News:

Unnecessarily argumentative

Main Menu

Why Atheism?

Started by Ecurb Noselrub, November 29, 2020, 01:04:03 AM

Previous topic - Next topic

Ecurb Noselrub

So, assume that the demise of "big gods" means that multi-cultural societies no longer have any cohesive belief system that binds them together. What answer to atheists have, if any? Most modern nations are multi-cultural now. In the US, the guiding principles of "all men are created equal" and "are endowed by their creator with inalienable rights" is not working so well right now. What else is out there to keep us from descending into the violent hell of tribalism/racism?  We just saw 74,000,000 people vote for Trump - who is not exactly the epitome of egalitarianism. We've been battling with this problem for 400 years. Yet the people who live here cannot seem to get past the basic idea that we are bound together by ideals, not ethnicity.  It's depressing.  Is US-type democracy a failed experiment?

Sandra Craft

Quote from: Ecurb Noselrub on November 29, 2020, 01:04:03 AM
So, assume that the demise of "big gods" means that multi-cultural societies no longer have any cohesive belief system that binds them together. What answer to atheists have, if any? Most modern nations are multi-cultural now. In the US, the guiding principles of "all men are created equal" and "are endowed by their creator with inalienable rights" is not working so well right now. What else is out there to keep us from descending into the violent hell of tribalism/racism?  We just saw 74,000,000 people vote for Trump - who is not exactly the epitome of egalitarianism. We've been battling with this problem for 400 years. Yet the people who live here cannot seem to get past the basic idea that we are bound together by ideals, not ethnicity.  It's depressing.  Is US-type democracy a failed experiment?

The thing is, those 74 million people who voted for Trump were largely Evangelical Xtians -- and tribalism/racism seems pretty common for them.  I don't think we can look to Xtians (at least not the Conservative ones) to be a bulwark against violence of any kind.  All things considered, we never really could.

And most of the modern nations that are multi-cultural now, at least in the West, are also very secular if not outright atheistic.  I don't say we can look to them either as examples of how to do it because our culture is nothing like secular and unlikely to be any time soon, but I think they do stand as examples that a large multi-cultural society without big gods can be done.  It's encouraging if nothing else.

As for the real question, I don't think atheists have an answer.  It's hard to know how to deal with people you have nothing in common with who are just itching to start killing perceived enemies, one of whom is you.  I think this problem is in the lap of non-Evangelical/Fundamentalist Xtians, who at least share a basic belief system with them, to talk them off the crazy ledge.
Sandy

  

"Life is short, and it is up to you to make it sweet."  Sarah Louise Delany

Tank

I have taken the liberty of splitting this off from the 'Why God' thread as it is deserving of its own specific discussion.
If religions were TV channels atheism is turning the TV off.
"Religion is a culture of faith; science is a culture of doubt." ― Richard P. Feynman
'It is said that your life flashes before your eyes just before you die. That is true, it's called Life.' - Terry Pratchett
Remember, your inability to grasp science is not a valid argument against it.

xSilverPhinx

Quote from: Sandra Craft on November 29, 2020, 01:32:52 AM
Quote from: Ecurb Noselrub on November 29, 2020, 01:04:03 AM
So, assume that the demise of "big gods" means that multi-cultural societies no longer have any cohesive belief system that binds them together. What answer to atheists have, if any? Most modern nations are multi-cultural now. In the US, the guiding principles of "all men are created equal" and "are endowed by their creator with inalienable rights" is not working so well right now. What else is out there to keep us from descending into the violent hell of tribalism/racism?  We just saw 74,000,000 people vote for Trump - who is not exactly the epitome of egalitarianism. We've been battling with this problem for 400 years. Yet the people who live here cannot seem to get past the basic idea that we are bound together by ideals, not ethnicity.  It's depressing.  Is US-type democracy a failed experiment?

The thing is, those 74 million people who voted for Trump were largely Evangelical Xtians -- and tribalism/racism seems pretty common for them.  I don't think we can look to Xtians (at least not the Conservative ones) to be a bulwark against violence of any kind.  All things considered, we never really could.

And most of the modern nations that are multi-cultural now, at least in the West, are also very secular if not outright atheistic.  I don't say we can look to them either as examples of how to do it because our culture is nothing like secular and unlikely to be any time soon, but I think they do stand as examples that a large multi-cultural society without big gods can be done.  It's encouraging if nothing else.

As for the real question, I don't think atheists have an answer.  It's hard to know how to deal with people you have nothing in common with who are just itching to start killing perceived enemies, one of whom is you.  I think this problem is in the lap of non-Evangelical/Fundamentalist Xtians, who at least share a basic belief system with them, to talk them off the crazy ledge.

:this:

While most Christians won't kill an 'Other' for their beliefs or lack of belief in god(s), there is a very clear us-versus-them with those of more fundamentalist and conservative leanings.

Some people just tend to be more fearful and less likely to entertain new ideas -- their brains respond differently and see threats (to their beliefs, lifestyle and so on) where there are none. In my experience fundamentalist Christians, especially Evangelicals, are more likely to be that way. They make the perfect manoeuvrable mass for politicians such as the shithead Bolsonaro, who plays on fear to sway people his way. People who are afraid don't think, they feel and react.

But anyway, I won't be going off on a tangent here.  ;D   
I am what survives if it's slain - Zack Hemsey


Davin

When people make decisions on bad data that doesn't represent reality, they tend to make bad choices. And the more shaky the foundation the more they try to keep it up. That's why people should choose to live their lives by trying the best they can to get an accurate representation of reality. That means not accepting things without sufficient evidence, which means no longer believing in a god or gods.
Always question all authorities because the authority you don't question is the most dangerous... except me, never question me.

Icarus

My Sunday newspaper has an article about atheism.. University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) has done some studies to determine who the atheists or agnostics are.  The study suggested that the emergence of atheism in The U.S. is somewhat connected to age and gender.

Four in ten millennials, or people born after 1980, do not identify with religious tradition. One factor tends to stand out: gender. Atheism skews male. Tracking the gender gap by age between men and women, at one point, narrows. Between ages 30 to 45 men are no more likely than women to be religiously unaffiliated.  The gap appears again among older Americans. Over the age of 60 men are 5 to 8 percent more likely to express no religious affiliation.

One theory of Social Science is that the "life cycle effect" is in play.  Parents of smaller children are more likely to be involved in church settings to lean on support structures that religion may provide.  After the children leave the nest, religious participation tends to diminish.

When Jesus returns he is going to be pissed.

Randy

Quote from: Icarus on March 07, 2021, 08:15:17 PM
My Sunday newspaper has an article about atheism.. University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) has done some studies to determine who the atheists or agnostics are.  The study suggested that the emergence of atheism in The U.S. is somewhat connected to age and gender.

Four in ten millennials, or people born after 1980, do not identify with religious tradition. One factor tends to stand out: gender. Atheism skews male. Tracking the gender gap by age between men and women, at one point, narrows. Between ages 30 to 45 men are no more likely than women to be religiously unaffiliated.  The gap appears again among older Americans. Over the age of 60 men are 5 to 8 percent more likely to express no religious affiliation.

One theory of Social Science is that the "life cycle effect" is in play.  Parents of smaller children are more likely to be involved in church settings to lean on support structures that religion may provide.  After the children leave the nest, religious participation tends to diminish.

When Jesus returns he is going to be pissed.
I thought Donald Trump was Jesus. His followers act like he is.
"Maybe it's just a bunch of stuff that happens." -- Homer Simpson
"Some people focus on the destination. Atheists focus on the journey." -- Barry Goldberg

Tom62

Quote from: Randy on March 07, 2021, 08:49:42 PM
I thought Donald Trump was Jesus. His followers act like he is.

Unlike Jesus, there will be the second coming of Trump.
The universe never did make sense; I suspect it was built on government contract.
Robert A. Heinlein

Randy

Quote from: Tom62 on March 14, 2021, 09:02:16 AM
Quote from: Randy on March 07, 2021, 08:49:42 PM
I thought Donald Trump was Jesus. His followers act like he is.

Unlike Jesus, there will be the second coming of Trump.
Oh tap dancing Jesus on a pogo stick, say it isn't so!
"Maybe it's just a bunch of stuff that happens." -- Homer Simpson
"Some people focus on the destination. Atheists focus on the journey." -- Barry Goldberg

Tom62

Quote from: Randy on March 16, 2021, 12:43:11 AM
Quote from: Tom62 on March 14, 2021, 09:02:16 AM
Quote from: Randy on March 07, 2021, 08:49:42 PM
I thought Donald Trump was Jesus. His followers act like he is.

Unlike Jesus, there will be the second coming of Trump.
Oh tap dancing Jesus on a pogo stick, say it isn't so!

I wish it isn't true, but I'm afraid Trump will come back in 2024.
The universe never did make sense; I suspect it was built on government contract.
Robert A. Heinlein

Bad Penny II

Quote from: Tom62 on March 16, 2021, 12:22:34 PM
Quote from: Randy on March 16, 2021, 12:43:11 AM
Quote from: Tom62 on March 14, 2021, 09:02:16 AM
Quote from: Randy on March 07, 2021, 08:49:42 PM
I thought Donald Trump was Jesus. His followers act like he is.

Unlike Jesus, there will be the second coming of Trump.
Oh tap dancing Jesus on a pogo stick, say it isn't so!

I wish it isn't true, but I'm afraid Trump will come back in 2024.

I offered this spoon but it wasn't accepted



That must mean he will be back, it must, no other splanation.
Take my advice, don't listen to me.

MarcusA

Multi-culturalism is not failing in the West because Christianity is failing in the West. Christianity is monotheistic and therefore diversity is not in its make-up. To me, Christianity is pure hate for the whole of humanity. Hate is what binds it together.
This user has been banned for spamming the forum.

Asmodean

There is a lot ot be said about multiculturalism, both one way and the other. There are cultures, which hold opposing values. Easy examples are their relative approach to family, the sexes, sex or, for that matter, religion. Such cultures do rub each other the wrong way, contributing to people grouping together to distance themselves from the opposing culture and/or get closer to their preferred one. Then again, integration is not a thing that can just be "given" - it has also to be "taken." Is it a failuire of multiculturalism? Perhaps. Perhaps it's more of a blind spot. Or perhaps it does foster acceptance and understanding in some non-intuitive way.

Then there is another aspect of multiculturalism - my ability to order Chinese, sushi, tika masala or a kebab with a single app and get it to my door within the hour. In my book, at least, that one's a triumph.

Christianity is very much a diverse set of beliefs. Wars have been fought over (or maybe under the cover of) that diversity. That is another topic that would be interesting to talk about, but I'll save it for another time.

As for hate, it is a strong emotion. As such, it can divide or bring people together. However, I think the word "hate" may often be over-used, to describe lesser emotions, which may, in their turn, be enough to create in- and out-groups. Of course, I base that assessment mostly on my personal emotional dullness. Whenever I'm being accused of hate, I experience nothing of the sort. It may be different for more... Fiery people, I suppose.
Quote from: Ecurb Noselrub on July 25, 2013, 08:18:52 PM
In Asmo's grey lump,
wrath and dark clouds gather force.
Luxembourg trembles.

No one

The hoomans suck!

I. Hate. Them. All.

Tank

If religions were TV channels atheism is turning the TV off.
"Religion is a culture of faith; science is a culture of doubt." ― Richard P. Feynman
'It is said that your life flashes before your eyes just before you die. That is true, it's called Life.' - Terry Pratchett
Remember, your inability to grasp science is not a valid argument against it.