A person can be smart, logical, and also believe in God but only if they have an incomplete understanding of logic. I don’t mean that as an insult. Logically speaking, very little about what religion has to offer makes sense. Invisible sky creatures? Telepathic connections to the undead? The Earth is only a few thousand years old? God speaks only to a handful of chosen people? Religion is the only path to morality? Be honest with yourself: none of those questions have logical explanations from a religious perspective.
Before society developed and codified it, religion existed (in a metaphorical sense) for millions of years. The mammals that learned to live in strict hierarchies were the ones most likely to survive. Even in the primitive world, multiple minds worked better than one. And from an evolutionary perspective, the only thing that really matters is survival.
Having personally gone through theism and agnosticism, I fully understand why people would want to call themselves agnostic atheists. It has a (slightly) better connotation to it than atheism, it sounds more open-minded, and it appears to be more scientific. But the truth is that claiming agnosticism gives credence to the idea of theism, and that is the polar opposite of what a true atheist believes.
“Cosmos” by Carl Sagan was more influential to me than any book I’ve ever read. It reawakened the spirituality inside me, opened my eyes to the wonders of science, gave me a sense of self, helped me appreciate all life on Earth, and laid the foundation for the human being I have become.
Q: What does your worldview say about cooperation & conflict, if anything? A: I am Gaian. I believe that everyone is intimately related, which is why we are so contentious at times. I believe we are connected to the Earth, and our actions directly affect our environment. I believe that cooperation supersedes conflict. I believe [ Read More ]
Q: How come atheists are never haunted by ghosts or spirits? A: We are! Everyone is! The difference is that some people recognize those fears as an irrational and natural part of our biological heritage, so we don’t pay them much attention. Our imagination is a power thing. “I don’t believe in ghosts but they [ Read More ]
Q: My friend won’t leave me alone about the fact that I’m Jewish but celebrate Christmas? A: Christmas is not about Christ. People give each other presents on Christmas. Is it to celebrate the birth of Jesus? Nope! It’s because giving gifts to celebrate the winter solstice has been going on for thousands of years. [ Read More ]
Q: What do you guys NOT understand about Islam? A: Oh my gawd, this is like asking a cave man what he does not understand about quantum physics. If anyone gives you any grief, just send them this link: http://skepticsannotatedbible.com/quran/good/long.html
Q: Ever heard of a Unitarian Universalist Muslim? A: It’s not outside the realm of possibility. Unitarians don’t demand anything from you or your beliefs, so someone could be *any* religion and still be a part of their church.
Q: Should being a Christian who believes in the rapture disqualify you to fly commercial airplanes? A: Yes. I believe that all people should be held to their beliefs, especially when they’re ridiculous. I don’t believe *anyone else* should be held to those beliefs, so don’t misunderstand me. I just love the idea of making [ Read More ]
Q: Do you think ex-president Bush used religion in a manipulative way to gather support for the war in Iraq? Or do you think he’s a delusional nutbag who has hallucinations? I know it sounds like a false dichotomy, but it really isn’t: http://www.secularhumanism.org/index.php?section=library&page=haught_29_5 A: It doesn’t sound like a false dichotomy at all. He [ Read More ]
Q: Why has evolution programmed us to believe we have immortal souls? A: Because (in a sense) we do have immortal souls: our DNA. Every strand of DNA in every living cell of every organism is a genetic history lesson. We share our respiratory, circulatory, digestive, system as trillions of other animals, and we are [ Read More ]
Q: Why is it OK for Jews to hate Christians, but wrong for people to hate Jews? A: It’s not okay to hate anyone. People are hypocritical and they use their religion as justification. It’s evil, no matter which way you slice it.
Q: Why the cross ?????? Evil is all around us. I get that. Why do people use , in my humble opinion , a negative symbol of Christ? A cross is what he was killed on. I don’t want that around my neck. And what is a symbol going to do for you anyway? When [ Read More ]
Q: If you could ask God any question, what would it be? and what would be the question that God asks in response? A: Eric: Why are you so explicit in the Bible but so silent in nature? God: How would I get people to read my book if they knew the ending?
Q: Atheists: Could you argue IN FAVOR of Theism? This is more a poll about debate skills than principles. I know from my own debate experience that I rely on the rules of logic to form a sound argument. I also think that I can argue from either side of most debates effectively…with the exception [ Read More ]
Q: Fellow atheists, I really need some help on this one. I (against some recommendations by others) decided to take an opportunity to tell my mom about my “conversion” or should I say my “reversion” to atheism. She’s fine with it. She had me tell my dad. Last night I found myself in a major [ Read More ]
Q: Do you believe heaven is more like a Socialist or Capitalist system? A: Heaven is far more like socialism than capitalism. After all, socialism simply means a system in which everyone shares. And in heaven, everyone has all they need, so money is irrelevant. But since you used the catch-phrase socialist, the other answers [ Read More ]
Q: Does anyone else think its funny that whenever I mention science to a Christian IRL they either say…? that science is stupid or that it was created by the Devil? Like I told my friend that science has proven homosexuality to have occurred in nature and she replies saying something like “I hate science, [ Read More ]
Q: Why do some Christians tell atheists that they aren’t going to heaven? Do they think that bothers us? We don’t believe there’s a heaven and we don’t think Christians themselves are going to any place like that either. So why do they say this to us? A: Short answer: They’re bad Christians. Long(er) answer: [ Read More ]
Q: Why do people follow the bible so fanatically? The bible’s influence on the majority of the population is on par with Hitler’s influence on his own people. If you force lies in a person’s face over and over again, eventually the truth will be perceived as a lie. This has been used before with [ Read More ]
Q: If Christians are such good people why don’t they accept other religions? were meant to be accepting of each other who cares what others believe in. Everyone has different opinions that’s just life. A: Like many other religions, there is one important part that can’t be overlooked: they believe their religion is correct and [ Read More ]
Q: This question was asked yesterday. Would the religious do the same for atheist? Atheists, If religion was outlawed would you fight for freedom of religion? Freedom of religion is considered a fundamental civil right, if it was to be prohibited (like it was under the Stalin regime) would you fight alongside Christians, Muslims, etc. [ Read More ]
I’m not a hacker and though I don’t think they should do anything that’s actually dangerous or damaging, I have to say I honestly think the premise behind Anonymous is more enlightened, more intelligent, and more humane than the bullshit that Scientologists believe. And so, without further ado…
Why is it a logic leap to say that existence implies a creator, but statistical inevitability is not? During a discussion I was having with one of my very good friends, a question came up that I had to stop and think about. It’s a delicate matter, with an important subtlety that has to be [ Read More ]
The issue of same-sex marriages has been a hot topic for many years, but not nearly as hot as it has been the past few. The most recent nation to legalize same-sex marriage is one that is very close to us, both physically and politically. On the 20th of July, Canada became the fourth nation [ Read More ]
Evolution is a product of the scientific process. It is often touted by critics as being “only a theory.†The irony is that if they truly understood the word theory, they would not be so quick to call it that. Our text describes the word as “an explanation of natural phenomena, supported by a reliable [ Read More ]
This is an old paper I wrote for a religion class, and I’m only leaving it here for posterity. I may replace it more concise version (because this one is too “college paperish”) once I feel the motivation. This version does not fully represent what I believe now. Agnosticism is the belief that it is [ Read More ]
There is a scene in the movie “The Matrix†(1999) where the main character, Neo, is visiting a so-called oracle. As he waits to see her, he looks at the other “potentials†that stay with her. These potentials, all children, are able to manipulate objects using what appears to be telekinesis. At one point, Neo [ Read More ]
I had a couple family members make (what I believe) are huge mistakes by assuming that without religion one cannot have law. They acted like the only place people learn rules is from religious entities. I wonder if they realized that most of the rules they’re talking about were taught to them by society, and [ Read More ]
Saying that you can’t prove or disprove the existence of God has been the cop-out for the God debate for as long as I’ve been aware of it. Atheists, Christians, and primarily agnostics use this idea when it all comes down to agreeing to disagree. For the longest time, I was accepting of the idea [ Read More ]
During all of these religious and political discussions, I keep hearing from people who try to tell me to lay off because it seems like I’m trying to talk someone into something. I keep hearing people say, “You’re never going to convince them.” I wish people would stop telling me that for one simple reason: [ Read More ]
I have been raised to believe in God, and I have always felt a presence, though my definition of the source of that feeling has changed over time. But, throughout that time, I truly believed in a higher power of some kind, continually watching over me. I simply couldn’t think of the world without a [ Read More ]
In our schools and public places The meme of submission minus reason perpetuates; Replicates like bacteria in our sweet minds. We live, some learn, and work ourselves to death, But that was why we were created, wasn’t it? So much needless and mindless discussion, Of things that do and change nothing. Philosophists invent discussions, decorated [ Read More ]
God, protect me from your people, With closed minds and blind third eyes. Misinformation and half-truths Are barely discernable from the lies. I’ve felt your presence and your power, My biology is impossible to deny. But I do not fear to think these thoughts, I’d rather know uncomfortable truths than reassuring lies. I appreciate all [ Read More ]
Growing up in this society Tends to erase the variety By restricting your options And forcing conformation People say it’s not okay To do this or do that But somehow, for some reason Its okay to be stupid but not fat. Everything that we say Is subject to fierce scrutiny. And everything that we do [ Read More ]
My girlfriend’s younger brother is doing homeschool this semester, and we just happened to stop by and see his textbooks. At first, I thought nothing of it, but then I actually read the thing. This book, supposedly a learning tool, does its best to defame science as a working tool to understanding our universe. I [ Read More ]
Whether you like it or not, human cloning is on it’s way. In fact, it is so much on it’s way that it is quite possible that at the time of this writing, a human being may now be growing up as a direct result of being cloned. These ethical implications and moral questions are [ Read More ]
Let one of my favorite fictional characters take over for a moment and I will get right back to you… “I’m a Christian in the sense that I find Jesus Christ to be an admirable historical figure. I think the Sermon on the Mount is one of the greatest ethical statements and one of the [ Read More ]
Why do you punish people, For doing what they enjoy? Would you punish a little child, For playing with his favorite toy? If I am going to suffer, I‘ll do these things anyway, For if I‘m going to roast, I‘ll enjoy myself today. (Chorus) Of all of the abilities you gave me, Why did you [ Read More ]