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- Oct 18, 2007
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“You just haven’t opened your heart/mind enough to god.”
“You obviously haven’t studied the Bible enough.”
“How do you explain why we’re here?”
“Aren’t you afraid of going to Hell?”
“So everything in the Universe just happened by random chance?”
“Well if God isn’t responsible, what/who is?”
“What’s the point of living if there’s no God?”
“Why bother being a good person if there’s no eternal consequences?”
There’s the people who want to think they can set a trap for you.
They’ll start down road of the famous arguments we’ve all seen posted here. Cosmological, Teleological, Ontological….
There’s the fine folks who’ll try to insinuate you’re just flat-out uneducated. :roll:
Some will say you’re just too lazy to do the work required.
I’ve seen at least one suggest you’re actually lying to yourself and others about where you stand on the whole “god” thing.
Some will try to redefine words.
The funniest are those who insist they have definitive “proof”.
As if the word “faith” is no longer needed.
What other silly responses come to mind for some of you?
“You just haven’t opened your heart/mind enough to god.”
“You obviously haven’t studied the Bible enough.”
“How do you explain why we’re here?”
“Aren’t you afraid of going to Hell?”
“So everything in the Universe just happened by random chance?”
“Well if God isn’t responsible, what/who is?”
“What’s the point of living if there’s no God?”
“Why bother being a good person if there’s no eternal consequences?”
There’s the people who want to think they can set a trap for you.
They’ll start down road of the famous arguments we’ve all seen posted here. Cosmological, Teleological, Ontological….
There’s the fine folks who’ll try to insinuate you’re just flat-out uneducated. :roll:
Some will say you’re just too lazy to do the work required.
I’ve seen at least one suggest you’re actually lying to yourself and others about where you stand on the whole “god” thing.
Some will try to redefine words.
The funniest are those who insist they have definitive “proof”.
As if the word “faith” is no longer needed.
What other silly responses come to mind for some of you?
These are common questions, indeed. But there are more profound questions beyond these simplicities.
Such as: "How as an atheist do you comfort someone who has lost a child? Do you just place your hand on their shoulder and say 'There is no Heaven where your child awaits you. Your son/daughter has been erased from existence and there is no ultimate justice that will undo it or make you whole. The universe does not care about your baby any more than it cares about you. And when you die all memory of your child will be lost along with you. Sorry for your loss.'"
As an atheist, I still do not have a good answer. Because I certainly cannot say "They are in a better place right now." Nonexistence is not a better place.
God's existence cannot be proved. I believe because I feel that I have been in His presence. I can't prove it, but I know it's so.
These are common questions, indeed. Almost all are based on emotion, specifically the emotions of comfort and fear. But there are more uncomfortable questions beyond these simplicities.
Such as: "How as an atheist do you comfort someone who has lost a child? Do you just place your hand on their shoulder and say 'There is no Heaven where your child awaits you. Your son/daughter has been erased from existence and there is no ultimate justice that will undo it or make you whole. The universe does not care about your baby any more than it cares about you. And when you die all memory of your child will be lost along with you. Sorry for your loss.'"
As an atheist, I still do not have a good answer. Because I certainly cannot say "They are in a better place right now." Nonexistence is not a better place.
'Atheists are utterly stupid' is a very funny one. Now, where did I hear that?
It is different where I live. Religion plays no part in daily life and I don't know any believers. You can comfort a person without religion.
You can only comfort grieving people by making up stories about an afterlife that not one single person can ever prove exists???
Surely you're not suggesting that's a good reason to accept a religious belief?
God's existence cannot be proved. I believe because I feel that I have been in His presence. I can't prove it, but I know it's so.
Again, other than saying "sorry for your loss" how have you comforted the grieving, especially those who have lost loved ones in particularly horrific circumstances (childhood cancer, senseless violence, etc.)?
You mean the concept of ultimate justice? I certainly cannot think of a better reason to believe. Can you?
I have no doubt. But how have you found comfort in times of loss knowing that your existence and those of everyone you love is totally ephemeral? That the only place your loved ones will dwell upon their passing is in your memory but that the record of the lived experiences of their existence will disappear the moment you pass away...or suffer from some neurodegenerative disorder that causes you to lose your memories?
Words are useless in such a situation and I always find empty platitudes to be more annoying than comforting. Life is brutal and indiscriminate in its brutality, and its about time we as a species, accepted this.
Words are useless in such a situation and I always find empty platitudes to be more annoying than comforting. Life is brutal and indiscriminate in its brutality, and its about time we as a species, accepted this.
I think our species has already accepted it. That is why most of the world remains religious and looks to the life beyond this veil of tears for ultimate hope.
I think our species has already accepted it. That is why most of the world remains religious and looks to the life beyond this veil of tears for ultimate hope.
Isn't that just a plea to emotion?
That reminds me of the story about the Buddha and the mustard seeds.
Again, other than saying "sorry for your loss"
Well certainly it is, Dragonfly. But it is nevertheless effective. The dread of one's own existential annihilation, or worse still, of the annihilation of your loved ones can spur the mind to wish for some form of metaphysical immortality.
If we accepted the reality, then looking to primitive dogma is merely false comfort.
Some people - ATHEISTS - don't need to fabricate lies and myths to get through the day.
Why make up lunny nonsense about fluffy clouds, angels, and puppies and kittens and dead relatives and crap?
What makes you think the person who died didn't go straight to hell anyway? According to some here, that's where most will go.
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