Of Late Many Here Seem To Be Preaching Aethiesm.. (page 8)

tetrapod.sapien

infamousone,

i agree, the thread was kind of silly to begin with.

first off, atheism is a religion in itself... i will not say i am atheist, for i think there must be some sort of creator, but not one as infinite and all powerful as we like to think... what i do not believe in is RELIGION!!! religion has been used to entrap so many...

i'm afraid this is not true. atheism is not a religion. it's easy to say, but hard to back up. define a religion for me, and then describe how atheism is a religion, or even close to one. tell me how we are organized, what rules we follow, what faith we exercise, and what hope we have for life after death.

atheism is a lack of belief. this is a lack of a belief in god, but also most times in anything supernatural.

if you don't believe in religion, then you already think what all altheists already think.

you have to understand, that a lack of belief is a philosophically negative position. for example, it makes no positive assertions about the universe. and without possitive assertions, there is no faith required. and if there is no faith required, then it's not a religion. i mean, it's barely a belief system, as there is not much to say. people who say there's a god have the burden of proof. atheists don't actually have to say much, if they don't want to.

it's like saying that people who do not believe in santa claus, because there is zero evidence for his existence, make up some sort of religion. and you are against that because you are against religion? that's fine, but they never were a religion to begin with. just a group of doubters. people who ask for evidence, and do not bother with things there is none for. no faith. just the opposite.

i don't know where you fall with creationism, but really, there are much simpler explanations for biology than tricked out creator magic. even if you subscribe to deism, that god is a programmer that just executed the program of evolution, it leaves this god as such a small and inconsequential runt, that you you might as well not even believe in him.

TS

Frog

A multiplicity of beliefs/ethnicities breeds a democratised space, that's how we all want it to be right?

If it wasn't for freedom of expression so many threads wouldn't be possible. This thread is good for me as a personal reminder that we must do our best to keep balance. And also that for those of us who have personally benefited from the forum, that through our contributions we have a duty of care to those after us, to leave the forum much as we have found it.

The way I see it. is that the diversity of beliefs and opinions on the forum is the best witness we can give to JW's coming out of exile that there is life after, and a plurality of roads for them to experiment down.

I think that by voicing our opinions and perspectives reasonably openly, we all keep eachother intellectually honest. Afterall if we weren't open to a challenge we wouldn't all be here right? While we might find ourselves becoming better acquainted with those we can more fully concur with, none of us can forget what really bonds all of us here together, and that is collecive shared JW life experience. I believe that will continue to be a powerful enough force to override our differences:)

I don't want to be the one preach, but I personally don't see much benefit in targeting a no-name group of posters. I find it personally threatening sitting here thinking are they including me?! If we have a personal beef with someone surely it's always best to thrash it out with the person(s) from whom you've taken offense, allowing them to clarify or give a defense. It's all too easy to allow yourself to be misinterpreted, or to misinterpret. I often find myself second guessing every comment I make, which stifles my creative juices a little...but, I don't mind tiptoeing a little if it keeps the peace, and serves the greater purpose of keeping this community on-line.

Having said all that, I can though put myself in your position and understand that you have sincerely felt personally put down by intense alternative viewpoints when they come across as being posed in an authoritative and demeaning way. I'm really sorry that you've been made to feel that way. x

Frog

define a religion for me, and then describe how atheism is a religion, or even close to one. tell me how we are organized, what rules we follow, what faith we exercise, and what hope we have for life after death.

Religion = a belief in the sacred or profane. is an institutionalised system grounded in that belief.../or values & beliefs taught by a spirtual leader (i.e., gothama buddha).

Golf

tetrapod.sapien, excuse me, can you tell me were it is written that (as you said) "...people, who say there's a god have the burden of proof?"

I guess the scripture at Romans 1: 20 is nothing butpure bunk, right? "For his INVISABLE qualitites are clearly seen from world's creation onward, because they are perceived by the things made, even his eternal power and godship, so that they are inexcuseable."

Tell me, how many things can you name that you cannot see, yet, you believe in? What forces are there in your life that you have no control over?

Golf

Eyebrow2

I respect people, but that doesn't mean I have to respect their beliefs.

Sometimes that line gets blurred online....so stuff happens, people take things personally, because beliefs are a personal thing.

Instead of telling people "you are a fool" just say "I'm not calling you a liar, but I don't believe a word you are saying"?

Semantics, tis what the real problem is.

rmt1

"To bravely not know what every man has known before." It takes a lot of effort to refuse to |"know"|.

Golf

Eyebrow right on, the bottom line is RESPECT. What is it about that word that people don't understand?

Everything is me, me, me, me, I, I, I, I., My eye it is! There's billions of 'other' people on this planet.

Golf

marsh

Hi,

Genesis 1:1 'In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth' God's existence is assumed,self-evident.Psalm 14:1 'The fool has said in his heart,There is no God!'They acted corruptly ;they have done abominable works,there is none who does good'

If there is no God,no creator who sets rules,then we are set adrift morally.Judges 21:25 chaos reigned.As nations turn their backs on God ,living as if He does not exist,sin abounds.(just look around you folks).Romans chapter 1 has already been mentioned is very clear and should be taken very seriously.To believe in evolution -that everything made itself by natural processes;that God is not necessary.nah! no sense in that for me at all.There is 'design' and so therefore a 'designer' is necessary.

Sir Arthur Keith said of Hitler "The German Fuhrer...is an evolutionist;he has consciously sought to make the practice of Germany conform to the theory of evolution."

We all know how many millions suffered and lost their lives because of this atheistic way of thinking,yep I know about the 'crusades' and atrocities committed by supposed Christians. But were these ones being consistent with their own standard of morality?'do not murder' love your enemies'God is Love..such love is self-sacrificing.

Hitlers death camps grew out of his desire for the 'Aryan' race to win the battle for the preservation of favoured races in the struggle for life.Also what about Stalin,Lenin,Mao Zedong,Pol Pot? what do you think about them?

The Bible has unity.amazingly preserved,historically accurate.scientifically accurate,prophetically accurate.has a civilizing influence,is absolutely honest.has a life-transforming message.

The message of the Bible mends lives broken by sin,which separates us from our Holy Creator.In contrast,agnosticism and atheism.like all God philosophies.destroy.

( I am ducking,go easy on me I am a Nana late fifties.Mother of 4 G,Mother of 6....Hey I sound like that guy from Gladiator)

Romans 8:14-16.For as many as are led by the Spirit of God,they are the sons of God.For you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear,but you have received the Spirit of adoption by which we cry,Abba Father!' The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God.

Christian persecution for those who are interested www.releaseinternational.org

www.opendoorsuk.org

Godbless

nicolaou

Instead of telling people "you are a fool" just say "I'm not calling you a liar, but I don't believe a word you are saying"?

But some people are fools and some are liars. Still, I personally try to refrain from throwing insults around but the plain truth is that there are plenty of idiots on each side of the debate - you may think that I, as an atheist, am one of them, the Bible certainly does;

(Psalm 10:4) The wicked one according to his superciliousness makes no search; All his ideas are: "There is no God." - NWT

(Psalm 14:1) The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good. - KJV

If the 'word of god' can tell me I'm wicked, supercilious, (haughty, disdainful) corrupt, abominable and a fool - well then surely I'm entitled to throw a little of it back. Aren't I?

nicolaou

scientifically accurate? - You've got to be kidding right?

Of Late Many Here Seem To Be Preaching Aethiesm..

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