Atheism and Secularism are the future

[Bunyip]

Some atheists & some believers like to say things that others find insulting.
That's just how it goes. If you get used to it, & you needn't move away!

I did not intend any offence, it is simply an honest statement. That faith in god is often immune to the skepticism believers apply in other areas of their life is a pretty straighforward observation.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

Then you take offence too easily.

This thread is about atheism and secularism, you must expect atheists to contribute.

You said that people treat believers as gullible morons - I simply disagreed and said that for me (and for many other atheists) I do not see believers as gullible morons, but as having a blind spot to one particular part of their worldview that is immune to logic and skepticism.

That is no insult, how else do you imagine that non-believers can interpret faith?

You are calling our beliefs illogical and basically saying that we don't question them. On what planet is that not an insult? Not believing in something and demeaning those who do does not necessarily go hand in hand.

 

[Bunyip]

And believers have their opinions about atheists which could be seen as offensive:
- We're spiritually blind.
- We hate God.
- We're rebelling against a particular religion.
- It's the latest fashion.

I've been around a while. I can't take offense at such opinions.
They reflect on the one opining, not upon me.

Absolutely, I am told such things constantly - and worse, such as that I am going to be tortured for an eternity.

 

[Bunyip]

You are calling our beliefs illogical and basically saying that we don't question them.

Correct. If they were logical, there would be no atheists.

On what planet is that not an insult?

Well here, on a debate forum specifically created so that believers and non-believers can discuss such things. If a person finds any views contrary to their own to be insulting, they should steer clear of debating them.

Not believing in something and demeaning those who do does not necessarily go hand in hand.

Sure, but being on a debate forum and getting offended at what atheists think doesn't go hand in hand either.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

Correct. If they were logical, there would be no atheists.

Well here, on a debate forum specifically created so that believers and non-believers can discuss such things. If a person finds any views contrary to their own to be insulting, they should steer clear of debating them.

Sure, but being on a debate forum and getting offended at what atheists think doesn't go hand in hand either.

No, I get offended when people say rude things. You said something rude and ignorant.

 

[Bunyip]

No, I get offended when people say rude things. You said something rude and ignorant.

I'm sorry you took it that way. It was an honest statement that accurately reflected my position and was not intended to be insulting.

 

[Revoltingest]

I did not intend any offence, it is simply an honest statement. That faith in god is often immune to the skepticism believers apply in other areas of their life is a pretty straighforward observation.

I understand. I notice that believers & atheists typically have fundamentally different perspectives.
Some generalities (which certainly do not apply to everyone):
- Believers tend to see things as having a clear & singular cause.
- Atheists are more comfortable seeing complex processes (eg, stochastic) with complex results (ie, emergent properties).
- Believers are more prone to magical thought.
- Atheists are less trusting of authority.
- Believers have a greater need for meaning/purpose in life.
- Believers have a greater need for absolutes, ie, things to be "true".

 

[Bunyip]

I understand. I notice that believers & atheists typically have fundamentally different perspectives.
Some generalities (which certainly do not apply to everyone):
- Believers tend to see things as having a clear & singular cause.
- Atheists are more comfortable seeing complex processes (eg, stochastic) with complex results (ie, emergent properties).
- Believers are more prone to magical thought.
- Atheists are less trusting of authority.
- Believers have a greater need for meaning/purpose in life.
- Believers have a greater need for absolutes, ie, things to be "true".

Thanks.

IfI could add to that - Atheists seem more comfortable to accept that they do not know some things, whilst believers tend to need an explanation.

 

[Sapiens]

I understand. I notice that believers & atheists typically have fundamentally different perspectives.
Some generalities (which certainly do not apply to everyone):
- Believers tend to see things as having a clear & singular cause.
- Atheists are more comfortable seeing complex processes (eg, stochastic) with complex results (ie, emergent properties).
- Believers are more prone to magical thought.
- Atheists are less trusting of authority.
- Believers have a greater need for meaning/purpose in life.
- Believers have a greater need for absolutes, ie, things to be "true".

Brain function has also been shown to be different, believers are amygdala (fear based) driven, atheists are frontal lobe (logic based) driven.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

 

[Riverwolf]

Example?

I already gave one. All hail Arceus!

I, myself, have fought and slain the Sea God.

 

[Riverwolf]

Brain function has also been shown to be different, believers are amygdala (fear based) driven, atheists are frontal lobe (logic based) driven.

I would like to see that study, because that frankly sounds very shady. I'm quite logical, thank you very much. Logic is very important to me.

Besides, for most of the Catholic Church's life, they were incredibly logically-minded and driven.

 

[Revoltingest]

^That is the sort of the insulting crap I'm talking about. If the future belongs to people who parrot nonsense like that, I'm going to live on a deserted island away from it all.

You've been using the insult "nonsense" a lot lately towards us heathens.
Glass house & stone throwing thingie.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

You've been using the insult "nonsense" a lot lately towards us heathens.
Glass house & stone throwing thingie.

Oh, please.

 

[Revoltingest]

Thanks.

IfI could add to that - Atheists seem more comfortable to accept that they do not know some things, whilst believers tend to need an explanation.

As I've heard said, the more I learn, the less I know.

 

[Riverwolf]

I did not intend any offence, it is simply an honest statement.

However honest, the words were not well chosen. Saying that we have a blind spot that's "immune to logic and skepticism" carries with it the implication that we're stupid.

What we intended to communicate isn't necessarily what we actually communicated. Monty Python did a great skit about that once.

 

[lewisnotmiller]

It's a fad of a materialist culture.

Or perhaps a luxury afforded those living in (at least somewhat) secular societies.

 

[Revoltingest]

Oh, please.

Well, to lob a lot of insults, & then get all worked
up when you feel insulted is inconsistent.

Stuff like this...

It's a fad of a materialist culture.

....looks glib & insulting.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

I would like to see that study, because that frankly sounds very shady. I'm quite logical, thank you very much. Logic is very important to me.

Besides, for most of the Catholic Church's life, they were incredibly logically-minded and driven.

It's a pile of crap, basically. Logic is very important to me, as well. Nor do I think I know everything and will be the first to admit that humanity's knowledge is severely limited. Basically, everything some of the atheists in this thread are saying about religious people is a just a bunch of negative stereotypes that they're using to bash us with.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

Or perhaps a luxury afforded those living in (at least somewhat) secular societies.

Well, there's a theory that when the standard of living increases, religiosity decreases because people don't think they need it in their lives since they're mostly comfortable.