Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I respect not believing in something you have not seen. But, not even the possibility? I know different brains work differently...I'm a right brainer...so, there is that difference.
The only reason I allow for even the slightest possibility is for the same reason most atheists that put any thought at all into it, admit to being agnostic atheists. "Can't prove it".
A beside the point mention. I used to take some of those tests and they kept coming up with the conclusion that I'm fairly equal for the right side/left side brain issue.
That may be why I argue with myself a lot.
I'm pretty sure that Miss Hepburn is a sortagoddist,
not linked to any particular (or at least organized) religion.
It's much more the fuzzy-love -feeling type of god than a "God wants me to tell you what to do" type of god.
Probably much more aligned with the irreligious than with the religious.
Got that right ...but, it's ok if people want to vent. Posters don't read or know everything
about different posters.
I suppose it is because I am detached from what people believe I am unemotionally curious.
As I said there are so many things i have never exp'd and I have more of reporter's mind...
I would secretly like to infiltrate many groups to see what they do behind closed doors.
The Masons is sure one of them!
This is why I don't understand anyone that is 100% closed to anything.
My gosh, I have a friend that if a waitress is weird with her she will never, ever go back to that restaurant!
I don't understand that thinking, for example.
I think the idea of a Creator, Being of some sort would make one curious to get to the bottom of it...and NOT by reading the Bible.
What I see mostly, is this:
-If a person had wacky concepts fed to them as a child they have 'that edge' of anger in them regarding God or even questions regarding their disbelief. They often steer the conversation
over to their particular family Church, and certainly to Fundamentalists that have said they will go to hell.
-If they were raised with no religious stuff (I find this in Jewish atheists) they are mellow...nor angry;
they will turn the conversation over to scientific ideas...unemotionally.
The only reason I allow for even the slightest possibility is for the same reason most atheists that put any thought at all into it, admit to being agnostic atheists. "Can't prove it".
I used to take some of those tests and they kept coming up with the conclusion that I'm fairly equal for the right side/left side brain issue.
That may be why I argue with myself a lot.
Ah, arguing with yourself, eh? Try being a Gemini!
Always seeing both sides!
Yes, even my ex, a militant, angry atheist on a mission...from a childhood of dad beatings
with a super Catholic mom....
admitted that a true Atheist is really an Agnostic.
Worth mentioning...If he was an angry vegetarian or ex-smoker ...didn't matter the atheism ...the anger and picking fights with others was his thing....oh my, even sitting on a bar stool over politics!
He'd finally turn to me and say he was sorry about that, I'd stick a French fry in my mouth and say my usual, "I don't care what you do. Knock yourself out." God, he loved me!
He never fought with me, though.
Ah, arguing with yourself, eh? Try being a Gemini!
Always seeing both sides!
Yes, even my ex, a militant, angry atheist on a mission...from a childhood of dad beatings
with a super Catholic mom....
admitted that a true Atheist is really an Agnostic.
Worth mentioning...If he was an angry vegetarian or ex-smoker ...didn't matter the atheism ...the anger and picking fights with others was his thing....oh my, even sitting on a bar stool over politics!
He'd finally turn to me and say he was sorry about that, I'd stick a French fry in my mouth and say my usual, "I don't care what you do. Knock yourself out." God, he loved me!
He never fought with me, though.
Any True atheist is an agnostic. Any True God -believer is also an agnostic. In fact everyone is truly Agnostic. Because nobody knows for sure.
Knowledge is not what it's about but belief.
What it's about is whether you believe in a god or not. If you do, why? If you don't, why not?
It comes down to Reasons to believe - or not.
That's what the argument is about and why we're here arguing.
One bad habit of atheists here is to assume that anyone who is a god -believer has to be a Christian, a churchgoer and a Bible -believer. Some even go further and assume that they are Bible -literalists if not Creationists.
On the other hand, I have known Theists who assume that anyone who is questioning of Bible reliability is an atheist.
Misunderstandings are inevitable and can be easily put right. I don't see any need to make a Big Deal out of it.
Oh you are SO funny that you would mention this!!!
You don't camp in central England, my friend, and not leave knowing there are little people, fairies and Leprechauns!!!!
Or in the farm country outside of Rome and not feel and hear the Legions out there still marchingmarchingmarching...
or stand outside the Coliseum and not hear the screams coming from there!
Oh my God.
(Pls note I am no lover of religions to say the least and Bible quotes? Eternal hell? ...forgetaboutit...for those that don't know me...)
The point is, Miss Hepburn, that no one respects something that they find ridiculous. You can substitute leprechauns for anything you like. Flying Spaghetti Monster? Nessie? Aliens? Bigfoot? Unicorns (Not the fat grey ones )? Why do you not respect those, or the idea of those? Even if you were to believe in those, you can substitute those for something else. Menehune? Jackalopes? Time travelers? Pick your poison.
No one, religious or otherwise, respects beliefs, or the idea of them, that they find ridiculous. They can respect a persons right to believe in ridiculous things, but not the actual belief, if that makes any sense.
You are right though, I have never been camping in central England or in the farm country near Rome. Unfortunately, my travels have only consisted of the Americas. Maybe one day I will make it over there. I have camped in the backwoods of Alabama though. Even thought someone was throwing stuff at our tent at one point, but I am not here blaming bigfoot, because believing in Bigfoot is ridiculous. I respect the rights of those who believe in Bigfoot to do so though.
Why do atheists not respect God? Or the idea of God??
Quote:
Originally Posted by Miss Hepburn
That's all...why, how come?
I feel like saying, "Can't use the Bible."
Cuz, come on, it's a crazy making source of contradictions,
beyond logic.
Can you speak by not referring to the Bible?
Have at it.
How are you Miss Hepburn? Nice to see you again over here on Atheists United.
The answer is really, really simple.
Q. Why do atheists not respect God?
A. Because there is no god.
Q. Why do atheists not respect the idea of God?
A. Because there is no god.
Simple as that.
To dig a bit deeper, as to the first part, a non existent god is not going to care whether I respect him/her or not since they don't exist.
The second part of your question is really "why don't atheists respect people who believe in god?".
I respect PEOPLE however you just cannot expect me to respect the idea of believing in something that has endless wild contradictions in itself - I won't go into details - I'd be here for days, but I'm sure you know what I'm talking about.
However I can respect the person who believes that stuff as long as they expend the same courtesy to me for my beliefs.
Once we get into a discussion about what we both believe, then it's no holds barred.
Hi Kara, I believe this...nothing is an accident or a coinkdinky. And the Universe works better than a Swiss watch.
Here: This video is based on Kepler's equations....the same used by NASA to shoot a probe to reach a speeding
asteroid in TEN YEARS! That landed perfectly! Ha!
LOL hahaha...(google Rosetta probe/ mission)( TRANSPONDER still has not watched it and
I think believes that 'star', was....well, I dunno what...T, watch this sometime all the way thru, please?:
How are you Miss Hepburn? Nice to see you gain over
here on Atheists United.
Let this be an example of a gentleman to others.
Quote:
To dig a bit deeper, as to the first part, a non existent god is not going to care whether I respect him/her or not since they don't exist.
The second part of your question is really "why don't atheists respect people who believe in god?".
I respect PEOPLE however you just cannot expect me to respect the idea of believing in something that has endless wild contradictions in itself - I won't go into details - I'd be here for days, but I'm sure you know what I'm talking about.
However I can respect the person who believes that stuff as long as they expend the same courtesy to me for my beliefs.
Once we get into a discussion about what we both believe, then it's no holds barred.
Well, actually you can think a person is a fruitcake ...it's more of the 'idea' that there could be a Creative Being or Beings or an Intelligence of some kind that consciously pervades all creation ...(forgetting the Bible God entirely, of course....that's off the table...)
That 'Thing' that has created everything, I know, that you don't believe in, with respect, has no contradictions....It just 'is'.....and, come to think of it...that Being or Beings could change their
mind every year if they chose? Right?
Man has made some concept up that this 'Thing'/ 'Spirit' is never changing...who says?...
If 'He' did create
this place ...all it IS is change!...so 'He' must like it! Right?
I don't know one thing even sub-atomically that isn't in constant movement or flux...right?
Gosh I wish this limiting, nutty idea of this 'Being'...oh, and that it needs respect 'or else', grrr, would be dropped completely.
Well, actually you can think a person is a fruitcake ...it's more of the 'idea' that there could be a Creative Being or Beings or an Intelligence of some kind that consciously pervades all creation ...(forgetting the Bible God entirely, of course....that's off the table...)
Okay well I guess I'm referring to some version of a bible god which forms most people's perceptions of what a god is.
Quote:
That 'Thing' that has created everything, I know, that you don't believe in, with respect, has no contradictions....It just 'is'.....and, come to think of it...that Being or Beings could change their
mind every year if they chose? Right?
I'm okay with that kind of god. It's not that different from what I believe, which is that the universe 'just is' - but I believe it came about by physics and processes of nature that 'just are'.
Quote:
Man has made some concept up that this 'Thing'/ 'Spirit' is never changing...who says?...
If 'He' did create
this place ...all it IS is change!...so 'He' must like it! Right?
I don't know one thing even sub-atomically that isn't in constant movement or flux...right?
It's kind of both. The laws of physics as we understand them are constant and unchanging and universal. But on a larger scale, the universe is in flux if that's what you're getting at?
'He' must like it? I don't know about that. Does god feel emotional about stuff? Why would that be if god just 'is'? Aren't you slapping an anthropomorphic concept onto a divine being?
Quote:
Gosh I wish this limiting, nutty idea of this 'Being'...oh, and that it needs respect 'or else', grrr, would be dropped completely.
But you asked us atheists if we respect god or the idea of it?
I can respect your idea of god up to a point if what you think is that god just 'is'.
Once you start giving your god emotions and a decision making process, that's where you've lost me.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.