Atheism Lacks Entertainment Value

[CynthiaCypher]

When we looks at most of the religions or worldviews that we have, most of them are very entertaining. We get all sorts of neat stories from these worldviews. The stories in Buddhism, Christianity Islam all serve a purpose...to tell stories which give meaning. Most religious worldviews serve to entertain. Storytelling is paramount to communicating meaning and values to people. If there is one religion that I would single out as being the greatest at this, it would be those of the Vedic traditions. Stories mean everything in that tradition.

But there is one worldview that lacks the meaningful narratives that the human soul needs and is frankly deconstructive of storytelling...and that worldview is atheism.

Many atheist like to deconstruct the stories of other worldviews without understanding the value of the story. It's like having your cousin Lou tell you how impossible it is for a person to fly while you are trying to watch a movie about Superman. It is like Lou has no idea about Superman or storytelling and should therefore just shut up.

It gets boring. Then it so happens Lou cannot offer anything else, he values no narrative, no poetry or passion. So to atheist often (not all, I am trying to rid myself of my anti-atheist bigotry) act like cousin Lou.

The thing is, I feel that many atheist just do not see or are able to perceive the values of these stories yet they offer no stories of their own.

Just my thoughts, please feel free to criticize.

 

[Quintessence]

When atheism becomes as a religion - which it does for some atheists - they do have their mythologies and stories they tell. They just don't look like the mythologies of other religions. It's typically framed around what they believe to be the scientific consensus, and it is held to just as sacred stories are in some religions. A few will even deliberately mythologize scientific theories to have meaningfulness beyond what the science itself can expound upon. I do this myself as a theist, and you can get some very rich storytelling by weaving tales of the Epic of Evolution or the Cycle of Waters.

I do agree with some of what you're saying, though. I've noticed that many atheists seem to insist on taking mythology literally, which is totally not the point. They don't understand that it's storytelling, so you get people saying stupidly simplistic things like "Zeus was the primitive explanation for lightning." Guys, it's a story, it always was a story, and it will always be a story. It's a mythopoetic way of describing reality. And it's fun! If you ever read fiction or go to the movies, you understand at least something of the impetus behind mythological tales of religions. It has the same root, and both ancient and contemporary mythologies all contain greater life truths.

 

[ions]

An interesting observation CC.

I agree with some of your perspectives and share your distaste towards atheism. Though I would not classify the 'stories' of 'religions' as entertainment value. Clearly, there is much sci-fi and atheistic fiction that can be quite entertaining as well---and can arguably contain poetry, passion and even lessons.

Perhaps I have misinterpreted your interpretation of story-telling. You may want to clarify.

The bottom line difference, in my opinion, is the futility of pursuing a dead end path. We can build large spaceships, persevere in combat, and all that, but if its message is to ultimately turn away from our soul's destiny, from God, it is all for naught in the eternity of ourselves.

I would also add, that the best atheistic literature borrows ideas from theistic sources and applies them to secular situations. The truly inspiring stories are the ones that connect with us at deeper, significant levels, and can take us to new heights and perspectives.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

You don't have to be a theist to find value in mythological stories.

 

[LuisDantas]

I don't know about that.

Thinking about the Japanese entertainment products, it seems to me that Atheism, or more properly skepticism, does indeed challenge several traditional entertainment prototypes (mostly variations of the Hero Myth).

On the other hand, it arguably values several other, superior prototypes. Many of the best Anime and Manga make quite superb lemonade of the supposed "lemon" of lack of the supernatural.

 

[Sha'irullah]

Atheists do have entertainment, watching theists

 

[Sunstone]

I think the OP is in good company -- most people seem to pick and choose their beliefs on the basis of what makes them feel good, on the basis of what entertains them, rather than on the basis of what makes the most sense.

 

[gree0232]

When atheism becomes as a religion - which it does for some atheists - they do have their mythologies and stories they tell. They just don't look like the mythologies of other religions. It's typically framed around what they believe to be the scientific consensus, and it is held to just as sacred stories are in some religions. A few will even deliberately mythologize scientific theories to have meaningfulness beyond what the science itself can expound upon. I do this myself as a theist, and you can get some very rich storytelling by weaving tales of the Epic of Evolution or the Cycle of Waters.

I do agree with some of what you're saying, though. I've noticed that many atheists seem to insist on taking mythology literally, which is totally not the point. They don't understand that it's storytelling, so you get people saying stupidly simplistic things like "Zeus was the primitive explanation for lightning." Guys, it's a story, it always was a story, and it will always be a story. It's a mythopoetic way of describing reality. And it's fun! If you ever read fiction or go to the movies, you understand at least something of the impetus behind mythological tales of religions. It has the same root, and both ancient and contemporary mythologies all contain greater life truths.

Young Atheist Confronts Texas GOP Rep. Over Vote Against Atheist Military Chaplains | Mediaite

The problem is that atheists are openly pushing for clergy. And how atheism can claim not to be a religion while it has clergy is ... pretty potently amazing.

Though I have to disagree with Cynthia. These kinds of antics are pretty entertaining.

A: GALL!!! We are NOT a religion!!!!! We JUST believe there is no God!!! GALL!!!!

B: Why don't we have Chaplains for our unique yet oddly undefinable spiritual needs? GALL!!! You guys must be prejudiced!!!

Now THAT is entertaining.

 

[Monk Of Reason]

When we looks at most of the religions or worldviews that we have, most of them are very entertaining. We get all sorts of neat stories from these worldviews. The stories in Buddhism, Christianity Islam all serve a purpose...to tell stories which give meaning. Most religious worldviews serve to entertain. Storytelling is paramount to communicating meaning and values to people. If there is one religion that I would single out as being the greatest at this, it would be those of the Vedic traditions. Stories mean everything in that tradition.

But there is one worldview that lacks the meaningful narratives that the human soul needs and is frankly deconstructive of storytelling...and that worldview is atheism.

Many atheist like to deconstruct the stories of other worldviews without understanding the value of the story. It's like having your cousin Lou tell you how impossible it is for a person to fly while you are trying to watch a movie about Superman. It is like Lou has no idea about Superman or storytelling and should therefore just shut up.

It gets boring. Then it so happens Lou cannot offer anything else, he values no narrative, no poetry or passion. So to atheist often (not all, I am trying to rid myself of my anti-atheist bigotry) act like cousin Lou.

The thing is, I feel that many atheist just do not see or are able to perceive the values of these stories yet they offer no stories of their own.

Just my thoughts, please feel free to criticize.

Few things
1. Atheism isn't a religion. Much in the same way having no eggs at breakfast is a style of making eggs.

2. If that person is trying to convince me that Superman is real and out there then yes I shall deconstruct why it is impossible for him to fly.

3. Are you trying to say there is no poetry or passion in secular arts? This is quite an astoundingly incorrect claim.

 

[Badran]

So to atheist often (not all, I am trying to rid myself of my anti-atheist bigotry) act like cousin Lou.

One other balancing element to your analogy might've been that while you were sitting there just trying to enjoy Superman, your other cousin Stew was insisting that Superman is real, and further telling his kids to wear their underpants on the outside so that they don't make Superman angry.

Point being, while you tried not to generalize atheists, you have not given their criticism fair justice by ignoring the reality these criticisms exist within. A reality where many people take these stories to mean much, much more than mere stories.

 

[Sunstone]

Some folks have argued Shakespeare was an atheist. I don't know whether that's true or not, but if it is, it should be noted, Shakespeare wrote better than God.

 

[bobhikes]

When we looks at most of the religions or worldviews that we have, most of them are very entertaining. We get all sorts of neat stories from these worldviews. The stories in Buddhism, Christianity Islam all serve a purpose...to tell stories which give meaning. Most religious worldviews serve to entertain. Storytelling is paramount to communicating meaning and values to people. If there is one religion that I would single out as being the greatest at this, it would be those of the Vedic traditions. Stories mean everything in that tradition.

But there is one worldview that lacks the meaningful narratives that the human soul needs and is frankly deconstructive of storytelling...and that worldview is atheism.

Many atheist like to deconstruct the stories of other worldviews without understanding the value of the story. It's like having your cousin Lou tell you how impossible it is for a person to fly while you are trying to watch a movie about Superman. It is like Lou has no idea about Superman or storytelling and should therefore just shut up.

It gets boring. Then it so happens Lou cannot offer anything else, he values no narrative, no poetry or passion. So to atheist often (not all, I am trying to rid myself of my anti-atheist bigotry) act like cousin Lou.

The thing is, I feel that many atheist just do not see or are able to perceive the values of these stories yet they offer no stories of their own.

Just my thoughts, please feel free to criticize.

I don't know atheist's have some good stories, Ask them how man came to be and its a pretty elaborate telling with all sorts of drama.

Ask them about the cosmo's and you get these incredible stories with beautiful pictures and math to go along with it.

The only difference between the atheist stories and the religious stories is there is no superman. Its all about nature and man which is pretty awesome but there is no helper, there is no hard reason, and there is an end. So it becomes a dark story and as Hollywood show's us dark stories don't sell as good.

 

[Aupmanyav]

It gets boring.

Atheist entertainment is debating with theists. It is so interesting. What all proofs they offer! Astounding.

 

[gree0232]

Few things
1. Atheism isn't a religion. Much in the same way having no eggs at breakfast is a style of making eggs.

2. If that person is trying to convince me that Superman is real and out there then yes I shall deconstruct why it is impossible for him to fly.

3. Are you trying to say there is no poetry or passion in secular arts? This is quite an astoundingly incorrect claim.

I don't require a Chaplain to have breakfast.

Feel free to actually disprove God while you are it.

The creative writing of the guilt by association fallacy is initial quite entertaining, but it can be quite .. tiresome, after realizing that people actually think this is a proof.

I mean I could compare atheism to the denial of the sky being blue, which would be patently absurd, and the point out, fallaciously, that attempting to disprove atheist denial of God is equally pointless.

The evidence for the sky being blue and the evidence for God are not the same thing?

Similarly, the evidence for superman and the evidence for God are not the same thing.

In either case, its simple a restatement of the original claims, that one believe in God or not, simply stated with a fallacious appeal to something 'obvious'.

Fallacious appeals to superman does absolutely nothing to disprove any religions God does it? It just restates your opinion on the subject.

It is however, not quite as entertaining as claiming the atheism is not a religion ... but gosh darn it give us Chaplains!

That conflict simply begs the question: is atheism a religion or not?

And once your community asks for Chaplains ... its not exactly some nefarious plot to pigeon hole you into a definition. Its a legit question. Rather entertaining to as atheists how they expect to leap across the contradictory claims.

 

[Gjallarhorn]

I fail to understand how this is anything but an appeal to consequences.

"Oh dear. I fail to see how atheists have any fun, so why would I consider being atheist?"

...I would see such a life as much less entertaining, picking whatever makes your life seem funner...at any given moment susceptible to jumping off a building because flying is a so much better reality than falling and breaking nearly every bone in your body.

 

[Revoltingest]

Atheism itself is pretty simple & dull. But individual atheists manage to rise above our pedestrian philosophy.
A few of the many examples.....
- James Cameron
- Douglas Adams
- Kurt Vonnegut
- Kevin Bacon (great name)
- Noel Coward
- Isaac Asimov
- Tom Wolfe

 

[FunctionalAtheist]

Well the OP finally explains why some people believe! I guess theism is nothing more than the product of bored minds looking for ways to entertain themselves. At least it's the best explanation I've heard so far.

 

[HonestJoe]

When we looks at most of the religions or worldviews that we have, most of them are very entertaining. We get all sorts of neat stories from these worldviews.

How many of those stories actually originated within those religions and how many were age-old stories and concepts merely picked up and shaped to fit the prevailing religious view? How many great stories and ideas have been suppressed and destroyed because they went against the dominant faith (or were perceived to)? Equally, plenty of traditionally religious stories have developed beyond that to sit in a wider cultural context. Ultimately, story-telling is a human characteristic, not a religious one.

But there is one worldview that lacks the meaningful narratives that the human soul needs and is frankly deconstructive of storytelling...and that worldview is atheism.

Maybe that's because atheism isn't a worldview, it's a description of a singular characteristic. There are worldviews that incorporate atheism but that isn't the same thing (and they often also have the kind of stories you're talking about anyway).

Many atheist like to deconstruct the stories of other worldviews without understanding the value of the story. It's like having your cousin Lou tell you how impossible it is for a person to fly while you are trying to watch a movie about Superman. It is like Lou has no idea about Superman or storytelling and should therefore just shut up.

That rather depends on the purpose the story is being put to. If it's just about entertainment, I doubt many atheists would bother deconstructing it. On the other hand, if the story is intended to promote a particular religious viewpoint, I see no problem in deconstructing the story to highlight a logical flaw in that promotion.

The thing is, I feel that many atheist just do not see or are able to perceive the values of these stories yet they offer no stories of their own.

Rubbish! Loads of atheists tell stories, write music, create art. They might not do it "as atheists" because, as I pointed out, that isn't a worldview. You could even say that any story that doesn't have a specifically theistic religious context is atheist by definition. Of course, if you're really just interested in stories being both entertaining and meaningful, why not focus on those terms rather than if a story is religious or atheist?

 

[steeltoes]

Now there's a story!

and we eat our own young too...burp

 

[9Westy9]

I wouldn't view atheism as a world view just like I wouldn't view theism as a world view.