Does an Atheist Know God?

[Scuba Pete]

You say that good atheists "acknowledge" God.

Not really. I'm sorry you don't 'get it' or that you simply want to be argumentative. I have no desire to shove God down anyone's throat. However, it's my belief that God has an affect on us all, regardless of our personal beliefs. Love by anyone is an affirmation of God, intended or not. Hate is a rejection of God, also intended or not. Many, many atheists, who feel that God is not watching, love others freely, giving of both their time and money. Too many Christians however, act as if God doesn't exist and hate others just as freely. Jesus made it pretty plain in Matthew that not everyone who says "Lord, Lord" will enter Heaven. Whatever you've done to the least of these, his brothers and sisters, you've done also to him. This stance angers many Christians since it flies in the face of their legalism.

 

[SkepticX]

I'd argue that many atheists know "god" far better than many alleged theists... ... but that's just me.

My mom has said I'm a better Christian than many Christians.

Many fellow atheists take the sentiment of your post to be offensive, but if it's sincere it's more likely similar to my mom's even if not as intense. The fact I'm not a believer any more hurts my mom deeply, but in spite of that she's saying I'm a person she's proud to call her son, and that she recognizes manifest qualities and character over presumptive labels.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

Do Atheists know Love?

1 John 4:8
Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

Yes, we know love. Love is not the christian, muslim, hindu, bahai, etc god. Love is love. Period.

Why add anything more to life than what it is? Makes it more complicated.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

no belief system has a monopoly on the idea of Love

That contradicts your OP. Why quote the bible, if no belief system (christian included) has no monopoly on the idea of Love?

 

[Fool]

Yes, we know love. Love is not the christian, muslim, hindu, bahai, etc god. Love is love. Period.

Why add anything more to life than what it is? Makes it more complicated.

Because Love is an idea that is timeless, eternal. You can't profit from what you can't control. Love is a powerful thing, a mysterious thing, a very very complicated thing having many forms but only one action. Love is not a respecter of persons because all people have the potential to be that I AM

 

[Fool]

That contradicts your OP. Why quote the bible, if no belief system (christian included) has no monopoly on the idea of Love?

i can quote plato that doesn't make me greek. i can live among jews and that doesn't make me jewish. i can hang with thieves, murders, troublemakers, that doesn't make me a criminal.

it makes me human

 

[Brickjectivity]

I'm getting a very Narnia version of belief here. Where the good Calormene were really serving Aslan all along even though they believe in Tash.

CS Lewis! I noticed that too.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

Because Love is an idea that is timeless, eternal. You can't profit from what you can't control. Love is a powerful thing, a mysterious thing, a very very complicated thing having many forms but only one action. Love is not a respecter of persons because all people have the potential to that I AM

I never saw love as eternal. When I think "like that" I am not accepting that I may not always exist. I am not accepting cause and affect. I am not accepting uncertainty.

Love doesn't solve the answers for me, it just get's me from point A to point B until I can't go no further. People want to live forever in one way or another. I want that; and, I am not afraid to say I am on a treadmill. Sometimes terrains are dangerous but those faithful people who like to exercise, I give it to them. They just don't know we are both going in circles. I don't like that illusion I'm going somewhere. But if I do put on running shoes, I'd enjoy the scenery.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

i can quote plato that doesn't make me greek. i can live among jews and that doesn't make me jewish. i can hang with thieves, murders, troublemakers, that doesn't make me a criminal.

it makes me human

Why the bible? If love is not a respecter of religious systems, why quote anything? Unless you put commentary like "this is an example of love among other examples like Plato and Shiva" it gives the wrong message that you're defining love by sacrifice (biblical love is based on sacrifice) when others do not see love that way.

 

[Fool]

I never saw love as eternal. When I think "like that" I am not accepting that I may not always exist. I am not accepting cause and affect. I am not accepting uncertainty.

Love doesn't solve the answers for me, it just get's me from point A to point B until I can't go no further. People want to live forever in one way or another. I want that; and, I am not afraid to say I am on a treadmill. Sometimes terrains are dangerous but those faithful people who like to exercise, I give it to them. They just don't know we are both going in circles. I don't like that illusion I'm going somewhere. But if I do put on running shoes, I'd enjoy the scenery.

love does no harm.

love has existed as long as man and beast has been nurturing another as self. it doesn't come in and out of fashion, with culture, doesn't come with tradition, with the rise and fall of a kingdom, with the rise and fall of belief systems, or organized religions.

 

[Fool]

Why the bible? If love is not a respecter of religious systems, why quote anything? Unless you put commentary like "this is an example of love among other examples like Plato and Shiva" it gives the wrong message that you're defining love by sacrifice (biblical love is based on sacrifice) when others do not see love that way.

because only love is original, everything is a product/result of it. it creates, it destroys, it transforms. creator, destroyer, transformer(savior)

 

[Unveiled Artist]

love does no harm.

love has existed as long as man and beast has been nurturing another as self. it doesn't come in and out of fashion, with culture, doesn't come with tradition, with the rise and fall of a kingdom, with the rise and fall of belief systems, or organized religions.

I don't get that. Love isn't a person. It's a feeling, sense, holistic emotion. It's a sense of how we feel about ourselves; and, it leaves when we pass on. It's not a spirit nor is it holy. As long as we understand this fact, we won't be running in circles.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

because only love is original, everything is a product/result of it. it creates, it destroys, it transforms. creator, destroyer, transformer(savior)

Plato doesn't see it the same way nor does The Buddha when he speaks about love. So, quoting the bible says you are basing love on sacrifice. love is universal and eternal, it should stand alone. But love isn't a person.

Why do you talk as if love can do things?

Attributing love as if it can perform actions is foreign to me.

 

[Fool]

I don't get that. Love isn't a person. It's a feeling, sense, holistic emotion. It's a sense of how we feel about ourselves; and, it leaves when we pass on. It's not a spirit nor is it holy. As long as we understand this fact, we won't be running in circles.

love is an idea. ideas are potentials that humans can realize.

actualize

there is no sacrifice in love. When sharing with other as self there is no distinction of sacrifice. there is mercy. the ability to empathize and mirror anothers pain and suffering.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

love is an idea. ideas are potentials that humans can realize.

actualize

How can ideas survive beyond death?

What makes it eternal?

 

[Fool]

How can ideas survive beyond death?

What makes it eternal?

could you exist now if the potential hadn't always been possible? you're getting hung up on forms at the expense of actions from ideas



consciousness doesn't come into and out of existence. the matter of form, or the form of matter, transmutates into another system.

second law of thermodynamics

and

the quantum no-hiding theorem

 

[Unveiled Artist]

I'm pretty simple so Ima skip the links if you don't mind.

could you exist now if the potential hadn't always been possible? you're getting hung up on forms at the expense of actions from ideas

Forms, actions, and ideas work together.

How does ideas exist beyond death?

consciousness doesn't come into and out of existence. the matter of form, or the form of matter, transmutates into another system.

Huh? Everything is made up of energy. Ideas aren't physical things. The results those ideas can bring, could cause physiological and psychological reactions which are energy. However, ideas in and of themselves are nothing.

How can they exist beyond the human compatibility to think?

 

[Fool]

I'm pretty simple so Ima skip the links if you don't mind.


Forms, actions, and ideas work together.

How does ideas exist beyond death?

yeah i noticed you ignored my question. ideas don't come in and out of existence like people, or personalities, or forms.

case in point the ideas of buddha, christ, et al. they are that dissimilar except in language, symbolism, cultural traits.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

I checked. There were no questions.

yeah i noticed you ignored my question. ideas don't come in and out of existence like people, or personalities, or forms.

case in point the ideas of buddha, christ, et al. they are that dissimilar except in language, symbolism, cultural traits.

How are ideas eternal?

 

[YmirGF]

Not really. I'm sorry you don't 'get it' or that you simply want to be argumentative. I have no desire to shove God down anyone's throat. However, it's my belief that God has an affect on us all, regardless of our personal beliefs. Love by anyone is an affirmation of God, intended or not. Hate is a rejection of God, also intended or not. Many, many atheists, who feel that God is not watching, love others freely, giving of both their time and money. Too many Christians however, act as if God doesn't exist and hate others just as freely. Jesus made it pretty plain in Matthew that not everyone who says "Lord, Lord" will enter Heaven. Whatever you've done to the least of these, his brothers and sisters, you've done also to him. This stance angers many Christians since it flies in the face of their legalism.

Some of us gleaned your intent. This "strong" atheist didn't find your comments remotely offensive.

Perhaps I'm just more secure in my atheism than others.


The above reminds me of the old adage, "Hate the sin, not the sinner." I've never found the idea particularly appealing because one still has hatred in their heart and that is never good. I guess I'm saying that its not as wise an idea as many seem to think.