| How would you change your life.........
Posted: 8/3/2006 7:57:15 PM | if you became an atheist? I have seen quite a few christians claim that if they were atheists they would live pretty bad lives, with total disregard for values. As an atheist that seems absurd to me. I try to be the best I can because I know my actions have the potential to harm others. I don't have to answer to a god, I have to answer to myself and the people I hurt, which I feel is much more effective a deterrent to bad behavior. Just wondering what others think?
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| How would you change your life.........
Posted: 8/3/2006 8:45:24 PM | People usually see atheism as something very negative and "dark".. just like christians see pagans as something evil. If you do not believe in GOD then you must believe in or worchip the DEVIL. There are no gray areas for people with closed minds. Instead of accepting and trying to "understand" how people live it is easier for some to just ASSUME how their life is and how bad it is because it is not the same as theres.
Alot of CHRISTIANS that I Know are actually very negative... hypocritical...back stabbing.. miserable people who profess to have the perfect life. Sad but true.. they do not know true happiness because they are too busy trying to impress others and to make others believe how much they believe and what good people they are BECAUSE of what they believe instead of what kind of life they trully LIVE! | |
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| How would you change your life.........
Posted: 8/3/2006 9:58:45 PM | I have no plans to become an atheist.
If I did, I don't believe that I'd lead a bad life with disregard for values.
I'd likely have many of the same morals and values I do now.
Perhaps some Christians may act in a certain way, believing they're securing a place in heaven or sparing themselves from hell, and that's the only reason for their actions.
But I think most religious teachings on morality should still be applied to life, even if the promise of heaven or the threat of eternal damnation didn't/doesn't exist.
Everyone should be aware that life is better for all of us if we lived in a world without crime, adultry, dishonesty, etc.
I believe in being kind and honest to people, not because God said so, but because I'd like them to be kind and honest to me.
We should be helpful to others, not because the bible told us to be, but because we all have to live in this world so we should do our part to make it a better place.
If I didn't think God was judging me, should I kill and steal?
I'd rather not, because I prefer to feel secure and comfortable in the world and also wish everyone else could feel secure and comfortable. This is not possible in a world that believes in theft and murder. | |
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| How would you change your life.........
Posted: 8/3/2006 10:56:53 PM | | I still believe in the 10 commandments. If you follow those then you are a good person, or at least follow them to the best of your ability. You can be a good person no matter what religion you are or are not. It's what's in your heart and the type person you are in your everyday living. It's how you treat people... | |
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| How would you change your life.........
Posted: 8/4/2006 9:08:18 AM | How would you change your life......... if you became an atheist?
I would probably try extra hard to be a good, kind and moral person... so that I could convert those poor christians to my point of view. | |
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| How would you change your life.........
Posted: 8/4/2006 9:25:28 AM | Good point Mesnafugal.
Beliefs in what's morally right and what's morally wrong (theft, dishonesty, harm to other people, etc ) are similar in every religion.
In Christianity they're refered to in the commandments, but they are universally accepted.
To many people, these aren't considered right or wrong only because a God said so. They are considered right or wrong because they are the key elements to building a stable society which benefits everyone. | |
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| How would you change your life.........
Posted: 8/4/2006 10:21:39 AM | As an agnostic becoming an atheist would not change my thoughts on what is morally right or wrong... I call it common sense and still would. Why throw out any values for disbelief of God? Does God have a monopoly on morality? Some would say of course, but when I am as sure about the God within, as opposed to one on a flaming pie, the whole scenario would be counter productive.
Hope this makes sense to you! | |
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| How would you change your life.........
Posted: 8/4/2006 11:13:29 AM | | Ummmmmm......as is obvious by my original post, I am an atheist with a very strict value system. I have no trouble with the concept that god does not equal morality (in fact, I see quite the contrary every single day). I am wondering how many of those christians there are who only behave because of fear, and not becasue they WANT to be good. I (and my children and husband) have a far better value system than almost any christian we know. We are good becasue it is the right thing to do and becasue we care about people and our world. I asked because I have heard many christians indicate that if it wasn't for god keeping them in line they would go wild. | |
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| How would you change your life.........
Posted: 8/4/2006 12:30:09 PM | sweet fishy
From my own experience of dogmatic beliefs they all have one common factor, fear of the greater power. What it left me with was a huge guilt trip. I am not ashamed to admit that I was sold on it for much of my life. How I changed my thinking isn't important, only that I did and I've never looked back. After many years of struggling with what is 'worldly' and what is 'Godly' I came to the conclusion (through personal grief and mental anguish) that I was being 'blinded' by 'the light'. The real light is within you, it is a part of you and you are a part of it.
Blessing! | |
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| How would you change your life.........
Posted: 8/4/2006 12:34:54 PM | | if your a atheist, why do you care at all?...everything are just molecules and electrons...good and bad have no meaning for a atheist...thats why I chose to believe, because this way life has a meaning..and it does. | |
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late™
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Joined: 1/9/2005
Msg: 11 | |
| How would you change your life.........
Posted: 8/4/2006 12:54:36 PM | if your a atheist, why do you care at all?...everything are just molecules and electrons..
Nonesense, Atheism doesn't have a mandate, it's the opposite of theism -
Theism
n : the doctrine or belief in the existence of a God or gods [ant: atheism]
Atheism
n 1: the doctrine or belief that there is no God [syn: godlessness] [ant: theism] 2: a lack of belief in the existence of God or gods
good and bad have no meaning for a atheist...
??
And why would that be?
A valid argument could be made that the ideas of good/bad have even more meaning to an atheist, as the definitions of them aren't motivated by the punishment/reward of a deity in a supposed after-life, but by an accountable sense of right and wrong in the verifiable reality of life. | |
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| How would you change your life.........
Posted: 8/4/2006 1:15:15 PM | A valid argument could be made that the ideas of good/bad have even more meaning to an atheist, as the definitions of them aren't motivated by the punishment/reward of a deity in a supposed after-life, but by an accountable sense of right and wrong in the verifiable reality of life.
I find this to be absolutely true. It is how I live my life as do all of the other atheists I know. When you are required to face the consequences of every one of your actions without the benifit of ultimite "forgiveness" it makes you a much more responsible person. I would almsot classify myself as a humanist as I have a total and complete love of and compassion for my fellow man. I do good because I love people not because I am afraid I will be punished in the afterlife.
As for why I care, it is because I am very interested in finding out how the minds of deeply religious people work. Most of my extended family are very religious and terribly unhappy with the bad seed (me) that fell away from their god. It is enlightening to me to see how other christians view life and morality. | |
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| How would you change your life.........
Posted: 8/4/2006 1:15:53 PM | Agnostic here, but I still think this is one of the best philosophies, I've ever heard. One sentance can pretty much cover all aspects of your social life.
"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."
Peace | |
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| How would you change your life.........
Posted: 8/4/2006 3:58:51 PM | I wouldn't change my life at all. As a Pagan I already know that I am responsible for the consequences of all my actions, words, and thoughts. My faith contains no mechanism to say, "Oops, my bad. Sorry. Don't hold it against me, big guy. I get a clean slate now, right?" My faith and morality are what I live 24/7/365, not just put on for an hour or two a week, or when someone is looking.
I know people of other religions and people of no religion who live their lives the same way. I have friends who are TRUE Christians, living their beliefs and following the teachings of Jesus and doing what they can to make sure THEIR life is in order rather than trying to make sure everyone else joins the church they belong to. They know the best "advertisement" for their belief system is the way they conduct themselves and their life. They accept me as I am, as I accept them as they are--worthy, honorable people doing their best to go through this life treating others with respect and compassion, doing what we can to leave this world a better place for having been in it. Those people I respect. Unfortunately, they are few and far between.
None of us has any respect for what a Southern friend terms "Sunday saints but Saturday sinners" i.e. those who do as they please, believing that all that's required to ensure "paradise" is to yet again confess their sins or be baptised in the holy spirit again, or to one time say they are Christian and accept Christ into their life and all will be forgiven upon death, regardless of what they do in the interim. It must be very comforting, and certainly sounds convenient. Those SSBSS's better hope they're right. I personally don't think they are, but gee, it's a great little fantasy. | |
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| How would you change your life.........
Posted: 8/4/2006 4:04:08 PM | Nonesense, Atheism doesn't have a mandate, it's the opposite of theism -
Theism
n : the doctrine or belief in the existence of a God or gods [ant: atheism]
Atheism
n 1: the doctrine or belief that there is no God [syn: godlessness] [ant: theism] 2: a lack of belief in the existence of God or gods
you atheists are so funny, do you think that if God didnt exist we would even have this conversation?? chaos and hazard cannot create a being able to have a conversation as deep as the meaning of life! you guys are so blind, Im sure God must be crying right now...
a bit like when Frankenstein created his wall smashing monster...a disapointment!  | |
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late™
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Joined: 1/9/2005
Msg: 16 | |
| How would you change your life.........
Posted: 8/4/2006 4:11:35 PM |
you atheists are funny,
I'm not an Atheist, I believe in Einstein's version of Spinoza's "God".
do you think that if God didnt exist we would even have this conversation??
Which God?
chaos and hazard cannot create a being able to have a conversation as deep as the meaning of life!
My parents made me, they were neither chaotic, hazardous, nor divine.
you guys are so blind, Im sure God must be crying right now...
Which God?
a bit like when Frankenstein created his wall smashing monster...a disapointment!
Ahhhh... believe in Frankenstein too? | |
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| How would you change your life.........
Posted: 8/4/2006 4:27:55 PM | Which God?
if you believe in a God its a good start, I tought you were a complete atheist. the bible is a gift from God, he chose to reveal himself trough it....but you have the choice to chose another faith....but it will be like trying to learn how to assemble a electronic device after throwing away the instruction manual...it was there for you. Anyways Im not here to force my faith in your throat, Im just sharing my taughts...(what is Einstein's pizza god??) | |
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late™
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Joined: 1/9/2005
Msg: 18 | |
| How would you change your life.........
Posted: 8/4/2006 5:15:14 PM |
if you believe in a God its a good start, I tought you were a complete atheist. the bible is a gift from God, he chose to reveal himself trough it....but you have the choice to chose another faith....
Well, as faiths go, there's no need to have any in this one, it doesn't care one way or the other.
but it will be like trying to learn how to assemble a electronic device after throwing away the instruction manual...
I do that as a hobby.
(what is Einstein's pizza god??)
My interpretation of Einstein's version of Spinoza's God:
There is an "everything" the total sum of all that exists.
It doesn't make lists, think, speak, communicate, punish, reward, care, require belief, etc.
It's just the "all", quite the opposite of "supernatural", it is the total sum of existance
It's easy to spot too, 'cause there's only one of everything, making one the largest number imaginable. That's "God".
This interpretation of "God" is of the Universe, not responsible for its creation, not at all concerned with people, it's too busy being.
So if I decided to call myself an Atheist, absolutely nothing would change, except maybe the idea of the unidirectional nature of time. | |
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| How would you change your life.........
Posted: 8/4/2006 5:59:41 PM | | Einstein's theory lacks a important factor: the thinking mind, the personality of a being, the power to create with a goal, it cannot only be part of a "all". I cant picture an ensemble of things bigger than the ensemble itself, a bag cannot carry more than its volume...all that I have enumerated above is bigger than everything...the mind is infinite, IT IS the "all"....sorry but Einstein should not quit his day job.... | |
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allh2h
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Joined: 3/23/2006
Msg: 20 | |
| How would you change your life.........
Posted: 8/4/2006 10:39:52 PM | As far as my ethics and morals it would not change anything at all, as I hold myself accountable for my actions and think before I do something. For every action there is an effect and I would much rather see happy healthy people living a full peaceful lilfe then negativity and such harshness along with cruetly.
I could not however not believe in a Higher being, I have seen too much, witnessed too much and felt too much to do otherwise.
if your a atheist, why do you care at all?...everything are just molecules and electrons...good and bad have no meaning for a atheist...thats why I chose to believe, because this way life has a meaning..and it does.
This shows a lack of knowledge, not being able to read or comprehend previous posts or unwillingness to accept what has been put before you~but then again your quote is coming from someone who thinks it is ok to choke a cat if that cat is getting in between him and his sweety so I guess I must consider the source here.
Edit: And when my computer is done doing it's thing I can come back and finish this....had so much more to put when it crashed hours and hours ago. | |
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| How would you change your life.........
Posted: 8/4/2006 11:21:48 PM | As an Athiest I can honestly say my morality did not change in the slightest when I switched to logic rather then faith. Why should it? I learned my morality from my parents.
I find that it is more fulfilling to find the answers then to be given them.
"Give a man a fish, he'll eat for a day. Teach a man to fish, he'll eat for life."
Why be given a purpose in life when you can find your own? We may be a bunch of random atoms interacting with eachother, but you know what? When I bump my toe against the desk it hurts. When I don't eat, I get hungry. And when someone insults me, I get angry. Like it or not, the world effects me so I care.
Oh and I intentionally don't read instruction manuals on electronics because when I figure out how to work it by myself, I have a tendancy to be able to operate it and others like it alot easier.
you atheists are so funny, do you think that if God didnt exist we would even have this conversation?? chaos and hazard cannot create a being able to have a conversation as deep as the meaning of life! you guys are so blind, Im sure God must be crying right now...
Order follows a logical path, it is unwavering, unchanging, predictable. It can do nothing but what it was ment to do. Chaos , however, can do anything. Including make intelligent beings capable of debating the source of morality. | |
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| How would you change your life.........
Posted: 8/5/2006 5:41:43 AM |
Order follows a logical path, it is unwavering, unchanging, predictable. It can do nothing but what it was ment to do. Chaos , however, can do anything. Including make intelligent beings capable of debating the source of morality.
the truth is that there is no chaos...everything is meant for a reason, chaos and even death are illusions.....this is why you have the impression that chaos can create, its because it is not chaos, in fact the intelligence, the mind of a human could only have been created by another mind and chaos is not the mind so chaos did not create man.....in truth everything comes from the mind....even what you think is chaos.
the world, our world, was created from the mind of God. exactly like a story or a drawing is from the mind of a artist. | |
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| How would you change your life.........
Posted: 8/5/2006 5:54:23 AM |
This shows a lack of knowledge, not being able to read or comprehend previous posts or unwillingness to accept what has been put before you~but then again your quote is coming from someone who thinks it is ok to choke a cat if that cat is getting in between him and his sweety so I guess I must consider the source here.
sorry but you must stick with the subject or the mods will come nocking at your door..so leave the cats out of this. as for the unwillingness to accept other posts well it is a matter or atheism vs belief so it is a debate, I wont be converted easely and a atheist wont be changing his mind that quick either....so you can expect a exchange of ideas and not just a: "ok I get it I was wrong all the time" I do read the posts and reply to them to my best knowledge. | |
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allh2h
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Joined: 3/23/2006
Msg: 24 | |
| How would you change your life.........
Posted: 8/5/2006 6:59:12 AM | The best of your knowledge, I guess taht would be my point mercer.
You are saying that Atheism is not someone's belief, and by this, to some it is there belief, so you would be wrong. So, I would hope, to gain more knowledge, you would look at what is being posted by those said people and take that into consideration and learn from it. That is all. | |
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| How would you change your life.........
Posted: 8/5/2006 8:01:54 AM | | atheism is the illusion of he who needs to see to believe....well the sun was always there but we didnt believe in it until we saw it with our own eyes..there are so much things hidden, unseen to the eye, but is it a reason to not believe at all?? | |
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