What Are Some Of The Best Things About Being An Atheist?

[Evan2020]

I’m leaning towards becoming an atheist, so I am curious to hear from people on here who are atheists, what are some of the main things you enjoy about being an atheist?

[naomi24]

Khandro, your 'absolute nonsense' relates to one thing - your second paragraph to something else entirely. The two are not connected.

As for what I base it on, tell me which God a new born baby believes in? No, I'll tell you. None. Religion is not innate - it's taught.

[davebro]

What about all those who came lived & died before Jesus? What about people in far flung places who never heard of Jesus? Are they all in Hell because they weren't Christians?
It's all complete ***.

[Khandro]

n. //tell me which God a new born baby believes in? //

Or which baby can sing, 'I get a kick out of you'.

[naomi24]

They'll sing it ... if they're taught to. I don't do kicks, but I do a very nice line in custard pies. Sperlatt!

[andy-hughes]

naomi - // AH, 12:47 Fri , Goodlife doesn't 'choose' to believe. Like other believers, he is afraid to do otherwise. He can't help himself. //

We will have to agree to differ on that, but what about my point regarding children and Santa, as opposed to adults and Santa?

[Radagast]

//Every society since prehistoric times in every corner of the world has believed in some form of deity.//

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pirah%C3%A3_people

[naomi24]

AH, //what about my point regarding children and Santa, as opposed to adults and Santa?//

Adults teach the fairy tale, make the footprints in the talcum powder by the hearth, eat the mince pie and drink the whisky, put the carrot back in the fridge - and provide the presents.

[andy-hughes]

naomi - // AH, //what about my point regarding children and Santa, as opposed to adults and Santa?//

Adults teach the fairy tale, make the footprints in the talcum powder by the hearth, eat the mince pie and drink the whisky, put the carrot back in the fridge - and provide the presents. //

I've got three children, six grandchildren, and a great grandson, so I do grasp the concept of the myth of Santa.

That does not address my point - that teaching a child about Santa, or God, or the Man In The Moon, or the Magic Faraway Tree, employs exactly the same processes.

A child's mind will believe because it lacks the intellectual equipment to reason out an alternative, or even question what is being delivered.

An adult mind is capable of questioning, and thinking out alternatives, and that is the point I am making - that belief, or not, is a matter of concious choice.

[goodlife]

( Goodlife doesn't 'choose' to believe. Like other believers, he is afraid to do otherwise. He can't help himself)

How presumptious of you! I chose to believe and I am not afraid.

[andy-hughes]

goodlife - // ( Goodlife doesn't 'choose' to believe. Like other believers, he is afraid to do otherwise. He can't help himself)

How presumptious of you! I chose to believe and I am not afraid. //

A double whammy - you have posted something without adding tracts from the religious writings you follow, and you have agreed with me!

I am going to have to have a lie-down!!!!

[goodlife]

:)

[naomi24]

AH, I know the point you're making. You discount emotional frailty - and that is why I disagree with you.

[andy-hughes]

Naomi, that's the first time you have mentioned 'emotional frailty' which may indicate a shifting of goalposts, we will see.

Can you define 'emotional frailty' in this context, and its relevance in disproving my point?

[Khandro]

Radagast, The Piraha people appear to have worshipped ancestors among other things, like several Eastern religions. I think this colonel actually may have visited them;

[naomi24]

AH, //Naomi, that's the first time you have mentioned 'emotional frailty' which may indicate a shifting of goalposts, we will see. //

No it isn't. No shifting of goalposts here. I said that Goodlife is afraid not to believe. That's emotional frailty.

[goodlife]

Jehovah God can totally overcome human frailty in everyday life and give wise purpose to man’s actions.
Thus, life without God is futile. As recorded at Ecclesiastes 12:13, Solomon explained: “The conclusion of the matter, everything having been heard, is: Fear the true God and keep his commandments. For this is the whole obligation of man.

[andy-hughes]

Naomi - I meant that you had not raised the notion in your exchanges with me.

But however and wherever you raised it, it has nothing to do with my point about the conscious adult decision to consider a faith and adopt it, or not, and a child's blanket acceptance, based on the lack of mature thought processes needed to consider faith objectively.

[Peter Pedant]

// Furthermore, atheism isn't a 'club'. There are no rules.//

er I think there aaaaare ( say are in a sing-ey voice)

you can't be an atheist and believe in God can you?

- - - oh this is AB - - - so you can.... right got it

[Peter Pedant]

some good sense from Goodlife
and the KJV for Eccles 12 13 is

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

[Peter Pedant]

// The two are not connected.//
we call this a non-sequitur

you see you DID know what it was ( er when you said you didnt) - I see a clarification forming