Venting

[EricT]

I would totally "dismiss the parish" for those.

 

[skeptik]

The average atheist doesn't go to "atheist meetings."

 

[EricT]

You'd be suprised... Atleast, thats just based on personal experiences. Other peoples experiences may differ. If they do differ, please consult a doctor, since you're obviously not as awesome as me if you're not me, and Cialis may be for you.

 

[Thanatopsis123]

Of all the atheists I know, not a single one has gone to any meeting. Most people don't even know they're atheist.

 

[skeptik]

I've never even fucking heard of an "atheist meeting." No atheist I've ever known has ever informed me of such a gathering.

I'm pretty fucking sure that the average atheist, just like the average theist, doesn't really give a fuck.

Edit: Three fucks in the above sentece. Nice.

Double Edit: Four.

 

[Reign in Acai]

There's plenty of Atheist meetings going down here in El Gay. There's a stretch of highway 5 miles from my ghetto that is sponsored by "Atheists of America" or some stupid shit like that.

The meetings go somewhat like this.

Reverend Non: ...
Followers: ...

Imen.

 

[EricT]

Maybe its a weird thing out here.. Theres a shitload in Utah, suprisingly, who attend these meetings, discuss atheism and how to try and bust the mormons balls.

Atleast thats what I gathered happens...

Different regions, different shit.

Edit: Ahh, I got beat. Probably a western US thing, cause everything is always fucked up in the west.

 

[skeptik]

Maybe it's just a reactionary uprising against the heavily Mormon region. In your case, anyway. California has always been renowned as a liberal stronghold, so active atheist activity there really isn't anything to kick up a fuss about.

 

[Furious B]

How is the concept that an omniscient being created all that you see before you any further far fetched that the concept of being evolved from a one cell organism that had a billion year orgy in a vat of hydrogen?

maybe that there is little to no evidence outside of our human perception to believe that that is what happened has something to do with it?

honestly, look objectively at the world, our solar system and the entire universe around you and tell me why god thinks WE are so fucking special that, not only are we the only planet worthy of life, but moreover, we are the only species to even comprehend this fucker's existence.

furthermore, the concept of "being evolved from a one cell organism that had a billion year orgy in a vat of hydrogen" is something that is merely a puzzle. some of the pieces are missing, but a picture is certainly coming together. where are the pieces for god? several archaic texts written by MAN from a time, a couple THOUSAND YEARS AGO, when just about every type of science was in it's infancy?

basically, it seems to me that god grew out of man's own narcissim. we as a species NEED a reason to be here. so we can at least life to ourselves that we have a bigger purpose.

The ego of man has led people astray by believing that we have all the answers, when in fact, we don't know our ass from Adam.

please. spare me the bullshit.

we know a LOT and to say that we don't is just a cop-out to pussy foot on the edge of making a decision. the mere occurance of 6.5 BILLION people is evidence that the human race is learning. and to say that we haven't learned anything about "god" is horseshit.

 

[Furious B]

One of the fundamental principles of science is that nothing can really be proven as fact, actually, so anybody that suggests that the big bang or evolution is an incontrovertible fact is not supporting science. The fact that a wealth of evidence points to such things and there is nothing suggesting that there is some magical creator is what has people favoring science and finding comments such as those posted in this thread rather irksome.

okay, so this pretty much sums up my last post in a much more cordial manner. hahaha lolz.

 

[Reign in Acai]

basically, it seems to me that god grew out of man's own narcissim. we as a species NEED a reason to be here. so we can at least life to ourselves that we have a bigger purpose.

And if this is indeed the case and it's all bullshit, what harm is done? If this is what gets me through the day?

Blow me.

 

[Necromunchkin]

So let me be clear... sheep who blindly follow the notions of a god/man/martyr = pathetic sheep. People who blindly throw themselves into the notion of non-divinity and apparently attend "meetings" = pathetic sheep. Metal heads who apparently are vastly superior in their neither Christian nor Atheist view that are somehow completely unstated or even suggested = superior?


This is comedy gold.

 

[Nico]

maybe that there is little to no evidence outside of our human perception to believe that that is what happened has something to do with it?

honestly, look objectively at the world, our solar system and the entire universe around you and tell me why god thinks WE are so fucking special that, not only are we the only planet worthy of life, but moreover, we are the only species to even comprehend this fucker's existence.

Where did Jerry even imply that this was the case? Over and over again I see the argument that is merely against the bible or the practice of Christianity, but almost no argument stands against even the possibility of the existence of God in a broader spectrum.

I won't dare to dispute the claims of science, as I'm not a scientist, but the "human perception" that is said to be the sole creator of God is also the same human perception that has allowed us to perceive the sciences that dispute the notion of God. Man is always going to be fallible thanks to our limited capacity to perceive. Our 5 senses are great, but if even the scientific instruments we create to measure our reality are limited by our sensory understanding of reality, then there's always going to be a bias.

 

[Nico]

I'm perfectly comfortable with being fallible, it is a part of human existence! If I were looking for infallibility I certainly wouldn't call myself an atheist.

Man's devices are as fallible as the minds that created them.

Biased towards...reality? What is reality except for that which we are able to perceive with our senses? We use the independent verifiability of our senses every single day to confirm what things are "real" and what aren't, and I think that it is special pleading to leave a gap in reality for a very un-real god.

Biased towards our subjective interpretation of reality. What reality is and isn't is another issue entirely. I assure you, the "logic" and "reason" both you and I use to come to our respective conclusions are similarly human notions that we use to relieve ourselves of the possibility of being wrong. But think of the limitless possibilities of the universe for a moment, the impossible potential that exists far beyond our world and our mind. Do you agree that our senses have most likely evolved as a reaction to a survivalistic instinct? I don't believe that what we see, hear, feel, taste or smell is the be-all and end-all of our world, but simply the means with which we have survived this far.

 

[Furious B]

And if this is indeed the case and it's all bullshit, what harm is done? If this is what gets me through the day?

a few things:

1) the way you live your life can depend on your notion of "god" and the personality of said deity.

for instance, a deist may actually have a life that is very similar to an atheist which may include, but is not limited to sex, drugs, and rock n' roll.

however, an uber christian or muslim is going to ABSTAIN from all the great things that life has to offer (such as sex, good music, alcohol, etc.) in order to follow "god's" plan which is fine by me because it's a personal thing no matter how silly i believe it is.

however,

2) the bigger choices that people make in their life (such as who they elect into public office) is PROFOUNDLY influenced by their belief in the metaphysical or god or the tao; whatever you want to call it.

again, usually not a big deal for someone who is relatively rational. but then you have people who take every word of the bible to heart and decide that certain measures of science are immoral (such as embryonic research) and further RETARD the advancement of the human race.

or you have a (large) set of people who want to blow themselves up because of their irrational belief in satisfying the bloodlust of a bitter and spiteful god. this doesn't even touch the horrible shit that they do to their own women because of god! this all comes down to a BELIEF in a deity.

no harm done? i don't think so.

Blow me.

i don't think my girlfriend would appreciate that.

 

[Furious B]

Where did Jerry even imply that this was the case? Over and over again I see the argument that is merely against the bible or the practice of Christianity, but almost no argument stands against even the possibility of the existence of God in a broader spectrum.

if you believe in ANY version of god, what i stated is INHERENT in that believe. it has to be as there are no other forms of life around us (and those that are have no idea it even exists). i apply that same argument to just about any form of theism.

why as a species are we so special? why not evidence of any life anywhere NEAR us as a planet/solar system? does it really seem probable that god would be so selective, if he in fact is the creator?

I won't dare to dispute the claims of science, as I'm not a scientist, but the "human perception" that is said to be the sole creator of God is also the same human perception that has allowed us to perceive the sciences that dispute the notion of God.

exactly because anything science says you can replicate. if you have a qualm with a theory, you can test it out if you wish and find out if it's actually the real deal or if it's a bunch of bullshit. isn't that awesome?

now where is the corollary for god? how can HE be testable?

 

[Nico]

What?

 

[Furious B]

Man's devices are as fallible as the minds that created them.

that's true. but we can use those devices (well hewn over many years, i might add) and begin to deduce what is real and what is not.

Biased towards our subjective interpretation of reality. What reality is and isn't is another issue entirely. I assure you, the "logic" and "reason" both you and I use to come to our respective conclusions are similarly human notions that we use to relieve ourselves of the possibility of being wrong.

okay, but what does this have to do with an irrational belief in god? to me, it sounds like an excuse to not use your god given logic to try to figure out what life is all about.

which, btw, a belief based in logic is much more PROBABLE than a belief in god, which has little evidence compared to an (admittedly fallible) "objective" view of the world.

But think of the limitless possibilities of the universe for a moment, the impossible potential that exists far beyond our world and our mind. Do you agree that our senses have most likely evolved as a reaction to a survivalistic instinct?

of course! we developed our senses to SEE the world around us so we don't become consumed by it (you know, like a hurricane destroying us or getting eaten by a woolly mammoth). and to have a belief in something far beyond our mind is dismiss any shred of evidence that we DO have and not put any pieces together.

can we take a guess where the belief in a deity came from? anyone? bueller?

I don't believe that what we see, hear, feel, taste or smell is the be-all and end-all of our world, but simply the means with which we have survived this far.

i'm sorry, but this is a cop-out.

 

[Furious B]

What?

do you not believe in english either?

 

[Nico]

if you believe in ANY version of god, what i stated is INHERENT in that believe. it has to be as there are no other forms of life around us (and those that are have no idea it even exists). i apply that same argument to just about any form of theism.

why as a species are we so special? why not evidence of any life anywhere NEAR us as a planet/solar system? does it really seem probable that god would be so selective, if he in fact is the creator?

Let me just make sure I understand you - to believe in God means to believe that we are alone in this universe both in our existence and our capacity to believe in Him?

exactly because anything science says you can replicate. if you have a qualm with a theory, you can test it out if you wish and find out if it's actually the real deal or if it's a bunch of bullshit. isn't that awesome?

now where is the corollary for god? how can HE be testable?

Tests result in data. That's really all there is to it. If a test you devised could observe the existence of God, it would simultaneously DISPROVE Him.