by AllTimeJeff 44 Replies latest watchtower bible
I find it helpful to use the term "antitheism" to distinguish between atheism (a lack of theistic belief) and an oppositional stance towards theistic belief:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antitheism
Many "agnostic atheists" are relunctant to use the label "atheist" as a self-designator because of its antitheist connotations.
My view falls into the pantheist rubrique. I have heard it said that pantheist is one step away from atheist. Maybe, that is why i often argue along side atheists.
Included in that is a spiritual practice, that i have done. Through that came what you would call purpose, an allowing myself to experience things more, doing things that i enjoy. Getting closer to the core, a transcending or bypassing pf the mind to get into deeper water, so to speak has helped me find purpose. The mind, mine at least, seems to have been blocking more the doing of more satisfying things.
It appears to me that a deep awareness flows through us, finding it's way through experience, expression and creativity by us. I don't see it as a HIGHER power, and emphatically not a SUPREME power. In a way, since we are the cutting edge of this awareness in this dimension, front line pioneer explorer/experimenters, so to speak, i say that we are as high or higher than it is.
S
I find it helpful to use the term "antitheism" to distinguish between atheism (a lack of theistic belief) and an oppositional stance towards theistic belief:
Yes, I am seeing that. Unfortunately, both groups get lumped under the phrase "atheist".
It appears to me that a deep awareness flows through us, finding it's way through experience, expression and creativity by us. I don't see it as a HIGHER power, and emphatically not a SUPREME power.
Right on. This awareness is very interesting. Especially for ex JW's who had to leave their awareness at the door as a sweet smelling sacrifice for YHWH....
Since atheism merely is a conclusion one draws that god doesn't exist as he is taught, what do atheists do to fill the yearning we all have for meaning and purpose in life?
I consider myself an agnostic. I dont know which God I dont believe in or which God to believe in.
What I do to fill the yearning I have to find meaning in purpose in life is I read.
And I read about things addressing those topics.
I have a job where I can read about 5 hours a night.
And I am gathering quite a gnostic, esoteric library.
The simplest meaning and purpose of life I have found is to reproduce yourself.
Then from there life has the meaning you give it.
Everybook I have ever read has pros and cons. No matter what answers and explanations I have found
there are always a group of people explaing why it cant be so.
Every mystery rock I turn over just leads me to another mystery rock. It's like peeling an onion.
The past few months I have been reading about alien intervention, alien genetic engineering
and the Summerian text which more than one person alleges speaks of all of these things
with pictures at the begining of mans civilization.
But as I say, there are the naysayers. It's hard to tell if there are government disinformation agents
or genuine and all the research takes time.
Saying that I will say this there is a plethora of information on alein intervention and engineering, a
good primer is "The Gods of Eden" by William Bramely then Zechariah Sitchin has 7 books giving
his interpretations of the Summerian text and the bible which is contested by some.
But I dont see Sitchin working an angle and I see those contesting his findings trying to maintain
the status quo and keep people ignorant and sheep like.
Those 2 human qualities are the basis of civilization and government.
I was wondering if anyone would get any of that. Glad there was something that you can also see.
S
The theist and the atheist are the same person looking at each other in the mirror.
There is no way to prove or disprove the existence of God or whatever other label you want to put on the subject of the debate.
I don't think you can really do any better (if you are being thoroughly honest) than agnosticism. We weigh the evidence for there being a god...there isn't any...we put the results on the shelf...and there it sits...
I think about this stuff every single day. There is more evidence that god doesn't exist than evidence that she/he does exist. The best I can do is place myself on the continuum of doubt--the evidence shows that there is about 98.5% chance that god does not exist. However, it would be presumptuous to say that there is a 100% chance that god doesn't exist--how could I possibly know that?
Bottom line: All I can claim is agnosticism--not enough evidence one way or the other, but a strong indication that god probably does not exist.
Every mystery rock I turn over just leads me to another mystery rock. It's like peeling an onion.
Just as an aside, generally, many of us seek answers about infinity, within a finite life. Since there is no evidence that there is more beyond this life, I would suggest that a "spiritual" quest as I define it, take into account a finite existence. Metaphysical religion often deals with the life after, the infinite, which is absolutely an unproveable tenent belonging exclusively to organized religion.
After a while, you do have to reach a general conclusion. One that acknowledges you won't have it all figured out. One that keeps your intellectual honesty, while satisfying ones need for meaning.
After a while, you peel the onion and there isn't anything more to peel, and you realize that you have wasted a perfectly good onion....
After a while, you peel the onion and there isn't anything more to peel, and you realize that you have wasted a perfectly good onion
Thats where I'm at. Wasting a perfectly good onion, my life. But wasting life is another way of describing work.
But I also do other things and have other interest.
And I have a job that allows me to read a lot.
Right now I'd rather turn over mystery rocks than read police fiction, for that I can just
read the rap sheets of the inmates I'm watching while I'm turning over mystery rocks.
I'll give you the answer-Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle.
In light of my above comments, I would like to start a respectful conversation with anyone, but especially atheists, as to the benefits of ruling out with certainty the existence of a higher power or god. (I know not all atheists do this, but some do, as some heated debates on this board in the past have revealed....)
I'm atheist. It isn't about ruling out with certainty the existence of god--it's about insisting on evidence for claims. It's about discouraging the kind of maniacal religious thoughts that lead to great atrocities, including genocidal wars, prevention of useful sciences and information, and progress towards understanding our world.
If there is a god who doesn't care enough about us to give us any evidence of his existence, of what benefit is belief in him and what value is he?
