Britain bends the knee

[BillyCarpenter]

Okay. I'll tell you what, I'm not going to try to debate a topic I don't fully understand. But feel free to debate amongst yourself.

No, I actually agree with you. Nobody knows. However, you can't get something from nothing. I'm pretty sure that's true.

[Copier Addict]

Just try supporting your stance that everything came from nothing. Sounds just as ridiculous to me.

Okay. I'll tell you what, I'm not going to try to debate a topic I don't fully understand. But feel free to debate amongst yourself.

[BillyCarpenter]

In that sense theists and atheists both believe something came from nothing. But instead of using critical thinking, theists choose to attribute the universe to a mighty man in the sky who conjured it into existence.

Just try supporting your stance that everything came from nothing. Sounds just as ridiculous to me.

[Copier Addict]

Atheists have as big of a problem as religion. Religious folks believe in intelligent design. I don't buy it but you believe that everything came from nothing? How can that be?

In that sense theists and atheists both believe something came from nothing. But instead of using critical thinking, theists choose to attribute the universe to a mighty man in the sky who conjured it into existence.

[BillyCarpenter]

I'm just responding to questions.
And no, there is no belief system.
That really seems to be a tough one for theists to grasp.

Atheists have as big of a problem as religion. Religious folks believe in intelligent design. I don't buy it but you believe that everything came from nothing? How can that be?

[Copier Addict]

The basic tenet of Atheism us that there are no deities. And that is a belief system. And when 2 or more atheists get together to discuss their disbelief, that becomes a religious congregation. And, from what I have observed here on CTN, you do a lot of coercing.

I'm just responding to questions.
And no, there is no belief system.
That really seems to be a tough one for theists to grasp.

[Copier Addict]

So you have no belief system at all? No moral framework? A belief system isn't just the outward practice but the inner mental structure you use to make sense of the world and decide whether or not you think something is good or bad. I also don't believe you have secret meetings or handshakes lol. Never did say that. Ok, I'll for the sake of the argument that you don't have a belief system. What i'm asking is how you choose what is good and evil.

I use my critical thinking abilities to decide between good or bad. It's really that simple. I don't need an almighty deity to decide that for me.

[slimslob]

I'm gonna have to take the side mostly with copier addict. I have nothing against religion. Honest.

But I don't need religion to know the difference between right and wrong. I think we're born with it. I suppose you could make the case for God on that. Above my paygrade. Some of the worst people I know sit in church every Sunday.

They are called hypocrits

[BillyCarpenter]

I'm gonna have to take the side mostly with copier addict. I have nothing against religion. Honest.

But I don't need religion to know the difference between right and wrong. I think we're born with it. I suppose you could make the case for God on that. Above my paygrade. Some of the worst people I know sit in church every Sunday.


And which God am I suppose to follow and why?

[slimslob]

Originally posted by Copier Addict


You seem to be under some misguided idea that atheism is a belief system. It is not!!! I don't know how to make you understand that. In fact, it a lack of belief. It is the exact opposite of a belief system. There are no secret atheist meetings and no secret atheist handshakes. We don't have rituals like religions do.
We just live without all the guilt and anxiety that religion pumps into people. Therefore we are less likely to be coerced into doing something horrific because we don't have the years of religious brainwashing to weaken us

The basic tenet of Atheism us that there are no deities. And that is a belief system. And when 2 or more atheists get together to discuss their disbelief, that becomes a religious congregation. And, from what I have observed here on CTN, you do a lot of coercing.

[nullskull]

You seem to be under some misguided idea that atheism is a belief system. It is not!!! I don't know how to make you understand that. In fact, it a lack of belief. It is the exact opposite of a belief system. There are no secret atheist meetings and no secret atheist handshakes. We don't have rituals like religions do.
We just live without all the guilt and anxiety that religion pumps into people. Therefore we are less likely to be coerced into doing something horrific because we don't have the years of religious brainwashing to weaken us

So you have no belief system at all? No moral framework? A belief system isn't just the outward practice but the inner mental structure you use to make sense of the world and decide whether or not you think something is good or bad. I also don't believe you have secret meetings or handshakes lol. Never did say that. Ok, I'll for the sake of the argument that you don't have a belief system. What i'm asking is how you choose what is good and evil.

[Copier Addict]

I'm not saying religion hasn't done anything bad. I'm saying just because you and your neighbors in your quiet little suburbia aren't going out killing doesn't mean you couldn't be lead to that point. Many fundamentally atheist nations have already proved that. We're all made of the same stuff. Saying you don't think anybody is watching us from above doesn't change that. And yes the middle east is a complete mess. Islam is a truly evil religion. I think all people have a fallen nature that is reigned in by how we're raised and the culture around us. An atheist can grow up to be a perfectly respectable person. Same with a Muslim. Both can be corrupted by their desires and those around them. Personally, I see all efforts we do make to be "righteous" as pointless when you compare it to the standard God sets.

You seem to be under some misguided idea that atheism is a belief system. It is not!!! I don't know how to make you understand that. In fact, it a lack of belief. It is the exact opposite of a belief system. There are no secret atheist meetings and no secret atheist handshakes. We don't have rituals like religions do.
We just live without all the guilt and anxiety that religion pumps into people. Therefore we are less likely to be coerced into doing something horrific because we don't have the years of religious brainwashing to weaken us

[nullskull]

It's very strange that you believe people are just driven to do bad things and it's only religion holding them back. That's a very silly view to have.
Besides, more people use religion as an excuse to do horrific things to other people. Just look at the middle east. That whole area is governed by one religious cult or another, and they're quite eager to kill their religious rivals off.
I don't know any religious people in my area and none of us have killed each other. Religions breed anger and anger leads to atrocities.

I'm not saying religion hasn't done anything bad. I'm saying just because you and your neighbors in your quiet little suburbia aren't going out killing doesn't mean you couldn't be lead to that point. Many fundamentally atheist nations have already proved that. We're all made of the same stuff. Saying you don't think anybody is watching us from above doesn't change that. And yes the middle east is a complete mess. Islam is a truly evil religion. I think all people have a fallen nature that is reigned in by how we're raised and the culture around us. An atheist can grow up to be a perfectly respectable person. Same with a Muslim. Both can be corrupted by their desires and those around them. Personally, I see all efforts we do make to be "righteous" as pointless when you compare it to the standard God sets.

[Copier Addict]

Atheists use their belief in subjective morality to do all kinds of horrible things and justify whatever the mob desires. You're not special just because you don't believe in God. At the end of the day you have less to hold your kind back from atrocities.

It's very strange that you believe people are just driven to do bad things and it's only religion holding them back. That's a very silly view to have.
Besides, more people use religion as an excuse to do horrific things to other people. Just look at the middle east. That whole area is governed by one religious cult or another, and they're quite eager to kill their religious rivals off.
I don't know any religious people in my area and none of us have killed each other. Religions breed anger and anger leads to atrocities.

[nullskull]

I dislike all religions equally, skull.
I sincerely believe they are mankind's worst invention

Atheists use their belief in subjective morality to do all kinds of horrible things and justify whatever the mob desires. You're not special just because you don't believe in God. At the end of the day you have less to hold your kind back from atrocities.