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Ask an Atheist - Shidoshi - 2011-05-16
kingdj333 Wrote:I have a question.
Do You believe in the Big Bang Theory? If so, where did the substances come from?
You don't need to get an answer for everything from science just so you can keep believing there's no god. Just because doesn't have a reasonable explanation doesn't mean you have to resort to god, maybe we'll get to understand them later when science goes even further.
Also, regarding the Big Bang, I remember someone saying that as it was a singularity everything before it has no connection with what's after so we don't care about it at all.
Ask an Atheist - octopusprime - 2011-05-16
Shidoshi Wrote:That only counts for the ANYONE who try to convert people, not everyone is like that.
Fix'd
Ask an Atheist - Corn - 2011-05-16
So how do you feel about Agnosticism?
Ask an Atheist - KhainiWest - 2011-05-16
Why are Athiests the most vocal in declaring their beliefs?
Ask an Atheist - Kitteh - 2011-05-16
KhainiWest Wrote:Why are Atheists the most vocal in declaring their beliefs?
Begging the question.
Agnosticism was a term created to avoid the stigma associated with the word "atheist". The fact of the matter is if you pressed many self-proclaimed agnostics about their beliefs, you would find that they don't actually believe in any gods, which is what atheism actually is. Agnosticism isn't some middle ground between both sides, but it seems to be a slightly weak way of avoiding confrontation against theists. Atheism is just the lack of belief in gods; being agnostic is just a flavor of that viewpoint.
Ask an Atheist - KhainiWest - 2011-05-16
Kitteh Wrote:Begging the question.
Agnosticism was a term created to avoid the stigma associated with the word "atheist". The fact of the matter is if you pressed many self-proclaimed agnostics about their beliefs, you would find that they don't actually believe in any gods, which is what atheism actually is. Agnosticism isn't some middle ground between both sides, but it seems to be a slightly weak way of avoiding confrontation against theists. Atheism is just the lack of belief in gods; being agnostic is just a flavor of that viewpoint.
Sorry for the typo and I'm sure you're sorry for avoiding the question. Also Agosticism isn't just a platypus version of Atheist.
Ask an Atheist - Kitteh - 2011-05-16
1. I didn't actually avoid the question, I was wondering exactly where you got your idea that somehow atheists are the "most vocal", and why that's somehow a point of contention. By wording your question like that, you're assuming that the initial claim is true and forcing us to justify it. But it seems odd to even make that claim, considering that a vast majority of the population, our government representatives (remember, voting is a very vocal action in and of itself), etc are religious, and that atheists are a very tiny majority in comparison. Perhaps you've taken on a form of confirmation bias, ignoring every other instance of every other religious action, and choose to highlight those of atheists instead.
2. Defend that position. I've stated my reasons, explain yours.
Ask an Atheist - hadriel - 2011-05-16
Just a musing: One doesn't "choose" a religion - more cultural and contextual/situational than anything else, but with the many religions out there, how would someone trying to believe in a religion know which is the right one?
Now... I'm not religious, but I'm open to the concept of god/higher-beings [you get me]. Does that make me an agnostic, an atheist, or something else (if it has a name)? I am an absolute neutral - no sides taken. A Christian friend asked me this when I attended a church service with her [she asked me to go with her for Easter]: isn't not making a choice a choice by itself? I prefer to say, I reserve judgement. I really prefer to view as many things as possible without any tint, so I'd rather not take any sides.
*edit* Hmm... or maybe let's put it this way. I listen, and I understand. But to me, they are more like PoVs, and I don't actively believe in anything. On a more personal level, I operate on morals [and the likes], understanding and tolerance. I say that because I know some people will say something like "one can't go without any beliefs". But again, I [try to be] an absolute neutral. That does drive me crazy sometimes, especially when I have to make certain choices. *edit*
As a side note, I feel that tolerance is wayyyyyyyyyy important above anything else. That said, ironically, I'm not very tolerant of intolerant people.
Hadriel
Ask an Atheist - madanthony - 2011-05-16
KhainiWest Wrote:Why are Athiests the most vocal in declaring their beliefs?
I don't think atheists are the most vocal. That's a whole separate argument.
Answering from your forced perspective:
Atheists aren't wearing rosaries or crosses, Stars of David, Burqas, or Dastars. You can't just look at us for some physical symbol and know where we stand. Speaking is really the only option we have for making our mindset known. No one really likes listening to someone else explain themselves, but I feel the same way to a small extent when I drive by a billboard with Scripture on it. I guess we have silly symbols like the Darwin fish or the Flying Spaghetti Monster, but eh.
We're just like anyone else, we (wrongfully) think that others operate similarly. If I'm a person who likes a logical argument and can be persuaded by well-reasoned points and sound evidence, I assume the people I talk to are probably like that. But they aren't. Not often.
Ask an Atheist - Milelke - 2011-05-16
@Kitteh
It doesn't make sense, but I'd say I'm agnostic Christian.
Firstly, Agnosticism is not a variant of athiesm, as they directly contradict each other. One states that there is a god, but not necessarily from any past, current, or future religions; the other denies the existence of any higher being and believes we all just rot in the ground. Fundamentally, neither of these can be a variant of the other because one thinks there is a higher being and the other does not. The difference is simple.
Secondly, back to what I was saying, I follow Christianity and believe in it's God, but that doesn't mean I don't question. Even if I wasn't Christian, i'd still believe there is something higher than our existence. This all stems from the question "Why are we here?" which can never be answered, as any answer to it can simply be replied with "Why?" or "Where did that come from?" The Big Bang Theory, I somewhat accept. However, it is flawed in that it does not explain what set the thing in motion. You cannot make something out of what is literally nothing.
Third[ly], Some Atheists are just as annoying as some Christians. Some of them (intentionally ambiguous subject) preach way too much about one topic, and deny that anything else could be possible.
Ask an Atheist - Erebus - 2011-05-16
Milelke Wrote:@Kitteh
I'm agnostic Christian.
I don't think that's possible.
Ask an Atheist - Ladon - 2011-05-16
Erebus Wrote:I don't think that's possible.
It's not.
Ask an Atheist - MetaSeraphim - 2011-05-16
Erebus Wrote:To say something is outside the box you have to define what the box is and the problem is that we barely know what's in this box called the universe.
One of the boxes is humanity. And humanity is easier to define than the universe.
Devil's Sunrise Wrote:Isn't that what we assume happened when Big Bang occurred? Possibly not create itself, but that mass suddenly existed at a certain point in time, but didn't just before.
Alloy Wrote:God exists to create the universe... But would God exist if he didn't create it? Or even more importantly. Where does God come from? Something else created him? And if he created himself, well, that's even more paradoxical :p
God is the Big Bang?
SaptaZapta Wrote:Belated answer and without reading most of the thread (just ignore me if it's already been said)
So, Atheists are weak-minded? I mean, if you have to live life by having everything easily explained otherwise s'hit gets weird and not capable of understanding I would call that weak-minded.
Shidoshi Wrote:That only counts for the annoying atheists who try to convert people, not everyone is like that.
Not all fundamentalist christians try to convert people.
Ask an Atheist - Milelke - 2011-05-16
Erebus Wrote:I don't think that's possible.
Ladon Wrote:It's not.
Milelke Wrote:@Kittehlern2read
It doesn't make sense, but I'd say I'm [an] agnostic Christian.
Ask an Atheist - KhainiWest - 2011-05-16
Kitteh Wrote:1. I didn't actually avoid the question, I was wondering exactly where you got your idea that somehow atheists are the "most vocal", and why that's somehow a point of contention. By wording your question like that, you're assuming that the initial claim is true and forcing us to justify it. But it seems odd to even make that claim, considering that a vast majority of the population, our government representatives (remember, voting is a very vocal action in and of itself), etc are religious, and that atheists are a very tiny majority in comparison. Perhaps you've taken on a form of confirmation bias, ignoring every other instance of every other religious action, and choose to highlight those of atheists instead.
2. Defend that position. I've stated my reasons, explain yours.
Tiny huh? I don't know how to tell you this but majority of our generation are in fact atheists. I know you're trying to talk like a smart ass but you could save me and you the time of just saying "You're clearly biased against atheists". And you're right, not because of their belief but because of their attitude. Take this satellite kid for example, ht literally takes every opportunity to state hes an atheist. Every. Not many fall far from that tree.
You know why it's a stigma? It isn't because they are the outliers of the society, it's because of their attitude of believing they are better than someone that has any type of dependence on religion. Apparently having faith is simply the same as believing in unicorns and fairies, openly mocked really. I myself extremely dislike those type of atheists as much as I dislike the monopoly churches hold, and how religion has become a tool for manipulation.
But yes, I'm stating a common stereotype of Atheists believing that wearing their beliefs on their sleeve is appropriate. Much like obnoxious kids who don't say the pledge of allegiance because they feel its necessary to reflect that right.
Ask an Atheist - Kalovale - 2011-05-16
KhainiWest Wrote:Tiny huh? I don't know how to tell you this but majority of our generation are in fact atheists. I know you're trying to talk like a smart ass but you could save me and you the time of just saying "You're clearly biased against atheists". And you're right, not because of their belief but because of their attitude. Take this satellite kid for example, ht literally takes every opportunity to state hes an atheist. Every. Not many fall far from that tree.
You know why it's a stigma? It isn't because they are the outliers of the society, it's because of their attitude of believing they are better than someone that has any type of dependence on religion. Apparently having faith is simply the same as believing in unicorns and fairies, openly mocked really. I myself extremely dislike those type of atheists as much as I dislike the monopoly churches hold, and how religion has become a tool for manipulation.
But yes, I'm stating a common stereotype of Atheists believing that wearing their beliefs on their sleeve is appropriate. Much like obnoxious kids who don't say the pledge of allegiance because they feel its necessary to reflect that right.
I presume you've missed the point. You were asked to explain where your idea came from, and judging by your reply, the closest thing I would call a response to that request is a reference to the OP.
Just because some Atheists try to be annoying plantains doesn't make the vast majority of us vocal. In fact, to call it a stereotype is sort of a stretch to me.
Even supposing your rebuttal:
Quote:Tiny huh? I don't know how to tell you this but majority of our generation are in fact atheists.is indeed true, it still isn't relevant.
MetaSeraphim Wrote:Not all fundamentalist christians try to convert people.Still, it IS their mission to do so.
Ask an Atheist - Erebus - 2011-05-17
Milelke Wrote:lern2read
You can't believe in a god that's not part of any particular religion AND believe in a God of a particular religion.
Just because you give yourself a label doesn't make that label true.
If you can prove otherwise I'd like an explanation.
Feil explained it fairly well
@meta
It still doesn't seem right. It's like defining negative one as the opposite of positive one without defining positive one. Somewhere along the line you still have to attach what god is not by defining what humanity is E.G. you're defining a "not god" as you define a god.
Ask an Atheist - Fiel - 2011-05-17
Because he's never done research on his position. That only makes him ignorant, but not an idiot.
An agnostic theist believes that at least one god must exist, but can't be sure which God that might be (God of Abraham? God of Islam? The Christian God?). An Agnostic Christian is merely a person who is a Christian but believes that God is simply unknowable or incomprehensible. One popular agnostic Christian would be Karl Barth. I encourage you to read his works.
Remember - "agnosticism" simply means "Cannot be known". One can be an agnostic christian, a gnostic Christian, an agnostic theist, or an agnostic atheist. All are plausible and stand up to rational argument.
Ask an Atheist - Kalovale - 2011-05-17
Fiel Wrote:Because he's never done research on his position. That only makes him ignorant, but not an idiot.
An agnostic theist believes that at least one god must exist, but can't be sure which God that might be (God of Abraham? God of Islam? The Christian God?). An Agnostic Christian is merely a person who is a Christian but believes that God is simply unknowable or incomprehensible. One popular agnostic Christian would be Karl Barth. I encourage you to read his works.
Remember - "agnosticism" simply means "Cannot be known". One can be an agnostic christian, a gnostic Christian, an agnostic theist, or an agnostic atheist. All are plausible and stand up to rational argument.
How do they know about God with God being... unknowable?
Ask an Atheist - Kitteh - 2011-05-17
Fiel Wrote:Because he's never done research on his position. That only makes him ignorant, but not an idiot.
An agnostic theist believes that at least one god must exist, but can't be sure which God that might be (God of Abraham? God of Islam? The Christian God?). An Agnostic Christian is merely a person who is a Christian but believes that God is simply unknowable or incomprehensible. One popular agnostic Christian would be Karl Barth. I encourage you to read his works.
Remember - "agnosticism" simply means "Cannot be known". One can be an agnostic christian, a gnostic Christian, an agnostic theist, or an agnostic atheist. All are plausible and stand up to rational argument.
Thank you. I was referring to the agnostic side of atheism, in any case, but I'm aware of all the different flavors of (a)theism.
And @Khaini - Thank you for acknowledging your bias. It still doesn't prove your point.
Personally, I don't tend to speak much about my own atheism with others unless I'm pretty familiar with them in the first place. For one, it tends to save me a bit of trouble in regards to people who can't help but proselytize, and it's just socially inappropriate to bash other's beliefs without provocation. If asked, however, I will state my reasons about why I belief religious belief is too absurd for me to believe in, but that usually takes some time. And frankly, that's what it seems to me most atheists are like, just like every other group on this planet.
Am I, along with millions of non-religious people, still going to be vilified because of some annoying teenagers you've probably encountered?
Also, it doesn't seem comparable, though, to mention "monopoly churches" with "annoyingly vocal atheists". One actively takes money from the gullible and threatens hellfire to those who don't vote the way they say, the other is mostly dissatisfied with the status quo.
(Why are you pledging allegiance to a flag anyways? Pledge it to your country instead)