Is Atheism a religion?

[nebula]

Vanity of vanities, a chasing after the wind.

Such a perspective on life only works for intellectual turds who are self-sufficient, well-fed, well-clothed, and well-sheltered.

Try living that perspective among the orphans in less developed nations living in the garbage dumps, the Sudanese and Congans raised amidst civil war and oppression, the Native Americans of poverty-stricken reservations (they have high suicide rates), the girl who grew up sexually molested by a family member, the boy continuously cut-down by his mother, . . . .

Would you tell them their reason for existing is the survival of our species, and the other stuff is nothing more than something nice to keep us going?

Or do you have the compassion to get out of your philosopher's chair and put love ahead of your wisdom and knowledge?

I find this response really interesting. I've had close family members who were dying, and their faith was what helped get them through. And I wouldn't have had it any other way. I do get angry with certain Atheists who seem pretty driven to take that away from people when they need it.

That said, different people find different paths in life and reasons for living. Different things that they as individuals feel connected to. For some people that may be religion, for others it may be music or family or simply life itself. It's really up to the individual. The idea that religion is needed by all people who are going through rough times is just not true. Some people simply find another way of dealing with their problems that doesn't involve religion. I've also seen Atheists approach death as well as other hardships, and they had other things to get through that obviously didn't involve religion.

It might sound heartless to say it like this but Just because something is comforting does not make it correct. Santa Claus for example is a comforting Lie for children .....

I don't say this because im trying to take comfort away from anyone Just simply trying to point out as i said above. "Just because it makes you feel good, Does not mean its the truth ...... and sooner or later even innocent white lies will hurt"

But even still, this is a sidetrack from the point I was making.

Take your evolution-basis-for-life to the streets to the hurting and dying and make a better world with it. Can you?

[808state]

It might sound heartless to say it like this but Just because something is comforting does not make it correct. Santa Claus for example is a comforting Lie for children .....

I don't say this because im trying to take comfort away from anyone Just simply trying to point out as i said above. "Just because it makes you feel good, Does not mean its the truth ...... and sooner or later even innocent white lies will hurt"

Of course. But, at the end of the day, if it's not affecting anyone else, let people believe what they want. If people want to believe there's an afterlife when they die, and there isn't, what difference is there? Let them be.

[nebula]

There are reason based ethical systems that can help people deal with life and the vicissitudes of Fortune

Without the aid of body language to ascertain the spirit behind your words, throwing out fancy terms like this serves to give you the appearance of having a snobby attitude. I'm not saying you do, I am just saying it comes across that way.

If you want to make a case, you need to speak with your heart not your head. Until you speak from the heart, and where the rubber meets the road, all I hear is vain philosophy.

without the 'comforts' of religion.

When I point to my victories and deliverances, I do not point to religion, I point to Jesus.

I know to you the two are one and the same, but they aren't.

Until you can learn to distinguish the two, a true Disciple of Jesus will see nothing but vain babbling from your words.

I suggest a change in tactics.

[nebula]

The philosophy I speak of is Stoicism but it is not a philosophy that appeals to the heart, except for appealing to Man's desire for tranquility and happiness. It is very much a philosophy of the head.

That's why it doesn't work.

Trying to figure out how to explain this . . .

But I have to wonder where the arts fit into the stoic philosophy? Art, real art, is all about emotions - else it's no better than a child's drawing. Real art makes you laugh, makes you cry, tugs your heart strings, expresses the longings of your heart, shares love, etc.

If stoicism was real to the human experience, where does art come from?

I know that's a jump from what we were discussing, but what is life without heart?

[Guest]

Reproduction is the main purpose of our genes, not necessarily for us. If we look for higher meanings and purposes in life and find nice way to spend our time, if we enjoy life, friends, family, good company, the little pleasures in life, then we reduce the chances of mass suicide and extinction. Therefore, these noble characteristics of ours are very functional for the success of our species and our genes....

We Will Fail

For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. Matthew 24:21-22

The LORD Jesus Won't

[Littlelambseativy]

Just because we did not see this new planet and it's solar system that is similar to ours does not mean it was not there all the time. Just because we cannot see the sun at night does not mean it will not come up in the morning. Just because we cannot see the astronauts in the space station does not mean that they are not there. Just because we cannot see the stars when the sun is shining does not mean they are not there. Just because we cannot see the wind does not mean it is not there only its effects are. Just because you say there is no God because you cannot see Him does not mean He does not exist. You believe in things you cannot see all the time yet the very One that created you and all these - just because you cannot see Him does not mean that He does not love you and is waiting for you to come to HIm and ask for His forgiveness Forgiveness that you thought just because you could not see Him He was not here and did not exist.

[nebula]

How do Stoics get married? If emotions are treated as practices of the mind, what woman would melt for that?

[OneLight]

How do Stoics get married? If emotions are treated as practices of the mind, what woman would melt for that?

'Practices of the mind'???

Stoics do love, you know. I love my kids and wife dearly and my Stoic practices intensify that. You need to get away from the modern meaning of the word stoic or stoical.

We get married in a registry office and perhaps some other ceremony, although when I got married I was still a believer in Christianity and got married in a church. My wife is still a Christian.

Where can we find the information about this new way you follow. I would like to read up on it so I can better understand where you are coming from.

[~Rob]

Just because we did not see this new planet and it's solar system that is similar to ours does not mean it was not there all the time. Just because we cannot see the sun at night does not mean it will not come up in the morning. Just because we cannot see the astronauts in the space station does not mean that they are not there. Just because we cannot see the stars when the sun is shining does not mean they are not there. Just because we cannot see the wind does not mean it is not there only its effects are. Just because you say there is no God because you cannot see Him does not mean He does not exist. You believe in things you cannot see all the time yet the very One that created you and all these - just because you cannot see Him does not mean that He does not love you and is waiting for you to come to HIm and ask for His forgiveness Forgiveness that you thought just because you could not see Him He was not here and did not exist.

Approaching every itme you have mentioned here, The planets creation and our solar system can be traced back through Carbon, Radioactive and Molecular Clocks. That with measuring the regression we can get a very strong picture of what happened with those.

The Sun can not only be measured and proven that if things remain constant It will reappear over the horizon the next morning, It could even be followed around the earth if you could be bothered to charter a special flight to do so.

The Astronauts in space present a slightly different problem as film footage can be faked and such is the fuel of all conspiracy theorists everywhere. However again we were able to watch people leave and return in spacecraft and can even see in very high def with our telescopes their arrival in space and even once or twice we can catch a glimpse of them outside crafts.

Again with the stars we have a similar issue to the sun, However with some simple calculations we can make predictions that they will be there in the morning which we can then verify with proper application of the hubble telescope.

With the wind you are correct we can see its effects and although we can't see it, we can measure it by removing out any other extraneous effects, Of course there is more to it than that but i won't put them here for lack of time

As all of these can be quantified with Fact, I would put it that it does not take Faith as they are all able to be checked If you can be bothered to do so.

[Guest SDGS]

So.....you view yourself as just another animal then?

What about whales? They mate for life, raise and nurture their young, and have language, and scientists believe they may well be more intelligent than humans. They just haven't been able to crack their language yet.

As for hope, that is the providence of the fortunate and the wealthy.

As I read this thread, I just felt despair. The one thing that puts me off about Christians, and they deny to the death, is their fondness for judgment of those not like them.