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[Glamdring]

Science Saved My Soul

[BarrieB]

It's frightening how religion perverts people.

Part of that clip reminded me of Pratchett's small gods.

[corroded]

That sea was biiiiiiiiiiiiiig. It burst quickly. Don't forget the US is big too. You could fit lots of Caspians in the US.

The physics doesn't make sense on it =(

There was a good video on youtube that showed why the Grand Canyon could not have been created quickly...

[corroded]

Science Saved My Soul

that is awesome, btw!

[The Abbreviators]

The problem isn't God or a lack there of, the problem is man and man's need to be comforted. I personally, have no faith, I don't consider myself an atheist because by its own definition that would mean I'd have to accept that there is a possibility of God and that I deny that possibility. However, to each their own and I have a very libertarian view when it comes to religion; I don't fuck with you, don't fuck with me. The problem with religion (organized religion mostly) is that it adds a sense of entitlement; you are better than them because you now have the comfort of softening your fears of the unknown. The rest of us just live a little freaked out that we are going to die some day and we accept that the best we can and put it in the back of our heads and move on. It's okay to be scared of death, that's why I never understood religious concept. Why can there never just be an unanswered question? During the enlightenment period you had scientist that would discover something up to a point, be unable to explain it further and give it in to "the will of God". This "God did it" mentality only holds us back. As I said, while not a believe myself, I certainly can understand why someone would believe and to an extent I think personal faith is a great thing; honestly, the world sucks and if praying gets you through the day then by all means pray your heart out. Unfortunately, and this is where I get back to my original sentence, personal faith does not stay personal. From our very beginnings man has formed a unity with one another, it is this group mentality that has enabled us to survive and thrive; it is no different with it comes to faith. We are all looking for answers, even if you think you have the answers to life you still have that need to reinforce those ideals and ideas, that is when personal faith becomes organized religion. That is when God becomes dangerous. Play on a man's fears and hopes long enough and he will follow you through hell and back. Control that man's fears and provide him with the hope he needs and he will not only follow your every word but he will in turn echo it, he will become the embodiment of any message you wish to convey. Need examples? Hitler and the Germans, Phelps and the Westboro Baptist Church, David Koresh and the Branch Davidians, Jim Jones and the People's Templar.... the list goes on and on. The fact is man doesn't need a God, man already has a God, man has his ego and his conscious. Consciousness creates the world in which we live in, and ego lords over it. God didn't build man in his image, man built God in man's image. God is the combination of consciousness and ego. Like I said though, whatever gets you through the day, 'cause. man, it's rough out there. If you believe in a higher power, then I am happy for you. Hold on to that, it isn't a bad thing. I will say that I think following the Bible is a bad thing, its confused hearsay written by men thousands of years after the events took place, it is fallible. We all have moral codes instilled in us, follow those, altruism isn't religious doctrine, it's a humanistic doctrine. The path to a better word isn't built in good intentions and vague pagan rituals, its built through ourselves; our ego and consciousness.

[gi joe]

You're mis-understanding atheist because as Richard Dawkin said there are several different types.  People like Richard Dawkin and me believe in science but can't for certain say there is no God we just believe it's HIGHLY unlikely.  However there are atheists that believe 100% that there is no God and totally refuse the possibility.

[corroded]

You're mixing up agnostic and atheist... as mentioned, there are different types of each, but broadly an atheist believes there are no god/s and has no believe any god/s, and an agnostic believes that we will never know if there any, nor is it possible to prove. The second does leave the window of opportunity of potential god/s, essentially.. we might never find out, in any way.

I actually describe myself as an agnostic atheist. I do not believe in any god/s but then don't believe we could know either way (just because you cannot prove either way, and lack of evidence of something isn't proof (well, technically, it can be... if it's incontrovertible...but lets not get into proofs) that it hasn't happened)

[keasy]

I find atheists post more in these threads  than anyone else.     

[corroded]

That's because we have time to post because we're not worshipping

[Wooster]

That's right, it's easier to reach the keyboard when you're not on your knees. 


p.s. Hardly anyone mentions Deism, which is pretty popular.

[keasy]

That's because we have time to post because we're not worshipping

Ah, you use the collective' we ' when previously you claim to be not an atheist 

[corroded]

I said I was an agnostic atheist!

(I'll readily identify as both, realistically... it's easier to explain to most people that way :P)

[The Abbreviators]

It always kind of weirds me out that religion is such the norm that you have to find a label for yourself to be non-religious. Even the term "non-religious" implies that you are against something that exists. From now on I'm just gonna describe myself as human, people can draw their own conclusions.

[Wooster]

Humanist is the term you're probably looking for.  

[The Abbreviators]

Humanist is the term you're probably looking for.  

You're absolutely correct... sometimes I leave out letters on purpose, you know just to see if people are paying attenti.