Lunalle wrote:
Kurieuo wrote:If you're an Atheist reading this and have been offended, then please, break out of your mould and ponder questions regarding the nature of reality. Put something on the table and stop criticising everyone else.
Again, atheism does not make any claims, as it is merely a label for a person who does not believe in god(s). Please, quit ignorantly bashing atheists, because you do not understand the term. If you would like to talk to someone about the nature of reality, who does not happen to believe in god, I'm willing to talk with you. Is there anything else I must not believe in to meet your qualifications?
Hi Lunalle,
My original post was really one long argument -- not a bunch of smaller arguments. To split them apart and respond to them in pieces completely misses my point. I'm not arguing for someone rising from the dead. To respond to what you perceive as being soundbite arguments, means you're not dealing with the fuller intention of my original post. Rather, I'm criticising a lack of substance to Atheists when it comes to discussing what ultimately underpins reality. You know, metaphysical questions -- those questions about reality beyond physics and materialism.
The purpose of those questions posed in my original post was not to seek a response, but rather their purpose was in passing to help highlight an intellectual issue that I have with Atheists. In any case, your taking those questions at face value to produce a response, well... your responses just support my whole original post that Atheists love to duck questions on the nature of reality rather than put forward some options. Ironically, as Jac humorously pointed out, you responded much the same as I predicted. This lends support to maybe the intellectual issue I have being bored with Atheists when discussing such matters is perhaps not my own issue at all.
Isn't it odd that for someone who doesn't understand Atheists, or "Atheism", that I predicted responses to such questions quite well? This isn't based on me just knowing Atheism means literally means "without belief in God". Yet, I find it telling that in your own posts I've read on this board, that you actually have a set of beliefs that tend to go with your own "Atheism" however basic you wish to define it. However, I don't want to discuss definitions. Define Atheism on Flew's terms if you like it really doesn't matter. That isn't the original topic under discussion here.
You identify as an Atheist, right? Are you able to tell me something about the nature of reality? It doesn't have to be too complicated. Maybe let's re-focus upon my first question and go from there. That is, what caused the universe? Don't worry, I'm not going to request you lay out the evidence and prove your assertions. I'm mainly interested in what you think
as an Atheist.
Let's frame the question even better... do you believe "Intelligence" existed prior to our universe, or perhaps some other type of universe devoid of intelligence? You don't have to answer if you feel it is unfair of me to probe you about such metaphysics, given a cause isn't well supported by physical sciences (how can it be when such appears wrapped up in our universe). But, refusing to budge and even think a little on possibilities, well... this just shows why I find such discussions boring with Atheists.
Sorry, I don't mean that to be offensive, and apologise if you are offended, but well... the lack of wanting on the Atheist's part to want to deal with the underpinnings of reality is for me comparable to looking at a white-washed wall all day. Only, a white wall I don't think would criticise and get all offended, flustered and annoyed with me when I tell it my own thoughts about what I believe makes the most sense of reality as I know it. Beliefs that I have come to after much deliberation, which it seems an Atheist suddenly has a whole lot to say about once stated. Kind of like... well, a lot of what you've had to say in some of your own posts on this message board. Just look at the lengths of your posts... for someone like yourself, being an Atheist who doesn't claim much if anything, you sure do appear to have a lot to say on such matters in order to try set people's beliefs about reality right!
Please don't take me wrong. I am stirring you -- but only because I'd like to try and encourage you to discuss the nature of reality. I don't much like your original responses. So tell me... intelligence first, or unintelligent inanimate matter, or perhaps even something else? Why or why not? Second to that, do you think the laws of our universe could be other than what they are? There are opinions of Atheists on both sides (the somewhat more interesting Atheists I suppose
) to that second question. I'm interested in your response as an Atheist though.