Seeing the Dark

[cry freedom]

Drop the soundbites Maurice. I respect your beliefs or lack of them but, by its own standards of reason and logic alone atheism has failed dismally to give an account of itself. All we know for sure is that it sneers at the faith of believers, boasts in its rejection of a Creator and borrows from religious apologetics when cornered. We know what it's not, but what is it?

It's time that atheism was asked for an account of itself or, as St. Peter said: or not.

There are hundreds of old people [mostly women] all over this country tonight who dread going to sleep because they fear dying and what their "merciful" god will do to them. These people have led lives as blameless as their humanity and failings would allow,and yet they fear meeting their maker.
What is the point of religion if it is not a comfort in old age ?
My idea of the long dreamless sleep is much more liberating when you get over the initial shock. At least you do not have to worry about devils pulling the skin off your back with hot pincers.
If you want to know what atheism is all about there are plenty of books on the subject. I doubt if you would bother to study then.
I, on the other hand have read the Bible [from cover to cover] on a number of occasions and have come to the conclusion that it is a loose amalgam of Jewish history,folklore and myth.A great read certainly but not the word of a none existent God.

[Half Nelson]

There are hundreds of old people [mostly women] all over this country tonight who dread going to sleep because they fear dying and what their "merciful" god will do to them. These people have led lives as blameless as their humanity and failings would allow,and yet they fear meeting their maker.
What is the point of religion if it is not a comfort in old age ?
My idea of the long dreamless sleep is much more liberating when you get over the initial shock. At least you do not have to worry about devils pulling the skin off your back with hot pincers.
If you want to know what atheism is all about there are plenty of books on the subject. I doubt if you would bother to study then.
I, on the other hand have read the Bible [from cover to cover] on a number of occasions and have come to the conclusion that it is a loose amalgam of Jewish history,folklore and myth.A great read certainly but not the word of a none existent God.

And on cue we have the typical atheistic response - condemn religion but don't offer any justification for atheism.

So, you're an atheist because of what others believe - seems reasonable.

[Didimus]

There are hundreds of old people [mostly women] all over this country tonight who dread going to sleep because they fear dying and what their "merciful" god will do to them. These people have led lives as blameless as their humanity and failings would allow,and yet they fear meeting their maker.

On what do you base that extraordinary assumption?

[cry freedom]

And on cue we have the typical atheistic response - condemn religion but don't offer any justification for atheism.

So, you're an atheist because of what others believe - seems reasonable.

Why would I need to come up with a "justification" for Atheism ?
Any more than I would have to come up with a justification for the fact that the sun rises each morning.!

[cry freedom]

On what do you base that extraordinary assumption?

Upon the fact that n my immediate neighborhood I know three people like that. It's a simple extrapolation.

[Lazarus]

Why are we so curious about death? We each and everyone of us have to die. Its all we have in common. We live, we die. No one knows what if anything happens. How can we? Unless you believe in those charlatans who make a living, "talking to the dead".

Kipling believed in reincarnation. That poem of his when a friend of his died. "They will come back and come back again, as long as the red earath rolls. He never wasted a leaf or a tree, do you think he would squander souls? I liked that.

My favourite is reputed to be an old American Indian poem found about 100 years ago.

"Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow
I am the diamond glints on snow
I am the sunshine on ripening grain
I am the gentle Autumn Rain.

When you awake in the morning hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circling flight
I am the soft starshine at night.

Do not stand at my grave and cry.
I am not there. I did not die.

[JCR]

I'm fine thank you.

I guess seeing the dark is the acceptance that we die permanently and there is nothing more as far as we as a mind are concerned.

I'm fascinated by the fact that those of us seeing the dark cannot seem to dim the light of those unfortunately still trapped in it like rabbits in car headlights.

I am fascinated by the fact that one man is so sure he is right when he has neither the knowledge or wisdom to prove it How spiffingly religious

[JCR]

Why would I need to come up with a "justification" for Atheism ?
Any more than I would have to come up with a justification for the fact that the sun rises each morning.!

You don't have to but the question is one of epistemology, theory of knowledge. Rationalisation of your belief as a viable logical position. It is a philosophical position and if that is your belief you yourself must have reasons for believing it. Otherwise you may as well believe in the tooth fairy

[JCR]

Why would we atheists need to sneer?

I just wonder why any adult witnessing the modern age and all we now know of the Cosmos would still cling to the centuries old writings of very primitive people.

Surely the silly gods of the past could easily be improved on by modern scholars?

Science fiction robots have evolved faster.

Have you forgotten the very obvious fact that our modern scholars will soon in cosmological terms be thought of as very primitive people? If you wish to think things through don't stop half way

[Half Nelson]

You don't have to but the question is one of epistemology, theory of knowledge. Rationalisation of your belief as a viable logical position. It is a philosophical position and if that is your belief you yourself must have reasons for believing it. Otherwise you may as well believe in the tooth fairy

More and more, it seems that atheism is religion for lazy people.