A picture for Atheists - What is your impression of it's message?

[9-10ths_Penguin]

One might suppose for the sake of argument that the unborn babies are ignorant of a higher level of reality that encompasses theirs. As are atheists.

And theists. Nobody knows things that are beyond the limits of their knowledge. This is virtually a tautology.

 

[Kerr]

One might suppose for the sake of argument that the unborn babies are ignorant of a higher level of reality that encompasses theirs. As are atheists.

As are theists. Honestly, everyone is more or less ignorant because we know very little about the universe. To point out atheists or theists or pantheists or whatever as more ignorant is a bit insulting (and for the record, I do not consider theists more ignorant then atheist, they just have a different perspective).

 

[doppelganger]

ANobody knows things that are beyond the limits of their knowledge. .

You don't know that.

 

[9Westy9]

It's only funny because we are on the outside looking in and know the babies will be born into a 'new world'.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

You don't know that.

Sure I do. It's a tautology and therefore true.

 

[Road Warrior]

Unless that definition is wrong (or, in fact, the definition is right but the implication is wrong). It's generally bad practice to rely on interested parties to define such words as bias, even subconsciously, is likely to be involved. It's the same reason we don't rely on the CIA to define torture or Al-Qaeda to define terrorism.

Atheism means not believing in the existence of a god or gods - nothing more, nothing less. What individual and groups of atheists believe beyond that has absolutely nothing to do with the root definition.

I understand the strict definition of "atheism", but the real question is "what does it mean?" Do you believe in an afterlife? Woo? A spiritual existence? If so, then I submit you are not in accordance with the definition provided on Atheists.org for the simply reason you have a spiritual believe that cannot be proven or disproven just like any other religion.

 

[mycorrhiza]

I understand the strict definition of "atheism", but the real question is "what does it mean?" Do you believe in an afterlife? Woo? A spiritual existence? If so, then I submit you are not in accordance with the definition provided on Atheists.org for the simply reason you have a spiritual believe that cannot be proven or disproven just like any other religion.

Their definition is flawed, however. An atheist is someone who doesn't believe in a supernatural God. They can still believe in reincarnation, souls, faith healing, aliens with superpowers, unicorns, etc. Just like the only thing there is to the word theism is belief in one or several supernatural Gods.

 

[Father Heathen]

Why? (see post above also)

Isn't that what Atheists say regarding God and the concept of an afterlife?

Are you implying that the corporeal universe is god's uterus, and that the transition from life to death is the equivalent of being squeezed out of god's birth canal?

 

[Road Warrior]

Their definition is flawed, however. An atheist is someone who doesn't believe in a supernatural God. They can still believe in reincarnation, souls, faith healing, aliens with superpowers, unicorns, etc. Just like the only thing there is to the word theism is belief in one or several supernatural Gods.

Then the question becomes, "If an atheist believes in reincarnation and unicorns, how can they prove their beliefs are any better or more accurate than someone who believes in a single deity?"

Secondly, I submit that such an "atheist" isn't "secular".

 

[mycorrhiza]

Then the question becomes, "If an atheist believes in reincarnation and unicorns, how can they prove their beliefs are any better or more accurate than someone who believes in a single deity?"

Secondly, I submit that such an "atheist" isn't "secular".

They can't prove that, so if an atheist who believes in reincarnation or unicorns mocks someone for believing in a God, then he/she is a hypocrite.

We can't put more into the word atheist, because it's just the rejection of theism which doesn't hold any more values than belief in one or several Gods.

 

[Road Warrior]

They can't prove that, so if an atheist who believes in reincarnation or unicorns mocks someone for believing in a God, then he/she is a hypocrite.

At worst, I agree. At best, they are simply mislabeling themselves.

 

[Caladan]

I want to discuss the Atheist vs Islamic view of how there is no life after death nor the re-creation of a decayed body.

Life after death is a belief which existed many centuries before Islam.

I know many of you do not believe in this concept and so I wanted to best represent this with a picture, they say a picture is worth a thousand words, and I want to know what your impression is on it, in particular do you agree with the 'atheist' reasoning in the picture.

I think its a very weak analogy, an atheist knows who their parents are, they are not in denial that they are a result of a biological and sexual process.

 

[doppelganger]

Sure I do. It's a tautology and therefore true.

With Todd, anything is possible.

 

[Gharib]

Another possible caption:
Baby #1: Hey brother! Do you think that in the life after birth, we will meet our parents?
Baby #2: Apostate! Blasphemer! There is certainly only one parent, and Angellous is his name!
We will be born into His perfect world of peace, harmony & enlightenment.

:biglaugh: hahah, yeah that is another possibility . But Angellous is not a mommy . Don't know if that works.

 

[Gharib]

No.
Because it makes no sense to me. Because I don't need that security blanket in order that my life has meaning. Because if there really was a god and that was his plan then he is obviously a fool and I would expect that a god wouldn't be a fool.

So what do you think happens to us after death?

If God exists do you think it would be a possibility that there is an afterlife and that he can re-create us for a second time?

 

[robo]

Another possible caption:
Baby #1: Hey brother! Do you think that in the life after birth, we will meet our parents?
Baby #2: Apostate! Blasphemer! There is certainly only one parent, and Angellous is his name!
We will be born into His perfect world of peace, harmony & enlightenment.

:clap

If I may add:

Baby #2: If you do not believe in Angellous he will torture you for eternity in hellfire.

 

[Straw Dog]

I want to discuss the Atheist vs Islamic view of how there is no life after death nor the re-creation of a decayed body.

I know many of you do not believe in this concept and so I wanted to best represent this with a picture, they say a picture is worth a thousand words, and I want to know what your impression is on it, in particular do you agree with the 'atheist' reasoning in the picture.

So are you saying that the universe is contained within the womb of God? What happens when the universe is birthed?

 

[The Sum of Awe]

Very poor analogy...

Ignoring that fetuses can't reason:

1) It would be assuming that life can't exist at all without an afterlife. Because they weren't born yet, just because they're being born doesn't mean there is an afterlife, otherwise there'd be no birth at all.

2) There are two parents, and Islam and Christianity assumes 1 God.

 

[robo]

So what do you think happens to us after death?

No one really knows.

If God exists do you think it would be a possibility that there is an afterlife and that he can re-create us for a second time?

All this is empty speculation devoid of any meaning whatsoever.

Using your logic, how do you respond to the following:

If God exists do you think it would be a possibility that there is an afterlife and that he can re-create us for a second time? Having recreated us for a second time, cannot he make us die for a second time and make us reborn for a third time, ad infinitum? Sounds like Hinduism to me.

 

[The Sum of Awe]

So what do you think happens to us after death?

If God exists do you think it would be a possibility that there is an afterlife and that he can re-create us for a second time?

I know you weren't asking me but:

Why would God have to? I don't think he would, otherwise why wouldn't we just be born into the afterlife already? What's the point of living twice?