If this is the case why do so many of you create names with "evil" or other "spiritual words and phrases" in them.
Please refrain from off handed comments. I would actually like to know.
2007-12-17 05:50:44 · 23 answers · asked by Dan S 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
...it is impossible to distinguish evil from good unless one has an infinite reference point which is absolutely good. Otherwise one is like a boat at sea on a cloudy night without a compass (i.e., there would be no way to distinguish north from south without the absolute reference point of the compass needle).
The infinite reference point for distinguishing good from evil can only be found in the person of God, for God alone can exhaust the definition of "absolutely good." If God does not exist, then there are no moral absolutes by which one has the right to judge something (or someone) as being evil. More specifically, if God does not exist, there is no ultimate basis to judge the crimes of Hitler. Seen in this light, the reality of evil actually requires the existence of God, rather than disproving it.[
2007-12-17 06:14:17 · update #1
for Captain Atheism if you are still out there. I am refering to the God of the bible.
2007-12-17 07:10:36 · update #2
They want the best of every belief. Without remorse.
2007-12-17 06:07:05 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
See this is why I'm here. Because there is so many misconceptions about atheists. The word means 'not theist' as in a lack of belief in deities. Which by the way Christians agree on 99.99% of those deities. Christians are inconsistent atheists.
Beyond a lack of belief in deities there really are no commonalities between one atheist and another. There are no rules for what to do or believe.
Like so many others you've taken a comment from one atheist and you're trying to apply it to all atheists.
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"it is impossible to distinguish evil from good unless one has an infinite reference point"
Meaningless nonsense. They're both subjective.
"If God does not exist, then there are no moral absolutes by which one has the right to judge something (or someone) as being evil."
And there are no moral absolutes as philosophers have established many times in many ways.
"if God does not exist, there is no ultimate basis to judge the crimes of Hitler."
"ultimate basis"? Meaningless again. There is no objective basis to judge Hitler. But we certainly can do so and have. Have we not? He was guilty of violating basic human rights. Rights defined by humans.
"the reality of evil actually requires the existence of God, rather than disproving it."
You'll never be able to prove the objective existence of 'evil' so no need to even start down that road.
2007-12-17 13:56:13 · answer #2 · answered by tuyet n 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Atheism spectrim is wide as any other religion. They are dived into 2 major belief system, implicit atheism and explicit atheism. implicit atheism is also know as agnostic. there are many self claimed atheists that are actually agnostics. if you hear anyone who say I do not believe in a god or gods because of lack of proof are agnostics. Explicit atheists simply states, God or gods or any supernatural being exists. With in the explicit atheism, there is a strong atheists who do not except anything beyond physical matter. Another scope of atheists believes in all supernaturals such as spirit, ghost and some reincarnations. Some Buddhist, Hindu and other spiritualism denys gods or a god but metaphysical world with spiritual world.
2007-12-17 14:01:08 · answer #3 · answered by Traveler 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
So there are no bad guys out here in the "material" world? No pedophiles, serial killers, phone scam artists, etc?
If I can use my 5 senses on it, it's part of the material world - and the concept of "evil" is NOT strictly a religious one.
Why do they create names like that? I don't know.
My name has personal significance; a derivative of my first screen name ever and given to me by friends and family. Religion or lack thereof had nothing to do with it.
2007-12-17 14:01:22 · answer #4 · answered by Cheese Fairy - Mummified 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is certainly not the case that atheists only believe in the material world. There are many quite spiritual atheists out there.
As for the names, it's all for fun. And probably to irritate the Christians a little, lol.
2007-12-17 13:56:07 · answer #5 · answered by Phoenix: Princess of Cupcakes 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Evil is a word referring to morality, not spirituality. Besides, there are several atheistic religious traditions, including Buddhism, Taoism, and Vedanta.
2007-12-17 13:55:30 · answer #6 · answered by neil s 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Some atheists believe in things spiritual, some don't. Atheism is the belief that gods don't exist, not a belief that spirits don't exist.
2007-12-17 13:55:53 · answer #7 · answered by sudonym x 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
The term "evil" has NOTHING to do with spirituality but rather morality. Morality & spirituality are mutually exclusive.
2007-12-17 14:00:59 · answer #8 · answered by Rance D 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's a way of making religious people angry. They are making fun of the fact that religious people call them evil, etc.
They like pushing your buttons.
Edit, regarding your comment about how there can't be a definition of evil without a god:
A Muslim would tell you a woman who is raped is evil.
A Christian would tell you the opposite.
So which god are they each using as a point of reference?
2007-12-17 13:54:32 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 1⤋
I'm actually not a fan of materialism, and scoff at people who drool over overpriced, branded crap.
You "thought" wrong. And by "thought", I mean "believed someone's BS propaganda without a second thought".
2007-12-17 14:06:41 · answer #10 · answered by moddy almondy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We also believe in the mental world. This is the mythical realm where the sense of humor resides.
2007-12-17 13:54:38 · answer #11 · answered by David Carrington Jr. 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋