Is atheism a threat to humanity?

[WhyIsThatSo]

Everything you write seems to suggest that you see yourself as a very, very special and unique person indeed. Have you ever heard of ὕβρις (that's a Greek word, pronounced hjuːbrɪs)? In English, we call it hubris. It is not generally considered a good thing.

Yes, and "blind" people can't tell the difference between "hubris" and CONFIDENCE.

 

[Evangelicalhumanist]

Any self professing "atheist" is here for only one of two reasons...
either they are seeking answers (undercover), or they are here tp mock people of "faith" ( which is hateful ).
so, what's your story ?

You can't be serious!

Do I appear to you to be "undercover?" I've been as open and above-board about everything I've said, and who and what I am, as anybody on these forums. I've provided enough information about me that anybody who actually cared to could find out where I live with just a little bit of research. And when they find me, they'll find me to be exactly who I say I am.

And I am not mocking anyone -- like any other human, I've said things that were out of line, but trust me, the Mods on the forums have nailed me for it every time. (I'm grateful that they're not into shaming!)

I am a person genuinely interested in philosophy, and in my case, much more seriously interested in the our shared human nature. That includes (must include) what it is that makes some people believe what appears to others to be nonsense, and what makes other people (including me) to be skeptical about a lot beliefs religiously held by others.

Because in the end, our humanity is the only thing that we truly share. It is our humanity that binds us together, even when we are killing one another on the battlefield, or at the stake reserved for "heretics."

And THAT is my story.

Now, what's yours? You trying to become the next Moses, David Koresh, Jim Jones or Marshall Applewhite?

 

[Evangelicalhumanist]

What "appears" to be going on to me is,
I see a world where every living things KILLS another living thing, every second of every day..
just to stay "alive". And some of us want to know WHY IS THAT SO.

And if you cannot SEE that too, and despise it, then you are the most pitiable of human beings.

Ah, but you see, as "pitiable" as you might think me, I do see it. I know WHY THAT IS SO.

But you see, you're not going to like it. It is so because that is how life evolved on this planet. It is so most definitively because the life that exists on this planet -- and the rules by which it all interacts -- was not "created" by any sort of good or wise deity. That, I'm afraid, is just about the single most obvious thing in the universe to those of us who haven't succumbed to the god fantasy.

 

[Evangelicalhumanist]

Because it is a very reasonable expectation that I will be here tomorrow, just like I've been here every morning for the past 40 years.

I'm not terminally sick or anything. There's no reason for why I should die tonight.
There's the off chance that something nasty will happen, sure. But it's extremely slim.

The most reasonable expectation, based on evidence, is that I will survive going to sleep tonight.

Well said! Your last comment is actually quite poignant, since we all know that there will eventually come that time when you won't survive going to sleep tonight. But just the knowledge that we have done so so very often is comforting in itself, isn't it?

 

[Evangelicalhumanist]

Yes, and "blind" people can't tell the difference between "hubris" and CONFIDENCE.

Then I think it quite likely that at least one of us is blind...

 

[WhyIsThatSo]

You can't be serious!

Do I appear to you to be "undercover?" I've been as open and above-board about everything I've said, and who and what I am, as anybody on these forums. I've provided enough information about me that anybody who actually cared to could find out where I live with just a little bit of research. And when they find me, they'll find me to be exactly who I say I am.

And I am not mocking anyone -- like any other human, I've said things that were out of line, but trust me, the Mods on the forums have nailed me for it every time. (I'm grateful that they're not into shaming!)

I am a person genuinely interested in philosophy, and in my case, much more seriously interested in the our shared human nature. That includes (must include) what it is that makes some people believe what appears to others to be nonsense, and what makes other people (including me) to be skeptical about a lot beliefs religiously held by others.

Because in the end, our humanity is the only thing that we truly share. It is our humanity that binds us together, even when we are killing one another on the battlefield, or at the stake reserved for "heretics."

And THAT is my story.

Now, what's yours? You trying to become the next Moses, David Koresh, Jim Jones or Marshall Applewhite?

And if you only really "KNEW" what "humanity" is.....
oh, such eloquent talk, and saying NOTHING.....if you were serious in your so loved "devotion" to philosophy,
you would find out what it really is. The Aeon "Sophia" ( wisdom "personified" ) is a literal Being...

this is what ANCIENT Philosophers knew and understood......so I think that was before your time.

Oh, and here's one for you to think about too......the word "GOD" means "MAN"

 

[Evangelicalhumanist]

And if you only really "KNEW" what "humanity" is.....
oh, such eloquent talk, and saying NOTHING.....if you were serious in your so loved "devotion" to philosophy,
you would find out what it really is. The Aeon "Sophia" ( wisdom "personified" ) is a literal Being...

this is what ANCIENT Philosophers knew and understood......so I think that was before your time.

Oh, and here's one for you to think about too......the word "GOD" means "MAN"

Slow down, you're getting hysterical.

Maybe you can calm your angst by going and doing a little research that demonstrates the linguistic equivalence of "god" and "man."

 

[WhyIsThatSo]

Ah, but you see, as "pitiable" as you might think me, I do see it. I know WHY THAT IS SO.

But you see, you're not going to like it. It is so because that is how life evolved on this planet. It is so most definitively because the life that exists on this planet -- and the rules by which it all interacts -- was not "created" by any sort of good or wise deity. That, I'm afraid, is just about the single most obvious thing in the universe to those of us who haven't succumbed to the god fantasy.

"that is how life evolved on this planet "......does NOT answer "why"

Here, I'll show you....

WHY did life evolve on this planet ???
you will answer and I will ask you WHY again,
then we will play this game to infinity......so whats the point,
and to save myself some time ...
and your embarrassment,

I will tell you, it's not answerable
that's what its all about, the seeking, the going in and the going deeper into everything.
and on the way there, we find truth, and we find the only way to "God".
this is what TRUE philosophy is about

 

[Evangelicalhumanist]

"that is how life evolved on this planet "......does NOT answer "why"

Here, I'll show you....

WHY did life evolve on this planet ???
you will answer and I will ask you WHY again,
then we will play this game to infinity......so whats the point,
and to save myself some time ...
and your embarrassment,

I will tell you, it's not answerable
that's what its all about, the seeking, the going in and the going deeper into everything.
and on the way there, we find truth, and we find the only way to "God".
this is what TRUE philosophy is about

This is a very classic error in thinking. That word, "WHY," gets everybody in trouble sometimes, because of the failure to distinguish between "why" meaning "for what purpose" and "why" meaning "by what cause."

Purpose and cause are two very different concepts, but the word "why" conflates them, and leads to the kind of confused thinking that you demonstrate. "Why did Jack Ruby shoot Lee Harvey Oswald" is a very different sort of question from "why do boulders roll downhill."

And you fall into this trap. Life evolving on this planet is the same order of question as boulders rolling downhill -- it is in the nature of things. You make the mistake of trying to find a "purpose" for that, when there is none. And of course, if there's a "purpose," then that purpose has to belong to "someone." <---- and there it is! Must be God, since there was nobody else around.

 

[QuestioningMind]

You either have "faith" in this world , where everything, and I mean EVERYTHING comes from the DIRT,
or you have "faith" in the One who made the "dirt"...….your choice.

LOL Okay... I see what what you're TRYING to say. But of course no one I know of claims that everything comes from DIRT. Sounds as if you'd benefit from a class on elementary science

 

[WhyIsThatSo]

This is a very classic error in thinking. That word, "WHY," gets everybody in trouble sometimes, because of the failure to distinguish between "why" meaning "for what purpose" and "why" meaning "by what cause."

Purpose and cause are two very different concepts, but the word "why" conflates them, and leads to the kind of confused thinking that you demonstrate. "Why did Jack Ruby shoot Lee Harvey Oswald" is a very different sort of question from "why do boulders roll downhill."

And you fall into this trap. Life evolving on this planet is the same order of question as boulders rolling downhill -- it is in the nature of things. You make the mistake of trying to find a "purpose" for that, when there is none. And of course, if there's a "purpose," then that purpose has to belong to "someone." <---- and there it is! Must be God, since there was nobody else around.

WHY DID LIFE EVOLVE ON THIS PLANET ?

 

[WhyIsThatSo]

LOL Okay... I see what what you're TRYING to say. But of course no one I know of claims that everything comes from DIRT. Sounds as if you'd benefit from a class on elementary science

I would laugh, but this is beyond laughable . I'm fairly certain that in 100,000,000 years, you and everything you can set your sight on at this instant, will have rotted (decayed) into oblivion. (dirt)

 

[Evangelicalhumanist]

WHY DID LIFE EVOLVE ON THIS PLANET ?

You'll have to be clearer. You are still confusing "why" as purpose and "why" as cause.

 

[Bird123]

Before starting this topic, let me say this: I know that atheists may say the opposite is true. Although this thread is not to discuss its topic in relation to religion, let me only give this example: during the golden age of the Islamic empire, despite what many people may think, the majority of the citizens of that empire were non-Muslims!

The Christians, the Jews, and the Zoroastrians, were all allowed to keep their lands in their hands and keep their places of worship, and were not enforced convert to the new religion. The tax (Jizya) they were paying was marginal compared to the hefty taxes they were used to pay to the Roman and Pertain empires. Indeed that is why many of the citizens of those empires have welcomed and even supported the newcomers. And if it was not for this support, the small number of Muslim Bedouins and other Arabs with their ill equipped forces and poor strategies would not have been able to defeat the two great world powers of that time.

Now, let us return to our main topic, there is a real inherent ethical problem with atheists. They have no red lines coming from an outside source, such as religion. So they follow their own minds, While we all know that the human minds are limited. and humans are weak in nature, and their decisions may influenced by many factors. Even the opinions of the masses may be misguided by some evil powers.

What do you think?!

Choice is an important part of God's system. Following your own mind and making your own choices is what God wants. It is part of Learning.

Human minds are limited, but mostly by choice. Many live with such a narrow view instead of embracing the diversity of ideas and thoughts. God gave everyone a different view to guaranty mankind a larger view than any one person could have.

Are humans really weak? Many have been taught to blindly follow, accepting beliefs rather than think for themselves. Many have been taught this from a very young age which compounds the problem.

God wants us all to Think. God wants His children able to stand on their own two feet rather than be dependent and helpless. Instead of blindly following, people should be brave enough to venture into undiscovered country in order to Learn about God. When one sees God's actions and understands, one can learn more about God than what comes in any book.

Evil powers?? What evil powers do you speak of?? Sure there are children of God learning many lessons. Some choosing hard lessons for themselves. Is this an excuse to hate them or label them evil? Of course not. God does not make junk. Everyone can learn. Everyone can and will be fixed.

Has religion corrupted your view? Do you see others as different? Has religion taught you it's we and they? What would God think? God says it is US.

Has religion corrupted your view to see evil everywhere? I have found as I go through life that helpful people are the majority. Just look what happens when a crisis hits. People come from everywhere to help. Maybe religion wants to label people evil to reinforce the we against they idea that keeps people apart and hating.

We and they? When you ask is atheism a threat to humanity, it seems you are walking toward hate. In time, everyone will discover that the price for hate is always too high.

The diversity of God's children along with the diversity of ideas is important to learning. Perhaps, there is something you can learn from atheists. I suggest you make one your best friend and see what you can Discover. If you narrow your view to only what you want to see, how can you ever Discover what God has actually created out there? Do you choose to be blind??

That's what I see. It's very clear!!

 

[QuestioningMind]

I would laugh, but this is beyond laughable . I'm fairly certain that in 100,000,000 years, you and everything you can set your sight on at this instant, will have rotted (decayed) into oblivion. (dirt)

What an ignorant statement. Another clue that you'd benefit from a basic science class. Though it's true that the molecules of everything that I can currently see will have changed form within 100 million years, they will not have 'decayed into oblivion'.

 

[McBell]

You can't be serious!

A nice demonstration in support of Post #93

 

[TagliatelliMonster]

And your analogy of my analogy is false because it completely ignores the difference between "trust" you have in DIRT,
and Faith I have in the one that made the dirt (including you).

And now, you're just arguing a strawman.

OR will you deny that EVERYTHING you can see around
you at this very minute came form the DIRT ? ( including your body )

That would depend on what you mean by "dirt".

 

[TagliatelliMonster]

Please, is that all you've got ?

It's all I need.

also, if not tonight while you sleep, it will come anyway,

Eventually, yes.
Nothing lasts forever. So?

and you will be planning for the next day when it does most likely.

That completely depends. If my life is hanging by a thread due to fatal injury or terminal desease or something, I'ld be aware of my impending death and then I won't be planning a future anymore, except for certain things I might want to happen after I'm gone.

Or would you want to debate THIS TRUTH as well ?

So far, the only truth you seem to have spoken is that eventually all humans die.
The rest of your blabbing... not so much.

 

[TagliatelliMonster]

Is it really so difficult for you to understand that your "faith" (TRUST) is in DIRT ?

Why do you insist on telling people what they believe?
Seems quite arrogant. I'ld say that people are a better judge concerning what it is that they believe (or not) then you are...

If he tells you that he believes X, who are you to say that he actually believes Y instead?

 

[TagliatelliMonster]

So, what's it like having faith (trust) in DIRT ?
just curious...

I wouldn't know.