I'm am an Atheist, but do not choose to simply define myself by what I am not.
What I actually AM is a Humanitarian. I can and do read many an opinion, and philosophical writings, and traditional best practices. I can, and do take from any good idea, standard, etc...that is good. That includes religious books, like the Bible. Much within many books is laudable, and much of it is horrid, just like any other possable philosophy, beliefs and practices.
Good ideas, and actions can be found within any culture. Religious people, although they promote the idea as such, are not the only people with mercifully compasionate hearts, that value family, love life on our wonderful planet we call home, nor are they the only people who hold Good will towards their fellow Earthlings.
Atheists continue to survive and thrive, dispite being THE most maligned, and persecuted minority group in all of history, and the world to date. All because they do not fall in line according to the dictates, and dogmas of the world's religions, traditions and beliefs.
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Comments: 50
I'm also troubled by many Americans turning a blind eye to genocide in places like Rwanda and Darfur. I served in the First Gulf War and witnessed Kurds trying to flee into Turkey because of previous genocide. I can't understand why some people aren't willing to fight for freedom, just because the people don't live next door to us or look like us.
I don't believe a true humanitarian would oppose what we're doing in Iraq and Afghanistan.
As for the "turning a blind eye" to genocide in Rwanda and Darfur, I know from person experience that this was not the case. The office where I worked was there actively engaged in a process designed to put an end to it.
That doesn't contradict anything. The fact that the origin of life defied all the laws of nature is why so people believe in God.
Your linked article has so many logical fallacies that it is difficult to know how or where to begin. Basically it is a "god of the gaps" argument....we can't explain how we got here...so we must have been god's creation.
"The fact that the origin of life defied all the laws of nature is why so people believe in God."
Do we KNOW all of the "laws of nature".
Of course its a theory. I suppose you believe that life happened one time by accident and never happened again. Is that it?
Then again, maybe you're proof that people did come from carbon like you and others believe.
As John s pointed out...the "First Cause Theory" or Etiological Argument is violated when the first cause for god is addressed.
1. Everything that exists has a cause.
2. The universe exists.
3. The universe must have a cause for its existence.
4. The cause of the universe is God.
Okay...
Everything that exists has a cause.
God exists.
God must have a cause for his existence.
The cause of god is..........
Another problem with the first cause argument is the assumption that, if there is a first cause...that first cause must be god.
Another problem...the universe may have always been here...in one form or another.
Also...time is an aspect of the universe. There was no time before the universe. Without time...the concept of "cause" is meaningless.
"Of course its a theory."
No...it's not a theory it's a postulation. You have assumed or asserted the truth...but you have no verifiable evidence upon which to offer or build a theory.
"I suppose you believe that life happened one time by accident and never happened again. Is that it?"
I don't know how we got here...I don't just fill in the blanks for the sake of having an answer.
Are you purposely trying to act like an idiot? A theory is stating a possible explanation of certain facts with rational thought.
Fact: Everything that exists has a cause.
Fact: The universe exists.
Fact: The universe must have a cause for its existence.
Theory: The cause of the universe is God.
Which facts do you deny?
Everything that exists has a cause.
This isn't a fact but it is key in the contradiction of the first cause argument. If everything that exists has a cause...then IF a god exists...god must have a cause (other than himself). What would this be?
The universe exists.
Yes it does.
The universe must have a cause for its existence.
Then so must god. This is the circular nature of the argument you are offering. So if god exists...but god has no cause...then the universe (which we know exists) need not have a cause.
However...modern physics has shown that some things are uncaused. A particle produced by a vacuum fluctuation has no cause.
Even if your argument did succeed in proving the existence of a first cause....you would then be faced with the addition task of showing that the (first) cause was god.
Now...if your argument is changed to say, "everything has a cause except God", then the argument that everything has a cause except the Universe is equally valid and there is no need for a god...a creator. If god doesn't need a cause because he/it is infinite, it is arguable that the natural universe has existed forever...is infinite (in some form) and therefore doesn't need a cause.
“The theist claims that God is the answer. But, then, why is there God rather than nothing?” Prof. Victor J. Stenger
The theory is that contingent beings are insufficient to account for the existence of other contingent beings. Therefore there must exist a necessary being whose non-existence is an impossibility, and from which the existence of all contingent beings is derived.
In other words, you have embraced a different argument....one which is dependent on the pre-existence of a causal agent (you think is god)....one which incorporates infinite causal regress....what is the causal agent for the existence of the causal agent and so on. This is an interesting concept because it contains propositions that are neither true in every possible case nor false in every possible case....thus the contradiction to the first cause argument.
As a humanitarian, you are already accepted by God, if He exists. As a human being who loves other human beings, our sisters and brothers of any nation, how could God not accept you? If all people would follow the last command given by a man of God, namely, love one another, this earth would be a happy place.
I have greater respect for you then worshippers of God because you love human beings without looking for a reward; that is, eternal life. Many people, if they had eternal life, a foolish belief, would not know what to do with anyway.
I know that belief in a god of creation, of the universe, the earth, or just humans, went first. It imploded slowly as my scientific education and knowledge advanced, and my critical thinking skills were honed, until its last vestiges simply weren't there one day.
I tried for a time to maintain a belief in a god of spirit who breathed some sort of super sentience into a species of great ape, and guided us thereafter... but the whole afterlife in an obviously separate universe kept getting in the way, because it required the god of the physical universe to create it. Eventually, I must have simply given up, and that belief too, was just 'gone' one day. I realized it wasn't there, without ever having been cognizant of its leaving.
I tried, having realized I had no belief remaining, to be an agnostic. There was some comfort in the possibility I was wrong... but very little logical support (well, to be truthful... none) for the idea. so I gave that up more consciously. Now, I am an Atheist in the most direct and simple way... I believe in no gods, and, having establish that to my own satisfaction, I'd appreciate it if people who do would quit trying to create a world run by their beliefs in THEIR particular vision of gods, spirits, sprites, devils or GOD.
Thank you... and Gawd Bless (a tip 'o th' crumpled ol' pate cover to Red Skelton)
I'm not speaking for Chuck...but I don't hold this "misconception". I lack a belief in any god, gods, supreme being, spirit, higher spirit, all knowing entity, creator, elf, ghost, angel, hobbit, fairy....not even things that go 'bump' in the night.
"There is a scientifically supportable position for thoughtful or hopeful agnosticism... "
What would that scientifically supportable position be?
Atheism is just as dogmatic as any religion...>>>
An Atheist CAN BE dogmatic, but that depends a lot on that particular Atheists personality, Joe. I'm for each and every person stating, or making their very best case. Makes for great discussion, but we've all, at some point gotta begin to see our similarities, as well as our differences. Best practices from all possable sources. A good idea is a good idea, when it comes to how we treat each other.
I'm for kindness, mercifulness, self-control, a disciplined mind, great education, that encourages more great education. Anyone can choose to do Good, with a Good support system.
For many that is the case, but that's more along the lines of "ANTI-THEISM", and most A-THEISTS are NOT ANTI-THEIST. Most Atheists agree with a lot of the philosophies that many of the religous books espouse, like "Do unto others as you would have others, likewise, do unto yourselves", and "Tend your own gardens" which is just good manners, and not being nosey, and gossipy, etc...and lots more. Religous people need to know that Atheists and Agnostics are just like them, in a lot more ways than they may think, in their actions, reactions, stregnths, and weaknesses, hopes and dreams, likes and dislikes.
Lots of common ground to work with.
Your a very sweet, caring person, Lee, and I appreciate your Goodness. Thank you for the complimnent.
LOL! I'm not really picking on you. I'm just fascinated by your thought line. You are incredibly brave to do a post stating your position and beliefs about an afterlife, knowing that you would be bombarded with negative replies.