For the aethists?

Question

Why were Jesus, Siddhartha and Muslim able to inspire so many people to believe that what they were saying was true?

How would you define a good life?
How would you define a good person?
What do you make of ghost stories?

Since you are not involved with any religious congregation, are you at least an active part of your community (local community association) making it a better place to live?

Please note, I am just asking, I am not trying to attack you. I just want to know what is your perspective on these issues. Thank you to those who offer friendly replies.

Answer 1

good life=you accomplished your goal in life and helped humanity even if it's just in little ways
good person=someone who helps others and is understanding of others
ghost stories=don't believe them but they're fun to listen to
as of now i'm not doing any clubs or anything cuz i dont have time w/ soccer but i really want to join sierra club

Answer 2

Jesus, Siddhartha and Mohammed were able to convince alot of people that there is eternal life beyond what we have now. Alot of people find great comfort and peace of mind with this. I can't take religions at face value. I'm curious and I like to question things. Organized religions don't give me answers that I can accept. Turning water into wine, rising from the grave, virgins being conceived by a ghost etc I cannot accept as being logical or possible. I could go on and on but I think you get the idea.

A good life is a happy one. Not much more I can add to this.
A good person should employ alot of Peace, Love and Empathy in their lives.
Ghost stories were something I used to read when I was a kid (I'm 30) I prefer non fiction or current events to read nowadays.

I'm not active in the community because most people where I live are too wrapped up in their own lives to think of others but its not a bad place. Everyone has someone. I live in the suburbs near a medium sized town.
I hope this is a friendly response for you.
We could do with alot more of this.

Answer 3

Nice butchering of the word 'atheists'...

How did they inspire people? Well that's hard to say how, but not hard to do. Look at Scientology...based off a science fiction novel, and look at all the people falling into it...not hard to get people to go along with you if you have that talent.

Good life...well, that would be living a good, decent happy life.

Good Person...a good, decent person who does not ever do wrong on purpose.

Ghost stories? Depends on the story... as an atheist I still can have my own varying views of most anything past the 'god' thing. I've had my own experiences and are about the only "ghost stories" I am able to partly believe. I can't say that I TOTALLY believe in such things, but these things were pretty obvious and have never been able to explain them any other way. And I'm one of the most logical people I know. Which makes it a little odd being an atheist and knowing many other non believers don't believe in those things in any way, but...like I said our views CAN vary beyond the 'god' thing, and I only partly believe the things I've experienced, though I always feel a bit of skepticism about those to.

BUT however, if there is any survival of conscience, or energy, or something that would make up an "after life" concept, I do not believe it has anything to do with religion, a 'god', or anything of that sort. I personally feel if there is anything it is still very much right here connected with this earth and people.

Answer 4

As to the first question, devlsadvocate has it exaclty right.

Good life: Means that you're happy and content and that you don't have any major regrets on your death bed. It also means that you don't have people cheering when you go to your death bed or that your death bed is accompanied either by an injection or electricity.

Good person: Someone who is kind, doesn't hurt others, basicly what Christians concider a good person only I don't require the religious stuff.

Ghost stories: I have to ask, what do ghost stories have to do with the rest of this? Anyway, I don't believe in ghosts although I was recently told that there is scientific proof for something like ghosts, way to long and complicated to go in to here.

As to the community thing I don't live in a community really (the year round population is 12, no I'm not kidding) but I am planning on being part of a volunteer program to Peru next summer and I plan on joining the Peace Corps when I get older. Just because we don't believe in god/gods does not mean we're evil people.

Answer 5

I think all of the men you listed were probably charismatic speakers and because they lived so long ago, the stories have probably been twisted up.

I think a good life is one spent giving what you can, laughing whenever possible, doing no harm and never holding a grudge.

A good person is one who lives a good life.

I think science may someday be able to explain things that our culture cals "supernatural." I'm not saying that such events don't happen, only that it isn't as "spooky" as we think.

I try to do what I can to make the world better: give when I can, volunteer here and there.

I'm technically - I guess - a deist. Or an ecclectic monotheistic witch. Or something in-between. Anyway, I don't really count as an atheist, so maybe my reply was a waste of keystrokes....

Answer 6

Thank you for the friendly question! I define a good life as one that is lived to the fullest, full of love and peace toward others. I guess that would be a good person too. I love ghost stories. I just don't believe in ghosts.

Answer 7

In answer to your first question, they were able to convince others because those others wanted and needed to believe in what they said.

A good life is one enjoyed responsibly.
A good person is one who supports him/herself and is not parasitic.
I believe that the majority of ghost stories are fabrications.

I don't believe that I am responsible for others and I therefore feel no need to serve any community.

Answer 8

Inspire and threaten are two different things.

A good life is doing what makes you happy without hurting anyone else.
Someone that leads a good life.
Ghost stories are made up to scare people. They are not true, but for whatever purpose, they scare people.

I help the JR AF ROTC in my area.

Answer 9

Jesus and Mohammad had followers who controlled large armies. They threatened people with torture who didn't follow them. On the other hand The writings of Siddartha were of a different nature entirely, no threats of torture. More inspirational. Less putting people, especially non-followers down.

Answer 10

The same reason that Jim Jones, David Koresh, Adolph Hitler, and Charles Manson were able to inspire so many people to believe that what they were saying was true



The validity of a movement cannot be measured by the quantity of its followers.