Scientists Discover That Atheists Might Not Exist

[grasscarp]

This is an interesting article which I thought may interest some of you

http://www.science20.com/writer_on_the_edge/blog/scientists_discover_that_atheists_might_not_exist_and_thats_not_a_joke-139982

It is a long article and ends with this thought:

In the meantime, it might be wise for religious folks to refrain from teasing atheist friends who accidentally say something about their souls. And it might be equally smart for the more militant of today’s atheists to stop teasing religious people at all.

We might all be a little more spiritual than we think.

[grasscarp]

Sure you are right Vulcan - very different.

[agchristie]

When you consider the odds that are defied to get into the world, I wouldn't like to imagine the odds of there being an afterlife.

[mibn2cweus]

vetuste_ennemi
Best Answer

" And it might be equally smart for the more militant of today’s atheists to stop teasing religious people at all." What, and give up one of the few remaining pleasures in life?
11:08 Sun 28th Sep 2014


Occasionally the thought occurs to me, perhaps the religious are all simply putting us on solely for the entertainment value, soon after to realise . . . I'm just be paranoid.

[mibn2cweus]

...be-ing...

[Hypognosis]

@Grasscarp

//Am having such a great time so far that I would very much welcome eternal life. //

Interesting. It's strange how Xtianity sells well in miserable countries where everyone lives miserable lives and die, prematurely, in a thousand ways. Convention has it that all your memories of this horrid existence are washed away and you live on in paradise, almost as 'reward' for all the suffering you went through, in life.

Here's hoping that the flipside of that argument doesn't apply - that those who have a good time in this life pay for it, in the long run.

Or, at the very minimum, I trust that self-satisfaction (dare I say smugness?) is no obstacle to entry.

//Can only think that those who dread the thought of an existence beyond their short time on earth must be the ones not having such a good time. //

Give or take any contradiction with what I've just said, I have to agree with you on that point. Being unable to escape unpleasant memories for all eternity will be discomfiting to most people.

Not least victims of sexual and violent crimes, accidents, disease, disablement, long term psychological abuse, slavery, torture and so on.

Or is all this negative experience also part of our 'purpose'?

[beso]

Atheists are sent by God to test the faith of his minions.

[Khandro]

^^ many true words are spoken in jest.

[jomifl]

...grasshopper.

[sandyRoe]

They are really lost souls drawn to discuss faith as moths are drawn to candles.

[Khandro]

In Buddhist iconography they are called 'hungry ghosts', creatures which have an insatiable appetite but are unable to swallow because of their extremely narrow restricted necks.
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BplUROrX1BY/T5k9jYZCmiI/AAAAAAAAAR4/_tvH2ktyyUg/s1600/a_hungry-ghost-gaki-zoshi-arthistory.jpg

[sandyRoe]

Many have hard necks, too.

[jomifl]

Sandy, / moths are drawn to candles. / Firstly moths are not drawn to anything, they fly under their own misguided volition. Secondly they fly towards the flame, not the candle. Saying that moths are drawn to candles is the kind of sloppy use of language that gives rise to misconceptions and a poor world model followed rapidly by a slavish devotion to mythical beings...:o) need to rub some hydrating (?)lotion on my neck..

[naomi24]

//In Buddhist iconography they are called 'hungry ghosts', creatures which have an insatiable appetite but are unable to swallow because of their extremely narrow restricted necks. //

Strangulation of the intellect as a result of religious indoctrination, I presume? ;o)

[Khandro]

jomifl; // Saying that moths are drawn to candles is the kind of sloppy use of language//
Touch of pedantry here n'est pas? not to mention obfuscation.
Incidentally, if they [moths] fly to candles [lit, obviously] why don't they fly towards the moon? - a problem which concerned non other than Charles Darwin.

[jomifl]

Khandro, / if they [moths] fly to candles [lit, obviously] why don't they fly towards the moon?/
How do you know they don't.

[Khandro]

jomifl; I haven't been up there to check, I'm tending to trust Darwin, after all, he was pretty good on observation.
p.s. Bonzo D.?

[Hypognosis]

@beso

Minions? Really?

Servile creatures who do their master's bidding? God, the father, God the son, God the… Bond villain???


@sandyRoe
//They are really lost souls drawn to discuss faith as moths are drawn to candles.//

Telling those who don't realise that they are a 'lost soul' that this is what they are makes you a tormentor then?

Reminds me of this classic:-

Eskimo: 'If I did not know about God and sin, would I go to hell?'
Priest: 'No, not if you did not know.'
Eskimo: 'Then why did you tell me?'

[jomifl]

Khandro, how do you think Darwin observed moth flight in moonlight?

[Khandro]

No problem! What you do is on a full moon, place a - as we've now established - 'lighted' small candle in a jam-jar beneath a tree, climb to the tree top and observe than the moths remain transfixed by the lesser light of the candle below. Hence the term 'Lunatic'.

[jomifl]

OK, and how much lesser is the light from a candle? given that there were no light meters at the time. Can't see how that would work and you have to wonder why people used candles on moonlit nights if the moon is brighter than a candle. :o)