Need some help from fellow atheists

[JohnCU]

local news paper writer asks people if they believe in god

trying to get my point across, and then someone posts this:

It's an easier life when one discounts God, heaven and hell.....once that philosophy is in place, it enables atheists to live the type of immoral life with no feelings of guilt.....

If anyone wants to add to the discussion, feel free. I'm definitely outnumbered in the bible belt.

 

[TruePaige]

Well just let them do their thing. Do you have to try and fight with them?

 

[MisterJackson]

I cannot be bothered with this....I've got bibles to burn damn it!

 

[Pho King]

ask God, he'll help you!




I kid, I kid!

 

[AmpedSilence]

wait, your debating online? Seriously? Do you really expect to get anywhere with people who have faith. IT'S FAITH. It doesn't need explanation. You just believe. I would really let it go, you are not really going to get anywhere.

edit: If you really want to continue pose this question this poster. "If a person kills another person in the name of God, is that person more moral that an atheist who has not killed anyone and lives life equally in all other respects to person that killed? Would his life be considered immoral?"

 

[SpiderWiz]

Originally posted by: Pho King
ask God, he'll help you!




I kid, I kid!

:laugh:

 

[JohnCU]

Originally posted by: AmpedSilence
wait, your debating online? Seriously? Do you really expect to get anywhere with people who have faith. IT'S FAITH. It doesn't need explanation. You just believe. I would really let it go, you are not really going to get anywhere.

The guy asked for opinions on hell. If they can post theirs, I can post mine.

 

[txrandom]

Originally posted by: JohnCU
local news paper writer asks people if they believe in god

trying to get my point across, and then someone posts this:

It's an easier life when one discounts God, heaven and hell.....once that philosophy is in place, it enables atheists to live the type of immoral life with no feelings of guilt.....

If anyone wants to add to the discussion, feel free. I'm definitely outnumbered in the bible belt.

Ask him what (besides not believing in God) is "immoral" about you.

Or ask him who is to say what is moral and what is not?

 

[K1052]

Atheists are pretty much in the same boat as the religious.

They also profess a belief which has no basis according to the available evidence.

 

[sixone]

Originally posted by: JohnCU
local news paper writer asks people if they believe in god

trying to get my point across, and then someone posts this:

It's an easier life when one discounts God, heaven and hell.....once that philosophy is in place, it enables atheists to live the type of immoral life with no feelings of guilt.....

If anyone wants to add to the discussion, feel free. I'm definitely outnumbered in the bible belt.

You're preaching to the wrong choir.

They don't want to hear what you have to say. They just want your attention so they can try to convince you. Which is probably the same thing you're doing.

 

[AmpedSilence]

Originally posted by: JohnCU

Originally posted by: AmpedSilence
wait, your debating online? Seriously? Do you really expect to get anywhere with people who have faith. IT'S FAITH. It doesn't need explanation. You just believe. I would really let it go, you are not really going to get anywhere.

The guy asked for opinions on hell. If they can post theirs, I can post mine.

I am not saying that you can't post your opinion, but talking to some religious people (not all) is like yelling "move" to a brick wall. The wall is never going to move no matter how hard you try. By all means try, this might be person willing to accept other possibilities. But there is a greater chance that they is not interested in changing.

 

[HeroOfPellinor]

Originally posted by: JohnCU
local news paper writer asks people if they believe in god

trying to get my point across, and then someone posts this:

It's an easier life when one discounts God, heaven and hell.....once that philosophy is in place, it enables atheists to live the type of immoral life with no feelings of guilt.....

If anyone wants to add to the discussion, feel free. I'm definitely outnumbered in the bible belt.

Interesting that you're turning to others to tell you what you think.

 

[panipoori]

Guess they havent heard of the Euthyphro dilemma

"Is what is moral commanded by God because it is moral, or is it moral because it is commanded by God?"

 

[destrekor]

I actually think I enjoy life more than bible-thumpers, because I know its the only life I get to live. And thus, why I want to serve in the military, and I could care less where they send me. To me, I am fighting to uphold the beliefs of this great country, which gives myself, and others, the ability to lead fulfilling and wonderful lives during our time on this planet.
it's also why I don't do immoral things. Morality wasn't founded in religion, religion was founded as a way to force morality. Let us be and we'll be realtively moral on our own, at least those who enjoy life. I don't want to do things that will wind me in prison (where I cannot enjoy life), nor do I want to do anything that will make someone enjoy their life less. I, however, do know that not everyone is like me. But I do my part to make life enjoyable, and to keep it that way.
edit: athiest here, in case you couldn't tell. And i'll prove people wrong who believe in such sayings as "there are no athiests in foxholes" bah.

 

[FoBoT]

why would you argue about something you don't believe exists?
why do you care?

if you care, you are probably an anti-religionist, not an atheist

 

[Savij]

It's an easier life when one discounts the tooth fairy.....once that philosophy is in place, it enables children to live the type of sugar coated life with no feelings of guilt.....

 

[MisterJackson]

Sounds like you just need a bit of Jesus in your life

 

[randay]

Originally posted by: JohnCU

It's an easier life when one discounts God, heaven and hell.....once that philosophy is in place, it enables atheists to live the type of immoral life with no feelings of guilt.....

I could care less about what that person thinks of me, so I guess he is right.

 

[Homerboy]

Wait I thought it was teh religious folk that imposed their beliefs on the Atheists... not the other way around.

 

[DangerAardvark]

Originally posted by: JohnCU
local news paper writer asks people if they believe in god

trying to get my point across, and then someone posts this:

It's an easier life when one discounts God, heaven and hell.....once that philosophy is in place, it enables atheists to live the type of immoral life with no feelings of guilt.....

If anyone wants to add to the discussion, feel free. I'm definitely outnumbered in the bible belt.

Explain that morality evolves because it is under these conditions that humanity thrives. "Do unto others, etc."

Then ask if God is the only reason they behave themselves. Point out how perverse it is that the only thing keeping them from raping and pillaging is the threat of Hell.

Then for the closer point out how the Bible is a terrible place to get your morality from and how flawed the 10 commandments are.

 

[Atheus]

It's an easier life when one discounts God, heaven and hell.....once that philosophy is in place, it enables atheists to live the type of immoral life with no feelings of guilt.....

So you believe that immoral acts, murder or rape for example, are not wrong for any other reason than that your religion tells you so? Do you only refrain from comitting such acts for fear of hell?

 

[dullard]

I didn't click on the link, so I'll only comment on what you posted.

1) His use of the word "discounts" is troublesome. In common usage, it means to undervalue, underestimate, or to ignore. To discount God, you need several things. (A) God must exist, and (B) you are ignoring him. If God doesn't exist, you can't discount him. Walmart can't discount a time machine, because Walmart doesn't have a time machine to discount.

2) He assumes God and morals go hand-in-hand. Or even worse, he may assume they are the same thing. They are two completely different subjects. You can have a moral person who is an athiest, or you can have an immoral person who is a thiest. Just look to the Catholic priest boy abuse problem for examples.

3) He assumes you only feel guilt if you do something that is against your morals. It may be perfectly moral to evict a family who doesn't pay rent from your apartment. But I'd feel damn guilty if there are children now on the streets.

He uses those 3 false assumptions to make a point. Even with perfect logic, if the assumptions are wrong, you can't get the conclusion correct.

 

[JohnCU]

Originally posted by: dullard
I didn't click on the link, so I'll only comment on what you posted.

1) His use of the word "discounts" is troublesome. In common usage, it means to undervalue, underestimate, or to ignore. To discount God, you need several things. (A) God must exist, and (B) you are ignoring him. If God doesn't exist, you can't discount him. Walmart can't discount a time machine, because Walmart doesn't have a time machine to discount.

2) He assumes God and morals go hand-in-hand. Or even worse, he may assume they are the same thing. They are two completely different subjects. You can have a moral person who is an athiest, or you can have an immoral person who is a thiest. Just look to the Catholic priest boy abuse problem for examples.

3) He assumes you only feel guilt if you do something that is against your morals. It may be perfectly moral to evict a family who doesn't pay rent from your apartment. But I'd feel damn guilty if there are children now on the streets.

He uses those 3 false assumptions to make a point. Even with perfect logic, if the assumptions are wrong, you can't get the conclusion correct.

finally, thank you for posting something relevant.

 

[So]

Ask them why they think morality is dependent on god, and if they only reason they act morally is because of fear.

 

[skrilla]

Originally posted by: K1052
Atheists are pretty much in the same boat as the religious.

They also profess a belief which has no basis according to the available evidence.

I think some atheists would disagree with you here... arguing that, technically, atheism is a lack of belief in god - Meaning they hold no belief at all.