Nothing I have experienced or heard about has required a supernatural explanation.
Every religion seems to have logical inconsistencies.
Most religions seem to be geared toward controlling people.
But I'm not sure the original question is valid. I'm not the one that uses belief in the unprovable to justify or modify my behaviour. I think that the onus should be on believers to explain themselves - they are the ones doing something odd in my eyes.
Okay, I expected at least one person to have simply posted "I'm not" and left it at that. I'm a bit disapointed, now.
I'm curious to know how many atheists actually have an iron clad, unwavering conviction and total non-belief in God. This is what atheism means to me - Almost the polar opposite of the enthusiastic true believers.
I like to think of myself as an Apathist. I just don't care if He's up there or not. Religion plays no part in my daily, weekly, monthly nor indeed annual life and I spend no time whatsoever pondering the eternal mysteries. I just don't care.
So that is why I hold my particular views (or lack thereof) about the whole God thing. I just don't care. To quote that damnable Meerkat "Simples"
Okay, I expected at least one person to have simply posted "I'm not" and left it at that. I'm a bit disapointed, now.
I'm curious to know how many atheists actually have an iron clad, unwavering conviction and total non-belief in God. This is what atheism means to me - Almost the polar opposite of the enthusiastic true believers.
I like to think of myself as an Apathist. I just don't care if He's up there or not. Religion plays no part in my daily, weekly, monthly nor indeed annual life and I spend no time whatsoever pondering the eternal mysteries. I just don't care.
So that is why I hold my particular views (or lack thereof) about the whole God thing. I just don't care. To quote that damnable Meerkat "Simples"
For me, it was a journey. I grew up going to church (my family still do), I was a Sunday school teacher for a while.
I drifted out through Uni, and the more I learn about the universe, the smaller the 'God' shaped hole is. While I haven't reached Dawkins-like levels of certainty, I'm as near to a cast-iron atheist as it is possible to get.
I'm happy to live in a society with Judeo-Christian moral values (be nice to people, don't steal, don't kill) but those constructs exist just as well without the concepts associated with religion.
Also, if the Christian God is real, then, quite frankly, he's a git. Especially the OT version. (Note: I am not familiar with the teachings of other Holy Books, but I am quite satisifed that the lack of creator rules them out as well)
What gets me is how can ADULTS still believe in all the religous stuff, but laughably dismiss a toothfairy, father christmas etc. when they get older. It's the same stuff. It's all thought up as imagination by a person or people who had nothing better to do than trick you into some kind of conspiracy.
I find my beliefs don't fit in with religions, Although I wouldn't say I was atheist.
There are to many co-incidences and strange happenings in my experiences to completely discount a god type being, But if he does exist he has a sick sense of humour.
I'm an atheist until I think about things, things like the spinners from a sycamore tree. How did nature just "do" that? Things like sight, how did nature do that? The more I look around me the more I think there has to be an architect but I don't know what or who that is. It couldn't have just happened, it's all so complex and the more I think about it the more panic stricken I become. I'm going to strike atheist off my CV and I'm going to join the ranks of the don't knows. If I had my way I'd become a naturist but I refuse to remove my clothes for anyone!
I'm an atheist until I think about things, things like the spinners from a sycamore tree. How did nature just "do" that? Things like sight, how did nature do that? The more I look around me the more I think there has to be an architect but I don't know what or who that is. It couldn't have just happened, it's all so complex and the more I think about it the more panic stricken I become. I'm going to strike atheist off my CV and I'm going to join the ranks of the don't knows. If I had my way I'd become a naturist but I refuse to remove my clothes for anyone!
That's the child in us though, isn;t it? Wanting to believe things are so amazing they must have been 'made'..? When in fact, we know from empirical evidence things evolve, and mutate, and change and all the beautiful and amazing 'miracles' like the structure of a snowflake, or how your senses work, or... penguins... those things can just 'be' without having been 'created'? We don;t need a 'father' to make things happen for us, or make things un-happen. Not once we grow up. (And I don;t mean that in a perjorative way - just an observation about the nature of humanity in general, not the poster I'm quoting).
These things in nature - are no less miraculous. Maybe moreso. Dawkins makes this point over and over.
I'm an atheist until I think about things, things like the spinners from a sycamore tree. How did nature just "do" that? Things like sight, how did nature do that? The more I look around me the more I think there has to be an architect but I don't know what or who that is. It couldn't have just happened, it's all so complex and the more I think about it the more panic stricken I become. I'm going to strike atheist off my CV and I'm going to join the ranks of the don't knows. If I had my way I'd become a naturist but I refuse to remove my clothes for anyone!
If you really want to get a feel for the age of the Earth and learn about evolution there are plenty of books to explain how those things you mention came about. Just saying god did it isn't an answer at all.
I'm an atheist until I think about things, things like the spinners from a sycamore tree. How did nature just "do" that? Things like sight, how did nature do that? The more I look around me the more I think there has to be an architect but I don't know what or who that is. It couldn't have just happened, it's all so complex and the more I think about it the more panic stricken I become. I'm going to strike atheist off my CV and I'm going to join the ranks of the don't knows. If I had my way I'd become a naturist but I refuse to remove my clothes for anyone!
How do you find it difficult to believe that these things could not have come about without a designer when you can believe that something complex enough to design them did come about without being designed?
Okay, I expected at least one person to have simply posted "I'm not" and left it at that. I'm a bit disapointed, now.
I'm curious to know how many atheists actually have an iron clad, unwavering conviction and total non-belief in God. This is what atheism means to me - Almost the polar opposite of the enthusiastic true believers.
I like to think of myself as an Apathist. I just don't care if He's up there or not. Religion plays no part in my daily, weekly, monthly nor indeed annual life and I spend no time whatsoever pondering the eternal mysteries. I just don't care.
So that is why I hold my particular views (or lack thereof) about the whole God thing. I just don't care. To quote that damnable Meerkat "Simples"
I'm an atheist until I think about things, things like the spinners from a sycamore tree. How did nature just "do" that? Things like sight, how did nature do that? The more I look around me the more I think there has to be an architect but I don't know what or who that is. It couldn't have just happened, it's all so complex and the more I think about it the more panic stricken I become. I'm going to strike atheist off my CV and I'm going to join the ranks of the don't knows. If I had my way I'd become a naturist but I refuse to remove my clothes for anyone!
But then your back to the same thing. If God exists and is such an amazing being - where did God come from? Someone must have designed God, presuming everything needs an architect. If you can believe that God just 'always existed' why not believe that the possibility of everything in nature 'always existed.
I don't believe in the supernatural. I believe in things I can be explained and that are real.
Not to say that I have a closed mind. There could be more to life and there could be a God, but I have no faith or feelings that there is anything else after this life.
The same with ghosts. I would have to see one to believe in them as well
How do you find it difficult to believe that these things could not have come about without a designer when you can believe that something complex enough to design them did come about without being designed?
That is possibly the best point ever made on this forum about this subject.:D
I'd love to see believers answer it - not in a mean-spirited way but in a - I-want-to-see-the-intellectual-gymnastics kinda way.
Comments
But I'm not sure the original question is valid. I'm not the one that uses belief in the unprovable to justify or modify my behaviour. I think that the onus should be on believers to explain themselves - they are the ones doing something odd in my eyes.
I was brought up in a Christian household and went to a Christian school and a Christian church etc etc.
It was only as I got older that I realised people actually believed all the stuff I was being told about.
I'm curious to know how many atheists actually have an iron clad, unwavering conviction and total non-belief in God. This is what atheism means to me - Almost the polar opposite of the enthusiastic true believers.
I like to think of myself as an Apathist. I just don't care if He's up there or not. Religion plays no part in my daily, weekly, monthly nor indeed annual life and I spend no time whatsoever pondering the eternal mysteries. I just don't care.
So that is why I hold my particular views (or lack thereof) about the whole God thing. I just don't care. To quote that damnable Meerkat "Simples"
That is me!
I drifted out through Uni, and the more I learn about the universe, the smaller the 'God' shaped hole is. While I haven't reached Dawkins-like levels of certainty, I'm as near to a cast-iron atheist as it is possible to get.
I'm happy to live in a society with Judeo-Christian moral values (be nice to people, don't steal, don't kill) but those constructs exist just as well without the concepts associated with religion.
Also, if the Christian God is real, then, quite frankly, he's a git. Especially the OT version. (Note: I am not familiar with the teachings of other Holy Books, but I am quite satisifed that the lack of creator rules them out as well)
(i) God exists - and he smote half my family over a 6 week period. Nice god.
(ii) God doesn't exist - the universe is random. Bad things happen.
I found (ii) easier to live with when I was 10 and I find it easier to live with now I'm middle aged.
There are to many co-incidences and strange happenings in my experiences to completely discount a god type being, But if he does exist he has a sick sense of humour.
Fair enough
That's the child in us though, isn;t it? Wanting to believe things are so amazing they must have been 'made'..? When in fact, we know from empirical evidence things evolve, and mutate, and change and all the beautiful and amazing 'miracles' like the structure of a snowflake, or how your senses work, or... penguins... those things can just 'be' without having been 'created'? We don;t need a 'father' to make things happen for us, or make things un-happen. Not once we grow up. (And I don;t mean that in a perjorative way - just an observation about the nature of humanity in general, not the poster I'm quoting).
These things in nature - are no less miraculous. Maybe moreso. Dawkins makes this point over and over.
If you really want to get a feel for the age of the Earth and learn about evolution there are plenty of books to explain how those things you mention came about. Just saying god did it isn't an answer at all.
How do you find it difficult to believe that these things could not have come about without a designer when you can believe that something complex enough to design them did come about without being designed?
Me...
Is it possible just to "not care either way"?
But then your back to the same thing. If God exists and is such an amazing being - where did God come from? Someone must have designed God, presuming everything needs an architect. If you can believe that God just 'always existed' why not believe that the possibility of everything in nature 'always existed.
I don't believe in the supernatural. I believe in things I can be explained and that are real.
Not to say that I have a closed mind. There could be more to life and there could be a God, but I have no faith or feelings that there is anything else after this life.
The same with ghosts. I would have to see one to believe in them as well
Yes - an atheist simply has a lack of belief.
That is possibly the best point ever made on this forum about this subject.:D
I'd love to see believers answer it - not in a mean-spirited way but in a - I-want-to-see-the-intellectual-gymnastics kinda way.
Anyone?