Athiesm is simply the absence of belief in a god, regardless of the person's stance on his existence.
Why is that so hard to understand?
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by Eastern Equestria » Sun Dec 07, 2014 10:56 am
by Cymrea » Sun Dec 07, 2014 10:56 am
Burleson wrote:Atheism should be banned. We're all better off without it.
by Archeuland and Baughistan » Sun Dec 07, 2014 10:57 am
by Pandeeria » Sun Dec 07, 2014 10:57 am
Imsogone wrote:God and religion aren't the same thing. Religion was invented by people, initially as a means of knowing the unknowable, but, ultimately it became a means by which a few could control many. Religion, like most man-made tools, is not inherently evil, but has great potential for evil (as has been demonstrated throughout history). The concept of God was tossed out of religion when the first religious leader realized that he could use it to get sex and resources.
Whether a deity exists or not is unprovable. Whether someone believes or not is irrelevant and attempting to legally force a pretense of belief is hypocritical.
Lavochkin wrote:Never got why educated people support communism.
In capitalism, you pretty much have a 50/50 chance of being rich or poor. In communism, it's 1/99. What makes people think they have the luck/skill to become the 1% if they can't even succeed in a 50/50 society???
by Lucian nyell » Sun Dec 07, 2014 10:57 am
by Soldati Senza Confini » Sun Dec 07, 2014 10:58 am
Archeuland and Baughistan wrote:Soviet Haaregrad wrote:Jefferson might have seen Jesus as a great moral leader and guru, he doesn't seem to have worshipped him as his god though. Not everyone who venerates Jesus is a Christian after all (just ask the Muslims...).
Jefferson professed to be a Christian in this writing, however:
"A more beautiful or precious morsel of ethics I have never seen; it is a document in proof that I am a real Christian; that is to say, a disciple of the doctrines of Jesus".
Of course it can be interpreted many ways, but Jefferson did not seem to be a devout agnostic. If he was opposed to state's rights of religion, or religion in general, I doubt that he would have approved of the Third Article of the Northwest Ordinance:
"Religion, morality, and knowledge being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall be forever encouraged."
Tekania wrote:Welcome to NSG, where informed opinions get to bump-heads with ignorant ideology under the pretense of an equal footing.
by New Socialist South Africa » Sun Dec 07, 2014 10:59 am
Elwher wrote:Skinia wrote:The lack of a belief is directly opposite to a belief.
The lack of a belief is the position of the agnostic, that there is no proof of the existence of God. The atheist, however,. has a belief that there is no God. The former says I do not know, a non-faith based stand; the latter says I know but cannot prove, which is faith.
Olthar wrote:Anyone who buys "x-ray specs" expecting them to be real deserves to lose their money.
by Archeuland and Baughistan » Sun Dec 07, 2014 10:59 am
Lunalia wrote:Jefferson... lived in a time where deists did not exist as an entity with a name. The only question of religion was whether you were Jewish, or Muslim, or what flavor of Christianity you were. But Jefferson's writings, and the writings of other founding fathers, indicate that Jefferson felt the whole awe of seeing some divine in the natural world things that generally indicates deism now. Just because he said he was a Christian then, doesn't mean that he actually was... just that Christianity was the closest thing he could use to express deist beliefs then.
by Soviet Haaregrad » Sun Dec 07, 2014 10:59 am
Archeuland and Baughistan wrote:Soviet Haaregrad wrote:Jefferson might have seen Jesus as a great moral leader and guru, he doesn't seem to have worshipped him as his god though. Not everyone who venerates Jesus is a Christian after all (just ask the Muslims...).
Jefferson professed to be a Christian in this writing, however:
"A more beautiful or precious morsel of ethics I have never seen; it is a document in proof that I am a real Christian; that is to say, a disciple of the doctrines of Jesus".
Of course it can be interpreted many ways, but Jefferson did not seem to be a devout agnostic. If he was opposed to state's rights of religion, or religion in general, I doubt that he would have approved of the Third Article of the Northwest Ordinance:
"Religion, morality, and knowledge being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall be forever encouraged."
by Skinia » Sun Dec 07, 2014 10:59 am
Elwher wrote:Skinia wrote:The lack of a belief is directly opposite to a belief.
The lack of a belief is the position of the agnostic, that there is no proof of the existence of God. The atheist, however,. has a belief that there is no God. The former says I do not know, a non-faith based stand; the latter says I know but cannot prove, which is faith.
by Imsogone » Sun Dec 07, 2014 11:00 am
Pandeeria wrote:Imsogone wrote:God and religion aren't the same thing. Religion was invented by people, initially as a means of knowing the unknowable, but, ultimately it became a means by which a few could control many. Religion, like most man-made tools, is not inherently evil, but has great potential for evil (as has been demonstrated throughout history). The concept of God was tossed out of religion when the first religious leader realized that he could use it to get sex and resources.
Whether a deity exists or not is unprovable. Whether someone believes or not is irrelevant and attempting to legally force a pretense of belief is hypocritical.
Theism inhereantly has the proponent of God.
So your entire post was a waste.
by Soldati Senza Confini » Sun Dec 07, 2014 11:01 am
Tekania wrote:Welcome to NSG, where informed opinions get to bump-heads with ignorant ideology under the pretense of an equal footing.
by Elwher » Sun Dec 07, 2014 11:01 am
Eastern Equestria wrote:Elwher wrote:
If it is not based on an unprovable belief, how can you prove there is no God? If you cannot prove something but believe it, that is faith.
Athiesm is simply the absence of belief in a god, regardless of the person's stance on his existence.
Why is that so hard to understand?
by Scomagia » Sun Dec 07, 2014 11:02 am
Soldati senza confini wrote:In response to the OP title no, banning atheism is stupid.
Even though I believe in God out of personal belief I cannot fathom the possibility of actually depriving other people from exercising their faith or lack thereof. That is both against human rights and, if you are a Christian, that goes even against Jesus' teachings of loving one another.
by Skinia » Sun Dec 07, 2014 11:02 am
Elwher wrote:Eastern Equestria wrote:
Athiesm is simply the absence of belief in a god, regardless of the person's stance on his existence.
Why is that so hard to understand?
Atheist - a person who denies or disbelieves the existence of a supreme being or beings.
Agnostic - a person who holds that the existence of the ultimate cause, as God, and the essential nature of things are unknown and unknowable, or that human knowledge is limited to experience.
Atheism is the active disbelief in God, which is just as unprovable as the belief in God.
by Soldati Senza Confini » Sun Dec 07, 2014 11:03 am
Archeuland and Baughistan wrote:Lunalia wrote:Jefferson... lived in a time where deists did not exist as an entity with a name. The only question of religion was whether you were Jewish, or Muslim, or what flavor of Christianity you were. But Jefferson's writings, and the writings of other founding fathers, indicate that Jefferson felt the whole awe of seeing some divine in the natural world things that generally indicates deism now. Just because he said he was a Christian then, doesn't mean that he actually was... just that Christianity was the closest thing he could use to express deist beliefs then.
Atheism, agnosticism, and Deism very much did exist at that time, actually. If Jefferson was one of those sincerely, he would have said so. If he was a secularist, why would he have endorsed the Third Article of the Northwest Ordinance?
Tekania wrote:Welcome to NSG, where informed opinions get to bump-heads with ignorant ideology under the pretense of an equal footing.
by Pandeeria » Sun Dec 07, 2014 11:03 am
Lavochkin wrote:Never got why educated people support communism.
In capitalism, you pretty much have a 50/50 chance of being rich or poor. In communism, it's 1/99. What makes people think they have the luck/skill to become the 1% if they can't even succeed in a 50/50 society???
by Archeuland and Baughistan » Sun Dec 07, 2014 11:04 am
Soldati senza confini wrote:Jefferson was borderline agnostic in his beliefs of God, and most of the founding fathers were Deists.
by Mavorpen » Sun Dec 07, 2014 11:04 am
Soldati senza confini wrote:Archeuland and Baughistan wrote:
Atheism, agnosticism, and Deism very much did exist at that time, actually. If Jefferson was one of those sincerely, he would have said so. If he was a secularist, why would he have endorsed the Third Article of the Northwest Ordinance?
Anyone who has a vested interest in the unity of an entire nation can actually endorse something they might disagree with.
Surprisingly, some of us can think in practical terms and not our guts.
by Immoren » Sun Dec 07, 2014 11:05 am
discoursedrome wrote:everyone knows that quote, "I know not what weapons World War Three will be fought, but World War Four will be fought with sticks and stones," but in a way it's optimistic and inspiring because it suggests that even after destroying civilization and returning to the stone age we'll still be sufficiently globalized and bellicose to have another world war right then and there
by Mavorpen » Sun Dec 07, 2014 11:05 am
Archeuland and Baughistan wrote:Soldati senza confini wrote:Jefferson was borderline agnostic in his beliefs of God, and most of the founding fathers were Deists.
Can you find a source to support the claim that most of the Founding Fathers were Deists? I have a source around here somewhere that shows the opposite, but I'm still trying to find it. Give me a few minutes.
by New Socialist South Africa » Sun Dec 07, 2014 11:05 am
Elwher wrote:Eastern Equestria wrote:
Athiesm is simply the absence of belief in a god, regardless of the person's stance on his existence.
Why is that so hard to understand?
Atheist - a person who denies or disbelieves the existence of a supreme being or beings.
Agnostic - a position of a lack of knowledge. Often relate to the existence of god / gods, but not necessarily linked to the existence of god / gods.
Agnostic Atheism = "I don't believe in god but would if evidence could be presented proving the existence of one."
Gnostic Atheism = "I don't believe in god and will never believe in god regardless of any evidence presented to me."
Olthar wrote:Anyone who buys "x-ray specs" expecting them to be real deserves to lose their money.
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