What do Atheists Want?

[mikkel_the_dane]

When Atheist join religious forums they want attention.

Yes! That is the only reason.

 

[Jacob Samuelson]

I believe differently.

Of course you do. This was an answer to another post that is questioning the application of God's existence to Bigfoot's existence. Bigfoot's application would be that there would be another newly discovered animal in the animal kingdom and although interesting doesn't do much for anyone. God's application would be that everyone exists for a reason and has a purpose and will be given a judgement of afterlife. Both clearly not the same thing, but is used by an Atheist to pigeon hole Gods importance into a mythical creature which is not useful to what I am talking about.

 

[Altfish]

But even that is not enough, besides how come it is a Humanist and not a humanist.

Worried about capitals now ... no worries you can have a small 'h' if that makes it better.

What do you consider the world to be?

I believe that, in the absence of an afterlife and any discernible purpose to the universe, human beings can act to give their own lives meaning by seeking happiness in this life and helping others to do the same.

How do you actually do morality/ethics?

I make my ethical decisions based on reason, empathy, and a concern for human beings and other sentient animals. I hasten to say, I don't always get it right.

How do you view science and knowledge?

I trust to the scientific method when it comes to understanding how the universe works and rejects the idea of the supernatural

There are problem more positive positions?

No, just don't like being negative about things.

 

[mikkel_the_dane]

Of course you do. This was an answer to another post that is questioning the application of God's existence to Bigfoot's existence. Bigfoot's application would be that there would be another newly discovered animal in the animal kingdom and although interesting doesn't do much for anyone. God's application would be that everyone exists for a reason and has a purpose and will be given a judgement of afterlife. Both clearly not the same thing, but is used by an Atheist to pigeon hole Gods importance into a mythical creature which is not useful to what I am talking about.

No, you believe as true that there is a God.
Some believe as true that there is no God.
I don't know one way or the other, so I believe differently.

 

[Altfish]

Yes! That is the only reason.

Oh good grief and I thought you read and scrutinised all my posts

 

[Mock Turtle]

The idea I was mentioning is that to have a definite answer to which of the God(s) are the correct one is what Atheist would love to obtain. I don't believe Atheist choose to not believe in God simply because he doesn't exist. This would be the same as a Theist choosing to Believe in God because he does exist, which has no grounds for any evidential information as to why humans do what they do. So to have a conclusion to whether God exist or not must contain evidence of his existence and therefore having a physical conversation with Him would, I imagine, be very wanted by an Atheists and perhaps many theists as well. Humans just want to know what on Earth are we doing here. Theist are not satisfied with the simplicity of an Atheists answer. Atheist are not satisfied with the complexity of a Theist's answer. It just so happens that humans are complex beings and having a conclusive reasoning to their actions on a evolutionary scale in my opinion is less possible than to conclude their behaviors on a creationary scale. Yet I also believe that the two philosophies should both reach the same conclusion eventually in the end.

For myself and perhaps speaking for many atheists, I am happy (so to speak) with what I see and understand concerning existence. Religious claims are add-ons in my reality, and as to such I have to take them seriously but choose not to believe any of them. Hence, it doesn't bother me whatever any say or predict concerning any particular God or gods, as to properties.

I basically have more 'faith' in what we know concerning human evolution, and with the kinds of questions we will normally want to ask. If I decide that answers might not be forthcoming - which is one belief I do have - then I will just have to be satisfied with that, and I mostly am satisfied - that I just can't have all the answers that I would like to have.

 

[Mock Turtle]

When Atheist join religious forums they want attention.

 

[Jacob Samuelson]

It is known that X exists.
It is know that X doesn't exist.
It is unknown whether X exists or not

I don't think anyone knows anything and so the third philosophy is the only one that makes most sense. However, when you are left with the only sensible philosophy as a complex human being, you must determine based on personal experiment whether X has any significance or value to even make the conclusion in the other two philosophy. In other words, the Value of X to a true Theist is Infinity. Where the value of X to a true Atheist is 0. Both values contradict each other however are both logically inconclusive answers. They are theoretical and present no intrinsic value what ever way you look at it. Therefore, as a true mathematician you are left with a desire, rather than a equation. Do you want an infinity value or a Zero Value? Either way you are given a variable with infinite possible outcomes being equally as true as the other. 0 is more understandable than infinity. Yet infinity is all inclusive. Which value do you place for X?

 

[The Hammer]

Agnostic have made up their minds that nobody know; it is the atheist who usually says; show me evidence and I'll change my mind.

"I want to believe"
-X Files

 

[mikkel_the_dane]

I don't think anyone knows anything and so the third philosophy is the only one that makes most sense. However, when you are left with the only sensible philosophy as a complex human being, you must determine based on personal experiment whether X has any significance or value to even make the conclusion in the other two philosophy. In other words, the Value of X to a true Theist is Infinity. Where the value of X to a true Atheist is 0. Both values contradict each other however are both logically inconclusive answers. They are theoretical and present no intrinsic value what ever way you look at it. Therefore, as a true mathematician you are left with a desire, rather than a equation. Do you want an infinity value or a Zero Value? Either way you are given a variable with infinite possible outcomes being equally as true as the other. 0 is more understandable than infinity. Yet infinity is all inclusive. Which value do you place for X?

Well, simple. I am not a true Atheist. I am just an atheist. So it has no relevance to me. I reject your boxing it in to being a dichotomy.

 

[Jacob Samuelson]

But a promise of a good afterlife as we see in some religions, have little meaning for me unless demonstrated to be true. I find no pleasure or benefits in believing it to be true, if it is not. Likewise, I find no fear or worry in thinking I will be punished for not following certain rules

So how do you deal with a death of a loved one. Is there no pleasure in believing that you will see them again?

 

[Jacob Samuelson]

Well, simple. I am not a true Atheist. I am just an atheist. So it has no relevance to me. I reject your boxing it in to being a dichotomy.

I hope you see that I am not boxing anything, rather using your philosophical diagram to make sense of what you are meaning. Whether you define Atheism as simple or complex, you are a complex being trying to understand a variable. We all do this and whether it is easier to reject a value or answer the question is up to us in the end. Our values determine how we interact with the world. A belief in a God that is all good and actively preserves our Earth for eons is valuable to Theists. If this is not valuable to Atheists, what is?

 

[mikkel_the_dane]

I hope you see that I am not boxing anything, rather using your philosophical diagram to make sense of what you are meaning. Whether you define Atheism as simple or complex, you are a complex being trying to understand a variable. We all do this and whether it is easier to reject a value or answer the question is up to us in the end. Our values determine how we interact with the world. A belief in a God that is all good and actively preserves our Earth for eons is valuable to Theists. If this is not valuable to Atheists, what is?

Yes, but I don't use your cognitive model. I use another one. As for what is value to atheists as atheists and not Atheists, nothing is valuable to atheists, because base atheism has no value as you use value.
You are in effect asking an Atheists, but we are not that. We are atheists and thus we don't think like you because we thinking differently. Your think only applies to Atheists and not atheists. And yes, you are making a sort of straw man out what an atheist is.

 

[RestlessSoul]

Would you care to give your definition of atheism. I'm interested to know.

Not without giving some consideration to the semantic distinction between disbelief and absence of belief.

 

[Altfish]

Not without giving some consideration to the semantic distinction between disbelief and absence of belief.

If I understand it correctly (and I'm far from sure that I do) I would describe myself as a disbeliever.

 

[RestlessSoul]

If I understand it correctly (and I'm far from sure that I do) I would describe myself as a disbeliever.

Okay. So I interpret that to mean that there is some agency in your decision, or inclination, not to believe. In other words, your disbelief is not simply passive. Is that fair?

 

[Ludi]

The truth would be that the 'self' connects 'words' together, that are completely 'unaware' of their own 'meaning' or 'existence' relative to any 'thought' using words. With absolute truth always remaining perfectly true. With both Adam and Eve, just like all of us, beginning LIFE in a state of absolute truth, before 'eating' or going INTO the tree of 'knowledge' of good and bad. With all arguments against the perfection of God's creation, only being possible because of the perfection of God's creation, our ability to think.

 

[Revoltingest]

It isn't hard to believe because Theist are here for very similar reasons, knowing they won't get people to accept their views but are interested to see how different people are.

That's one of my reasons too.

Of course, it doesn't explain why you are Atheistic.

I've often given my reasons for being an atheist, ie,
that believing in unevidenced sky fairies is irrational.

You don't just live this life because it is interesting.

I never claimed that was my sole reason.
Do you think it is?

You choose to not believe something because it fulfills a want. I just want to know what that is specifically.

It was never a choice.
I was born not believing in sky fairies or any religion.
And upon discovering that others did, I knew it was
pretty loopy. I had no choice in the matter.

 

[Altfish]

Okay. So I interpret that to mean that there is some agency in your decision, or inclination, not to believe. In other words, your disbelief is not simply passive. Is that fair?

No.
I believe The Fall are the best band that has ever been.
I used to believe in God until I was about 14/15 then started to have doubts.
Not sure what 'passive' disbelief is? I don't fight over it?

 

[Nimos]

Atheist are created by God. Atheists exist and live on a green planet. Atheists will be given judgment by God after life. That is the application for your's and everyone's existence.

Isn't that the application of what believers believe they get from God? Because atheists do not believe in any of that or is what you mean is that atheists are simply not enlighten/smart enough to know the truth that the believers does. And in this case I assume Christians, because I guess you would think the same about the Hindus, Buddhists etc. right?

What is your opinion on Hindus and their application of God? That atheists don't see evidence for God is one thing, but can only imagine that its even worse for the Hindus, because they acknowledge there is something, but is not even close to getting it "right" according to your believes. Why do you think they got it so wrong?