Scientists Discover That Atheists Might Not Exist

[grasscarp]

This is an interesting article which I thought may interest some of you

http://www.science20.com/writer_on_the_edge/blog/scientists_discover_that_atheists_might_not_exist_and_thats_not_a_joke-139982

It is a long article and ends with this thought:

In the meantime, it might be wise for religious folks to refrain from teasing atheist friends who accidentally say something about their souls. And it might be equally smart for the more militant of today’s atheists to stop teasing religious people at all.

We might all be a little more spiritual than we think.

[Khandro]

naomi//Yes, one can negate the other. Science talks about facts whereas religion talks about nothing more than man’s overly fertile imagination.//

These assertions clearly demonstrate that you neither understand science, nor have feeling for religion. You have, as always, my deepest sympathy.

[naomi24]

There you go floundering again. Par for the course.

[Khandro]

Ratter; are you not a little worried you might look a bit like Dr Crippen
https://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&site=imghp&;tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1344&bih=723&q=dr+crippen&oq=dr+crippen&gs_l=img.1.0.0l2j0i24l8.2906.6537.0.8854.10.8.0.2.2.0.385.1629.0j6j1j1.8.0....0...1ac.1.54.img..0.10.1643.xf06nh9OkJI#facrc=_&;imgdii=_&imgrc=KX9Hj2bbjleHfM%253A%3BlbFj1JDFKJhPOM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fknowledgeoflondon.com%252Fimages%252Fcrippenfile1.gif%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fknowledgeoflondon.com%252Fcrippen.html%3B360%3B440

[Khandro]

sorry wrong thread!

[vetuste_ennemi]

" And it might be equally smart for the more militant of today’s atheists to stop teasing religious people at all."
What, and give up one of the few remaining pleasures in life?

[jomifl]

/ perhaps forever, science will be unable to explain the purpose behind why things are the way they are. /
There is a purpose? I never knew that!

[Zacs-Master]

//I think it is certain that he would have had some form of religious dimension to his existence//
Khandro, you seem to be arguing my point so I'm not sure why you took exception to my original postulation that the author was confusing 'hard wired' with conditioning and that that conditioning was due to a (complete) lack of scientific evidence and wonderment at the world they found themselves in.

[Khandro]

Zacs; Misunderstanding, mea culpa.

jomifl; //There is a purpose? I never knew that!//
Does that mean you view the life around you and universe as a whole, as a purposeless, meaningless accident?

[jomifl]

Khandro, absolutey, I am not so vain as to imagine that my life has any more meaning than that of an ant or an amoeba.

[vetuste_ennemi]

"Does that mean you view the life around you and universe as a whole, as a purposeless, meaningless accident?".
No. I, for one, am totally convinced that there is a purpose. Unfortunately I don't have the slightest clue what that purpose may be. So I need a bit of help, Khandro: where am I to find the "meaning of life"? Got any suggestions? I know you're pretty well informed in these things.
I am ready to consider any theories you suggest which have a modicum (not being too demanding, am I?) of logical and ethical plausibility. So that excludes all those theories which entail the belief in a "supreme" being who (for example): demands blood sacrifice; or who has decided that just one of all the human tribes has a special place in his affection; or who demands uncritical acceptance of (what to many of his "creatures" will seem) unprovable, even demonstrably absurd assertions, and is offended by those who cannot comply; or who endorses slavery; or who employs human scribes to authorise the sexual exploitation of young girls; or who cares about how and with whom adult humans should have sexual congress; or whether it is proper that a girl should wear a mini-skirt rather than be dressed in a sack; or who asserts that eating a bacon sandwich is a sin, but eating a lamb chop is not; or whose concept of justice is that the punishment for transgression is painful and eternal.
Now, that's got rid of all the vile superstitions (sorry, more refined minds than mine prefer to call them "great religions", don't they?) deriving from the Abrahamic tradition which have poisoned and continue to poison human society.
What are we left with then? Ball's in you court.

[jim360]

Indeed the whole point of my post was to say that in essence I agree with jomifl... too much in this world is random for there to be much likelihood of an overarching purpose.

[pixie373]

Why would there be a purpose? And what would the purpose of that be?

[grasscarp]

So all these people with no clue why they are here and what is the purpose of their existence really want help? And there was I thinking that the Atheists were sure of everything. All reasoned out, logical, certain and rational. Seems not!

[jim360]

Anyone thinking that atheists are "sure of everything" really should have another think coming.

[vetuste_ennemi]

On reasons NOT to believe in some hucksters' exposition of the divine purpose", I've just been reminded of this: "O, Scotland, how thee a double darkness mocks: thy name is Scotia and thy teacher Knox". Jim will get it.

[pixie373]

Why should there be a reason? And what would it be? I have my own reasons for myself. I can't think of what or why there would be one for humans in general. What does God need help with?

[jomifl]

Grasscarp, the only people who have 'certainty' are....people like you.

[grasscarp]

Jomifl only time will tell. I have a firm belief that our souls are immortal. Many believe otherwise but it would depress me to think that this short span on earth was all of our destiny for eternity.

[ludwig]

// it would depress me to think that this short span on earth was all of our destiny for eternity. //

Why? You should be happy that you've got any time at all, not depressed that it isn't long enough.

[pixie373]

Individuals don't need long- that's why they breed.