In regards to atheism.

Discussion in 'Religion' started by garbonzo, Oct 15, 2015.

  1. Globalreview Registered Member

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    My personal explanation of Atheism is the absence of belief in anything.... If it's not there or explainable it does not exist. The proof that there is in fact a higher power than us is all around (and within) us. I do however not believe that this can be called God. This is nothing more than a higher Power which we cannot explain, but it is there. Also, and this is what bothers me the most about this, is that it is called "belief" and thus everyone believes... We are taught to regurgitate, not to know. Otherwise they would call it knowledge or wisdom. What are your thoughts on this?
     
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  3. Dywyddyr Penguinaciously duckalicious. Valued Senior Member

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    Then either you're associating with some very weird people or you're interpreting the experience very wrongly.
    The clue is in the word: atheists don't believe in "god/s".
    That leaves them free to believe in anything else whatsoever.

    And again: this is a personal interpretation of yours. I.e. it's neither "proof" nor a "fact".

    Allegedly.

    Really?
    Can you can an example of something that everyone believes in? Or is this just a claim that everyone believes in something?

    Yeah, the point that you're missing is that - with religion - we (the general "we" - certain people excepted) have to be taught to "regurgitate" because (and this is critical) it's not possible to know (because no-one does).
    Thus, it IS, and remains, a belief.
     
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  5. Globalreview Registered Member

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  7. Dywyddyr Penguinaciously duckalicious. Valued Senior Member

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    Depends on the topic I'm discussing.

    They are, at the very least, supported, demonstrable and testable.
    And, since they are so, then, generally speaking, I don't "believe" them so much as know them.
     
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  8. Billy T Use Sugar Cane Alcohol car Fuel Valued Senior Member

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    How do you know this? Why not call it God? That is just a common name used by English speakers who share your unsupported belief in a "higher power."
     
  9. Globalreview Registered Member

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    Fair enough, Thanks for all the great responses! Talking facts, we are :"run" by electro magnetical impulses no? As is everything. There's a name better than GOD. And Just for the record, I do not share any belief with anyone or anything. I would however like to share and receive knowledge. And if there where no higher power than us, you tell me where this energy came from at first?
     
  10. Cris In search of Immortality Valued Senior Member

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    Yes I know all that and the vast majority of the general public would have no idea what you mean or care. The question generally put is do you follow a religion? In common usage the terms agnostic and atheist means that no religion is followed. That there might these subtle nuances is lost on most people.

    Language evolves and some words are now used that do not reflect their original meanings. Some people try to maintain their original meaning and confuse everyone else. The word "decimate" for example is used widely to mean near to almost total destruction - that is the common interpretation. The original meaning, and there are several, was used to mean to kill every tenth person (10 from decimal) - and 10% loss is quite different from near total destruction. In terms of effective communication it makes no sense to maintain the original definition when the majority believe it means something else. As with atheism and agnostic, it makes no sense to stick with pedantic outdated definitions when everyone else doesn't care and have entrenched more common interpretations. If you don't go with the flow you'll be left behind and few will understand you.

    Theism means belief in a god.
    Atheism has come to mean do not believe in a god.
    Agnosticism is the neutral position.

    Anything else just confuses the debates.
     
  11. Dywyddyr Penguinaciously duckalicious. Valued Senior Member

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    Hmm, okey doke.
    In which case agnosticism is a "No" position (despite some claiming that it's a "sitting on the fence" one.
     
    Last edited: Oct 17, 2015
  12. sideshowbob Sorry, wrong number. Valued Senior Member

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    That's a typical religious response: "There are some things we can't explain - so here's the explanation."

    If we really can't explain it, how can we be sure it really "is" there? There are things we can explain that aren't really there.
     
  13. Globalreview Registered Member

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    Let me rub this in: I AM NOT RELIGIOUS! We cannot explain it, but it is there. otherwise would we be? we are however working on finding an explanation for this. Then again, I think if we could truthfully explain how we are possible, Humankind would fall on it's back....

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  14. Globalreview Registered Member

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    Challenge, explain something to me that isn't there...
     
  15. Dywyddyr Penguinaciously duckalicious. Valued Senior Member

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    And yet you argue that there is a "god:
    AND you also make statements like this:
    An "explanation" for what exactly? And who is the "we" that's working on it?

    Really? Why?

    If something "isn't there" (as in "doesn't exist" - as opposed to "Should be/ was there and isn't now) then A) it doesn't need explaining and B) asking for an explanation is redundant at best and ridiculously obfuscatory at worst.
     
  16. Cris In search of Immortality Valued Senior Member

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    Haha, you will get blasted with that idea from atheists.

    Think of the theist as being closed minded to everything other than their god. Whereas the atheist is willing to consider anything given adequate evidence. In this case the usual skeptical atheist is truly open minded.

    It seems we must each live in a different universe. When I look around I cannot see or sense that there is anything supernatural whatsoever, neither do such things need to exist to explain everything there is. What proof do you think you observe to suggest there is a higher power?

    Recently it seems that the Chinese are recruiting American education specialists to reform Chinese schools. The traditional Chinese system is based on memorizing lists and facts, whereas the American system is more about creativity and innovation - there are good reasons why the USA lead the world in technology and wealth. As for religion - to a large degree people tend to believe what their local traditions expect. If you were born in Iran you would almost certainly become muslim, etc. Statistical trends have shown now for decades that the better educated tend to be less religious. The correlation makes sense in an education system that emphasizes critical thinking and evidence based systems like science and technology. As global access to new technology and information is made more easily available we see a corresponding move away from religious beliefs. Evidence is everything and religions have none.
     
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  17. Globalreview Registered Member

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    I thinks so. I believe that the answer, when we find it, will be so clear and obvious, it will shock most of us.
     
  18. Globalreview Registered Member

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    In reply to why I think there is a higher power... OK, 'higher' might be overstating it a bit. Power as in what all of us have with no clear idea of where it came from or what caused it.
     
  19. Cris In search of Immortality Valued Senior Member

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    Globalreview,

    I admire your courage for trying to debate with the aggressive sharks here. I am of course a friendly dolphin.

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  20. Globalreview Registered Member

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    Nothing better than a good argument to get more view of others view and understanding, still learning myself, but so is everyone always (I hope)

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  21. Cris In search of Immortality Valued Senior Member

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    The absence of an explanation does not give any credibility to a fantasy speculation. When something cannot be explained then the correct approach is to admit WE DO NOT KNOW, and then search for evidence and a credible explanation. As part of that approach it is quite acceptable to speculate on possibilities and then pursue those in search of support. At no point is it acceptable to assert that a particular unsupported fantasy must be true.
     
  22. Dywyddyr Penguinaciously duckalicious. Valued Senior Member

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    And you're wrong again.
    Since, so far as science knows, there isn't any such "power" then there's no explanation being looked for by scientists. Or science.

    Another vague, nebulous (and non-helpful) statement.
     
  23. sculptor Valued Senior Member

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    How about:
    The Cognitive-Theoretic Model of the Universe
     

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