How do atheists cope with the thought of nothingness when you die?

[QUOTE="racer8dan"]

Religion has been in a position of authority many times in history; and it doesn't have a good track record.

ADF_Game

Stereotypical theist response. Take all the blame away from religion; and place it on humanity itself.

If you think a world ruled by supernatural beliefs doesn't result in absolute chaos I'm glad people like you are no longer in power, we would still be killing people for witchcraft. Which if you look at Africa today is still going on, because your missionaries got it into a superstitious country's head witches were real and they were a threat to the local population, the Bible says it after all.

If you read Leviticus, it is clearly indicated that thou shalt not combine peanut butter with jelly, for it is an abomination before the Lord :xxaos

Which seems normal in contrast to some authentic bible verses. Kings 2:23-24 states that Elijah was mocked by a gang of children for his baldness. In response, he cursed them in the Lord's name and the Lord sent two female bears to rip forty-two children limb from limb. He's certainly a creative god, I'll give him that much.

How could you blame a Religion for the crimes Humanity perpetrates in its name. IF that were the case then I believe all Muslims are suicide bombers. Snipes_2

I reject the cop out that ALL of the atrocities committed in the name of religion can be conveniently passed away to everyone else.

What a sick world.

[QUOTE="racer8dan"]

Religion has been in a position of authority many times in history; and it doesn't have a good track record.

ADF_Game

Stereotypical theist response. Take all the blame away from religion; and place it on humanity itself.

If you think a world ruled by supernatural beliefs doesn't result in absolute chaos I'm glad people like you are no longer in power, we would still be killing people for witchcraft. Which if you look at Africa today is still going on, because your missionaries got it into a superstitious country's head witches were real and they were a threat to the local population, the Bible says it after all.

Christianity has not committed any acts that were uncalled for,Snipes_2

I reject the cop out that ALL of the atrocities committed in the name of religion can be conveniently passed away to everyone else.

ADF_Game

Especially when both bible testaments and the Qur'an condone barbarous and violent behavior. I think that's an important fact people overlook, for the sake of political correctness or mere ignorance, I can't say.

Religion is just a beleif, and its the humans that take it out of context or to an unhealthy level, such as Westboro. Close, but no cigar.

racer8dan

Another stereotypical theist response, you are incapable of accepting guilt for anything. You take credit for everything good, but if it's bad; then it either wasn't your religion or it was taken out of context.

You sound like: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PK7P7uZFf5o

[QUOTE="xaos"]

If you read Leviticus, it is clearly indicated that thou shalt not combine peanut butter with jelly, for it is an abomination before the Lord :xdhyce

Which seems normal in contrast to some authentic bible verses. Kings 2:23-24 states that Elijah was mocked by a gang of children for his baldness. In response, he cursed them in the Lord's name and the Lord sent two female bears to rip forty-two children limb from limb. He's certainly a creative god, I'll give him that much.

[QUOTE="Snipes_2"]

Why did this thread turn into a thread about God existing or not :?

And why are people questioning religion?

You stick to your beliefs I'll stick to mine, why must they be constantly put into question by others?

xaos

And by the same token there are those in this thread "evangelizing" as to why they don't believe in God. It is not just people of faith that "evangelize" or have faith. Non-believers evangelize just as much and have just as much faith in what they believe.

[QUOTE="xaos"][QUOTE="Snipes_2"]

Why did this thread turn into a thread about God existing or not :?

And why are people questioning religion?

You stick to your beliefs I'll stick to mine, why must they be constantly put into question by others?

blackregiment

And by the same token there are those in this thread "evangelizing" as to why they don't believe in God. It is not just people of faith that "evangelize" or have faith. Non-believers evangelize just as much and have just as much faith in what they believe.

[QUOTE="Snipes_2"]Christianity has not committed any acts that were uncalled for,mourninguser1

[QUOTE="racer8dan"]

Religion is just a beleif, and its the humans that take it out of context or to an unhealthy level, such as Westboro. Close, but no cigar.

ADF_Game

Another stereotypical theist response, you are incapable of accepting guilt for anything. You take credit for everything good, but if it's bad; then it either wasn't your religion or it was taken out of context.

You sound like: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PK7P7uZFf5o

[QUOTE="mourninguser1"][QUOTE="Snipes_2"]Christianity has not committed any acts that were uncalled for,Snipes_2

[QUOTE="Snipes_2"]How could you blame a Religion for the crimes Humanity perpetrates in its name. IF that were the case then I believe all Muslims are suicide bombers. ADF_Game

I reject the cop out that ALL of the atrocities committed in the name of religion can be conveniently passed away to everyone else.

[QUOTE="Snipes_2"][QUOTE="mourninguser1"]What the **** am I reading.xaos

I tend to follow Epicurus' view on death. Why should we fear it? Fear of death is irrational, because death is not known to us. And who says that a lack of God means there is a lack of an afterlife? chrisrooR

[QUOTE="Lord_Omikron666"][QUOTE="darkhadou"] We are ALL gonna get jugded brother. A lot of judgements would not end well. You know, at some point in my life I questioned the legitimate existence of God (Jesus Christ) as well. If you truthfully give it attempt to know Him, there is no way (and I repeat NO WAY) that He would not reveal this truth to you!darkhadou

Then I pray that you do. May God richly bless you.

[QUOTE="xaos"][QUOTE="Snipes_2"] Well, I mean, that could be said for any text though. Some people are wackjobs. Snipes_2

[QUOTE="Snipes_2"][QUOTE="xaos"] Absolutely, and people are accountable for their own actions; there is a difference, though, when people are justifying themselves from a text with Almighty God's seal of approval on it, though :)Teenaged

You said religion itself is to blame, thats like saying guns are responsible for shooting someone, but in reality its the person behind the barrel, same with video games and how its blamed for shootings and other crimes, But I bet GS doesn't want to here about that.

racer8dan

Perhaps I didn't make myself clear, I REJECT this convenient cop out by religion by passing on the blame of its own actions.

May I then ask under what real world intention are children being killed for witchcraft in Africa, a practice started by tribal Africans that were converted by missionaries and told the Bible is the unquestionable word of God? Families are abandoning their own children that are suspected of witchcraft, when religion is taken away as a factor; what is the motivation for killing your own children?

If the motivation cannot be religion, what alternative explanations are there for this activity? There isn't any, if you don't believe in witch craft and that the Bible commands that they be killed; then there is no reason to kill these children. Regardless I suspect even now you are working through your rational, coming up with some excuse to redirect religion from all blame under all circumstances.

Well, The Ottoman Empire which was Muslim wasn't too great either, they had child slavery etc..My Point is, you can't blame the religion for the acts people commit under it. People are fallible, they will make mistakes. Snipes_2

Your argument sets up religion as being incapable of fault under any circumstances, I refuse them this convenience. Your problem is you don't consider context, someone may very well do something in the name of religion when they have other motives; but you have taken a extreme stance were religion can never be blamed for anything.

[QUOTE="Teenaged"]

[QUOTE="Snipes_2"] The Suicide Bombers do that. Snipes_2

Mind you, I am not talking about real intentions. You seem to have gotten that impression.

The fourth crusader no matter what the underlying (subconscious perhaps) intentions were for it, it was still justified using religion. And many many more "deeds" other than the Crusades.

[QUOTE="racer8dan"]

You said religion itself is to blame, thats like saying guns are responsible for shooting someone, but in reality its the person behind the barrel, same with video games and how its blamed for shootings and other crimes, But I bet GS doesn't want to here about that.

ADF_Game

Perhaps I didn't make myself clear, I REJECT this convenient cop out by religion by passing on the blame of its own actions.

May I then ask under what real world intention are children being killed for witchcraft in Africa, a practice started by tribal Africans that were converted by missionaries and told the Bible is the unquestionable word of God? Families are abandoning their own children that are suspected of witchcraft, when religion is taken away as a factor; what is the motivation for killing your own children?

If the motivation cannot be religion, what alternative explanations are there for this activity? There isn't any, if you don't believe in witch craft and that the Bible commands that they be killed; then there is no reason to kill these children. Regardless I suspect even now you are working through your rational, coming up with some excuse to redirect religion from all blame under all circumstances.

Well, The Ottoman Empire which was Muslim wasn't too great either, they had child slavery etc..My Point is, you can't blame the religion for the acts people commit under it. People are fallible, they will make mistakes. Snipes_2

Your argument sets up religion as being incapable of fault under any circumstances, I refuse them this convenience. Your problem is you don't consider context, someone may very well do something in the name of religion when they have other motives; but you have taken a extreme stance were religion can never be blamed for anything.

[QUOTE="Snipes_2"][QUOTE="Teenaged"]If only they were the only...

Teenaged

Mind you, I am not talking about real intentions. You seem to have gotten that impression.

The fourth crusader no matter what the underlying (subconscious perhaps) intentions were for it, it was still justified using religion. And many many more "deeds" other than the Crusades.

[QUOTE="racer8dan"]

You said religion itself is to blame, thats like saying guns are responsible for shooting someone, but in reality its the person behind the barrel, same with video games and how its blamed for shootings and other crimes, But I bet GS doesn't want to here about that.

ADF_Game

Perhaps I didn't make myself clear, I REJECT this convenient cop out by religion by passing on the blame of its own actions.

May I then ask under what real world intention are children being killed for witchcraft in Africa, a practice started by tribal Africans that were converted by missionaries and told the Bible is the unquestionable word of God? Families are abandoning their own children that are suspected of witchcraft, when religion is taken away as a factor; what is the motivation for killing your own children?

If the motivation cannot be religion, what alternative explanations are there for this activity? There isn't any, if you don't believe in witch craft and that the Bible commands that they be killed; then there is no reason to kill these children. Regardless I suspect even now you are working through your rational, coming up with some excuse to redirect religion from all blame under all circumstances.

Well, The Ottoman Empire which was Muslim wasn't too great either, they had child slavery etc..My Point is, you can't blame the religion for the acts people commit under it. People are fallible, they will make mistakes. Snipes_2

Your argument sets up religion as being incapable of fault under any circumstances, I refuse them this convenience. Your problem is you don't consider context, someone may very well do something in the name of religion when they have other motives; but you have taken a extreme stance were religion can never be blamed for anything.

[QUOTE="Teenaged"]

[QUOTE="Snipes_2"] There are generally the only ones. If you count the Fourth Crusade which was done more for personal gain than Religion. Snipes_2

Mind you, I am not talking about real intentions. You seem to have gotten that impression.

The fourth crusader no matter what the underlying (subconscious perhaps) intentions were for it, it was still justified using religion. And many many more "deeds" other than the Crusades.

[QUOTE="Snipes_2"][QUOTE="Teenaged"]So you are saying that they are the only whojustify their actions using religion?

Mind you, I am not talking about real intentions. You seem to have gotten that impression.

The fourth crusader no matter what the underlying (subconscious perhaps) intentions were for it, it was still justified using religion. And many many more "deeds" other than the Crusades.

Teenaged

I believe in reincarnation. Second law of thermodynamics baby.

[QUOTE="Teenaged"]

[QUOTE="Snipes_2"] Not by Christians. People who justify their actions by Religion are inherently evil, not the Religion itself. The people who use that religion to further their own personal gain are. Snipes_2

They were.

Does that invalidate what you said about Suicide bombers being the only ones who justify horrendous acts with religion?

Yes it does.

Theres nothing more to it.

I believe in reincarnation. Second law of thermodynamics baby.

LikeHaterade

Nah, i'm done wasting my time with you. Good luck blaming inanimate objects for the doings of a people.

racer8dan

You claimed religion is the excuse and that people kill for other reasons, that religion is simply a tool being used to justify bad actions. What reason is there to kill a child for witchcraft when you do not believe in witches or that the Bible commands that they be killed? You are telling me that using the Bible is just a excuse; and that without it these families would abandon/kill their children anyway for a different reason?

They took a book that people like you skim read through, finding the bits they like and ignoring the rest. They took that book and gave it to a superstitious culture, claiming it was the word of God and that they would go to hell to suffer for all eternity if they didn't believe it. This culture didn't turn a blind eye to the bits the western world does out of habbit, they took it for what the missionaries said it was; the unquestionable word of the one true God.

Don't you dare claim all this had nothing to do with religion, it's your faith; minus the unmentioned but widespread selective reading western culture likes to do.

Just because someone does it in the name of religion means the person should be blamed, not the religion. Snipes_2

So even when it is written as a command from their god in their holy book; that isn't enough for you to blame religion? When there are no real world examples of why this would occur other than obedience to the religion? You're becoming like a satire of a religious apologist.

Atheist are naturally optimistic about life. =p It'd be more interesting to hear the perspective of Christians that know they're on the trip to Hell.ProjectTrinity

Here's an interesting study that was done comparing the happiness and optimism of people of faith vs secular people.

"How do religious Americans compare to the secular when it comes to happiness? In 2004, the General Social Survey asked a sample of Americans, "Would you say that you are very happy, pretty happy, or not too happy?" Religious people were more than twice as likely as the secular to say they were "very happy" (43% to 21%). Meanwhile, secular people were nearly three times as likely as the religious to say they were not too happy (21% to 8%). In the same survey, religious people were more than a third more likely than the secular to say they were optimistic about the future (34% to 24%)."

http://www.opinionjournal.com/extra/?id=110010672http://www.opinionjournal.com/extra/?id=110010672

And here is some additional information.

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Health/story?id=435412&page=1

and another...

http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1755&dat=19551125&id=Jj4eAAAAIBAJ&sjid=CL8EAAAAIBAJ&pg=3355,6272213

and another...

http://pewresearch.org/pubs/301/are-we-happy-yet

Here's an interesting study that was done comparing the happiness and optimism of people of faith vs secular peopleblackregiment

[QUOTE="blackregiment"]Here's an interesting study that was done comparing the happiness and optimism of people of faith vs secular peopleVandalvideo

[QUOTE="ProjectTrinity"]Atheist are naturally optimistic about life. =p It'd be more interesting to hear the perspective of Christians that know they're on the trip to Hell.blackregiment

Here's an interesting study that was done comparing the happiness and optimism of people of faith vs secular people.

"How do religious Americans compare to the secular when it comes to happiness? In 2004, the General Social Survey asked a sample of Americans, "Would you say that you are very happy, pretty happy, or not too happy?" Religious people were more than twice as likely as the secular to say they were "very happy" (43% to 21%). Meanwhile, secular people were nearly three times as likely as the religious to say they were not too happy (21% to 8%). In the same survey, religious people were more than a third more likely than the secular to say they were optimistic about the future (34% to 24%)."

http://www.opinionjournal.com/extra/?id=110010672http://www.opinionjournal.com/extra/?id=110010672

And here is some additional information.

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Health/story?id=435412&page=1

and another...

http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1755&dat=19551125&id=Jj4eAAAAIBAJ&sjid=CL8EAAAAIBAJ&pg=3355,6272213

and another...

http://pewresearch.org/pubs/301/are-we-happy-yet

[QUOTE="blackregiment"]Here's an interesting study that was done comparing the happiness and optimism of people of faith vs secular peopleVandalvideo

If you are interested in the sample, you can always look up the actual studies the articles refer to and see how the sample was configured. Usually, they try to sample a broad cross section.

How do youdeal with the possibility that death is the end?

CrocodileNuts

[QUOTE="blackregiment"]

[QUOTE="ProjectTrinity"]Atheist are naturally optimistic about life. =p It'd be more interesting to hear the perspective of Christians that know they're on the trip to Hell.comp_atkins

Here's an interesting study that was done comparing the happiness and optimism of people of faith vs secular people.

"How do religious Americans compare to the secular when it comes to happiness? In 2004, the General Social Survey asked a sample of Americans, "Would you say that you are very happy, pretty happy, or not too happy?" Religious people were more than twice as likely as the secular to say they were "very happy" (43% to 21%). Meanwhile, secular people were nearly three times as likely as the religious to say they were not too happy (21% to 8%). In the same survey, religious people were more than a third more likely than the secular to say they were optimistic about the future (34% to 24%)."

http://www.opinionjournal.com/extra/?id=110010672http://www.opinionjournal.com/extra/?id=110010672

And here is some additional information.

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Health/story?id=435412&page=1

and another...

http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1755&dat=19551125&id=Jj4eAAAAIBAJ&sjid=CL8EAAAAIBAJ&pg=3355,6272213

and another...

http://pewresearch.org/pubs/301/are-we-happy-yet

Let me understand your statement. Are you implying that people of faith are ignorant and that is why the studies reflect that they tend to be happier and optimistic? Surely that is not what you are asserting.

Surely that is not what you are asserting.

blackregiment

Sometimes the less we know, or the less we allow our mind to entertain as scenarios, the more calm and happy we are.

Not something I necessarily condemn.

[QUOTE="comp_atkins"][QUOTE="blackregiment"]

Here's an interesting study that was done comparing the happiness and optimism of people of faith vs secular people.

"How do religious Americans compare to the secular when it comes to happiness? In 2004, the General Social Survey asked a sample of Americans, "Would you say that you are very happy, pretty happy, or not too happy?" Religious people were more than twice as likely as the secular to say they were "very happy" (43% to 21%). Meanwhile, secular people were nearly three times as likely as the religious to say they were not too happy (21% to 8%). In the same survey, religious people were more than a third more likely than the secular to say they were optimistic about the future (34% to 24%)."

http://www.opinionjournal.com/extra/?id=110010672http://www.opinionjournal.com/extra/?id=110010672

And here is some additional information.

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Health/story?id=435412&page=1

and another...

http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1755&dat=19551125&id=Jj4eAAAAIBAJ&sjid=CL8EAAAAIBAJ&pg=3355,6272213

and another...

http://pewresearch.org/pubs/301/are-we-happy-yet

blackregiment

Let me understand your statement. Are you inferring that people of faith are ignorant and that is why the studies reflect that they tend to be happier and optimistic? Surely that is not what you are asserting.