Without God, Life is Everything »
Posted By RickyDawkins 7 months, 1 week ago in NewsI believe in reason, evidence and the human mind, I do not seek out reassurances, but embrace the question, and strive to challenge my own beliefs. I accept human mortality. We have but one life, brief and full of struggle, leavened with love and community, learning and exploration, beauty and the creation of new life, new art, and new ideas.
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RickyDawkins
Pascal's Wager (God is a safe bet)
"If you believe in God and turn out to be incorrect, you have lost nothing--but if you ...
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RickyDawkins7 months, 1 week ago
--An atheist's creed--
I believe in time,
matter, and energy,
which make up the whole of the world.
I believe in reason, evidence and the human mind,
the only tools we have;
they are the product of natural forces
in a majestic but impersonal universe,
grander and richer than we can imagine,
a source of endless opportunities for discovery.
I believe in the power of doubt;
I do not seek out reassurances,
but embrace the question,
and strive to challenge my own beliefs.
I accept human mortality.
We have but one life,
brief and full of struggle,
leavened with love and community,
learning and exploration,
beauty and the creation of
new life, new art, and new ideas.
I rejoice in this life that I have,
and in the grandeur of a world that preceded me,
and an earth that will abide without me.
http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2008/03/actu...
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Melbatross77 months, 1 week ago
Fluffy naive platitudes. How about a dose of reality. Most of the world lives in abject poverty where the "grandness" escapes them. A priviledged few get to entertain the possibilities because of a cocooned society that looks more at the pretty pictures of creation than the human condition with all its motivations that has created the circumstances we find ourselves struggling to survive in. To say you have accepted your mortality is to reflect your personal comfort and enjoyment of everyday life then stick your head in the sand regarding the real issue of existence. As humanity discovers more about the created world, evils along with dilemas regarding survival mount.....why is that ?
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Radiofreeeuropa7 months, 1 week ago
So that could be said of every philosophy and philosopher since ancient Greece. It could be said of every religion as well. I don't get your point. We should wallow in self pity because not every riddle has been solved?
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rwrnae7 months, 1 week ago
Life is and always has been a competition. All species on the planet compete with each other and with other species for survival. It is hardwired into our genetic code. Those less fortunate whom you wish to help are no different, if their life improves and their tribe becomes powerful, they will compete with you for what resources are left and may not be so generous toward you as you would be to them. As the world population explodes, the problems are only going to get worse.
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memestryker7 months ago
I wouldn't always agree that religion is not the main problem. Religion is a tool of ideologies, and actually unnecessary. The same mechanisms can be used to experience fellowship, practice altruism, etc., without the need to give power away to a priesthood that seeks its own power, prestige, and wealth.
And buying in to the idea that somehow bloodlines and a penis give one some special powers over others is ludicrous. I think that's destructive, and it deprives people of their humanity.
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david_nwpa7 months, 1 week ago
I have often thought that most Christians' view God as this voyeuristic creature who keeps tabs on humanity while occasionally striking out with death and despair at those who disobey random commands. Belief in the power of the human mind to explore and discover uncharted territory in the existence of the universe is perhaps the best gift we can give ourselves. I like that idea a lot more than some nebulous, ethereal peeping Tom.
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Radiofreeeuropa7 months, 1 week ago
Nah, You have it all wrong. God is a sausage in the roll of the universe, surrounded by pepper and onion cherubs. His prophet is Oscar Mayer. The future dynamics of indigestion are fully defined by their initial conditions, with no random elements involved.
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bluetexasvalley7 months, 1 week ago
Well, Radio, that's YOUR belief. Think I'll stick with the tried and true FSM. ;-)
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slate7 months, 1 week ago
Just remember how special you guys are, over 5 billion people on the planet believe in some sort of higher being and the few really smart people only believe in nothing more than they can quantify. It must be sweet to know you are so much smarter than the rest of the planet,,, I'd imagine that you must all be billionaires, with that much smarts, care to loan me a few million? After all, it's just money and being dead sooner than later you have no moral reason to leave your money for good causes after you blink out, so enjoy your life and spread a little happiness my way.
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Poulenc7 months, 1 week ago
(We should probably make a distinction between the supernatural and the spiritual in religious belief, the latter being an expression of a legitimate human need for transcendence.)
Getting people "off religion" is a tough sell, I believe, as so many turn to it to reconcile themselves to death; to feel that their lives count; to be "supported" in times of helplessness, etc.
The existential truth--that we have one life, that dead is dead, that we alone are responsible for our fate--can be enormously liberating, in fact is necessary to embrace to see the human condition as it is, but it requires that the crutch be tossed aside....
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lvrofwolves7 months, 1 week ago
I have absolutely no problems with those who believe the title should be 'with God, Life is Everything', as long as they feel that is their personal belief and don't try and shove it on anyone else in any way,it shows a lack of respect. I really like the 'Atheists creed- something I can respect, and feel people of all faiths could too, and probably many do.
Respect could definately be given by most people of many different beliefs, religions, no religion etc...if they wanted it, regardless good people should be judged on actions and character, not what they believe or not believe in.
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slate7 months, 1 week ago
I have absolutely no problems with those who believe the title should be 'with God, Life is Everything', as long as they feel that is their personal belief and don't try and shove it on anyone else in any way,it shows a lack of respect. I really like the 'Atheists creed- something I can respect, and feel people of all faiths could too, and probably many do.
I agree, now if the Atheists would stop trying to push their views on the rest of us,,,,
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HomerJS497 months, 1 week ago
What's your point? Gonna get all technical on me? If you aren't looking for it you aren't gonna find it...even if you're holding it in your hands.
You don't understand love? Unconditional love? That's yer problem.
But answer me this genius. When we die the water evaporates and we become just a little pile of dirt. What make us live and move around and think?
Please explain in purely scientific terms.
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ETproductions7 months, 1 week ago
The actual conundrum is this.
1 -- If there is a God who wants us to recognize divinity, then without God, life is nothing.
2 -- If there is not a God who wants us to recognize divinity, then without God, life is everything.
3 -- Currently, it is impossible to KNOW whether the truth lies with 1 or 2 above. Either answer must be accepted on faith.
Have a nice day.
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RickyDawkins7 months, 1 week ago
right, except that now we can make inferences based upon reason... and it doesn't have to be all or nothing, and you have a nice day too.
in the distant past, people believed that miracles actually occurred, that the earth was the center of creation, that spirits make you ill, that virgins have babies...
today that seems unlikely, at least to me and a growing number of rational (so we call ourselves) thinkers.
also, the holy books of various religions conflict one another, as well as containing contradictory information within.
or think of it like a poker hand...
i have a hunch that the church is bluffing, however i can't see anyone else's cards (you are correct there), nobody can.
i have a pair of kings in my hand, et...
if you wanna call that faith, i guess you can, because im not willing to fold.
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koranagirl7 months, 1 week ago
Actually, it wasn't that "virgins" had babies. That's a mistranslation of the phrase and a misunderstanding of ancient cultures. Of course, people long ago knew where babies came from, it's just that the word used for young unmarried girl got translated into "virgin", which we mean think she was chaste, which was obviously not the case, for she was pregnant.
Long ago, when a couple got engaged, that meant she usually went to live with his family and in his house. She was expected to get pregnant over the next year, or better yet, have a child. If she did not, the engagement was off, she went home and both parties were free to marry after a period of about 3 months to make sure she was not pregnant.
However, if she did get pregnant or have a live child, then the couple would officially marry and the woman was no longer a "virgin". So, going back to ancient times, all first borns were from "virgin" mothers.
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