Atheism

[maggiebee]

The belief that there was nothing and nothing happened to nothing and then nothing magically exploded for no reason, creating everything and then a bunch of everything magically rearranged itself for no reason whatsoever into self-replicating bits which then turned into dinosaurs.

Makes perfect sense.

[maggiebee]

Modeller, I believe Christians test out things hundreds if not thousands of times throughout their lives too. Sometimes their faith can be shaken by life events but it doesn't stop them striving for knowledge. My faith is not a crutch, I threw away my crutches long ago and now lean on God.

[modeller]

maggiebee Oh dear ! What happened to his prayers ? Surely the prayer and faith alone should have been enough. ? He had to turn to the reality of science to do the job.

[modeller]

# now lean on God.# Precisely! God is you crutch. !

[LazyGun]

Well, re you original post Maggie, non-belief in the big bang theory, which is essentially what you are describing, is not a definition of atheism.

But, in the spirit of your original post, I can offer you a link discussing the text of your original post......

http://www.the-atheis...religion-and-atheism/

With a definition of Religion that sounds more absurd, if possible....

Given the nature of reality, and the progress of science, it must be very hard work to retain a faith.Forgive me if I equate faith in god with a stubborn refusal to face reality.... :)

[maggiebee]

Modeller, maybe I should have said "trust in God" rather than "lean on God".

[lightbulb247]

couldnt have put it better myself maggiebee. and than they say that were confused ;)

[ll_billym]

I think you mean 'trust in the idea of God' rather than 'trust in God' as to be fair he's not exactly popping round for tea every Tuesday now is he...

[modeller]

maggiebee I repeat :
If you want to prove your faith, it's simple , just tell us some repeatable experiments that we can all try .

You said :
Modeller,# I believe Christians test out things hundreds if not thousands of times throughout their lives too. #
OK. I'll make it easy for you . Out of all these thousands of things just tell me ONE repeatable experiment that we all can try to prove the existence of your God.

Whenever I ask a theist that question the usual answer is : You can't/mustn't test God. Now I wonder why ? Is your God so insecure that he/it dare not be tested.?

P.S I like the cat.

[chakka35]

Dear Maggiebee, if you were going to take a stance against reason, in the form of atheism, you shouldn't have made yourself into such an easy target with the silly quotation that was your question.

I'd be happy to debate my atheism with you any day but we must have a more intelligent beginning. Start by explaining why you believe in a supernatural being for whose existence there is not a shred of evidence and we'll go from there. But beware.. if you start with "Nothing comes from nothing, so therefore..." you'll be in the quicksands before you can draw breath. God luck. (That was actually a typo, but I'll leave it like that)

[naomi24]

Maggie, //Just because you're not sure it exists or not doesn't stop you from striving to find out.//

But you don't strive to find out. You just believe what you want to believe from what other people have told you - and that is borne out by your belief that Jesus was born in a stable - which he wasn't. If you had indeed endeavoured to find out, from the information available you would know that the God of Abraham cannot possibly be the almighty, all powerful, creator.

[naomi24]

Maggie, may I just say that I admire you for 'having a go'. Whilst you haven't explained your reasons for believing - and if they are to be forthcoming, I await them with interest - you've done rather more than the other believers here who have offered nothing but what they seem to think are smart responses - which they're not.

[ll_billym]

Naomi is reaching out... Yeah I must agree though, maggie you do speak from your heart and are not trying to win any kind of argument, which is definitely a breath of fresh air.

[mibn2cweus]

//...maggie you do speak from your heart and are not trying to win any kind of argument, which is definitely a breath of fresh air.//

Those who believe ignorance is bliss must be positively hyperventilating at this point.

I don't think anyone in their right mind truly expects to win any arguments here, where given the calibre of the opposition, such would be a shallow victory, at best. Some of us here, however, do share some appreciation for the virtue of reason and the inherent value in defending the truth.

[lightbulb247]

maggiebee, as soon as a religious person posts something you are going to be attacked by all the atheists on this site. Trust me, i know from my first post (take a look if you want) and from reading others posts. anyways, goodluck.

[naomi24]

Il_Billym, It didn't occur to me that I was 'reaching out' - just saying it as I see it - as always.

I honestly don't believe that religion can ever win the debate, not only from the point of view of stark rationality, but from examination of the available information. After all, we all have the same stuff before us, so it's nonsense for the religious to tell us we don't understand. An unbiased study of the texts - the Bible and the Koran - reveals both to contain glaring errors, multiple contradictions, and at the very least an anaemic, manipulative being whose personality exhibits the very worst of human failings - and one far removed from its much-lauded benign and omnipotent reputation. If there is an Almighty, the subject of those books cannot be it. I have reached the conclusion that if a Creator God does exist, it doesn't demand adulation, sycophancy, pathos, or trembling subservience - in fact it takes no personal interest whatsoever in the arrogant and self-centred inhabitants of this speck of dust. I can understand people holding the majesty of this magnificent universe in awe, and indeed, through that, feeling spiritually connected to it - but those who adhere to the God of Abraham are crediting - and worshipping - the wrong bloke. If a creator exists, it has to be something far bigger than him.

[bibblebub]

What's your level of scientific knowledge, maggiebee? e.g. do you know the science behind how your computer works?

If the answer to that is yes then please expand on why current scientific theories behind the origin of the universe are rubbish.

If the answer to that is no then maybe you should stop using your computer immediately because it clearly can't work - if you don't understand it then it can't happen.

[jomifl]

Sith, When a religious person posts something on this site and is attacked by SOME of the attheists it is usually because they have posted nonsense or are being deliberately dishonest in the name of their god. You must give up using 'than' instead of 'then'. If you are not sure which to use when, post a question in A&L.

[jomifl]

^ attheist...doh!