Four Atheist Quotes That Hit Home.

Originally posted by Histopherness
reply to post by badmedia

 

So, how can you be that which you posses?

How can the earth be what it possess? One definition of what a thing is, is what it is composed of. For those that deny the spiritual that would be the only definition. Sounds a fair answer. You just don't except it because you assume that there is something more, while turkeyburgers does not. But you didn't ask for a definition of which you approved, you asked for one that was valid and could be shown using the scientific method.

You would first need to establish that the earth was conscious and more than just rocks/atoms in order for the earth to be a possession of something. At which point if you did, then the earth would not be the "earth", the "earth" would be a possession.

The point of the question wasn't to get an answer, it was to make him ask the question to himself to begin with and ponder it. I don't accept his answer because he is describing himself through material possessions/extensions, which is no different than someone saying they are their car, house or job.

The only way we can define ourselves to one another is by defining ourselves with these possessions, and that extends beyond the body for most people. That was the point I was trying to get him to understand.

"Any fool can know, the point is to understand" - Albert Einstein.

I am that I am.

reply to post by badmedia


For you it is "I am THAT I am"

For me it is "I ams WHAT I ams" -Popeye

Originally posted by Jomina

Originally posted by TheMythLives
Everyone one of us has something to give and everyone one of us can be an example of something...even if that example is a bad example, we can all find something to do and be..

Everyone thinks that ol adolph hitler was the most evil thing to exist, and I agree, there was so much bad in that man it's ridiculous. But what I'd also say on top of it is, we can't say what he did was all bad.

Why?

Cause he taught humanity a lesson. Never let anyone like him rise to power and allow such destruction as he caused in his time of power.

Not negating his evil, but trying to see the balanced positive in the situation... His was an evil we have learned to never allow again.

Reminds me of the movie eddie murphy was in, Vampire in brooklyn or something like that. The preacher is speaking about evil as necessary evil so if evil is necessary....... EVIL...... must be good. lol.

Good way to try and make a point but i think the atheists here are clapping because you just proved to them why god doesnt exist. Because people like hitler do. lol

Anyways i was going to state that i loved the quotes and i am a christian also. I am not a closed minded christian and i often wonder why do so many people get bent about people being atheist. Just because someone denies that my god exists doesnt mean it affects me in any way. I didnt believe in god because someone else did. I believe for my pwn personal reasons and feelings. Just as others have their philosophies and faiths that differ from mine. I do however think there is nothing wrong with questioning. I absolutely hate it when i hear a christian say stupid crap like " never question the mind of god" or " just accept it a gods will". Why? why then did god give me a mind to question? Why did he give me free will if i wasnt expected to USE it. Close minded people who in my mind dont truly understand anything they are just sheep willingly allowing themselves to be led by other men and THEIR interpretation of the word. I like to think that the god i believe in wants me to excercise my right to think and use that mind to try an dunderstand all i can so i can play my part in his world. I respect atheists because they think. They question and they come to their understanding of the world through this process. To me there are people who think i beleive in fairy tales no different than santa clause or the easter bunny. So be it, its my choice and i follow my heart and my mind. If someone else is doing the same and yet doesnt share my views then oh my god what do i do now? lol. If an atheist person lives life to the best of their ability and serves the light or the good or whatever and wants to better mankind, follows their heart, loves their family etc etc yet doesnt believe in god then its their choice and they are still my brothers and sisters. The worst thing any christian can do is represent themselves as being against any of mankind or hateful to anyone because this is not the way of your god or your christ. This is why so many christians are looked down on by everyone else in the world and i got news for those closed minded christians bending knee to god then slinging dirt on their fellow man for being different. Jesus would not call you one of his ever. Live it like he did or just let it go IMO. So you guys keep quoting your quotes they make a man think.
My favorite quote ever comes from my dad.
"Yes your entitled to your own opinion... as long as it agrees with mine" Lesslie Cole.

reply to post by fizzy1


Thank you Fizzy. As an atheist to a christian, this is exactly the sort of mentality that ends wars and opens mankind up to new, amazing, golden ages. I wish more religious people were like you. You truly have my respect.

Atheists don't have an agenda, most of my friends who are also atheists are major philanthropists. We don't need fear to make us good, caring people.

Thanks again for your great post.

Originally posted by Histopherness
Except Thomas Jefferson was not an atheist; though his views did vary widely from orthodox christianity he had described himself a christian, as well as a unitarian on at least one occasion.

Truth be told, Hear, HEAR! Thomas Jefferson simply meant in that quote that we should ALWAYS practice religion and go about our faith in a common sensed and logic filled manner. He was speaking against the sort of blinded fanaticism which lead towards events such as the Inquisition, the Salem Witch Trials, and coincidentally enough, our current problems with Jihad/Radical Islam.

reply to post by Balone


yea I know they aren't "I'm an athesit hear me roar", I just wanted to show that he obviously was rather ahead of his time on considering religions as a whole, and not just simply being bias towards a particular one. The 2nd one also denotes one's lack of a god, if that be his religious tenet, and it should not be held against him should he attempt to govern or join politics. Obviously this has been completely ignored in modern times. See Bush Senior quote...

again another religious thread and the response goes to page 28... pls. try the staistics. will this never end. try making a table of respondents and their avatars and see the patern.

the humanity...

time for my side. I love God. But believing Him is another story.

Originally posted by headb
again another religious thread and the response goes to page 28... pls. try the staistics. will this never end. try making a table of respondents and their avatars and see the patern.

the humanity...

time for my side. I love God. But believing Him is another story.

Oh no, you got me. I like to talk about the topic. It's the end of the world!!

In other news, you can do the same thing for all the other topics too. My my, what are we going to do? Or is just the topic itself that you have a problem with?

Originally posted by Histopherness
reply to post by makinho21

 

No hairs to be split. I just said that he had called himself a Christian on at least one occasion. As for his beliefs, we will never know exactly but Jefferson's last words were

I resign myself to my God, and my child to my country

No matter his struggle with his belief during life, he obviously believed in something come his death. That is not an atheist.

Thomas Jefferson believed in The Laws of Nature or Nature's God. He may have called him God or even Jesus but he in no way considered himself Christian.

"Millions of innocent men, women and children, since the introduction of Christianity, have been burnt, tortured, fined and imprisoned; yet we have not advanced one inch towards uniformity."

-Thomas Jefferson, Notes on Virginia, 1782


"But it does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods or no God. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg."

-Thomas Jefferson, Notes on Virginia, 1782

"Question with boldness even the existence of a god; because if there be one he must approve of the homage of reason more than that of blindfolded fear."

-Thomas Jefferson, letter to Peter Carr, August 10, 1787

"I concur with you strictly in your opinion of the comparative merits of atheism and demonism, and really see nothing but the latter in the being worshipped by many who think themselves Christians."

-Thomas Jefferson, letter to Richard Price, Jan. 8, 1789

"I never submitted the whole system of my opinions to the creed of any party of men whatever in religion, in philosophy, in politics, or in anything else where I was capable of thinking for myself. Such an addiction is the last degradation of a free and moral agent."

-Thomas Jefferson, letter to Francis Hopkinson, March 13, 1789

"They [the clergy] believe that any portion of power confided to me, will be exerted in opposition to their schemes. And they believe rightly; for I have sworn upon the altar of god, eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man. But this is all they have to fear from me: and enough, too, in their opinion.

-Thomas Jefferson to Dr. Benjamin Rush, Sept. 23, 1800

"History, I believe, furnishes no example of a priest-ridden people maintaining a free civil government. This marks the lowest grade of ignorance of which their civil as well as religious leaders will always avail themselves for their own purposes."

-Thomas Jefferson to Alexander von Humboldt, Dec. 6, 1813.

"Christianity neither is, nor ever was a part of the common law."

-Thomas Jefferson, letter to Dr. Thomas Cooper, February 10, 1814

"In every country and in every age, the priest has been hostile to liberty. He is always in alliance with the despot, abetting his abuses in return for protection to his own."

-Thomas Jefferson, letter to Horatio G. Spafford, March 17, 1814

"If we did a good act merely from love of God and a belief that it is pleasing to Him, whence arises the morality of the Atheist? ...Their virtue, then, must have had some other foundation than the love of God."

-Thomas Jefferson, letter to Thomas Law, June 13, 1814

"My opinion is that there would never have been an infidel, if there had never been a priest. The artificial structures they have built on the purest of all moral systems, for the purpose of deriving from it pence and power, revolts those who think for themselves, and who read in that system only what is really there."

-Thomas Jefferson, letter to Mrs. Samuel H. Smith, August, 6, 1816

reply to post by Moonflower76


Because Christianity is the anti-christ religion, and is not what Jesus talked about, it is not something Jesus started, and so forth.

Christianity is all about acceptance. Jesus was about understanding. There is a big difference between the 2.

Which is why you will notice that when it comes to these topics, atheists will always focus on what Christians do, but never do they debate the understandings and teachings of Jesus.

In fact, Jesus specifically warns people that this will happen.

Matthew 7

15Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

16Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

17Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

18A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

19Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

20Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

21Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

22Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Fruits = actions. Iniquity = sin. You can't go by what people call themselves, you have to look at their actions. It's the actions of Christians that people point out, and those actions are obvious sins(means mistakes).

This chapter is basically addressing the church and those people. He says many will say - have we not done things in your name, and so forth. But he will reject them because they have done those things in sin.

So when you look at the crusades for example. They went around killing people in his name. He is going to reject them because they did sinful things in his name.

That's what I try to point out to people in this thread. Jesus would be on your side, not the side of Christians. It is good that you recognize the hypocrisy of Christians and the Church. It is good that you do not accept them. All that is left is to realize that Jesus/God is not about that.

Christianity has done all the things that were said of the mystery/anti-christ religion. Persecuted those who didn't go along, started wars for power and so forth. Won't be happy until it is the 1 world religion and there is a 1 world government, which they will try to pass off as being "godly".

The pope just last week sent out a big letter of the highest "authority" the pope has basically calling for a new world order and world government.

It was the church that the founding fathers were against. Not Jesus, not God, and not the understandings of Jesus etc. There is a huge huge difference.



[edit on 7/17/2009 by badmedia]

"Religion is all bunk." - Thomas Edison

"In the 'bull# department' a businessman can't hold a candle to a clergyman." - George Carlin

"Truth in matters of religion is simply the opinion that has survived." - Oscar Wilde

"The government of the United States is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion." - John Adams (2nd President of the United States)

"A man's ethical behavior should be based effectually on sympathy, education, and social ties; no religious basis is necessary. Man would indeed be in a poor way if he had to be restrained by fear of punishment and hope of reward after death." - Albert Einstein


"In no instance have the churches been guardians of the liberties of the people." - James Madison

"I believe in God, only I spell it Nature." - Frank Lloyd Wright

"It may be that our role on this planet is not to worship God, but to create him." - Arthur C. Clarke

"Lighthouses are more helpful then churches." - Benjamin Franklin

"Leave the matter of religion to the family altar, the church, and the private schools, supported entirely by private contributions. Keep the church and the state forever separated." - Ulysses S. Grant


I collect quotes now have about 10,000 so I was ready and waiting for this.

Starred and flagged excellent thread.




[edit on 18-7-2009 by ofhumandescent]

reply to post by Alaskan Man


Atheistic proganda quotes from one who would subvert science for the furtheranace of his beliefs aside *cough cough cough Dawkins in particular cough cough*....

Here is a quote very simular to that Thomas Jefferson one.

Buddha quote:
Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders. Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations. But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it.

"When I became convinced that the Universe is natural - that all the ghosts and gods are myths, there entered into my brain, into my soul, into every drop of my blood, the sense, the feeling, of the joy of freedom. The walls of my prison crumbled and fell, the dungeon was flooded with light and all the bolts, and bars, and manacles became dust."

what chance is there of EVERYTHING happening by chance?

no chance

reply to post by Alaskan Man

my soul

this is you.
i guess you don't care what happens to you.
you talk about your soul denying God in the same breath. i wonder if you call this thinking.

reply to post by Alaskan Man


I read a few posts.. and I respect all points of view.. I also am willing to change perspectives on life.. If someone can tell me how we all came about.. that makes sense without using GOD.. then I'll listen.. Until then.. I'm sticking with what makes more sense to me..

“Question with boldness even the existence of God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason than that of blindfolded fear.”

I'm not sure if Thomas Jefferson came up with that first.. or if the Bible came first.. but if it was the bible.. it says something about Free Will.. which causes the world we live in now...

“I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours.”

This is a good argument.. and i cannot explicitly say why I refute all of the "other" gods.. I guess why I do this is because I'm a Christian.. and beleive that if the things such as a "conscious" and the concept of right and wrong are with us at birth... Then why are there other gods that promote murder and drunken ness (that obviously violate everyones sense of right and wrong).. if not by human design and rationalization..

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

the word "science" can be used interchangebly with "religion" here..
I just find the idea that a supreme being made us more plossible than we are all a mere universal lottery... The universe won the original lottery entitled.. "CAN I JUST EXIST AND NOT EXPLAIN WHERE I CAME FROM" lottery..
I don't understand how scientists can say that the matter that we now have came from NOTHING (breaking physics rule) and developed living life from non living life (breaking physics rule) and then EVOLVED into something more complex.. and better - BREAKING PHYSICS RULE - THINGS TEND TOWARDS CHAOS.. NOT ORGANIZAION..

“An atheist is a man who has no invisible means of support.”

No invisible means of support Besides the belief that everything just was.. and exists as it is.. because of reasons science cannot explain?? It just happened.. My mind can't comprehend how.. or why.. so I'll just write it off.. and come up with a few theorys as to how everything happened AFTER that.....

I contend that "an aethiest is a man who bases the entire creation on something that cannot be explained"

Sounds like a Christian to me..
So who's right?? I don't know.. I'm just going with the safer option...

"God is dead." - Friedrich Nietzsche*

"Properly read, the bible is the most potent force for Atheism ever conceived." -Isaac Asimov

*Note: Comments on this quote should only come from individuals who have read the passage in question if not the entirity of The Gay Science.

[edit on 19-7-2009 by C09JayLT]

You know I am beginning to see a pattern here. I think we the "Christians" have to split ourselves off from the "Organized Religion Christians". I read your T. Jefferson quotes and I see they are really anti-organized religion, which I agree with totally. That is to say I believe in a God and a lot of Christian views but I do not believe in Organized Religion. When I see pictures of the Vatican and I see all the gold and silver and adornments, there is something wrong there.
I went to Catholic school 2nd through 8th grades. I was an altar boy for 8 years and a lectern for a year. When I was about 16 I stopped going to Church all together and bacame agnostic. When I was 26 I picked up a Bible and read through it myself and felt that I was lied to in Catholic school and Church. I became a Christain once again with a deep belief in what the Bible has to say. So I don't appreciate when atheists and the like say things like I am a sheep with no mind of my own. Nobody forced me to believe, I made my mind up on my own.
Just wanted to point out that atheists also have certain preconceptions about people who believe in God. We are not all into Organized Religion and we are not all sheep with no thoughts.

We must question the story logic of having an all-knowing all-powerful God, who creates faulty Humans, and then blames them for his own mistakes. – Gene Roddenberry

reply to post by RoboKy
What do you mean "hide behind the veil of agnosticism"? Religious people and atheists are both very arrogant in their own right. They say there is a god(s), you say there isn't. Neither one offers undeniable proof. Many call agnostics indecisive or have a lacking of commitment. I say show me the proof and then I will make a logical and analytical decision based on what's put in front of me.


My personal belief is it's not so simple as to say whether there is or isn't a god. God could mean so many different things. I have a feeling there is something out there but it's simply not just a figure beaming with light pulling peoples strings. It's laughable at best. It's also not simply the assumption that when you die, that's it. That's just ridiculous.

Everything you see and hear connect in some way. Remember. All history is based off one point in time.