It looks like you're using an Ad Blocker.
Please white-list or disable AboveTopSecret.com in your ad-blocking tool.
Thank you.
Some features of ATS will be disabled while you continue to use an ad-blocker.
Originally posted by GreatTech
mojo4sale, I am not saying that you are anything like the things you stated. I am a former atheist (my six-year period of atheism ended 11 years ago) myself. When I compare my periods of being a believer versus being an atheist I find that when I was a nonbeliever I was headed for self-destruction. Because of my experience with atheism, I sometimes try to, no matter how weakly, to inspire others to have faith. Most of my "soap-box preaching" is done through prayer (I may write a brief story of my life on ATS, but only if I can find the words to inspire others to have faith or to increase their faith). I love and care about all of humanity, including atheists, and I want the best for all.
God Bless!!!
originally posted by Royal 76Because...
They lack faith, and the courage to believe in something bigger than themselves. It real easy to say I don't believe, its alot harder to have faith.
Originally posted by madnessinmysoul
my goal is to simply do what i can to help out humanity
i don't care if i win a prize or gain recognition of any sort
ideally i'll end up doing something that has some sort of perpetual benefit to the world
Originally posted by runetang
Allow me to pose a question or 3 to the Atheists reading. I'd like to see their opinions on these questions.
1) What existed before the big bang? (Nothing is not an answer. If you want to say nothing, simply say 'dark matter')
2) What caused the big bang to explode?
3) Where did the molecules within the big bang which exploded outwards in all directions come from? How did they come to be? Did they appear out of thin air? (Not being rhetorical..)
4) How did the laws of physics, such as gravity and motion, come to be? Why does a heavy object pull things toward it in space, ala gravity? Why don't they push things away instead, like two positive magnets? Where did the 'order of the cosmos' come from..
5) Where did the first strand of DNA come from? How did it form spontaineously into existance?
6) What is beyond the universe, which contains every star and solar system in existance? Certainly the universe cannot be never-ending, certainly it must have boundaries, because it is expanding at an ever increasing rate. If the universe is getting larger in other words, moving outward in all directions, what is it contained within? It must have boundaries if it is getting bigger. Something with no boundaries cannot become larger or smaller, because boundaries define size.
Originally posted by mojo4sale
In fact i hate using the term 'atheist', it suggests that i belong to some kind of secret society plotting the downfall of religion when nothing could be further from the truth. Atheists do not all follow the same path, we are as different from each other in our views and beliefs as you are from all the other religions.
Originally posted by GreatTech
When I was an atheist I was a graduate student at the University of Chicago and I was arrogant and self-absorbed and wanted to conquer the world. I would give the smallest and most fleeting care for the diseased and less fortunate in the world.
Originally posted by Royal76
They don't believe in GOD...
They are way to rapped up in themselves to believe in the possibility of a higher power...higher than themselves.
Originally posted by Benevolent Heretic
This thread makes very clear how little "believers" know about the atheist belief system.
According to some here, atheists:
have different thought patterns
have different vocabularies (I speak proper English)
are more concerned with knowledge rather than wisdom
frequently take part in the "selling of the soul syndrome."
mind's eyes are underdeveloped...
are headed for self-destruction.
guage right and wrong by political, social climate, fear and gain
lack faith and courage...
What can I say?
Originally posted by shizzle5150
6. "Certainly the universe cannot be never-ending", by never ending you don't mean an infinity do you? Coming from someone who can believe that their afterlife can be a eternity in heaven or hell, I would think this could be seen plausible to say the least. I don't know that it is expanding, moving it is but I think cycling would be a better word.
Originally posted by runetang
Equally annoying though, are the stereotypes placed against christians and christianity, which is such a joke because there are so many sects and versions of christianity, so many churches with differing practices and beliefs, that you simply cannot lump them all under the word christian. When people do, it demonstrates their lack of knowledge in the religious area.
And you know all christians get lumped into the Evangelical Theist Catholic School Upbringing category so easily during these types of discussions and debates.
But I also see an equal amount of believers being critical of people they dont know simply because they are atheists. I think this is because they feel like they are attacked when they are criticized and lumped into the same category as extremists like Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell, so they lash back out and use the moral trump card on you.
I prefer to just try to explain and depart some knowledge or understanding into someone reading, so that people can co-exist and respect each other. I have plenty of atheist friends, and you know what? I dont discuss religion with them! and i dont think theyre damned, how do i know whats in store for them? I'm not God therefore I will not judge.
Originally posted by mojo4sale
My only comment would be is that Atheism is not a religion
Havent you figured it out yet ???? Atheists dont believe that any god exists ........ Thats all... an athesit can believe in ghosts, vampires, werewolves, goblins, orcs, elves, need I go on? - We just dont think god(s) in any shape(s) or form(s) are existing NOW or have done so in the PAST or are likely to do so in the FUTURE!!! Thats it !!!!! our whole common link together. We dont have the multiple links of a religion, we have the one link. WE'RE ATHEISTS!!!!!!
Originally posted by HIFIGUY
Religion: 6. Something one believes in and follows devotedly; a point or matter of ethics or conscience: to make a religion of fighting prejudice.
3. The body of persons adhering to a particular set of beliefs and practices: a world council of religions.
It appears that any belief system is a religion..now doesnt it? Welcome Atheists to the religion of those who dont believe in a God.
[edit on 25-2-2007 by HIFIGUY]
Originally posted by HIFIGUY
Any Belief system is a religion.
Your of the Atheist Faith.
You belief there is no God or Deity and are willing to stand on it for a couple pages of thread..but either way.. its still a religion according to definition...
Read your Dictionary..
1 a : the state of a religious b (1) : the service and worship of God or the supernatural (2) : commitment or devotion to religious faith or observance
2 : a personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices
Originally posted by GreatTech
List one or more reasons. I will list three:
1) Atheists have different thought patterns: rarely does God enter their mind for the cause and effect of any event.
2) Atheists have different vocabularies: frequently they score a little above average on "standardized tests" but these tests frequently have little to do with Sacred, Spiritual, and religious texts. They are more concerned with knowledge rather than wisdom. They frequently take part in the "selling of the soul syndrome."
3) Atheists' mind's eyes are underdeveloped: they frequently cannot associate the Creation of something as magnificent as the Universe to anything but a human or an atom of hydrogen.
Personally, I believe in God with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
When God approaches you, it is filled with love and power!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Originally posted by madnessinmysoul
hmm, i just did read a dicitonary
from what i read atheism isn't a religion
it is according to PART of the definition
you selectively chose parts
i don't see anything religious about atheism
[Quote from Austin Cline....( About.com )
What is Religion? The Problem of Defining Religion:
Academic literature is filled with attempts to describe what religion is and many of those attempts are very unhelpful. Definitions of religion tend to suffer from one of two problems: they are either too narrow and exclude many of the belief systems which most people will agree are religious, or they are too vague and ambiguous, leading one to conclude that just about any and everything is actually a religion