If you don't need "religion" or rather a belief in a higher power/being/intellence, then what refrains you, matt75 from doing bad things such as stealing,cheating, murdering your parents, or even worse?
Your consiousness, your sense of right or wrong? Yes...in the mormon doctrine we call it the Light of Christ and everyone has this regardless of thier upbringing or beliefs;Agnostics, athiests/buddhists/muslims/jews/christians, etc, etc.
However agency was freely given to all of us and we each heed this light/consiousness in varying degrees of obedience, In some wicked people the light is so dim that they have cut themselves completely from God.
So matt, despite your best efforts to refute it your sense of right/wrong actually comes from that very being you claim that doesn't exist.
Some "fairytale sky genie" God is!
_________________________
To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible". ~Thomas Aquinas
#1831919 - 03/25/0910:37 AMRe: Why atheism is a "Mental Handicap"
[Re: 1oldminer]
cobalt
Transition Metal
Registered: 11/07/05
Posts: 9812
Loc: Birmingham
Originally Posted By: 1oldminer
Your consiousness, your sense of right or wrong? Yes...in the mormon doctrine we call it the Light of Christ and everyone has this regardless of thier upbringing or beliefs;Agnostics, athiests/buddhists/muslims/jews/christians, etc, etc.
However agency was freely given to all of us and we each heed this light/consiousness in varying degrees of obedience, In some wicked people the light is so dim that they have cut themselves completely from God.
Hang on, this is something of a convenient argument. Any good behavior is evidence of God and any bad behavior is evidence of deviation from God? So I should thank God for my good behavior, but blame myself for the bad?
_________________________
I change shapes just to hide in this place But I'm still, I'm still an animal
Hang on, this is something of a convenient argument. Any good behavior is evidence of God and any bad behavior is evidence of deviation from God? So I should thank God for my good behavior, but blame myself for the bad?
That's usually how it goes. Reminds me of an old Bill Maher skit about a football player dropping a pass.
I personally disagree. The 'militant' Atheists who purposely go out and attack religion are few. I don't fully support that because
a) I recognise the good religion is capable of achieving, and the social/political stability it provides in certain parts of the world. b) To force a viewpoint upon someone seems no better than, say, Charles Martel and his merry men 'converting' Europe to Christianity in the 8th century. c) Militant atheism often leads to the mistaken espousal of atheism as some kind of replacement faith with Darwin as its demigod and Origins as its book.
However, I support the intention to go out and respond to religious propaganda with opposing evidence, at least so that others who come to the issue will be able to see the entire field of debate and make their own opinions. And there is a lot to be said for the way in which moderate religion shelters extremism and fosters an environment in which it can develop.
You must remember that the true decline of religion will not be measured in how many of Darwin's Rottweilers dare to face the religious onslaught. It will rather be seen in the gradual disappearance of supernatural belief from people's lives; a process that is ongoing and in many places virtually complete.
Really, cobalt? While I agree they are not the majority, from my own experience, the militants are certainly not "few". I agree with your reasons for not going overboard. They are mine too, but honestly, some of the things I've heard spewed from people were cringeworthy and it wasn't just one person.
I also agree with the trouble that religion can bring, but like I said with Atheism, it's not really the religion that does it; it's the people.
Really, cobalt? While I agree they are not the majority, from my own experience, the militants are certainly not "few".
The numbers of "militant" atheists are certainly dwarfed by the number of "militant" theists.
Originally Posted By: 1oldminer
If you don't need "religion" or rather a belief in a higher power/being/intellence, then what refrains you, matt75 from doing bad things such as stealing,cheating, murdering your parents, or even worse?
I'll once again quote myself:
Ironically, you seem to be arguing that religious people have LESS morals. You can't seem to comprehend NOT being a raving psychopathic rapist/murderer without the constant looming fear of hell. Frankly, if that's all that keeps you on the right side of morality, I find you utterly repugnant...immoral, and yet too much of a coward to even act on it.
I'm an atheist and I don't do these things simply because I know they are wrong. Unlike the religious, I think you only get one shot at life...so if I were to snuff out someone's life or make it utterly miserable, than that would be truly evil.
#1832584 - 03/25/0906:41 PMRe: Why atheism is a "Mental Handicap"
[Re: MaudlinElephant]
DeepAtSea
The Pornographer
Registered: 07/10/07
Posts: 26304
Loc: On SP Blacklist
i saw stupid topic on SP but this one ... is one of the best ... congratz Crux Australis
Originally Posted By: 1oldminer
If you don't need "religion" or rather a belief in a higher power/being/intellence, then what refrains you, matt75 from doing bad things such as stealing,cheating, murdering your parents, or even worse?
Previous Topic
Index
