Atheism

[lowrider]

Did anyone else watch the programme on this subject on C4 last night?
If no one did this is going to be a very short thread.

[redbaron]

no i didn't.

but atheism is the One True Path.

[chune]

Yeah i caught it

Basically arguing that Atheists were as Voracious in their belief in No god as a Religious person would be in beleiving there is.

Fairly well presented argument, few holes .didn't appreciate the fact that he sited People like Stalin ( atheist) and Hitler (scientific research) as proof that Atheism and the underlying science that is used to support it's doctrine was responsible for as much death and descruction as any religion.Surely that is down to the regime and the people in charge more than any beleif, or lack of in a supernatural being.I personally can't think of any wars that have been fought over the NON existance of god.Maybe i'm wrong

Also He argued that science couldn't Disprove the existance of god.It's also worth remembering that Religion can't prove the existance.
All i can say from that is that at least the scientist are willing to admit the fact that they could be wrong ..But for the most part there arguement is supported by evidence, logic and reason.Believers just have faith.

[lowrider]

I was interested both in the Darwin piece in that if this theory holds up why don't we find that physical and mental disabilities at birth have not been bred out?

Secondly in what morals non religious people would use as a base.
Such as if there is no " commandments" what do they base morals and standards on?
None seemed to be able to give an answer.

[hotchic]

This will be argued till the end of time, either scientifcally the end of time or Biblically the end of time. We won't know until we die will we?

Faith can help make life a little nicer, I think.

[lowrider]

hotchic said:

This will be argued till the end of time, either scientifcally the end of time or Biblically the end of time. We won't know until we die will we?

Faith can help make life a little nicer, I think.

Yes you are right but i found that some of the more fanatical atheists were as passionate on believing in science and as devout as many religious people believing in God.
They didn't seem to get the irony.

[PILLSBURY]

I didnt see this programme but wish I had as it sounds like it was quite useful. I consider myself an atheist because I dont follow any religion. I do not see how the morals laid out by politicians and their scribes in the middle ages can be relevant today. I do however believe there is more than just our short life. I think Lowriders points are very interesting on why havent disabilities been evolved out? I think the logical answer is that our understanding of medicine has out developed natural evolutionary scheme and we are able to keep people alive that perhaps shouldnt( no I am not starting a whole new debate on right to life,so dont accuse me of it). As for commandments that is a good point. I think that most of us in Britain were brought up in christian homes and so follow the basic tenets of christianity and will continue to pass on the basic commandments to future generations. I firmly believe that a person has every right to follow a religion and I will never question someones faith as if it gives them comfort then fair enough. To those of you who have seen this programme, does what I have just written make me an atheist or did the programme maker have a different description for me? (polite ones only please)

[hotchic]

I do have to say I learnt a long tme ago that organised religion scared me. Being told what to say and what to do and what to believe was harrowing to a teenager. I came out with faith though, and it is based on the Christian religion as it is today, and God and Jesus, and it is what sometimes gets me through this thing called life.

I have lots of friends who are aethiests and I respect them entirely for that. However it is the agnostics that wind me up. When someone can't be bothered to find out what they do or don't believe in makes me cross. It is like people who don't vote, and then moan about the government. Put your name to something or shut up.

Sorry to all agnostics out there......spot of pmt!

[abcde]

hotchic said:

However it is the agnostics that wind me up. When someone can't be bothered to find out what they do or don't believe in makes me cross.

Agnosticism is the only logical position one can take on the existence of God.

God's existence cannot be proved or disproved so claiming to believe in him or not believe in him is not a justifiable belief.

Any claim that cannot be tested in any way is a meaningless one. That's why belief (and non-belief) in God is purely a matter of faith.

[hotchic]

So you don't believe in anything?

[abcde]

hotchic said:

So you don't believe in anything?

I believe in evrything that can be proven!

I don't believe in psychic powers as they've never been proven and there are more rational explanations.

I don't attempt to answer the God question as it simply cannot be answered.

But, there are plenty of things in the real world that I believe (have knowledge of in other words).

[hotchic]

I quite like you, so can we agree that we don't agree?

[abcde]

hotchic said:

I quite like you, so can we agree that we don't agree?

No.

Where people disagree it usually means one is right and the other is wrong.

[hotchic]

No comment. The fight continues.................

[abcde]

OK.

Rules of engagement:

#1 - The Inquisitor is always right.

[lowrider]

abcde said:

OK.

Rules of engagement:

#1 - The Inquisitor is always right.

Nope.

[bone]

I saw the programme and on the whole it was fairly well presented, I did notice that the presenter (Ron Liddle) was slightly biased in his views, he was obviously a "beleiver" and in some parts I was a little annoyed at the constant reference to atheism being a belief system comparable to a religious view, and the drivel about the atheism being responsible for all sorts of ills such as Stalin and Hitlers genocide, none of these acts had anything to do with a non belief in a god/s...

As usual Richard Dawkins was very good at showing how ridiculous a god belief is in the face of modern science. I also fully support his view that the indoctrination of children into a religous belief system is something that really needs to be stopped.

You can see more about this programme here btw:

www.channel4.com/culture/microsites/C/can_you_believe_it/debates/talking_point.html

I hope you are going to watch "30 Days" tonight where an atheist is going to be living with a religous Texas family..that should be interesting.

[lowrider]

Thanks for the link.
Yes i will be watching that prog now you have reminded me.

[bone]

No problem Lowrider

I can probably picture what will happen to the poor atheist in that household already...

If its anything like the link below...I feel sorry for them already..

[lowrider]

Pity she don't believe in dentists and diets.