Do Atheists Take Atheism Seriously Enough?

[Khandro]

J.P. thinks not, and I tend to agree with him,
- a short extract from a longer video;

[vetuste_ennemi]

As an atheist and as a conservative (small "c", please note - although some posters may disagree) I think the Christian concept of original sin a powerful descriptor of human nature.

In my case this translates as a political philosophy into "preserve what's good - it may have taken a long time to have acquired it" and improve on it gradually. Selfish instincts as individuals, or in groups will always constitute an impediment.

If you think, on the other hand that human nature is totally malleable (Mao's blank paper on which any character can be written), then you destroy the imperfect institutions causing human misery around you - and the quicker and better - in order to construct the New Jerusalem. Although that metaphor would not their first choice.

[mibn2cweus]

I feel sorry for people who do not realise there's a reason for doing the right thing, who seem unable to feel good about themselves for doing what is right, who have no comprehension of what is right and no appreciation for why it's important to do the right thing. I don't always know what is the right thing to do myself. We are not born with that knowledge. But I would not be able to live with myself knowing I haven't done all in my power to find out or in having learned what is right to do any thing other than what is right or to depend entirely on instinct or an unquestioned belief to make such a determination. But that's just me.

[Khandro]

naomi; //Khandro, I’ve read Homer, I’m familiar with the Buddhist 'Wheel of Life', and I don’t believe a God exists. //

Well, that's fine by me; as the saying goes, " You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink".

Btw, When you were reading Homer, did you ever question, who exactly these Gods were and where they may be located?

[naomi24]

V_e, I understand that but I don’t understand Peterson’s erroneous claim that, with regard to the complexities of what can only be described as the human condition, an absence of belief in God necessarily results in intellectual complacency. Since Khandro agrees with Peterson I would like an explanation from him.

Khandro, leaving aside your disdainful horse and drink scenario, since I don’t associate the human condition with a non-existent ‘supernatural’ world, who these Gods were or where they may be located wasn’t, in that respect, in question.