Any Downside to Atheism?

[darkendless]

i think humans are detrimental to the human race. and humans created religion, so........

Well anything held above anything else in importance will always be controversial. There has just been a few centuries of controversy, death and war as a result of these books somewhat directly.

Whether it be people behind it or not as many argue, they've still used to book as an excuse so it cannot be rendered innocent.

 

[JMorris]

Well anything held above anything else in importance will always be controversial. There has just been a few centuries of controversy, death and war as a result of these books somewhat directly.

Whether it be people behind it or not as many argue, they've still used to book as an excuse so it cannot be rendered innocent.

i can pretty much guarantee that all those wars would have happened with or without the bible & co. they were just excuses. humans enjoy killing each other, so what do you think is going to happen when human's invent a god & a bible? leave openings for killing of course.

 

[darkendless]

i can pretty much guarantee that all those wars would have happened with or without the bible & co. they were just excuses. humans enjoy killing each other, so what do you think is going to happen when human's invent a god & a bible? leave openings for killing of course.

Instead of blaming each other they blame their holy books. Its was the hottest new excuse for a war for over 1000 years.

 

[JMorris]

Instead of blaming each other they blame their holy books. Its was the hottest new excuse for a war for over 1000 years.

right, it had nothing to with trade, profit, prestige, glory, or power:drool:
when the muslims invaded france through the pyrennes, they did it to spread the word of allah! which is why they pillaged all the villages on the way in and out & took slaves.

when the christians embarked on the crusade, they did it to spread the word of god, which is why they killed all the non-christians. had nothing to do with trading ports, the glory of such a prize, or the money that could be made off the pilgrims.

ect

not to say religion in and of itself wasnt a good motivator of the lower masses, who were the ones doing the killing and being killed. but they wouldnt have been there if not for their rulers. and you think rulers by "divine right" would invest so much money if not for a good return on said investment?

 

[ThereIsNoSpoon]

"Is there or is there not a god?"

Someone please explain to me why the answer to that question matters.

Is there any real demonstrable negative to not acknowledging god (hint: stories of hell and eternal damnation are not demonstrable)?

I can be kind, loving, selfless, and charitable all on my own. It is simply a matter of choosing to act out such characteristics. I can enjoy my membership in social organizations without having to imbibe any religious teachings.

What are the negative consequences to atheism? I just don't see a downside.

You don't see a downside because you ruled it out
I mean if you want to neglet hell, punishment and other things then of course there never would be a downside regardless of whether a god with these "features" existed or not.
IF however such a god existend then it would matter.
Even the greatest masochist on earth would - at the prospect of spending eternity in hell - think twice before choosing to disregard the corresponding god.

 

[The Wizard]

Jmorris; i can pretty much guarantee that all those wars would have happened with or without the bible & co. they were just excuses. humans enjoy killing each other, so what do you think is going to happen when human's invent a god & a bible? leave openings for killing of course.

I support this also. Inquisitions or 911 cannot be honestly used to disvalue the effects of beliefs, or in a god belief. That would just be focusing on the negative or using a sweeping generalization for a nonsequitor. It is just like the gun phrase. It is not the belief that kills people, its the person with the belief, their choices and actions.

 

[JMorris]

Jmorris; i can pretty much guarantee that all those wars would have happened with or without the bible & co. they were just excuses. humans enjoy killing each other, so what do you think is going to happen when human's invent a god & a bible? leave openings for killing of course.

I support this also. Inquisitions or 911 cannot be honestly used to disvalue the effects of beliefs, or in a god belief. That would just be focusing on the negative or using a sweeping generalization for a nonsequitor. It is just like the gun phrase. It is not the belief that kills people, its the person with the belief, their choices and actions.

i disagree lol. guns are created to kill people, so......... they may not kill, but it is their purpose. religion (particuarly in olden times) is meant as a means of control, and that certainly helps when you want to invade another country for personal gain.

 

[The Wizard]

i disagree lol. guns are created to kill people, so......... they may not kill, but it is their purpose. religion (particuarly in olden times) is meant as a means of control, and that certainly helps when you want to invade another country for personal gain.

from me; I do not know if guns were created for hunting or for war. How about a que-tip? But, it is still a person's actions which are held accountable, not their religion. A person can think or belief whatever they want, it is the action they take which counts on the issue.

 

[JMorris]

i disagree lol. guns are created to kill people, so......... they may not kill, but it is their purpose. religion (particuarly in olden times) is meant as a means of control, and that certainly helps when you want to invade another country for personal gain.

from me; I do not know if guns were created for hunting or for war. How about a que-tip? But, it is still a person's actions which are held accountable, not their religion. A person can think or belief whatever they want, it is the action they take which counts on the issue.

1.) im not sure how good handguns & assault rifles are for hunting
2.) i wasnt really talking about the personal value of religion. more of the practical usage of religion by rulers

 

[The Wizard]

2.) i wasnt really talking about the personal value of religion. more of the practical usage of religion by rulers

No, I agree with this. Rulers and fake leaders have used or altered religion to accomplish their own agendas since time began. A belief or religion which supports brainwash and mass
murder is evil, in my book they are following an evil and immoral belief.

Realize that such people will usually comit murder anyway,
they just needed a reason. God was the perfect one.

 

[JMorris]

2.) i wasnt really talking about the personal value of religion. more of the practical usage of religion by rulers

No, I agree with this. Rulers and fake leaders have used or altered religion to accomplish their own agendas since time began. A belief or religion which supports brainwash and mass
murder is evil, in my book they are following an evil and immoral belief.

Realize that such people will usually comit murder anyway,
they just needed a reason. God was the perfect one.

now we've got an agreement

 

[mixond]

I guess you will not have any virgins waiting for you when you blow yourself up.

 

[Vile Atheist]

I guess you will not have any virgins waiting for you when you blow yourself up.

So where did you say the local masjid is?

 

[Storm]

"Is there or is there not a god?"

Someone please explain to me why the answer to that question matters.

Is there any real demonstrable negative to not acknowledging god (hint: stories of hell and eternal damnation are not demonstrable)?

I can be kind, loving, selfless, and charitable all on my own. It is simply a matter of choosing to act out such characteristics. I can enjoy my membership in social organizations without having to imbibe any religious teachings.

What are the negative consequences to atheism? I just don't see a downside.

Well, they're far from universal, but two trends I've noticed are devaluation of ritual and an utter failure to grasp what myth is. It should be noted that many believers share in the latter.

 

[Cobblestones]

Well, they're far from universal, but two trends I've noticed are devaluation of ritual and an utter failure to grasp what myth is. It should be noted that many believers share in the latter.

Reminds me of one of my favorite movie quotes:

Sometimes the things that may or may not be true are the things that a man needs to believe in the most. That people are basically good; that honour, courage and virtue mean everything; that power and money, money and power mean nothing; that good always triumphs over evil; and I want you to remember this, that love... true love never dies.

You remember that, boy. You remember that. Doesn't matter if it's true or not. You see, a man should believe in those things, because... those are the things worth believing in.

 

[footprints]

"Is there or is there not a god?"

Someone please explain to me why the answer to that question matters.

Is there any real demonstrable negative to not acknowledging god (hint: stories of hell and eternal damnation are not demonstrable)?

I can be kind, loving, selfless, and charitable all on my own. It is simply a matter of choosing to act out such characteristics. I can enjoy my membership in social organizations without having to imbibe any religious teachings.

What are the negative consequences to atheism? I just don't see a downside.

Can an atheist be kind, loving, selfless and charitable to a religious person or a religous organisation?

Atheism contains all the negatives and positives a religious organisation holds. An Atheist contains all the negatives and positives a religious person holds. The difference between the atheist and the theist is how they perceive positive and negative.

 

[Smoke]

Well, they're far from universal, but two trends I've noticed are devaluation of ritual and an utter failure to grasp what myth is.

Well, I'm glad you said they're far from universal, because I think I'm an exception to both. I chanted both the Tripitaka and the Trisagion prayers today, and though I don't believe in God I have the utmost respect for his Mother.

The glass of Orthodox Christianity may be empty, but it's a beautiful glass.

 

[Smoke]

i can pretty much guarantee that all those wars would have happened with or without the bible & co. they were just excuses. humans enjoy killing each other, so what do you think is going to happen when human's invent a god & a bible? leave openings for killing of course.

But that explanation assumes that all believers are cynical, and they're not. Everywhere you turn there are people who believe that god is not an excuse, but a reason.

 

[Smoke]

not to say religion in and of itself wasnt a good motivator of the lower masses, who were the ones doing the killing and being killed. but they wouldnt have been there if not for their rulers. and you think rulers by "divine right" would invest so much money if not for a good return on said investment?

I think the upper classes believed in God, too. I think when Henry II cursed God, he really meant it, and that he was sincerely distressed and offended that God didn't come to his aid. I think Godfrey of Bouillon really believed it was in the service of Christ that he conquered Jerusalem. I think our modern-day terrorists think their sacrifices are pleasing to God, too. It is always a mistake for unbelievers to underestimate the power of belief.

 

[Cobblestones]

Can an atheist be kind, loving, selfless and charitable to a religious person or a religous organisation?

I'm assuming this is rhetorical.

Atheism contains all the negatives and positives a religious organisation holds. An Atheist contains all the negatives and positives a religious person holds. The difference between the atheist and the theist is how they perceive positive and negative.

Um, "atheism" is not a belief system. How can it contain either positives of negatives of some organization or other?