Why are Atheists Atheists?

Originally posted by GreatTech
For all atheists: do you believe in an afterlife?

Personally, no. I’m plant food. I’m part of the great cycle of life. My natural purpose here is to pass on my DNA. I can still make the most out of my life, despite not needing your invisible crutches.

If so, do you believe in consequences, positive or negative, based on your earth-life actions?

I don’t believe there will be consequences on myself after I’m dead, no. However, I do have a family name, and most of us would not want to shame our children or family members in any way.

Also, I’ve noticed that if I’m nice to others, others are nice to me.

If not, how do you cope with the loss of a family member?

Realistically.

Although, when I go to religious funeral I often hear the phrase “he/she is in a better place now.” Personally this brings me absolutely no comfort. However, my grandmother is getting older. She is loosing a lot of her friends and often needs consolation.

I confess I’ve used the same line to make her feel better.

I’m an atheist, not an idiot.

Originally posted by GreatTech
For all atheists: do you believe in an afterlife? If so, do you believe in consequences, positive or negative, based on your earth-life actions? If not, how do you cope with the loss of a family member?

GreatTech,

I do not believe in an afterlife. Therefore I do not believe in either positive or negative consequences for myself in an afterlife. I believe that the consequences of ones actions are accountable right here and now (this is the purpose of law), and seek no reward in life or an afterlife for anything I might do during my life.

Obviously anyone who does believe in an afterlife would have to believe that there are consequences in that afterlife for their earthly actions, be they reward or punishment. (Equally obviously the CIA is an exception to this, as most of their actions since that organisations formation have resulted in consequences neither forseen nor desirable! - but then I am unaware of the CIA's belief in an afterlife or otherwise).

With regard to the loss of a family member or friend, I celebrate their life rather than their death. While I am remembered for my life, my children, or my deeds, I am immortal. I believe that telling people that their friends or relatives have moved on to a better place is but a lie designed to soften their loss, but which (in my experience) does little either materially or spiritually, but for the short term. (And with some funerals, in my experience, it most certainly makes things worse)

In Australian aboriginal tradition, a race of people without a written language, they remember the dead and their achievements by passing on that person's name to a child and telling the child the story of the departed's life, such that the departed becomes immortal.

I think the Irish treat death in the proper manner with a wake to celebrate the life of the person and to remember their qualities and achievements.

Consider this. If Jesus Christ were not REMEMBERED then there would be no foundation upon which you could base your particular faith (and presumably you would be Jewish rather than Christian), regardless of whether an afterlife exists or not. That is - Christianity can only exist while Jesus Christ is remembered. It is the rememberance which creates immortality and in this case, the religion.

Just a variation of your question to us GreatTech. If a person you knew died and you knew them to be a 'bad' person would you go about telling the relatives that their loved-one was not in 'a better place', but was in Hell?

The Winged Wombat

[edit on 23/4/07 by The Winged Wombat]

[edit on 23/4/07 by The Winged Wombat]

Originally posted by GreatTech
1) Atheists have different thought patterns: rarely does God enter their mind for the cause and effect of any event.

And most Christians, Muslims, Jews, Buddhists etc I have encountered have what I call 'Sheep syndrome'. That is that they blindly follow their given religion, however cannot comprehend the existance of other, often similiar, religions.

Originally posted by GreatTech
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."

So what? Because, according to you, we score a little higher on standerdised tests, we have 'sold soul syndrome'? Also, doesn't this imply that, as theists have scored almost as high as we have, that they have 'sold their souls' as well?
Also why should it matter that standardised tests don't have spiritual/religious texts in them?

Originally posted by GreatTech
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.

You know what GreatTech?
I'm sick of it.
Sick of Christians and every other religious/spiritual person that believes that, as I don't believe in a 'higher power', I'm less developed 'spiritually'.
The irony is that most say I should see 'the world' with 'an open mind', yet refuse to believe that others can have a lack of belief, and still be equals.

Originally posted by Chaoticar

Originally posted by GreatTech
1) Atheists have different thought patterns: rarely does God enter their mind for the cause and effect of any event.

And most Christians, Muslims, Jews, Buddhists etc I have encountered have what I call 'Sheep syndrome'. That is that they blindly follow their given religion, however cannot comprehend the existance of other, often similiar, religions.

I cant speak for the other religions but I know its in Budhism's nature to question things and I haven't found many Buddhists with this 'sheep syndrome', I believe everything should be questioned and so did the first Buddha who's own believe was that you shouldn't believe what he says just because he said it but that you should question it, and study it and only believe it if it agrees with your own reasoning and understanding of it. Most religions don't have this, its believe or go to hell and the main reason behind it is if people did question it those religions would be long gone by now.

anyway, you all do realize that GreatTech isnt listening to any of you? I believe someone mentioned it a few pages back that he only selects specific sentences from people posts so he can post what hes posted 10 times on every page since the beginning of this topic, a variation of the same theme.

Correct me if im wrong GeatTech (if you even read this) it doesn't matter what any of you say, unless you start agreeing with him he will continue to say the same thing, hes here to save you and to open your eyes to the 'truth' that is god, his god that is, not anyone else's, there all wrong and misguided as well.

Originally posted by Edn
anyway, you all do realize that GreatTech isnt listening to any of you? I believe someone mentioned it a few pages back that he only selects specific sentences from people posts so he can post what hes posted 10 times on every page since the beginning of this topic, a variation of the same theme.

Correct me if im wrong GeatTech (if you even read this) it doesn't matter what any of you say, unless you start agreeing with him he will continue to say the same thing, hes here to save you and to open your eyes to the 'truth' that is god, his god that is, not anyone else's, there all wrong and misguided as well.

Yes he seems very much similiar to the often right-wing fanatics whose only arguments on anything 'un-American' is that it is just that:Un-American.

Also I didn't really mean that Buddhism, and most Buddhists, aren't just like the others.
I instead meant that the majority of most religions really only want to hear/repeat their views on whatever 'higher power' they worship.

As the comedian said:'Those that like to discuss their religion with you, often do not want you to discuss your religion with them'.