Atheists

[Torn blue sky]

\"Realists\"?
I\'m pretty sure that IF there was a god like being it would be just the one...Oh wait, I guess thats just the western beleif system that was engrained into my mind as a kid.

 

[Micha]

Well; maybe I was not quite right when I said the thing about the 100%, but you have to remember that sovjet rule lasted for 72 years which means there were very few people towards the end (that´s where I lived) who still were raised in religious terms; an exception are maybe the small ethnic minoritis (chukchas, nentsi, burjaks etc) whose faith are so exotic nobody ever cared about oppressing them.
I also would like to point out that the current rise of the church in russia is a consequence of clever gouvernment policy - the patriarch supports putin (\'one hand washes the other one\' stuff, you know). If putin wished the church to remain low it would do so!
I see your point about atheists being a bigger threat to the church then other faiths very well; it is a rare phonomenon that poeple switch to a different faith (genuinely, I mean) but people dropping out of church and going atheist is qute common - here in north germany church participation has been gradually deteriorating as far as I know so they´ve got all the reason to worry.

Micha

 

[vincegamer]

Originally posted by Avicenna
What would you be if you believe that the gods in all major religions are one and the same (whether they be the creator, lesser gods or even angels) and that the fundamental truths are all identical, but have been interpreted differently over time and depending on the environment...

Hindu

 

[DrEvilmonki]

Originally posted by vincegamer

Originally posted by Avicenna
What would you be if you believe that the gods in all major religions are one and the same (whether they be the creator, lesser gods or even angels) and that the fundamental truths are all identical, but have been interpreted differently over time and depending on the environment...

Hindu

Really? Learn something new every day.

 

[vincegamer]

Originally posted by ZeCorto
It makes me wonder: why is denial of belief worse than the profession of a different belief?

Judging from my own numerous conversations on the point, I would guess it is because atheists don\'t have a uniform moral code.

Christians, Jews and Muslims all have these books where you can look up the rules. They were supposedly \"laid down\" by Authority.
Atheists have no book and have to come up with a moral code all on their own.
Those I consider weak or at least unimaginative cannot conceive of morality that is not the product of Authority.
Therefore they believe all atheism to be the road to chaos. This is ridiculous because there are tons of atheists out there and they are not shooting each other in traffic.

 

[Avicenna]

Originally posted by DrEvilmonki

Originally posted by vincegamer

Originally posted by Avicenna
What would you be if you believe that the gods in all major religions are one and the same (whether they be the creator, lesser gods or even angels) and that the fundamental truths are all identical, but have been interpreted differently over time and depending on the environment...

Hindu

Really? Learn something new every day.

No, Hinduism is something very specific. It has \'clauses\' within it that may match these ideas but fundamentally they believe that their faith is right, whereas what I was talking about is more the idea that the fundamental truths in all of these \'world religions\' is all the same and all \'right\', but manipulated and changed by mans selfish need for power over others.

 

[funnymouth]

Originally posted by vincegamer

Originally posted by ZeCorto
It makes me wonder: why is denial of belief worse than the profession of a different belief?

Judging from my own numerous conversations on the point, I would guess it is because atheists don\'t have a uniform moral code.

Christians, Jews and Muslims all have these books where you can look up the rules. They were supposedly \"laid down\" by Authority.
Atheists have no book and have to come up with a moral code all on their own.
Those I consider weak or at least unimaginative cannot conceive of morality that is not the product of Authority.
Therefore they believe all atheism to be the road to chaos. This is ridiculous because there are tons of atheists out there and they are not shooting each other in traffic.

agreed. to quote myself (for the purpose of re-emphasis):

my opinion:
there is no correlation between religion and morality. atheists are just as capable of being \"good\" (kind and compassionate) people as those who believe in god. love and empathy are human values, not religious ones.

 

[dauber22]

Originally posted by angus147258
Dude these guys are f***ing ass holes. ... move to northern california where we except all differences.

Well, it doesn\'t sound like you wuite accept ALL differences Perhaps just those diferences that you don\'t consider \"F***ing Ass Holes\" Sounds a little like: \"I\'m incredibly tolerant of anyone, except those who don\'t agree with me.\"

 

[finn17]

I think that\'s possibly another level of philosophical debate...???

Originally posted by dauber22
Sounds a little like: \"I\'m incredibly tolerant of anyone, except those who don\'t agree with me.\"

I am incredibly tolerant of most people but, I too think that those with utterly closed minds and who possess no tolerance themselves are \'fucking arseholes\'

I tolerate them....:bouncy: We all know where we\'d be without arseholes???

 

[Infidel Castro]

Would the all roads lead...argument be Pantheism. In all, is all, everything is divine?

 

[finn17]

Just personally...

I\'d lose the divine bit...

It\'s the bit atheists reject that make John West....No, hold on..that\'s not right either:innocent:

 

[vincegamer]

Originally posted by finn17I am incredibly tolerant of most people but, I too think that those with utterly closed minds and who possess no tolerance themselves are \'fucking arseholes\'

biggot! Nothing but peronalism (discriminating against people based solely upon their personality)

 

[Infidel Castro]

Originally posted by finn17
I\'d lose the divine bit...

It\'s the bit atheists reject that make John West....No, hold on..that\'s not right either:innocent:

What, fish in tins?

 

[finn17]

Originally posted by vincegamer
biggot! Nothing but peronalism (discriminating against people based solely upon their personality)

Guilty as charged your honour.

How would that differ from the legal system then, discriminating against people based upon the nature of their crimes?

EDIT: I never know with you the extent to which your tongue is in your cheek.:innocent:

 

[supervike]

Originally posted by finn17
EDIT: I never know with you the extent to which your tongue is in your cheek.:innocent:

My gosh he is a smiling one eyed pirate with a knife in his mouth...I\'d say most of it!lol

 

[finn17]

Originally posted by supervike
My gosh he is a smiling one eyed pirate with a knife in his mouth...I\'d say most of it!lol

Who has never, ever posted an image of himself...think about it...:innocent:

 

[vincegamer]

Originally posted by finn17

Originally posted by supervike
My gosh he is a smiling one eyed pirate with a knife in his mouth...I\'d say most of it!lol

Who has never, ever posted an image of himself...think about it...:innocent:

What utter nonsense!

I have posted several pics of myself.
Take this one for instance of me with my cats (the larger is now deceased) in the Big Basin National Redwood Forest in California:

 

[finn17]

I did actually have that image in mind as I typed my post...

 

[Herb the bitter]

Originally posted by finn17

Originally posted by supervike
My gosh he is a smiling one eyed pirate with a knife in his mouth...I\'d say most of it!lol

Who has never, ever posted an image of himself...think about it...:innocent:

Ha! I knew I\'d seen it somewhere. You can see Vincegamer here:

http://www.coolminiornot.com/forums/viewthread.php?tid=15172&page=4

 

[vincegamer]

Ah, but that pic is 8 years old - older than the redwood pic (same cat).
That was before the accident that mutilated my face and required radical reconstructive surgery leaving me the happy yellow pirate you see today.