I'm an atheist. Ask me anything.

[MSizer]

... Maybe we should start a thread on atheist ethics to help you prep.

Cool on your morality opinions, although as much as I respect Aristotle, I believe that virtue ethics theory has been pretty much shown to be fallacious by social psychologists. But if you're willing to start another thread to help me prep, I'd be happy. (and i could stop hijacking this one from you, which I should stop doing anyway!)

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

that i can't do because that's a FACT

Okay, then pick something else that's not a fact in the same way. Pick something that you currently believe to be true, and just based on your choice, believe it to be false.

..... could you further explain this please ?

Many actions of our minds are involuntary. Once we see something, think about it and come to a conclusion, our beliefs about that thing are generated automatically.

I'm not a psychology expert, so someone may be able to explain this better than I can, but there's a handy analogy in something called the Stroop Test. Have a look at the article if you're curious, but the conclusion of Stroop's expirement was that for a literate person, the act of reading is involuntary. When you are presented with a written word, your brain automatically reads it.

It's the same for belief: when you're presented with facts or sensory perceptions about a thing, you'll automatically generate beliefs about it. IMO, you can no more make your belief process voluntary than you can make your reading ability voluntary.

 

[Autodidact]

There are a lot of religions that are essentially atheistic in nature or which don't prescribe to the notion of a personal, anthropomorphic deity. Have you or would you ever consider joining one of these religions? Why/Why not? Also, is there one or more of these religions that you consider to be appealing even if you wouldn't join it? Again Why/Why not?

ooh, a four part question for you there

From what I've read about Tibetan Buddhism, those guys hit on some important essential truths and valuable techniques. I don't agree with the entire package though; I don't believe that life is essentially suffering or that all attachment is bad, and I don't believe in reincarnation. I do find meditative contemplation and all the teachings on compassion very valuable. Also I think the essential truth about acceptance of reality, of the individual adapting to reality, is an important component of serenity.

I love the Tao Te Ching, but I don't understand it. I'm not sure I consider it a religion exactly.

 

[Just_me_Mike]

Define "Godlike."

I think following one's heart is an important component of happiness.

A guiding force, even though not quite definable it generally controls what we do. Godlike. In other words as an Atheist, you don;t have a God to follow, so you must replace that with something else. (Nothing wrong with that), but I was just wondering if you agree with my sentiment?

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

A guiding force, even though not quite definable it generally controls what we do. Godlike. In other words as an Atheist, you don;t have a God to follow, so you must replace that with something else. (Nothing wrong with that), but I was just wondering if you agree with my sentiment?

Not to speak for Auto, but since she said other atheists can respond, I think I'll throw my two cents in.

I disagree with this sentiment. I don't see things in those terms. God isn't something that atheists have to "replace", it's something that theists adopt for their own reasons.

I personally get annoyed when people portray atheists as theists with some sort of "God hole" in their lives. It's not like that.

 

[Just_me_Mike]

Not to speak for Auto, but since she said other atheists can respond, I think I'll throw my two cents in.

I disagree with this sentiment. I don't see things in those terms. God isn't something that atheists have to "replace", it's something that theists adopt for their own reasons.

I personally get annoyed when people portray atheists as theists with some sort of "God hole" in their lives. It's not like that.

It is exactly like that. We all make decisions on what controls our lives. That controlling factor is godlike.

I think what you get annoyed about is if someone feels their godlike choice is better than someone elses. I am not implying that at all OK?

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

It is exactly like that. We all make decisions on what controls our lives. That controlling factor is godlike.

No, it's only "godlike" if you've decided to look at the world through that lens. There are other points of view that work just as well.

I think what you get annoyed about is if someone feels their godlike choice is better than someone elses. I am not implying that at all OK?

No, that's not what I'm getting annoyed about. The thing that bothers me is the notion that we need to look at things through someone else's point of view.

 

[aymen amir]

another question for you (Auto) and other Atheist what's your best argument that god doest EXIST?? Am the one asking so don't ask me for my argument that DOES GOD exist

 

[Just_me_Mike]

No, it's only "godlike" if you've decided to look at the world through that lens. There are other points of view that work just as well.


No, that's not what I'm getting annoyed about. The thing that bothers me is the notion that we need to look at things through someone else's point of view.

Why is this so complicated? Do you decide or do you not decide what factors in life guide you, control you, and act in such a way that is akin to how God is treated by those that are theistic. I am not saying either one is correct, and I could care less which one is. the fact is they are both VERY similar in how the effect our individual lives. that is the comparison.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

another question for you (Auto) and other Atheist what's your best argument that god doest EXIST?? Am the one asking so don't ask me for my argument that DOES GOD exist

It's not really a logical argument, but the thing that's made me question atheism the most is the fact that people I know, respect and consider to be very intelligent are theists. This has never actually managed to change my beliefs, but on many occasions, this fact has made me stop and reconsider things to decide whether I'm actually sure. So far, I am.

Why is this so complicated? Do you decide or do you not decide what factors in life guide you, control you, and act in such a way that is akin to how God is treated by those that are theistic.

Except that they're missing key aspects that make a god a god. These will likely be different for different atheists, but for example, take authority: what factors in my life guide me or control me that I consider to be unquestionable authorities? None. Or worship: what in my life do I consider worthy of worship like a god? Nothing.

In my experience, usually when someone compares a thing that an atheist believes or does with something religious or theistic, it's for the purposes of false equivocation: "see - you've got your own God, too! We're both the same!"

I am not saying either one is correct, and I could care less which one is. the fact is they are both VERY similar in how the effect our individual lives. that is the comparison.

Hmm. Maybe we're getting ahead of ourselves. How do you think God affects the life of a theist?

 

[Autodidact]

A guiding force, even though not quite definable it generally controls what we do. Godlike. In other words as an Atheist, you don;t have a God to follow, so you must replace that with something else. (Nothing wrong with that), but I was just wondering if you agree with my sentiment?

I think your definition is much broader than common usage.

I am in charge of my decisions, which I make based on my values and the information I have available. I am the only one responsible for them.

 

[Just_me_Mike]

It's not really a logical argument, but the thing that's made me question atheism the most is the fact that people I know, respect and consider to be very intelligent are theists. This has never actually managed to change my beliefs, but on many occasions, this fact has made me stop and reconsider things to decide whether I'm actually sure. So far, I am.


Except that they're missing key aspects that make a god a god. These will likely be different for different atheists, but for example, take authority: what factors in my life guide me or control me that I consider to be unquestionable authorities? None. Or worship: what in my life do I consider worthy of worship like a god? Nothing.

In my experience, usually when someone compares a thing that an atheist believes or does with something religious or theistic, it's for the purposes of false equivocation: "see - you've got your own God, too! We're both the same!"


Hmm. Maybe we're getting ahead of ourselves. How do you think God affects the life of a theist?

Listen even the bible says itself, question what is being taught. It never says accept blindly. It says test everything. Not sure if you read that or not

to answer your last question, God affects a theist only in a sense of guidance, and control, that could EASILY be replaced by having no God at all. Yet finding other things to live up to, and live for, etc...

 

[sandandfoam]

If you have any question about how one atheist sees morality, the world, our place in it, or anything else, this is a place to ask.

If any of the answers spark debate, so much the better.

Hi,

Forgive me if you've answered this already ,

I read in some of your posts that you come from a Jewish background, as an atheist is this important to you, do you find even without God anything pleasant in the rituals I presume you were raised with?

I'm also curious in raising kids would you pass on any of your Jewish identity to them?

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Listen even the bible says itself, question what is being taught. It never says accept blindly. It says test everything. Not sure if you read that or not

I don't recall ever reading that in the Bible, no. However, I'm not sure how this is relevant to our discussion here.

to answer your last question, God affects a theist only in a sense of guidance, and control, that could EASILY be replaced by having no God at all. Yet finding other things to live up to, and live for, etc...

I'd say that God (or at least belief in God) affects a theist in plenty of ways other than that.

However, if you're just talking about guidance and control, other metaphors work just as well; what about an autopilot? Autopilots guide and control. We could say that both theists and atheists have an "autopilot", and that in the in the case of the theist, that autopilot is called "God". Does that work? If calling God an autopilot doesn't work, then why does calling what "guides and controls" an athiest "God" work?

 

[sonofskeptish]

Yes, and no. I believe in being honest and living with integrity. This is something I got from being a Jew and a Lesbian and carries over to being an atheist. If you believe in what you're doing, you should be able to be open about it. I have not lost anything as a result. The worst consequence has been some social awkwardness.

I like social awkwardness.

Thanks for the answer.

 

[Storm]

As I recall, Auto, you're a strong atheist (correct me if I'm wrong).

Do you think this is a faith based position? If not, why?

You seem to've mised me.

 

[Autodidact]

another question for you (Auto) and other Atheist what's your best argument that god doest EXIST?? Am the one asking so don't ask me for my argument that DOES GOD exist

IMO the best argument is the "watchmaker argument," that the universe exists and is amazing and got here somehow.

The problem with this argument is that all it gets you, at best, is a completely unknowable Deist God with no contact or personal impact, who makes no difference in our lives. I have no problem with such a God, who does not need to be obeyed or prayed to, does not issue commandments, does not intervene in the world. There may be such a God, but what difference does it make? If God is "outside the universe," then it doesn't care whether I worship it or not.

The best argument for Allah and YHWH is: "Believe or we'll chop your head off."

 

[Mr.Lost]

Here try and convert me am an agonistic lol. So here’s my question how can you stand up and say to the people that there is no possible way there can be a ''god''. I mean if you are 99 percent sure there is no god that would make you (in my option) an agonistic there for you should keep looking because if you are 99 percent sure would it not be worth while looking. Think of the matrix as you will the red and blue pill. If you take the red pill you live you life and you die. If you are right well your right we turn to dust. If you’re wrong well you go to hell! Burn ***** (sorry jk). Ok now if you take the blue pill **** you turn to dust (still the same). However here’s the cool thing if god is real who knows how good that could be! So Ill simplify the question what makes you personally atheious and not agonistic??

 

[MSizer]

another question for you (Auto) and other Atheist what's your best argument that god doest EXIST?? Am the one asking so don't ask me for my argument that DOES GOD exist

There isn't one. It's just not logical to assume something exists if there's no evidence for it. Let's not get into that argument though, it's auto's thread.

 

[Autodidact]

You seem to've mised me.

Oops, sorry.
I do consider myself a strong atheist, meaning I affirmatively state that there is no God. For me this is the least faith-based aspect of my thinking, it derives completely from logic. It goes like this:

Is there a God? Well, what is a God? What does "God" mean? It seems to mean a non-physical creator-being who cannot be perceived with any sense--cannot be seen, heard, etc. Well, if something is defined as not able to be perceived, isn't that the functional equivalent of not existing? If I say there's an invisible elf in my pocket, but you can't see it, feel it, hear it, smell it, etc., aren't I really saying there is NOT an invisible elf in my pocket? So it seems to be that any God is defined as not existing. NOt existing is part of the very definition of a God.

Unless God has some measurable effect, which It does not seem to do.

So I say I affirmatively believe that God does not exist, because I think God is defined as a non-existent thing.