You have nothing to gain, and I don't think you're lying. I'm sure you believe what you are saying; but that doesn't mean I have to believe it myself. I have nothing to gain by 'converting' you; anyway, I don't even attempt to 'convert' believers. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy arguing with theists, especially when they are rather educated. But I'm not out to deconvert anyone; I just enjoy a healthy debate. I honestly couldn't care less what you believe as long as your beliefs do not tread on the rights and liberties of others.
2007-11-03 23:14:39
·
answer #1
·
answered by Dashes 6
·
8⤊
0⤋
Being an atheist doesn't mean anything, but having fun being an atheist means a whole lot. See with your 'god' what if I tell you that I've been praying to a jug of milk and it answered my prayers after I saw it in a dream talking to me, would you get on your knees and pray for the jug of milk. What you don't understand about the word theory is that in the scientific context it is used in a theory is the best model for the supporting evidence. 'god' isn't a theory to us it is a superstition, gravity is a theory, evolution is a theory, space-time is a theory but these are best models based on the supporting evidence not just some crazy thought up idea. It has also been theorised (due to evidence) that the warm funny feeling you get is in deep parts of the emotion receptors in the brain which simulate deep faith, most atheist have a deficiency in this area, therefore we don't get a warm fuzzy feeling over 'god'
BTW Great answer 'Beneath Lucifers Claws' right on
2007-11-04 00:02:39
·
answer #2
·
answered by devilzhitman 2
·
2⤊
0⤋
Most atheists are not trying to 'convert' you; except when you try to 'convert' them. We're not interested in whether you believe that we're right; as atheists, we know we're right, based on the evidence before us and if (or when) that evidence changes, we'll change our perspective accordingly. We are (usually) curious about what you believe and why, mostly because we gave up God along with the tooth fairy and santa claus and dragons and we don't understand why you didn't. (And a lot of religious people can take this kind of questioning/trying to understand as 'converting').
Second point, as a correction. Atheists don't think God is a theory - evolution is a theory (a story that explains the facts we have discovered in the simplest way possible). We're fairly certain God is a myth, just like Odin and Zeus and the tooth fairy are myths.
Third point - if you're confused when you encounter an atheist, take a minute and look at the meeting from our perspective: here we are in the room with an adult person who believes that an omnipotent, omniscient, invisible being has called their name, hugged them, and cares about everything they do. If I came and told you I had an invisible giraffe that liked to hug me and talk to me and knew everything, you'd think I was crazy. We think god is as crazy as an invisible giraffe.
Fourthly, we don't think you're lying. Why would you lie? Obviously, at some point in your life, something inexplicable (to you) and comforting has happened. You have chosen to believe that this was God. Personally, I prefer to get my hugs from real people, misfiring neurons, and invisible giraffes (in that order), and I don't get your willingness to buy into all that God claptrap and obligations just to get a hug but then, that's just me.
Finally, being an atheist is not a belief system - it doesn't govern the way we live our lives. We (usually - though there are bad people who are atheists just like there are bad people who are Jewish/Christian/Muslim/etc) take care of ourselves and others and take responsibility for our actions (and for our own learning and forgiveness) rather than relying on an imaginary giraffe to teach/forgive/punish. We tend to think that the universe is a pretty awesome place, that life itself is pretty nifty, and that it's kinda incredible that all of this came from one little bacteria, millennia ago. And then we mostly go on living our lives, enjoying this wonderful world, and making good and stupid decisions like the rest of the planet.
Did that help?
2007-11-03 23:56:48
·
answer #3
·
answered by sophie_jules 2
·
3⤊
0⤋
"What does being an atheist mean to me?"
It means absolutely nothing to me. It is a label that others have used to describe my lack of a belief in a certain god. I am glad that you feel that he has talked to you and that you believe you have felt his embrace. Regardless of whither you are lying or not has no bearing whatsoever on how I feel about the proposed concept of your god. What do you have to gain? Let me ask you a question then. If you have nothing to gain, why are you trying to spread your beliefs? You most assuredly have something to gain and to claim otherwise is an outright lie. I cannot believe that you ask that. Everyone has something to gain when they do something, if not why would they waste the time and effort. You might feel you are gaining entrance to heaven because you are doing the work of God, or you might get a good feeling because you think you have saved someone from the fires of hell. The bottom line is that you are gaining something whither it is physically tangible or not.
"What do I have to gain by getting you to let go of the idea of your god?"
First, I cannot convert you to atheism because it isn't a religion. If someone ask you if you believe in Zeus and you say no, because you are a Christian, that makes you an atheist also. Do you understand what I am saying. Atheism doesn't state that gods do not exist, it only states that a person lacks a belief in a certain god. I am not making the claim there is no god, I am only saying that their is no good reason to believe the claims made by followers of the Abrahamic religions. What do I have to gain by getting you to let go of your beliefs in God or Allah? I will tell you what I feel will be gained. 1. A major stumbling block will be removed from the path of humanity. Science will no longer be hindered, because the excuse, "God did it!" will no longer suffice. All people will have to work to explain those things not understand. 2. Men will no longer be divided by religion. Muslims will not fight with Christians over beliefs. Gays will no longer be persecuted by Christians. Atheist people will no longer be considered unmoral inhumane members of society, by the religious. President Bush had the nerve to claim that atheist were not citizens. He said this country was founded on Christian beliefs and because we don't believe, he does not consider us members of this nation or citizens. 3. I will no longer have to live my life subject to religiously influenced laws. It is not good enough for the religious to live by their own rules, they feel they have the right to force others to live by their rules as well. It isn't against my morals if my wife would want an early term abortion, but if the religious had their way, it would not be possible. Gays could marry. Marijuana would be legal. Those are just a few of the reason, on a long list of reason that I could name.
I would like to point out something to you. Lying isn't against my beliefs, yet I have not lied when you ask what I have to gain. Lying is against your beliefs, yet you seem to have no problem with it. Who is the moral person here? And you wonder why people want to do away with religion. Go figure!
EDIT
I am sorry for the misunderstanding on my part. Since voice inflection does not translate well to paper, these things are bound to happen. In my mind, is sounded as if you were posting the question to point out you could not be lying because you had nothing to gain. Still though, I did list a few things that you could possibly gain that could cause you to lie, so all in all, the question still got answered. That is the important thing.
2007-11-03 23:51:35
·
answer #4
·
answered by Danny 6
·
1⤊
0⤋
Not a lot.
It is simply an extension of my commitment to accuracy.
I don't think you are lying to me. Also, if I heard someone say "there is an asteroid coming.... I can feel it" or "the next card will be a two of spades. I can feel it!" I don't believe their conclusions either.
And I don't want to convert you to anything. It is more than fine by me if you stay pretty much how you are. The flipside of this is that if you do end up saying something offensive, like the things some people have said about gay people, then there is no special privelege for doing so if it is someone's religion.
2007-11-03 23:15:13
·
answer #5
·
answered by Anonymous
·
4⤊
0⤋
My thoughts on religion are open to all types, as well as evolution especial evolution of the planet we call earth and society
From the beginning of our time on this earth the homo-sapians have evolved into what roams this earth today and into the future, will either except religion for what it is worth or dismiss it as folk law from days gone by.
In fact what gets me is why this God in particular, decided to adopt a tribe of Hebrews from the Middle East and not some other worthy tribe of people on the other side of the earth from them.
The Australian Aboriginals have been in Australia ever since the they migrated South around 70,000 years ago to this last Bastien Continent I now live on.
With over 600 different clans divided into many thousands of tribes, these Aboriginals have more than one God and Spirits who live in Dream Time had combined together to make this wonderful land called Down Under.
So where is your point when you say a God has spoken to you and clasped around you givening warmth. Is this God's question of warmth relates to what for I ask. Was it you were cold and shivering or was it love that God sort at this first feeling of "Gods warmth of love for you.
What amazes me, is when someone says; God has spoken to them and people accept this as fact if they believe them. However, if a person said; that an Alien clasp around the body of that person and spoke to them. Then this person concerned replies; I did feel the warmth of that Alien when the Alian spoke. Then that person would be classified as insane and locked up for good.
2007-11-03 23:57:05
·
answer #6
·
answered by Drop short and duck 7
·
3⤊
0⤋
Your understanding,if any, is faulty as it's based on a premise which doesn't exist.A theory is about something and can't be about Nothing.(see dictionary meaning of 'theory').Therefore,for atheists God is not a theory at all.However,if you hear God and have direct contact with Him and has the decency to keep it as a private affair,no atheist shall have any problem with you or with any other believer.An atheist is a strong believer of personal freedom and as long as such people don't impinge upon his freedom,he shall let them be what they wish to be.No body wants to convert you or anybody as it would tantamount to interference in some body's personal life. So, be what you wish but keep on your side of the fence.Good day.
2007-11-03 23:33:14
·
answer #7
·
answered by brkshandilya 7
·
2⤊
0⤋
I've never felt 'his' 'embrass'. Even if I did feel an (supernatural? ) 'embrace', I wouldn't automatically assign it to a patriarchal middle-Eastern bronze-age despot (male)-sky-figure.
I have felt moments of extreme warmth, awe, timelessness and 'belonging', usually when alone in the woods, out on the heath, happy with myself and my ininitessimally small place the cosmos.
Maybe that is a fundamental 'god' moment for some? To me, it is no less than the feeling of belonging, and of peace and heightened awareness, or (imagined?) 'oneness' with the all that exists. That remains for me a mystery that could be answered by psychology or spirituality, ot things beyond my knowledge or ability to understand.
I am in no rush to cleave to a religious text, that is against my nature.
Things of men are normally deceitful where power is involved. If it looks like a duck and walks like a duck, then it probably is an insecure, superstitious, primitive, male ego writ large. Not to mention the endless reworkings and embellishments of older myths...
I am only labelled 'atheist' because I don't have an active belief in a deity. I don't deny the possibility of one (or a billion), or the possibility of us being a gigantic alien experiment etc etc. But I see more evidence *against* the common claims for all the 'one and only' deities worshipped in the world, than I do evidence for them.
You would do better to ask me, "what does being a human mean to you?"
Let me try and explain simply by example:
Do you believe there is a giant floating teapot in another dimension, an all-knowing teapot, that made us and everything??
Why not?
Why are you an ateapotist? What does it mean to you?
If you can answer that, you'll maybe know my answer to your question.
I have nothing to gain by converting you, unless your belief in the teapot promoted bigotry against others (gays, secular education, scientists, other faiths etc) and this bigotry would cease if you ceased to subscribe to your religous doctrine.
2007-11-03 23:11:26
·
answer #8
·
answered by Bajingo 6
·
5⤊
1⤋
Theory?No, I have never said nor have I ever believed God to be a theory.More like an imagined idea to explain the unknown with an easy to understand concept.If you don't know why something is the way it is then it must be "God".
I am an Atheist because I can not bring myself to the state of mind required to embrace such things as leprechauns, Gods, and other invisible folk that only enter the realm of reality for those who embrace a self imposed delusion that they are real.
2007-11-03 23:12:37
·
answer #9
·
answered by Demopublican 6
·
6⤊
1⤋
no god is not a theory - theories have to have facts behind them. It is a myth, just like the gods of Rome and Greece.
Now what does it mean to be an atheist - well I just do not believe in any god or other supernatural or occult beings
2007-11-03 23:20:50
·
answer #10
·
answered by Freethinking Liberal 7
·
2⤊
0⤋