Is the atheist brain more evolved?

You can be an agnostic atheist. The reason why I'm atheist is because I'm agnostic, ie I'm not religious because I beleive that "it is not possible to have absolute or certain knowledge of God or gods" (Wikipedia). Therefore, religion is too subjective for me, I prefer science which is objective.

Originally posted by madnessinmysoul

I am against religion because it teaches us to be satisfied with not understanding the world.

Always remember:Goddidit.

Originally posted by thexsword
I am firm and uncompromising in my beliefs like most Christians, although I still study all types of subjects because I believe everything from science, to islam, to aitheism only proves the bible and it's prophecy that much more.

HOW?!? How does the study of Islam, science, atheism etc amount to Biblical prophecy? Please, help me here.

Originally posted by thexsword
Maddness in my soul: We know you hate religion.

And I know your against science, atheism, Islam etc.

Originally posted by Sun Matrix
As for me, I have not stopped learning. I have studied most of the major religions of the world. I have found that we can track their origin to Babylon. That includes the eastern religions, Islam, and Catholicism

Gotta hate those Babylonians. Traversing the world to create Satanic religions.
Please can you give us some proof of the 'Babylonian religions'?
Also, as you follow the Bible, guess who it has been revised by...(wait for it)...
CATHOLICS!
OMG! *Gasps of horror around ATS*

Originally posted by Sun Matrix
Which means.........What? We have the original Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek so what is the problem. Maybe if you understood WHY there is so many translations you will understand why the truth is under attack.

No all I'm saying is that you, and most other Christians, take the Bible as fact and even sacred even though only humans, not God wrote it.
What if I suffered delusions/got high and wrote that the Ascended One was controlling Reality from Shangri-La in 'The Necronomicon'? What's the bet I'd be ridiculed?

Originally posted by Sun Matrix

You are barking up the wrong tree bub.....I have no use for religion.

Certainly I'm many things.........but religious is not one of them.

The only fear you sensed was your own. You seem lost and confused. If you are having trouble answering the God question..............you might try the BOOK. It has the answers you can't seem to find.

Woof! Woof!

Being raised a devout catholic, I believe I have read your book. More than once. Sure it has some fantastic lessons and allegory within its covers, but like all books it is subject to interpretation. Not to mention that most books are in fact edited. Most of the gospels of the new testament date 4-5 centuries after the life of christ. A lot can be lost in that amount of time.

I absolutely love poeple that think they can take my soul's inventory. That really chaps my craw. By the way...a proper elipsis only has three periods.

I think that book that you speak of is probably the bible, if I am not mistaken. But since there are other religious texts in existance, I wouldn't want to make that horrible leap of logic. I read many books, I refer to none of them as "the BOOK." As far as "lost and confused" is concerned. I would never go as far as to say that I know the way to spiritual enlightenment. I know my way. The path is narrow and few will find it, right? Fear? I don't think so bro. Like my mood says, I am fearless. Because with the help of my god, there is nothing to fear. As far as ruining this thread with our cross-talk and religious debate is concerned; I am now finished. Feel free to satify your desire to input a "last laugh" post which willl undoubtedly have nothing to do with the topic at hand.

My hands burn and sizzle when I read the bible. Especially after I pray to my golden calf and god named Ba'al.

By the way that was a joke.

So the topic at hand is basilcally a logical fallacy. It is a means to satisfy somebody's satisfaction with their beliefs by thinking that it makes them more evolved. This is a means without an end. It is like asking, "are people who watch the discovery cahannel more intelligent than people who watch CNN?" It is a matter of opinion, not conspiracy. I think this thread might do better in BTS. Maybe you should ask your doctor or psychotherapist if your beliefs make you more evolved. He would probably laugh at you. Furthermore if you told him about inducing altered states of consciousness with electricity, he would probably tell you to stop sticking your fingers in electrical outlets. The way our brains are wired are due to the way we formulate thoughts, beliefs, and memories. Saying that altered states caused by electricity prove that atheists are more evolved, is similar to saying that people who do acid are more evolved. I have had out-of body experiences before. It proves to ME that I have a soul. That is about it. I would not claim to be more evolved.

This thread has more to do with the potential of mankind to use logic and reason to formulate beliefs. Not evolving. There is a lot we don't know about our own bodies, not to mention what we do not know about god. Evolution would mean that you were born with atheist belifs encoded in your genetics. Evolution rarely involves a choice. It involves survival. An adaptation that makes us more suited to our environment. This is where you must define evolution. Are you talking about physical evolution, or evolution as a symbol for personal growth? Therefore the question you ask could simply be answered 'NO."

booyakah. 46 & 2 just ahead of me...





[edit on 7-5-2007 by Eyeofhorus]

God has given us free will but after the fall at the garden of eden we will almost always chose the wrong way to go without seeking God first. the devil sugar coated that fruit with words that were appealing to the sences it sounded good so we went after it. like most of the religions now and philosophies out there seek God first and he will lead you to the truth.

heres an absolute truth we all are going to die. so by that there is absolutes but we need God to help and guide us to those truths for without him we would not find truths we would find sugar coated almost truths.

[edit on 7-5-2007 by followerofchrist]

I do think of myself as a superior specimen of this species, perhaps even more evolved in the genetic sense, and I don't agree with any of the major religions on Earth at present. So how am I superior?

I can still sit down with a Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Christian or Jew and carry on a conversation without offending him. I know enough about world religions that I'm just this far away from being a spokesman for any given belief. I can carry on a religious conversation with a hardcore deep south Baptist and walk away with him thinking that I'm a Baptist of strong faith.

This isn't a deception on my part, it's not a lie. I do have Faith. It's just not in any of the world religions. And I have no trouble sitting down and conversing with theists whatsoever. I even encourage them in their paths to finding Faith.

Because Faith is a real thing, some kind of as-yet-scientifically-undescribed force of Nature that enables a knowledgeable user to manipulate the fabric of existence. Call it Magic. Call it The God Particle. Call it Faith. It surely exists, and the religions of Earth have tried to explain it and tap into it for thousands of years.

Where they fail is in their effort to bottle and sell Faith. Can't be done. You can't measure Faith nor decide who has it or who needs it. But what you can do is to encourage anyone who is seeking Faith.

And you can have Faith without being a member of a religious order. The Sufi have a saying: Have Faith, if only in a stone, and you will recover. There are similar remarks in the Bible, speaking of just a mustard seed of Faith, and that Faith can literally move mountains.

It's all true and available to anyone, be he theist or atheist.

— Doc Velocity

[

Thexsword, I hate religion myself.

As for me, I have not stopped learning. I have studied most of the major religions of the world. I have found that we can track their origin to Babylon. That includes the eastern religions, Islam, and Catholicism

I know you hate "religion" Sun Matrix. I hate that word, and hate being associated with the religious. The fact is though, that you are religious, along with myself, by deffinition.

I never meant that Christians are dumb, they're just usually not as willing to learn. Not you, not me, but the majority.

Also, you're right, the KJV is perfect, the rest of the "revised" versions are simply nothing but a product of the evil one.

Originally posted by thexsword
the KJV is perfect, the rest of the "revised" versions are simply nothing but a product of the evil one.

So are you saying that the devil is in the business of making Bibles? Maybe I need to revise my position as to the evolution of the brain in regard to religious people.

No, I didn't say that satan makes Bibles now. I said that new age Bibles are a product of the devil. Part of me was joking in a sense, but I do believe this. New age Bibles are exactly what they say they are, a product of the new age movement, which is very anti-Christian. Many of these people writing the new age versions are liberals for religious equality. If you feel that all religions are equal, you should not be professing one specific one.

I don't want to argue about this, because there's nothing I say that you'll believe, but if you would like to read something I could recomend a great 900 page book on New Age Bible versions.

Originally posted by Doc Velocity
Where they fail is in their effort to bottle and sell Faith. Can't be done. You can't measure Faith nor decide who has it or who needs it. But what you can do is to encourage anyone who is seeking Faith.

Very true with many religious orders nowadays, such as the Vatican which has a hundred different rules and regulations that Jesus has never even mentioned in the Gospels.

And you can have Faith without being a member of a religious order. The Sufi have a saying: Have Faith, if only in a stone, and you will recover. There are similar remarks in the Bible, speaking of just a mustard seed of Faith, and that Faith can literally move mountains.

— Doc Velocity

My question is, what do you mean by Faith? Do you mean belief without proof or something similar to that? Because, that may just be your subconscious tricking you into believing in something for the sole reason that you want and have to believe in it. This is called blind faith and I personally believe that its stupid to have blind faith without reason and evidence to back it up.

By the way, I'm a protestant.

My question is, what do you mean by Faith? Do you mean belief without proof or something similar to that? Because, that may just be your subconscious tricking you into believing in something for the sole reason that you want and have to believe in it. This is called blind faith and I personally believe that its stupid to have blind faith without reason and evidence to back it up.

By the way, I'm a protestant.

I believe faith can litterally move moutains as well. But how many people have faith like that these days. It's not the faith itself, it's faith in God, that God will move those moutains. Everyone seems to have that doubt in the back of their heads, and that's why few have faith like this. With faith in God we can do anything.

You don't sound much like a protestant. What "blind faith" are you speaking of?

Originally posted by TheB1ueSoldier
My question is, what do you mean by Faith? Do you mean belief without proof or something similar to that? Because, that may just be your subconscious tricking you into believing in something for the sole reason that you want and have to believe in it. This is called blind faith and I personally believe that its stupid to have blind faith without reason and evidence to back it up.

In my view, Faith has nothing to do with belief. While the terms belief and Faith are frequently interchanged in everyday conversation — and particulary in the secular press — they are two distinct and separate concepts.

Belief is a wish, a wish that something is true, and wishing carries with it the subconscious acknowledgement of the possibility (probability) that the wish will never come true. I've known many people who questioned and even abandoned their respective "beliefs" because those "beliefs" failed to deliver significant ROI. "How could there be a God that would allow THIS to happen?" or "I've been praying my heart out and it's as if God doesn't hear me." Such are the laments of believers who are expecting their prayers and chants and rituals and wishes to pay off in a timely fashion, like a venture capital investment.

In the backs of their minds, believers fear that their hopes and wishes and prayers will go unanswered, as they usually do.

And, of course, there is the rhetoric of politicians, who preface virtually every statement with "I believe..." Two weeks later, those politicians have turned 180° and believe something diametrically opposed to what they previously believed. Unfortunately, there are a great many religious believers out there who practice their beliefs in the same cheap fashion.

So, for me, belief is something of a bipolar disorder — when a wish comes true, Yippee, believers are in manic phase; but when their fondest wishes and prayers yield no tangible results, Woe is me, they come crashing down to earth to wallow in self-pity for a bit and then go searching for a more rewarding belief.

Faith, on the other hand, I perceive as a kind of one-way circuit, a circuit that does not acknowledge the possibility of failure. Plug into the circuit, attain Faith, and your burden is lifted, if I may borrow a Christian cliché. With Faith, there is simply no doubt, no fear, no anxiety, and absolutely no wishing. It isn't necessary to defend Faith, because the truly faithful do not acknowledge the possibility of defeat.

As for the rewards of Faith, the truly faithful do not contemplate reward, as reward acknowledges the possibility of punishment. The result of exercising their Faith is that the truly faithful act with profound certainty and, dare I say, with fearless righteousness, yet they serenely accept the mysterious working of this marvelous universe as it unfolds before them.

You may notice that I use the term "the truly faithful" quite often, and I do this to differentiate those who have Faith from those who merely think they have Faith, but who are, in fact, just run-of-the-mill believers. The former are very few and very far between, while the latter comprise the great majority of the religious population.

Regarding "blind Faith", there is no such animal, as it implies the existence of "sighted Faith" — Faith can't be qualified nor quantified, as you either have it or you don't, and there are no gradations of Faith. I may have Faith in a dime-store rabbit's foot that I keep in my pocket, while you may have Faith in a sheet of scientific data — but if we have actually attained Faith, then the method by which we attain it is of no consequence. We are equals in Faith.

— Doc Velocity

[edit on 5/8/2007 by Doc Velocity]

Originally posted by thexsword
I believe faith can litterally move moutains as well. But how many people have faith like that these days. It's not the faith itself, it's faith in God, that God will move those moutains.

I admit that my faith isn't very strong as of now. But, I'm researching and studying and praying and finding my faith building, and that is the difference between my faith and blind faith. Blind faith is a deep belief backed up by no evidence, but my faith is concrete and has a sturdy foundation on which I can build my faith even more. You've probably heard of the parable of Jesus saying to build not on sand but rock.

Originally posted by thexsword
Everyone seems to have that doubt in the back of their heads, and that's why few have faith like this. With faith in God we can do anything.

Perhaps God does not want us to be capable of anything. It seems foolish to assume you know whether or not God has put limitations on the human race.

Originally posted by thexsword
You don't sound much like a protestant. What "blind faith" are you speaking of?

Blind faith is simply a deep belief in something without the need for evidence or proof.

Originally posted by Doc Velocity
In my view, Faith has nothing to do with belief. While the terms belief and Faith are frequently interchanged in everyday conversation — and particulary in the secular press — they are two distinct and separate concepts.

Is not faith just a deep belief in something without the need for evidence?

faith - belief that is not based on proof

- Webster's Dictionary

Originally posted by Doc Velocity
Faith, on the other hand, I perceive as a kind of one-way circuit, a circuit that does not acknowledge the possibility of failure. Plug into the circuit, attain Faith, and your burden is lifted, if I may borrow a Christian cliché. With Faith, there is simply no doubt, no fear, no anxiety, and absolutely no wishing. It isn't necessary to defend Faith, because the truly faithful do not acknowledge the possibility of defeat.

Umm... touchy subject. Unless every single prayer that you've ever made has come true, I doubt that what you're saying is correct. Because, somewhere along the way, at least one of your prayers has gone unanswered or has not been fullfilled the way that you expected it to. Thus, that one unaswered prayer subconsciously plays on your thoughts. The next time you go to pray, you think to yourself "Hey, what if this happens again and my prayer doesnt come true."

I'll answer the rest of your post later, i have to go now.

when a wish comes true, Yippee, believers are in manic phase; but when their fondest wishes and prayers yield no tangible results, Woe is me, they come crashing down to earth to wallow in self-pity for a bit and then go searching for a more rewarding belief.

actually christians should be Praising and rejoicing even in the bad times the only ones that do the woe is me (which i have done before) are one that get caught up in the world and start to put God on a shelf saying well i am doing good right now so i dont need him but as soon as something bad happens we are there to say well why did this happen to me and why did you let this happen to me God you arent suppossed to let this happen to me im a christian and God does not listen because you did not praise him when you were doing good just like a father would punish a sonif they dont listen you dont punish a kid if he is listening to you do you?

Originally posted by thexsword
the KJV is perfect, the rest of the "revised" versions are simply nothing but a product of the evil one.

so the versions that get closer to the original hebrew and greek are innaccurate, 'cause we all know that god wrote the bible intending for it to be read in english... i'd use the eyeroll emoticon here, but the sarcasm should be apparent.

i think he was meaning the bibles that follow more of a story format lose the meaning that was originally intended the HCSB holman christian standard bible i have i believe is the most accurate if you look at some of the other threads i have posted on there was one dalen commented on this same topic he explained it better than i could i believe the thread was is Jesus really the Son of God

Originally posted by TheB1ueSoldier
Is not faith just a deep belief in something without the need for evidence?

Not at all. I haven't read a common definition of Faith that is correct yet. Faith is light years beyond belief — unlike belief, Faith is not a matter of wishing for a thing to be true, while subconsciously acknowledging that it may not. Faith is knowing without a doubt, not wishing.

Originally posted by TheB1ueSoldier
Unless every single prayer that you've ever made has come true, I doubt that what you're saying is correct. Because, somewhere along the way, at least one of your prayers has gone unanswered or has not been fullfilled the way that you expected it to. Thus, that one unaswered prayer subconsciously plays on your thoughts.

What you're describing is a believer's dilemma. Believers, by virtue of the fact that they periodically (infrequently) turn to prayer, acknowledge that they need help and are unable to resolve personal conflicts, needs and desires on their own. Believers submit requests to God, in expectation that their prayers will be answered. When such requests go unfulfilled, as they usually do, believers may feel forsaken and may question or even abandon their belief.

The truly Faithful do not submit requests to God, and have no expectations of fulfillment — the truly Faithful live their lives as though they are executing the very Will of God, every moment of every day. No considerations of failure or personal need. The most sincere prayer uttered by the truly Faithful is short and sweet: "Thanks for the opportunity to serve you." No requests, no wishes, no doubts, no disappointments. Ever.

— Doc Velocity

[edit on 5/9/2007 by Doc Velocity]

So what youre saying is Faith is not what it is described to be in Hebrews 11: 1 " Now faith is the reality, or assurance, of what is hoped for, the proof, or conviction, of what is not seen." ? because i think that pretty much sums it up

Originally posted by madnessinmysoul
i doubt the atheist brain is "more evolved" but i wouldn't be surprised if it was found that the average atheist is significantly more intelligent than the average theist.

i doubt it's coincidental that when the national academy of the sciences did a self-study they found that about 90% of their members were either atheist or agnostic.

I certainly disagree with this for the earthlife and especially the afterlife. Michael Hart wrote a book on world history's 100 most influential people and 94 believed in God. Only 6 were atheists. The first atheist was ranked 35th (Thomas Edison).

Even if history's most influential people were 100% atheist and the national academy of sciences were 100% atheist, I would still believe in God.

Originally posted by followerofchrist
So what youre saying is Faith is not what it is described to be in Hebrews 11: 1 " Now faith is the reality, or assurance, of what is hoped for, the proof, or conviction, of what is not seen." ? because i think that pretty much sums it up

As I mentioned earlier, the world's religions have tried to explain and tap into the phenomenon of Faith for thousands of years. The Bible is no different. I can see parts of a reasonable definition of Faith in Hebrews: Faith is reality and conviction. Period.

With Faith, there are no expectations, no hopes, no assurances, and no need for proof, as there is nothing unseen. The truly Faithful do not require assurances and proof and such like, because they live in a perpetual state of certainty.

What Hebrews is describing is more like a common believer's definition of Faith — and, as I said earlier, believers are light years removed from the truly Faithful.

— Doc Velocity