I Don't Understand Atheism

[SweetMonkeyLove]

Atheism, defined most narrowly, is the position that there are no deities.[1] More broadly defined, it is the rejection of belief in the existence of any deities, with or without an assertion that no deities exist.[clarification needed (complicated jargon)][2] The broadest definition classifies atheism as the absence of belief that any deities exist. -wiki .

Hey Sweet Monkey, wiki has a mind all of its own, cut adrift from the functioning world where language operates. Atheism indeed involves the lack of belief in any deity/deities. But atheism does not stay rooted here; atheism moves out from this position of a lack of belief and into the position of a belief that no deity/deities exist. That is what atheism is.

It is 'the absence of belief that any dietys exist.

If you simply hold to a "lack of" belief in any deity/deities then you are an agnostic. If you do not stop still at this lack of belief, and actually believe that no deity/deities exist, then you are an atheist.

Heya DannyM If I were an agnostic I would beleive in God I would simply feel I am incapable of understanding it so why bother. My roomate borrowed my dictionary so I am stuck with only internet versions and oxford doesn't give away definitions fore free. LOL I do see where you are going however. For me to say absolutely that there is no creator would be assuming much. As you and I have discussed before I see no reason to believe in a creator as I see no evidence for it. That is what I came here for but I have yet to find evidence, only the limit of human knowledge with God filling the blank places. To me they are still just blank places. I would love to be wrong. It's not like I wouldn't want to live forever happily. I just don't see it being that way so I would hate to sit on my rear through this life and have nothing to show for this life and nothing in the next. Not to say all Christians do this but they are out there, completely transfixed on an afterlife and missing this one.

[SweetMonkeyLove]

FL I am looking for your post now but between raising my new baby and reading through and responding to all the posts and keeping a happy wife I am running out of day. LOL give ma a bit. I am not ignoring you.

[Gman]

I don't know if atheism is "hatred" towards God, but it is foolishness..

Psalm 14:1

"The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good."

I don't recall any abominable works. I do not consider myself a fool. I do not feel I am corrupt. I do a lot of service to my community as all good people should.

Oh.. Yes I'm mistaken. Not you. You are all good. The best of the best. Forgive me oh holy one...

[DannyM]

I don't know if atheism is "hatred" towards God, but it is foolishness..

Psalm 14:1

"The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good."

I don't recall any abominable works. I do not consider myself a fool. I do not feel I am corrupt. I do a lot of service to my community as all good people should.

SML, if God exists then you are a fool. There is nothing wrong in admitting to foolishness- heck, I've been a fool most of my life

[Gman]

Read my post in context and the point is obvious.

Yes it is obvious that you don't have a point.. Yes I agree with that... So?

[SweetMonkeyLove]

Your intention seems to be to offend me rather than have a discussion. That is my point.

[SweetMonkeyLove]

LOL DannyM It should come as no surprise that myself, being human have made foolish decisions in life.

[SweetMonkeyLove]

Quote GMAN
Oh.. Yes I'm mistaken. Not you. You are all good. The best of the best. Forgive me oh holy one...
Quote GMAN

You twist words. I do not claim to be best and in no way am I holy. Please put your words in someone elses mouth if you cannot hold a discussion without misrepresenting what I have to say or disengage from the conversation. You accomplish nothing.

[Gman]

Your intention seems to be to offend me rather than have a discussion. That is my point.

How did I offend you? I apologized... I said you are all good, no abominable works. Sounds like a compliment to me..

I rarely give out compliments.

[Gman]

You twist words. I do not claim to be best and in no way am I holy. Please put your words in someone elses mouth if you cannot hold a discussion without misrepresenting what I have to say or disengage from the conversation. You accomplish nothing.

What?? Didn't you state the following?

"I don't recall any abominable works. I do not consider myself a fool. I do not feel I am corrupt.

You are not corrupt, no abominable works?? Then you are good....

What's the problem here?

[DannyM]

Heya DannyM If I were an agnostic I would beleive in God I would simply feel I am incapable of understanding it so why bother. My roomate borrowed my dictionary so I am stuck with only internet versions and oxford doesn't give away definitions fore free. LOL I do see where you are going however. For me to say absolutely that there is no creator would be assuming much. As you and I have discussed before I see no reason to believe in a creator as I see no evidence for it. That is what I came here for but I have yet to find evidence, only the limit of human knowledge with God filling the blank places. To me they are still just blank places. I would love to be wrong. It's not like I wouldn't want to live forever happily. I just don't see it being that way so I would hate to sit on my rear through this life and have nothing to show for this life and nothing in the next. Not to say all Christians do this but they are out there, completely transfixed on an afterlife and missing this one.

Hey Sweet Monkey, then tell me what belief you hold to- do you believe there is no deity/deities? Or do you say that currently you don't have the knowledge to make a positive statement either way?

But do you really think Christians sit on their rear and have nothing to show from this life? The Christian is fulfilled as much as the atheist; the Christian has a family, has a career, has holidays with his beloved family, goes down the pub with his mates for the football, goes to the beech and watches his beautiful children play in the sea, takes his beautiful wife out to dinner, sits across the table from her, looking into her eyes, content that he is blessed in this life... You seem to think that we're all sitting in a darkened room in a state of apocalyptic, hyperbolic anxiety. Trust me, friend, you're getting no greater pleasure out of life than the Christian.

You say you would love to be wrong, so SEARCH and seek out all the evidence that has thus far passed you by. It's all there.

[SweetMonkeyLove]

QUOTE I knew immediately that what motivated me as an atheist was hatred towards God.

FL

Again, an atheist cannot hate God. If they do they are struggling with the concept of God and calling themselves an athiest. Many atheists hate the concept of God or the doctrines of religion, or religous people themselves, but to hate what you do not believe in could be defined as insane.

Gman LOLOL If that was compliments I will try to stay on your good side.

[Gman]

Gman LOLOL If that was compliments I will try to stay on your good side.

No one has ever called me holy...

[SweetMonkeyLove]

Hey Sweet Monkey, then tell me what belief you hold to- do you believe there is no deity/deities? Or do you say that currently you don't have the knowledge to make a positive statement either way?

DannyM
I believe there could be forces working that we do not understand. I do not believe it is sentient (or that it exists) or it would come down here and give us the what for in no uncertain terms because we are making quite the mess of things. So if you wish to extrapolate from that that I am agnostic feel free. I do not believe that there is a person or deity sitting around watching us kill each other and expecting us to live solely for Him. I do not believe in a heaven or a hell. I consider myself an atheist. I do not mean to say that the lives of Christians are empty I grew up a christian. I have met some absolutley amazing people through the church. I mean to say that as a society we tend to worry less about our worlds problems because a lot of us think this space is temporary and therefore needs no care or attention. This world view is a threat to us all. IMO

Gman LOL

[Gman]

Gman LOL

Ok, so there is some corruption in you?