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 Unregistered(d) |
Atheist Epitaph |
Lead | |
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Posts: 0 (06/21/07 12:02:03) |
"Here lies an atheist
All dressed up And no place to go." Here is my question. On the whole and as a general proposition, who are happier and more fulfilled people, those who believe in God, or those that don't? |
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N Sengupta |
Re: Atheist Epitaph | ||
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Posts: 7282 (06/21/07 12:04:45) Administrator |
Efronious Flimm,
Probably those that do believe. Narayan Great Gatsbys Antiques New Frontiers International web development and custom software * Paradise Concepts Water Gardens Health Insurance Atlanta * Allgood Pest Control * Allgood Pest Control - Jacksonville * Allgood Pest Control Georgia Cayman Villas * The 5 Star General - History and Wargames * Narayan's Travel 101 * National Museum of Commercial Aviation * Buy Well, Inc. * Smyrna BNI * Vinings Insurance* JP's Panzers History and Wargames |
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Manruss |
Re: Atheist Epitaph | ||
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Posts: 1168 (06/21/07 12:16:33) Unindicted |
I don't know, there doesn't seem to be that much difference between atheists and Christians. Atheists simply believe in one less god, that's all. If belief in gods is the key to happiness, then the Hindus are probably the happiest people on the planet, as they believe in thousands upon thousands of gods.
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Unregistered(d) |
why believe | ||
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Posts: 0 (06/21/07 12:21:11) |
I've always liked this reasoning-
'I choose to believe in God, even though I cannot prove 'his' existence. If I am right and there is eternal reward I will feel justified and fulfilled. If I am wrong it doesn't and won't matter in the end.' |
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Manruss |
Re: why believe | ||
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Posts: 1168 (06/21/07 12:39:51) Unindicted |
Except, which God should we choose? If you pick the wrong one, you're boned.
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Unregistered(d) |
Re: why believe | ||
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Posts: 0 (06/21/07 12:46:47) |
Manruss,
I don't think that it matters as long as you are happy. Does it matter? |
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Unregistered(d) |
which one | ||
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Posts: 0 (06/21/07 12:53:03) |
"Except, which God should we choose? If you pick the wrong one, you're bone.
There is only one 'God'. The rest is diffusion. |
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FeignedFey |
Re: which one | ||
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Posts: 696 (06/21/07 13:03:43) Less filling...Tastes great! |
Quote: How do you know that to be true? You are, essentially, betting your soul on it, after all. |
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Manruss |
Re: why believe | ||
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Posts: 1168 (06/21/07 13:09:52) Unindicted |
Quote: I don't think it matters at all. I was merely pointing out the problem with Efronius' statement. It's not simply a choice between believing in God or not believing in God, but which God do you believe in? Quote: Zoroaster, right? |
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Unregistered(d) |
god(s) | ||
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Posts: 0 (06/21/07 13:12:37) |
God, as I speak of it, is the ultimate. There can only be one true and final ultimate. When you reach that point you have reached God. There can be manifestations, gods, with a small g. But there can only be one God.
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Unregistered(d) |
Re: why believe | ||
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Posts: 0 (06/21/07 13:13:08) |
Efronius.
That logic would hold true for the tooth fairy, the Easter Bunny and Santa Claus too then. 
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FeignedFey |
Re: why believe | ||
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Posts: 696 (06/21/07 13:19:30) Less filling...Tastes great! |
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Manruss |
God | ||
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Posts: 1168 (06/21/07 13:31:46) Unindicted |
Quote: Assuming there is, I would ask how you know that he will reward you with eternal life merely for believing in him? Would belief in God via the Koran work just as well as belief in him via the Bible? Or are there certain methods of belief which wouldn't land one the grand prize of eternal life? |
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FeignedFey |
Re: God | ||
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Posts: 696 (06/21/07 13:45:45) Less filling...Tastes great! |
And why would it require belief in the first place? Isn't that a bit narcissistic?
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Unregistered(d) |
Re: God | ||
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Posts: 0 (06/21/07 15:33:16) |
Efronius,
BTW, with my Santa Claus comment, I was referring to where you wrote 'I choose to believe in God, even though I cannot prove 'his' existence. If I am right and there is eternal reward I will feel justified and fulfilled. If I am wrong it doesn't and won't matter in the end.' |
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The Orange Duke |
Re: God | ||
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Posts: 138 (06/21/07 16:11:01) Unindicted |
The arrogance of theists never ceases to amaze. As Manrus said, which ultimate? Be sure you are correct, because by your own argument it matters, which, as others have suggested, is ridiculous. I think the atheist / theist question is better phrase as which is more likely to make others unhappy? By say, chopping off the heads of those who believe in the incorrect ultimate. Or is it the ultimate incorrect?
Or to put it another way, @#%$ jEbus. -----------------------------------
Strange online admissions: Logically, that would mean that all religion is false - Nimbo What They Are Saying About OD I was as forthright as I could be without calling you a full-fledged idiot. - Lemony Reincarnated |
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Kalvan |
Re: God | ||
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Posts: 75 (06/21/07 18:34:01) Proto-imperialist |
Quote: I think Zoroaster was the prophet. Ahura Mazda is the (top) god. |
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Manruss |
Re: God | ||
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Posts: 1168 (06/21/07 19:27:52) Unindicted |
I drove an Ahura Mazda in high school. Got great gas mileage, but the engine backfired from time to time.
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Unregistered(d) |
god | ||
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Posts: 0 (06/22/07 01:41:37) |
"If I am right and there is eternal reward I will feel justified and fulfilled. If I am wrong it doesn't and won't matter in the end."
Mormons got it right according th=o the gospel of South Park. everyone else goes to hell. Be fulfilled that you hopefully made the "right" choice. Burn like the rest if you didn't. 
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aspong |
Re: god | ||
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Posts: 705 (06/22/07 02:22:37) Ho Ho, it is to laugh |
But back to the topic question, I think happiness is a state of mind. Some people need the universe to be controlled and meaniful before they can afford to be happy. Some people need to find the logic in things before they can be happy. If you can believe one way or another without it needing to fulfil either of these things then all the better.
I was once "invested" in "belief", but my mind never truly accepted that position. I still have beliefs, and though they've evolved to become very different I'm no longer bound by the need to have them be true. And I'm certainly not attached to any institutional or contrived belief system. So, for me, happiness is not about my beliefs, but about how I live, the things I persue, and the people I love. To me, God/god, sin, heaven and hell have to be amongst the most misrepresented ideas in history. Whatever truth each of those words holds has been totally undermined to the extent of being totally useless in defining them, let alone offering any approximation of their reality. It's d@mn near impossible to have an intelligent conversation about those words without butting your head hard up against cliches and prepackaged reactions. Religion is a supermarket where you pick what you want, off the shelf, shrink wrapped and vacuum sealed for your safety. Whether you believe or disbelieve, the hallmarks are all there. It's just a matter of which aisle you've chosen. Though some may land in an aisle for other reasons, they're still buying the packaged goods. 
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The Orange Duke |
Re: god | ||
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Posts: 138 (06/22/07 12:34:09) Unindicted |
I wouldnt say that religious ideas have been misrepresented, at least not in the way you suggest, the purpose of religion is to deceive and oppress, and that in that sense the ideas are misrepresented. But the ideas have no positive meaning that is hidden.
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Strange online admissions: Logically, that would mean that all religion is false - Nimbo What They Are Saying About OD I was as forthright as I could be without calling you a full-fledged idiot. - Lemony Reincarnated |
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