One last thought on atheism. It is my opinion that being absolutely sure there is no supreme being is just as absurd as being 110% sure that there is one. The universe is so vast and we know so little, we are only making observations based on the microcosm of our own planet.
...
Which is what puts me in the boat that says, 'We, as humans, living in this level of consciousness, are incapable of knowing the truth to the question, '"Is there a God?" '
Therefore, I have a believe or not believe... it is your choice attitude. I don't pit 'believers' vs. 'non-believers' or Christians vs. Jews vs. Muslims vs. Hindu vs. Atheists vs. Scientologists vs. Jedi. If your faith helps you get through tough times, great.
I believe God is for everyone... even those who question His existance. I also believe we do NOT get our moral compass from God or religion... we get it from our Humanity.
...
Personally, I think the whole Christmas display stuff is petty squabbling. I don't mind people putting up whatever they want on their lawns and rooftops. But, regarding public property (i.e. Court Houses, City Halls, etc...) if you want to put up a Nativity Scene, you MUST also allow a Minora, a Festivus Pole, a whatever Scientologists put up and whatever Atheists want. You cannot stake sole rights to our public lands.
Christmas is for everyone.
Allen Fieldhouse, home of the 2008 NCAA men's Basketball Champions! Go Jayhawks!
Hail, Hail!!!
One last thought on atheism. It is my opinion that being absolutely sure there is no supreme being is just as absurd as being 110% sure that there is one. .
Couldn't you say the same about being absolutely sure there is no such thing as the Loch Ness monster or fairies or leprachauns?
Believe me, when I was growin up, I thought the worst thing you could turn out to be was normal, So I say freaks in the most complementary way. Here's a song by a fellow freak - E.V
One last thought on atheism. It is my opinion that being absolutely sure there is no supreme being is just as absurd as being 110% sure that there is one. .
Couldn't you say the same about being absolutely sure there is no such thing as the Loch Ness monster or fairies or leprachauns?
One last thought on atheism. It is my opinion that being absolutely sure there is no supreme being is just as absurd as being 110% sure that there is one. .
Couldn't you say the same about being absolutely sure there is no such thing as the Loch Ness monster or fairies or leprachauns?
I think anything is possible, however some things appear more possible than others, and we are using using logic to discuss this, so...since there is no evidence of a god, I would say being 110% sure there is a god is definitely more absurd than being sure there is no god.
"First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win ."
How about, instead of saying that Christmas is for everyone, how about saying that end-of-year holidays are for everyone? Because not everyone celebrates the holiday of Christmas.
ETA: Just saw you post in the non-Christmas thread and I agree!
One last thought on atheism. It is my opinion that being absolutely sure there is no supreme being is just as absurd as being 110% sure that there is one. .
Couldn't you say the same about being absolutely sure there is no such thing as the Loch Ness monster or fairies or leprachauns?
I think anything is possible, however some things appear more possible than others, and we are using using logic to discuss this, so...since there is no evidence of a god, I would say being 110% sure there is a god is definitely more absurd than being sure there is no god.
According to the numbers, there would be approximately 6,500,000,000 people that would disagree with you. The Insane Clown Posse included.
According to the numbers, there would be approximately 6,500,000,000 people that would disagree with you. The Insane Clown Posse included.
I just base my views on what can be proven. If something can't be proven, than not believing in it is stupid, as it is impossible to prove a negative. (i.e you cannot ABSOLUTELY prove that at one time a coin didn't drop at 9.8 metres per second squared when dropped from a hand).
Believe me, when I was growin up, I thought the worst thing you could turn out to be was normal, So I say freaks in the most complementary way. Here's a song by a fellow freak - E.V
I don't believe in a god either... but not because he can't be proven but because every religious text I've ever read seems to dispute scientific facts that can be proven and because I find the idea somewhat ridiculous.
However I think the idea that if you can't prove something you shouldn't believe in it somewhat limiting and sad
I don't mean to offend anyone, a lot of what I say should be taken with a grain of salt... that said for most of you I'm a stranger on a computer on the other side of the world, don't give me that sort of power!
Never push your agenda on anyone. People have to come to realization of things on their own regardless the situation.
What if you misinterpreted what the Bible says? oops Now youve led 200000 people down the wrong road? Plus it was your responsibility because you choose to be a messenger of some kind of inspiration in people. Then you struck people down because you twisted the interpretation, became a zealot and judged them, which you are expected not to do.
Masters have the world and people come to them seeking. A master does not seek its students. Plus, one must respect and recognize every individual as divine in being where they are on their journey. Good or bad. Help or not help. Be humble. Masters learning from their students and students from their masters like any good relationship it is one of openness, trust the true a give and take.
whilst protesting against religious beliefs might be wrong so are the bible bashers who approach you and won't accept that you don't want to be saved. if there were athiest celebrations due you not think that christian groups and other religious groups would attack them?...
why might it be wrong? because it might offend the sensibilities of the christians??
Happy Christmas!
and a very merry yule to you.
hear my name
take a good look
this could be the day
hold my hand
lie beside me
i just need to say
whilst protesting against religious beliefs might be wrong so are the bible bashers who approach you and won't accept that you don't want to be saved. if there were athiest celebrations due you not think that christian groups and other religious groups would attack them?...
why might it be wrong? because it might offend the sensibilities of the christians??
Because I think you should respect other people's beliefs even if you don't share them
I don't mean to offend anyone, a lot of what I say should be taken with a grain of salt... that said for most of you I'm a stranger on a computer on the other side of the world, don't give me that sort of power!
I guess comparing atheism to a religion wasn't the right term ... a "cause" is a better description. And I don't think Christians have the only right to put out displays. I'm more confused on why a group that believes in nothing is trying to promote the belief of nothing. As another poster noted, they are not going to somehow sway someone walking down the street. To me, it's about getting in someones face and picking a fight ... and in the end, I feel it is counterproductive to what they are trying to achieve. It's comparable to throwing rocks at a hornet's nest.
I know five people that have went out and bought nativity scenes for their homes because of atheists making headlines. These are not super religious people either. But it disturbed them enough that they felt they needed to make a statement ... and who knows, maybe they will start attending church as a result. So who is the big winner here?
And I agree that pigeon-holding into two groups isn't right either. I'm trying to get a better understanding of those that, as one other poster noted, hold atheism conventions. I'm guessing it's a pretty short meeting. All right people. So everyone agree that there is nothing? Ok, good. Meeting adjourned.
In regards to the Westboro Baptist Church, they are a cult more then a Christian group. But they are lawyers, they know how far they can test the limits of the law, and thus we cannot drag them from their beds and into the public square for a good tar and feathering (although I'm still surprised some former sniper hasn't taken them out). Due to a "slippery slope" being created by precedent, our judicial system will factor out common sense on some occasions even though society should grab this group by the shoulders and give them a real good shaking.
One last thought on atheism. It is my opinion that being absolutely sure there is no supreme being is just as absurd as being 110% sure that there is one. The universe is so vast and we know so little, we are only making observations based on the microcosm of our own planet.
atheists dont believe in nothing. they just have an absence of belief in God/s.
as for your last thought.. there is no doubt in my mind when it comes to the non-existence of God/s. there never has been.
hear my name
take a good look
this could be the day
hold my hand
lie beside me
i just need to say
yesterday in regards to the death of christopher hitchens a reader wrote the following letter to the editor of the sydney morning herald:
christopher hitchens "steadfast holding to his beliefs" could be equally viewed as stubborn hardheartedness and refusal to submit to a higher authority - not a point of solace, but of sadness
so i guess what this reader would have preferred it had chrisopher hitchens abandoned his own personal beliefs - for what??
hear my name
take a good look
this could be the day
hold my hand
lie beside me
i just need to say
whilst protesting against religious beliefs might be wrong so are the bible bashers who approach you and won't accept that you don't want to be saved. if there were athiest celebrations due you not think that christian groups and other religious groups would attack them?...
why might it be wrong? because it might offend the sensibilities of the christians??
Because I think you should respect other people's beliefs even if you don't share them
does that include respecting the stoning of women in retaliation for a perceived 'sin' committed?
hear my name
take a good look
this could be the day
hold my hand
lie beside me
i just need to say
According to the numbers, there would be approximately 6,500,000,000 people that would disagree with you. The Insane Clown Posse included.
I just base my views on what can be proven. If something can't be proven, than not believing in it is stupid, as it is impossible to prove a negative. (i.e you cannot ABSOLUTELY prove that at one time a coin didn't drop at 9.8 metres per second squared when dropped from a hand).
Virtually everyone on the planet thought the earth was flat, too.
"First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win ."
Because I think you should respect other people's beliefs even if you don't share them
...
The thing is... some people get offended because you don't believe them. For me, that's on them because I don't care if other people don't believe what I believe.
Allen Fieldhouse, home of the 2008 NCAA men's Basketball Champions! Go Jayhawks!
Hail, Hail!!!
How about, instead of saying that Christmas is for everyone, how about saying that end-of-year holidays are for everyone? Because not everyone celebrates the holiday of Christmas.
ETA: Just saw you post in the non-Christmas thread and I agree!
...
Yeah... I tend to use terms such as 'God' or 'Christmas' in general terms... to basically hit the majority of the curve.
My picture of God is nothing like the one depicted in The Bible... and Christmas is more along the lines of 'Peace On Earth, Good Will Towards Men' and all that crap. Basically, so people will know the baseline I am trying to convey.
Allen Fieldhouse, home of the 2008 NCAA men's Basketball Champions! Go Jayhawks!
Hail, Hail!!!
Im sorry it cracks me the f up! I mean looks like a little guy showing the power and might throwing out into the universe with his middle finger like a popeye arm... Whoosh...
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Surfing The far side of THE Sombrero Galaxy Posts: 18,200
I’ve noticed an increase in reports of atheist groups filing permits to take spots in public places where in the past religious groups have put up nativity scenes during the holiday season. In replacement, they put up signs stating the God is not real or compare him to imaginary things like Santa Clause. They also seem to only be targeting Christian celebrations (but that may be due to Christianity being this country’s major religion).
I have several thoughts / questions:
1) It’s not very tactful. It’s like if it was my birthday and someone stood at the end of my driveway with a “Jason P Sucks!” sign.
2) Why are atheists that participate in campaigning against Christianity overzealous to recruit people to the religion of atheism?
3) It’s a very confrontational tactic. It turns holiday cheer into anger.
4) To me there are two types of atheists. There are the non-believers and there are those that really, really hate God and people that believe in God. I assume the latter suffered some sort of emotional or physical abuse from someone that was religious … or they have a big bug up their butt.
I find it to be rather perplexing. The whole “separation of church and state” argument is blah, blah, blah to me. It’s the one time of year where major religions bring family together in this country to enjoy each others company and love. Be it Jesus Christ or the Spaghetti Monster, there are long-standing traditions that the majority of people enjoy and look forward to. When you grab a bullhorn and piss on these traditions in front of these people, well, that’s just being a dick.
I assume these people that protest are a slim majority of atheists, yet know enough to legally interrupt and disrupt the holiday season. My advice to them is to grab a cup of eggnog, break out the Scrabble, and enjoy time with friends and family that are in town to visit.
A Merry Christmas, a happy Hanukah, an awesome Asura, a festive festivas, and a beautiful Boxing Day to all ….. and to all a good night.
Cheers and peace!
Happy KWANZA too.
Peace
*We CAN bomb the World to pieces, but we CAN'T bomb it into PEACE*...Michael Franti
*MUSIC IS the expression of EMOTION.....and that POLITICS IS merely the DECOY of PERCEPTION*
.....song_Music & Politics....Michael Franti
*The scientists of today think deeply instead of clearly. One must be sane to think clearly, but one can think deeply and be quite INSANE*....Nikola Tesla(a man who shaped our world of electricity with his futuristic inventions)
One last thought on atheism. It is my opinion that being absolutely sure there is no supreme being is just as absurd as being 110% sure that there is one. .
Couldn't you say the same about being absolutely sure there is no such thing as the Loch Ness monster or fairies or leprachauns?
...
Don't foget, 'Chimichunga a.k.a. The Goat Sucker'
Allen Fieldhouse, home of the 2008 NCAA men's Basketball Champions! Go Jayhawks!
Hail, Hail!!!
One last thought on atheism. It is my opinion that being absolutely sure there is no supreme being is just as absurd as being 110% sure that there is one. .
Couldn't you say the same about being absolutely sure there is no such thing as the Loch Ness monster or fairies or leprachauns?
...
Don't foget, 'Chimichunga a.k.a. The Goat Sucker'
Wait - isn't that the Chupacabra? Now THAT I believe in
R.i.p. Rigoberto Alpizar.
R.i.p. My Dad - May 28, 2007
R.i.p. Black Tail (cat) - Sept. 20, 2008
as for your last thought.. there is no doubt in my mind when it comes to the non-existence of God/s. there never has been.
What about the god particle?
And can I make the assumption that you were raised in a house that made it immediately clear at a young age that there is not a God? Or was it an analytic conclusion based on observations of science and biology?
why might it be wrong? because it might offend the sensibilities of the christians??
Because I think you should respect other people's beliefs even if you don't share them
does that include respecting the stoning of women in retaliation for a perceived 'sin' committed?
I respect their right to have a belief, doesn't mean I necessarily respect the actions that may be a result of the belief
I don't mean to offend anyone, a lot of what I say should be taken with a grain of salt... that said for most of you I'm a stranger on a computer on the other side of the world, don't give me that sort of power!
Comments
Which is what puts me in the boat that says, 'We, as humans, living in this level of consciousness, are incapable of knowing the truth to the question, '"Is there a God?" '
Therefore, I have a believe or not believe... it is your choice attitude. I don't pit 'believers' vs. 'non-believers' or Christians vs. Jews vs. Muslims vs. Hindu vs. Atheists vs. Scientologists vs. Jedi. If your faith helps you get through tough times, great.
I believe God is for everyone... even those who question His existance. I also believe we do NOT get our moral compass from God or religion... we get it from our Humanity.
...
Personally, I think the whole Christmas display stuff is petty squabbling. I don't mind people putting up whatever they want on their lawns and rooftops. But, regarding public property (i.e. Court Houses, City Halls, etc...) if you want to put up a Nativity Scene, you MUST also allow a Minora, a Festivus Pole, a whatever Scientologists put up and whatever Atheists want. You cannot stake sole rights to our public lands.
Christmas is for everyone.
Hail, Hail!!!
...or ghosts, angels and spirits.
I think anything is possible, however some things appear more possible than others, and we are using using logic to discuss this, so...since there is no evidence of a god, I would say being 110% sure there is a god is definitely more absurd than being sure there is no god.
"With our thoughts we make the world"
How about, instead of saying that Christmas is for everyone, how about saying that end-of-year holidays are for everyone? Because not everyone celebrates the holiday of Christmas.
ETA: Just saw you post in the non-Christmas thread and I agree!
However I think the idea that if you can't prove something you shouldn't believe in it somewhat limiting and sad
What if you misinterpreted what the Bible says? oops Now youve led 200000 people down the wrong road? Plus it was your responsibility because you choose to be a messenger of some kind of inspiration in people. Then you struck people down because you twisted the interpretation, became a zealot and judged them, which you are expected not to do.
Masters have the world and people come to them seeking. A master does not seek its students. Plus, one must respect and recognize every individual as divine in being where they are on their journey. Good or bad. Help or not help. Be humble. Masters learning from their students and students from their masters like any good relationship it is one of openness, trust the true a give and take.
and a very merry yule to you.
take a good look
this could be the day
hold my hand
lie beside me
i just need to say
Because I think you should respect other people's beliefs even if you don't share them
atheists dont believe in nothing. they just have an absence of belief in God/s.
as for your last thought.. there is no doubt in my mind when it comes to the non-existence of God/s. there never has been.
take a good look
this could be the day
hold my hand
lie beside me
i just need to say
christopher hitchens "steadfast holding to his beliefs" could be equally viewed as stubborn hardheartedness and refusal to submit to a higher authority - not a point of solace, but of sadness
so i guess what this reader would have preferred it had chrisopher hitchens abandoned his own personal beliefs - for what??
take a good look
this could be the day
hold my hand
lie beside me
i just need to say
does that include respecting the stoning of women in retaliation for a perceived 'sin' committed?
take a good look
this could be the day
hold my hand
lie beside me
i just need to say
Virtually everyone on the planet thought the earth was flat, too.
"With our thoughts we make the world"
The thing is... some people get offended because you don't believe them. For me, that's on them because I don't care if other people don't believe what I believe.
Hail, Hail!!!
Or as Cosmo might like, "God", since it's an image of the cosmos.
http://www.space.com/13943-celestial-sn ... scope.html
To me... it looks more like what you'd see on a Lumesta overdose.
Hail, Hail!!!
Speaking from experience?
I think it's a pretty cool looking "angel" of gas.
Experience? Nope.
Commercials. Yup.
Hail, Hail!!!
Yeah... I tend to use terms such as 'God' or 'Christmas' in general terms... to basically hit the majority of the curve.
My picture of God is nothing like the one depicted in The Bible... and Christmas is more along the lines of 'Peace On Earth, Good Will Towards Men' and all that crap. Basically, so people will know the baseline I am trying to convey.
Hail, Hail!!!
Well that looks like a good trip... I'll pass on the Lumesta though.
Happy KWANZA too.
Peace
*MUSIC IS the expression of EMOTION.....and that POLITICS IS merely the DECOY of PERCEPTION*
.....song_Music & Politics....Michael Franti
*The scientists of today think deeply instead of clearly. One must be sane to think clearly, but one can think deeply and be quite INSANE*....Nikola Tesla(a man who shaped our world of electricity with his futuristic inventions)
Don't foget, 'Chimichunga a.k.a. The Goat Sucker'
Hail, Hail!!!
Wait - isn't that the Chupacabra? Now THAT I believe in
R.i.p. My Dad - May 28, 2007
R.i.p. Black Tail (cat) - Sept. 20, 2008
And can I make the assumption that you were raised in a house that made it immediately clear at a young age that there is not a God? Or was it an analytic conclusion based on observations of science and biology?