Are there Valid Reasons for Atheism?

[Elderman]

Do the world’s injustices—including those instigated by hypocritical religionists—prove that there is no God?

[jomifl]

Sith, perhaps I should have specified muslims and christians as having the same god, however since you both share the same god why does it matter which religion you belong to. The bible (which preceded christianity and islam) does not require the formation of organised religion or prescribe the hierarchical structure of religions so why do you belong to a religion. You can believe in god without having to be a member of a social group

[sandyRoe]

I'm surprised to say that I find myself in agreement with jomifl. The austere, solitary, life of the hermit does have its attractions. What need we of social groups if we have the love of God?

[Ankou]

what? not even no poking on facebook?

[Zhukov]

Penates and Lares..are keeping the Wolf,and many other nutcases,from my door.

[Old_Geezer]

How does anything that goes on here either prove or disprove a God, of any sort? What is considered a valid reason for atheism anyway? Does it need a justfication? Is the default that you must believe?

[sandyRoe]

You indulge in the occasional poke on facebook and the next thing you know you're poking people in the bus queue with your umbrella. It can lead to all sorts of bother.
Far better, I think, to concentrate on ones relationship with ones Saviour.

[seadogg]

Don't you think it might be a character trait Sandy? I suspect people like you and I are drawn towards the life of austerity and aestheticism whereas others feel the need to group together.

Didn't Jesus say something about his being present where two or three are gathered in his name?

[Ankou]

although my recollection of any poking at the bus or bike shlter is a dim and distant memory, i rather beg to differ sandy. and they were catholic girls too.

[Zhukov]

my memory is hazy,but..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKW4kA_Qhso

[jomifl]

Sandy if you wish you can take a break on your 'camino' sojurn and be a hermit for a while, there are plenty of caves in the pyrenees, some do free degustation.

[sandyRoe]

There's no such thing as a free lunch. A loaf of stale bread, a bit of mouldy cheese, and a water bottle are all the provender I'd need when I set out on the long walk to salvation.
*degustation was a good one. I had to look it up.

[sith123]

venator, yes islam does accept and agree with parts of the christian bible, the simple reason being that the bible and torah were both revealed to muslim prophets, jesus and moses, however they have been changed over time.

there are things about jesus which are not in the bible, like him saying he is not the son of god, that he did not die on the cross etc. so this is why islams beliefs differ from christianity.

[venator]

That's interesting Sith.

I've never taken an interest in religion after having it forced down my throat in my younger days, but if there is so much common ground, why don't Islam & Christianity try to meet there?

[naomi24]

Sith, Despite what your teachers tell you, Jesus and Moses were not Muslims. They were Jews. Islam hadn't been invented when they were around, and when it was it simply hijacked much of what had gone before - including the bible and its prophets.

[cathfromsaron]

there may or may not be a god/gods ... but at what popint did he/she/it ask the men on earth to subjugate woman and control people's thoughts and behaviours ... ?

man-made religions and the notion of a higher power are different entities to me!

[jomifl]

My point (hinted at) earlier Cath, one may believe in god but when has he ever asked for a subscription?

[sidkid]

Some great quotes listed here. I won't cut/paste, just pick your favourite...
http://www.chrisbeach.co.uk/viewQuotes.php

[sith123]

yes naomi, they were jews, and we believe Judaism was the right path back then, however as i said it had got changed to fit peoples own beliefs and to support what they wanted so muslims, who were christians and jews back then started believeing in that. that is why muhammed is the last prophet and the one we currently believe in but we believe in all the other prophets that existed.

venator, yes, we have tried to meet on common grounds many times before but nothing seems to happen. that is why we do not believe in the torah or bible and they do not believe in the quran.

[vetuste_ennemi]

Sith, a happy new year to you (Christian, Muslim, atheist or other).

You seem more reasonable than some believers. So far I haven't seen any attempt by Christians to respond to atheists' questions about the immoral teachings in their holy book. Can you do better? Have you read the Koran, rather than having it explained to you? Does it or does it not teach that slavery is right? Does it or does it not say that the sexual exploitation of slaves is correct?

[sith123]

happy new year to you vetuste. yes i have read the quran myself and to answer your questions no, it does not say that sexual exploitation is right, actually islam stopped it as before islam there was a huge amount of rape, incest and other terrible things but islam has stopped this. this does not mean that all muslims are good as of course some are bad and do take the meanings wrongly and sadly make every muslim seem like this. overall however from what i know it does not say that that slavery is right or that sexual exploitation is good. Muhammed actually set slaves free and demanded that if people do have slaves you should set them free or give them equal rights to you.