hey question for atheist/agnostics

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Sep 29, 2004
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I'm happy in life and when my mind begins to wonder, I try t odo something constructive instead of debating stupid things in my head.
 

Aberforth

Golden Member
Oct 12, 2006
1,707
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Generic attempt by undeveloped minds to grasp higher truths of nature....

I know I do believe 100%, not just blindly ;)
 

thepd7

Diamond Member
Jan 2, 2005
9,423
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Originally posted by: DangerAardvark
Originally posted by: villageidiot111
Do I wish there was a heaven to look forward to after death? Certainly, you'd have to be pretty messed up not to. Unfortunately that's not the way things work; you've just got to make the best of the life you have.

"I was dead for millions of years before I was born and it never inconvenienced me a bit."
-Mark Twain

The prospect of nothingness after death has kept me up at night a couple of times in the past, which shouldn't be a surprise when you think about it. After all, when you're in bed, you're minutes away from oblivion, with the exception of dreams of course. But, we've all experienced dreamless nights one time or another, and what was so terrible about that?

The point is that we all know what it's like to be dead. So ask yourself what it felt like. The answer? Nothing. Nothing to fear.

But what if you are afraid of nothingness?
 

nakedfrog

No Lifer
Apr 3, 2001
62,785
18,978
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Originally posted by: tenshodo13
No. Eternal Life would be boring.

Why would I be messed up to not want to live forever?

Edit- Also, I'm already comfortable living in a world of reason and logic. No reason to change my beliefs for no reason.

Well, it's not unreasonable to hypothesize that an afterlife existence consciousness would be sufficiently different than our current conception of reality so as to be incomparable.
Of course, there's no way to prove it, but it's a thought :p
 

nakedfrog

No Lifer
Apr 3, 2001
62,785
18,978
136
Originally posted by: thepd7
Originally posted by: DangerAardvark
Originally posted by: villageidiot111
Do I wish there was a heaven to look forward to after death? Certainly, you'd have to be pretty messed up not to. Unfortunately that's not the way things work; you've just got to make the best of the life you have.

"I was dead for millions of years before I was born and it never inconvenienced me a bit."
-Mark Twain

The prospect of nothingness after death has kept me up at night a couple of times in the past, which shouldn't be a surprise when you think about it. After all, when you're in bed, you're minutes away from oblivion, with the exception of dreams of course. But, we've all experienced dreamless nights one time or another, and what was so terrible about that?

The point is that we all know what it's like to be dead. So ask yourself what it felt like. The answer? Nothing. Nothing to fear.

But what if you are afraid of nothingness?

How can you be afraid of nothingness?
 

grrl

Diamond Member
Jun 21, 2001
6,204
1
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Originally posted by: JohnCU
Originally posted by: I4AT
Why would you be athiest/agnostic but still wish you could believe in a higher power? Maybe you're really a closet believer that wants to think they're athiest so as to fit in?

uhmmm i live in the bible belt where no atheist/agnostic fits in so no. i just wish i could just accept it like everyone else does without questioning so i wouldn't have to think about it as much.

Well, it seems to me you still have doubts.

Personally, as an atheist I don't find myself wishing I could believe in a higher power, although I can understand why people do.
 

Vic

Elite Member
Jun 12, 2001
50,422
14,337
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Originally posted by: Dirigible
Originally posted by: miketheidiot
Originally posted by: Dirigible
As an atheist on the left coast I fit in just fine. I wish I did believe though. It would make death a lot less scary, I could find all the answers to life's difficult questions in a book, etc., etc.

as an atheist, i now find death much less scary

Yeah, well, you're an idiot. ;)

Why do you find death less scary as an atheist? I like the idea of heaven and eternal happiness, and am upset that there is nothing but nothing after I die. Or would you expect to go to hell? :p

Why are you so certain you'll make it?
 

GundamF91

Golden Member
May 14, 2001
1,827
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If you're truly afraid of nothingness, then you would be afraid to go to sleep. The fact is that everyone sleeps, and between the time you fell asleep and starts to dream, that is the nothingness. You're just not aware of it since you don't feel anything in nothingness.

So death is nothing to be afraid of really, it's just going into sleep and never to wake up. That's all there is to it. And when you go to sleep tonight, think about it.
 

miketheidiot

Lifer
Sep 3, 2004
11,060
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Originally posted by: Dirigible
Originally posted by: miketheidiot
Originally posted by: Dirigible
As an atheist on the left coast I fit in just fine. I wish I did believe though. It would make death a lot less scary, I could find all the answers to life's difficult questions in a book, etc., etc.

as an atheist, i now find death much less scary

Yeah, well, you're an idiot. ;)

Why do you find death less scary as an atheist? I like the idea of heaven and eternal happiness, and am upset that there is nothing but nothing after I die. Or would you expect to go to hell? :p

i like the idea of it being over and not having to death with the bullshit of an ethernity with some divine idiot.
 

Vic

Elite Member
Jun 12, 2001
50,422
14,337
136
From the perspective of science, time as we perceive it is an illusion. Just the direction of increasing entropy. Birth is the moment of organization. Death is when the order of your body is overcome by chaos. In between is your eternal life.
 

JJChicken

Diamond Member
Apr 9, 2007
6,165
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Originally posted by: JohnCU
sometimes i wish i could just accept it and pack it in, and just be like everyone else so as to fit in but alas, my brain cannot fathom it, therefore i do not.

All the geniuses of this world and in the past believe in God so you should 2.
 
Oct 25, 2006
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Originally posted by: nakedfrog
Originally posted by: tenshodo13
No. Eternal Life would be boring.

Why would I be messed up to not want to live forever?

Edit- Also, I'm already comfortable living in a world of reason and logic. No reason to change my beliefs for no reason.

Well, it's not unreasonable to hypothesize that an afterlife existence consciousness would be sufficiently different than our current conception of reality so as to be incomparable.
Of course, there's no way to prove it, but it's a thought :p

Hmm.. interesting thought.

Though, still, Occam's Razor takes out alot of arguments
 

Taejin

Moderator<br>Love & Relationships
Aug 29, 2004
3,270
0
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Originally posted by: JohnCU
sometimes i wish i could just accept it and pack it in, and just be like everyone else so as to fit in but alas, my brain cannot fathom it, therefore i do not.

are you suggesting you're too stupid to believe in god? Because frankly I see it the other way around.
 

xSauronx

Lifer
Jul 14, 2000
19,582
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no. i *do* wish that i could whisper some kind of selfish request though and it would actually happen

but that didnt work when i *did* believe, so im not really bent ouf of shape about it

/today i feel like....atheist
 

yhelothar

Lifer
Dec 11, 2002
18,409
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Not really, but sometimes when i see my really religious friends. I can really feel an inner peace and happiness from them. They seem like the most secure people I know, and their life is very simple.
But then again, ignorance ain't bliss for me.
 

yhelothar

Lifer
Dec 11, 2002
18,409
39
91
Originally posted by: Barack Obama
Originally posted by: JohnCU
sometimes i wish i could just accept it and pack it in, and just be like everyone else so as to fit in but alas, my brain cannot fathom it, therefore i do not.

All the geniuses of this world and in the past believe in God so you should 2.

In the past maybe, like <1900s.
But certainly not in the present. Contrary to popular christian belief, Einstein was not religious.
I've also seen a statistical study that shows that 90% of scientists do not follow a religion.
 

Aberforth

Golden Member
Oct 12, 2006
1,707
1
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Originally posted by: astroidea
Originally posted by: Barack Obama
Originally posted by: JohnCU
sometimes i wish i could just accept it and pack it in, and just be like everyone else so as to fit in but alas, my brain cannot fathom it, therefore i do not.

All the geniuses of this world and in the past believe in God so you should 2.

In the past maybe, like <1900s.
But certainly not in the present. Contrary to popular christian belief, Einstein was not religious.
I've also seen a statistical study that shows that 90% of scientists do not follow a religion.

You don't have to be religious to believe in God, if you think God as the creator then he is not partial to one religion nor he favors one subject or study. Einstein did not deny the existence of God, science isn't advanced enough to validate subjects like God, if you listen to what Gandhi said in my previous post in this topic about existence of God- you'll know what am talking about.
 

Dirigible

Diamond Member
Apr 26, 2006
5,961
32
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Originally posted by: DangerAardvark

You find it more comforting to be left up to the capriciousness of some kind of deity? What if you pick the wrong religion? You would put your eternal well-being in the hands of a petty God who values feigned obeisance over honest inquiry? A mind diseased enough to even invent Hell and threaten children with it is more than capable of sending you there.

You're pointing out the doubts and questions of a rational nonbeliever. You know, someone like me. If I were someone who had faith, I'm sure I'd find it comforting. (I have faith that I would. :p)

Originally posted by: Vic

Why are you so certain you'll make it?

If I had faith in a religion, I bet I'd be one of those annoying smug religious people. Certain that my place in heaven, or the next step up the reincarnation ladder, or whatever is secure. Free to act like an ass and screw people over and still feel superior to those who don't agree with my faith.
 

xSauronx

Lifer
Jul 14, 2000
19,582
4
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Originally posted by: Dirigible
Originally posted by: DangerAardvark

You find it more comforting to be left up to the capriciousness of some kind of deity? What if you pick the wrong religion? You would put your eternal well-being in the hands of a petty God who values feigned obeisance over honest inquiry? A mind diseased enough to even invent Hell and threaten children with it is more than capable of sending you there.

You're pointing out the doubts and questions of a rational nonbeliever. You know, someone like me. If I were someone who had faith, I'm sure I'd find it comforting. (I have faith that I would. :p)

Originally posted by: Vic

Why are you so certain you'll make it?

If I had faith in a religion, I bet I'd be one of those annoying smug religious people. Certain that my place in heaven, or the next step up the reincarnation ladder, or whatever is secure. Free to act like an ass and screw people over and still feel superior to those who don't agree with my faith.

you can do most of that if you just commit yourself to being a total jerk
bonus: you wont have to worry about hell ;)
 

videogames101

Diamond Member
Aug 24, 2005
6,783
27
91
Originally posted by: Aberforth
Originally posted by: astroidea
Originally posted by: Barack Obama
Originally posted by: JohnCU
sometimes i wish i could just accept it and pack it in, and just be like everyone else so as to fit in but alas, my brain cannot fathom it, therefore i do not.

All the geniuses of this world and in the past believe in God so you should 2.

In the past maybe, like <1900s.
But certainly not in the present. Contrary to popular christian belief, Einstein was not religious.
I've also seen a statistical study that shows that 90% of scientists do not follow a religion.

You don't have to be religious to believe in God, if you think God as the creator then he is not partial to one religion nor he favors one subject or study. Einstein did not deny the existence of God, science isn't advanced enough to validate subjects like God, if you listen to what Gandhi said in my previous post in this topic about existence of God- you'll know what am talking about.

you can't prove a negative, so, your argument = INVALID

Don't even try to make the point, just stop right there. You'll only get yourself owned.
 

Excelsior

Lifer
May 30, 2002
19,047
18
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Originally posted by: Oceandevi
Originally posted by: Excelsior
Originally posted by: JohnCU
Originally posted by: I4AT
Why would you be athiest/agnostic but still wish you could believe in a higher power? Maybe you're really a closet believer that wants to think they're athiest so as to fit in?

uhmmm i live in the bible belt where no atheist/agnostic fits in so no. i just wish i could just accept it like everyone else does without questioning so i wouldn't have to think about it as much.

I feel your pain. Seems like every girl I have a 'chance' with or even a lot in common with, is a southern baptist. :frown:

Just lie to them, pretending to be a christian is surprisingly easy.

I could pull it off for a short period of time, but for the rest of my life? Going to church every Sunday when its the last thing I want to do? Hell no.
 

Dirigible

Diamond Member
Apr 26, 2006
5,961
32
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Originally posted by: xSauronx
Originally posted by: Dirigible
Originally posted by: DangerAardvark

You find it more comforting to be left up to the capriciousness of some kind of deity? What if you pick the wrong religion? You would put your eternal well-being in the hands of a petty God who values feigned obeisance over honest inquiry? A mind diseased enough to even invent Hell and threaten children with it is more than capable of sending you there.

You're pointing out the doubts and questions of a rational nonbeliever. You know, someone like me. If I were someone who had faith, I'm sure I'd find it comforting. (I have faith that I would. :p)

Originally posted by: Vic

Why are you so certain you'll make it?

If I had faith in a religion, I bet I'd be one of those annoying smug religious people. Certain that my place in heaven, or the next step up the reincarnation ladder, or whatever is secure. Free to act like an ass and screw people over and still feel superior to those who don't agree with my faith.

you can do most of that if you just commit yourself to being a total jerk
bonus: you wont have to worry about hell ;)

I'm on it, thanks!

;)