well, that's fine and dandy if everyone thought altruistically. Take a look around pal. Nature has programmed us with lots of evil "ME" genes geared for survival. Even the founders of america, atheists at heart, had to declare that men were created equal with inalienable rights to justify their rebellion.
The founding fathers were not atheists. They were largely deists. And although deists at that time were "slandered" as being atheists, the charge was not true.
26 Apr 06
Originally posted by David CReally? To the atheists I know personally, disbelief in a higher power or any sort of existence after death means that they can do whatever they please in this life and treat people consistantly badly. They can enjoy causing others pain and fear because there is no reason not to. They lie and steal as part of their firm belief in survival of the fittest, interpreting *fittest* to mean whoever can hurt the most people and benefit from it. Since they believe there is no one to answer to, then there is no morality, only laws that are sometimes enforced but often not. Perhaps life is precious to SOME atheists, just as SOME people with religions are nasty to people of other religions or atheists.
I felt this is worthy of a post. He articulates a sentiment I've tried to express in this forum before.
Life is a gift to all of us. And yet, when one is an atheist, they are sometimes bothered by perhaps well meaning but nevertheless annoying theists, who accuse them of not caring about the life of anyone or anything. It's an odd reaction, beca ...[text shortened]... lling to contemplate.
[b]http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/11/15/23544/992[/b]
26 Apr 06
Originally posted by reader1107Wow, the atheists you know sound like bastards. And you sound like you've had enough. Why do you have anything to do with them?
Really? To the atheists I know personally, disbelief in a higher power or any sort of existence after death means that they can do whatever they please in this life and treat people consistantly badly. They can enjoy causing others pain and fear because there is no reason not to. They lie and steal as part of their firm belief in survival of the fittes ...[text shortened]... atheists, just as SOME people with religions are nasty to people of other religions or atheists.
(Do you REALLY know people like that? C'mon you can be straight with us.)
26 Apr 06
Originally posted by reader1107You sound like you don't know any actual atheists, but rather you know a bunch of sadistic jerks that you mistakenly call atheists.
Really? To the atheists I know personally, disbelief in a higher power or any sort of existence after death means that they can do whatever they please in this life and treat people consistantly badly. They can enjoy causing others pain and fear because there is no reason not to. They lie and steal as part of their firm belief in survival of the fittes ...[text shortened]... atheists, just as SOME people with religions are nasty to people of other religions or atheists.