Q for atheists: If you don't believe in any form of God, could you support the argument that we should all...

Question

... kill ourselves to save the planet and its creatures? What is atheist logic about suicide? And if atheism is based on so called "logic" and not belief in some greater idea, would it not be logical to rid the earth of the parasite called man, and save the greatest number of living things? I mean, what makes us so special?

Wow - some nice discussion here. I love to get people riled up - looks like I did! And I thought only fundies were so easy to rile....

Oh - and by the way 'Levialog', I am not a member of any religion, and you didn't answer any of my questions, just flamed me. But you think you're better than fundamentalists, right? Because you are "so smart"? Way to expose the underlying arrogance of atheism...

Answer 1

I think it's definitely easier for athiests to justify suicide, since they have no belief system and nothing to look forward to after they die... whether or not there really is anything to look forward to, I don't know...

But I think if we all made a mass exodus and left the planet as it is, in the state that's it's in, the living things we left behind would perish anyway. Only then, they'd be left to flounder in the cesspool that us Humans have created...

Answer 2

The problem here is that you are making two false assumptions. The first is that atheism is based upon logic. A person is not an atheist because it is the "logical" decision. Rather, a person is an atheist based on life experience. You have to have a reason to be a theist....there has to have been some sort of event, experience or phenomenon which could only have been possible (by the theist's perception) due to the existence of some god or deity. The atheist has no such reason. Since you can't force yourself to have a true belief in something like a god or deity, atheism is neither logical or illogical...it's simply an inherent state.

Your second flawed assumption is that humanity is parasitic. It isn't. It may seem that way because humans can be incredibly selfish; however, if we, as a species, were inherently parasitic, we would never have bothered to develop any of the environmental or ecological programs and laws that exist today. Further, there is no natural belief amongst humanity that we are "special". We, like every other organism, are in this race called life to survive. The concept of humanity being special over all other life forms is a prevalent thought in the minds of those who are religious, but you will very rarely find that idea amongst the non-religious.

So...no, I couldn't support your argument at all.

Answer 3

No, I do not support the idea of killing ourselves off to save the planet. I think we need to pull our heads out of our collective a** and begin fixing the problems we have created through our greed. Much less painful than mass-suicide, don't you think?

What are my thoughts on suicide? I think it is sad when anyone feels that life is too painful to continue on. I do not however think it's a crime or a "sin." If someone is bent on ending his/her existence, so be it. Who am I to tell them they are wrong and life is worth living? I am, for example, 100% in support of physician-assisted suicide.

We are not parasites. We are (for the most part) intelligent animals who are able to make an impact on the Earth, be it a positive or a negative one. I think mankind has the ability (if not the willingness) to make the right choices for the planet and all other living creatures.. eventually. Nothing makes us "special" but we are a *part of* this planet. Our place is here. We just need to take responsibility for our actions.

Answer 4

Put it this way if you went and killed yourself tommorow you'd be in a minority and that would be you just gone! For some reason we have a survival instinct, repeoduction everything falls into this. I honestly believe that humans will evolve to become better people to survive. Look at the way men and women are adapting each others roles, with come a long way but still have far to go. Try making a difference as an alive person, not a minimal effect from taking your life.

Answer 5

That's actually one of the most illogical statements I have ever heard. A more logical response to the OPINION that humans are parasites on this Earth would be to live in harmony with the Earth, not off oneself. That would be stupid. If you want to though, go ahead. Supposedly you have free will.

Answer 6

I would support the argument that maybe we should try to be a bit less parasitic...

Look- atheist is only a term to specify that I don't believe in a god.

Being a HUMANIST- no- I don't support killing humans to preserve a planet. I support the best interests to the human race... and religion is slipping from that category.


You need fourthmeal.

Answer 7

Ah ha!
Now we see the true opinion the believers have of their fellow humans!

Actually the way I look at it humans, mankind or however you want to call it, is not special at all.

However I happen to be a human and I function out of self interest.

What is good for me and my descendants is what matters.

Since my great grandchildren will be swimming in the great gene pool which is the rest of human kind I would prefer that it does not get drained.

Answer 8

So, the only thing keeping you from killing yourself is your belief in a god? How sad is that?



You called this riled up? Were there atheists on here calling you a heretic or saying that you were going to hell? Were there atheists on here quoting scripture and ignoring any logic? Nope. You asked a question. People answered. And you are calling that riled up?

Answer 9

Nope.

However, believing in a God which favors one particular theology of humans over another is a great excuse to kill off everything else because nothing else is important.

Answer 10

I love your phrase "so-called 'logic'" - perfect!

To my mind very little makes us special, if you ignore anthropocentrism. It might be nice for the planet to have us out of the picture.

CD