An interesting view of Atheism

[BilliardsBall]

I never understood why a being that is supposed to be all powerful cannot get anything done on Earth without people doing it for him.

You have never understood that God wants us to have the privilege of partaking in His work and enjoying His rewards for doing so? Didn't you ever have a "go to work day" with dad or mum?

I don't think you are asking a question at all, I think you are being rhetorical.

 

[BilliardsBall]

I think he was just pointing out that, under your standard of morality, plenty of practicing Christians are immoral. You haven't provided any evidence that atheists are less moral than theists, under your standards of course.

Au contraire, mon frère:

Atheists break at least 7 of 10 commands in the Decalogue alone. Scoring 30% on a test is a fail in most places.

 

[leibowde84]

Au contraire, mon frère:

Atheists break at least 7 of 10 commands in the Decalogue alone. Scoring 30% on a test is a fail in most places.

I think you might need to read up on what the 10 commandments are, as there are only 4 that are broken by atheists, necessarily. 5-10 are not dependent on any belief in God.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Au contraire, mon frère:

Atheists break at least 7 of 10 commands in the Decalogue alone. Scoring 30% on a test is a fail in most places.

What on Earth do the Ten Commandments have to do with morality? A couple of them, maybe (though there are situations where it's more moral to break them), but the stuff about making graven images and keeping the Sabbath has nothing to do with morality at all.

BTW: how do you figure that atheists break "7 out of 10"? By my count, the average atheist only breaks one (keeping the Sabbath holy). Atheists, by definition, don't worship any other gods, most don't make graven images, steal, kill, commit adultery, or bear false witness. Some use God's name in vain (though no more than most Christians, and they picked up the practice from them), and to make any determination about "coveting", you'd need to be a mind-reader.

Or is it the actual Ten Commandments (i.e. the one referred to as "the ten commandments" in the Bible) that you're talking about?

 

[leibowde84]

What on Earth do the Ten Commandments have to do with morality? A couple of them, maybe (though there are situations where it's more moral to break them), but the stuff about making graven images and keeping the Sabbath has nothing to do with morality at all.

BTW: how do you figure that atheists break "7 out of 10"? By my count, the average atheist only breaks one (keeping the Sabbath holy). Atheists, by definition, don't worship any other gods, most don't make graven images, steal, kill, commit adultery, or bear false witness. Some use God's name in vain (though no more than most Christians, and they picked up the practice from them), and to make any determination about "coveting", you'd need to be a mind-reader.

Or is it the actual Ten Commandments (i.e. the one referred to as "the ten commandments" in the Bible) that you're talking about?

Wow ... great point. Atheists only break one by definition, and that would depend on their definition of the word "holy". Thanks for that.

 

[ArtieE]

You have never understood that God wants us to have the privilege of partaking in His work and enjoying His rewards for doing so? Didn't you ever have a "go to work day" with dad or mum?

1 Samuel 15:3 "New International Version
Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy all that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys.'
No, can't say I ever had a "go to work day" with dad or mum like that.

 

[ArtieE]

Au contraire, mon frère:

Atheists break at least 7 of 10 commands in the Decalogue alone. Scoring 30% on a test is a fail in most places.

Which ones? List them.

 

[BilliardsBall]

All,

Do you really require an enunciation of the wickedness of atheism? Aren't some of you diehard, scoffing atheists? Perhaps it would be better if I pointed out that everyone, including me, is a sinner. After all, each of us have done things we knew we shouldn't have done; things we knew before we did them were wrong. Do you deny this fact?

 

[ArtieE]

All,

Do you really require an enunciation of the wickedness of atheism? Aren't some of you diehard, scoffing atheists? Perhaps it would be better if I pointed out that everyone, including me, is a sinner. After all, each of us have done things we knew we shouldn't have done; things we knew before we did them were wrong. Do you deny this fact?

So what? How is that specific to or characteristic of atheism or atheists in particular?

 

[Altfish]

All,

Do you really require an enunciation of the wickedness of atheism? Aren't some of you diehard, scoffing atheists? Perhaps it would be better if I pointed out that everyone, including me, is a sinner. After all, each of us have done things we knew we shouldn't have done; things we knew before we did them were wrong. Do you deny this fact?

Can I remind you of the 10 Commandments....

1. Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
2. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image.
3. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.
4. Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
5. Honour thy father and thy mother..
6. Thou shalt not kill.
7. Thou shalt not commit adultery.
8. Thou shalt not steal.
9. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
10. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ***, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.

1-4 are all about a jealous and insecure god.
5. OK, I suppose unless your Dad is abusing you.
6. Yeah ok, but a bit obvious. btw why doesn't God abide by this commandment?
7. Is this the most broken commandment?
8. OK, but what about a mother who is starving and struggling to find money to feed her child; should she take an apple from a market stall?
9. OK, but sometimes the truth can be harmful.
10. Coveting drives the western economy.

Where do they say, "Protect children"?
Where do they say, "Don't keep slaves"?

I could go on but you get the picture.

 

[McBell]

You have never understood that God wants us to have the privilege of partaking in His work and enjoying His rewards for doing so? Didn't you ever have a "go to work day" with dad or mum?

I don't think you are asking a question at all, I think you are being rhetorical.

I think you are merely avoiding the meat of the post.
Not that anyone is the least bit surprised.

 

[rosends]

It's interesting, but also somewhat shallow and arbitrary. I do find that some religious paths/sects, have some interesting ideas about atheist/s/, though. /Ie atheism/by default

I wasn't thinking of it as shallow or arbitrary (so I'd love it if you would expand on that) but as condescending.

 

[Rick O'Shez]

Aren't some of you diehard, scoffing atheists?

 

[Unveiled Artist]

Where do you guys come from?

 

[Unveiled Artist]

I never understood why a being that is supposed to be all powerful cannot get anything done on Earth without people doing it for him.

I love that.

 

[Aset's Flames]

I would say, rather, because imagination is more comforting than truth.

If you say imagination is seperate from truth then how is it in any different than lie?

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

All,

Do you really require an enunciation of the wickedness of atheism? Aren't some of you diehard, scoffing atheists? Perhaps it would be better if I pointed out that everyone, including me, is a sinner. After all, each of us have done things we knew we shouldn't have done; things we knew before we did them were wrong. Do you deny this fact?

I fall short of my own standard all the time. This doesn't mean that I fall short of God's standard, though, because:

- I don't believe in God.
- If I did believe in God, I wouldn't have the hubris to assume that my standard is God's standard.

... but let me get what you're saying straight:

- atheists and theists alike are both "sinners"
- therefore, atheism is "wicked"

Really?

My atheism motivates me to be a better person. The fact that I don't rely on any gods to swoop in and make the world a better place means that it's up to me to do it myself or convince others to do it. I've met very good people who are theists, but for me, I'm a better person than I would be as a theist, IMO.

 

[Debater Slayer]

My atheism motivates me to be a better person. The fact that I don't rely on any gods to swoop in and make the world a better place means that it's up to me to do it myself or convince others to do it. I've met very good people who are theists, but for me, I'm a better person than I would be as a theist, IMO.

Sorry if this is a bit off topic, but do you consider your atheism to be an insignificant part of who you are, or is it one of the defining aspects of your character? That is, is it more than just "I don't believe in any gods and don't care if there are any"?

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Sorry if this is a bit off topic, but do you consider your atheism to be an insignificant part of who you are, or is it one of the defining aspects of your character? That is, is it more than just "I don't believe in any gods and don't care if there are any"?

Yes and no.

My atheism isn't much more than that, but this does mean that I can't satisfy my concerns with prayer, or expect that Christ (or any other god or godlike figure) is going to swoop down and make everything better. This means that if I want to make things better, the only options I have open to me are the ones that demonstrably make things better.

It's probably worth saying that I really see my atheism as just one implication of my skepticism and freethought, which I do see as defining aspects of my character.

 

[viole]

Sorry if this is a bit off topic, but do you consider your atheism to be an insignificant part of who you are, or is it one of the defining aspects of your character? That is, is it more than just "I don't believe in any gods and don't care if there are any"?

It depends. If I lived in The Bible Belt maybe that would be significant. In Sweden it is as significant as having a nose.

But who said we do not care if there are any?

Ciao

- viole