Responding to Lower-end Chrstian Questions

Nazzer · February 05, 2009, 08:20:32 PM

I was asked today if I was "really, like, an atheist."

I replied "Yes."

He then asked "So, you don't believe in anything?"
(I hate when they say this. It makes it sound like I don't believe in the innocence of youth or I don't care about people dying.)

"Well, I don't believe an any god or gods, if that's what you mean."

"So, wait, what do you think happens when you die?"

"Well, the electrical energy in my brain is converted into thermal energy, and that heat is transferred through my skull into the air around my head."

At this point, someone nearby was like "Man, I'm out of here", but then I too had to leave for lunch, sadly.

I hope the conversation resumes tomorrow, but I would like some advice on it. I'd like to have a better idea of what to expect, as well.

curiosityandthecat · February 05, 2009, 08:27:49 PM

When I read the topic, my first reaction was, "Is there another kind?"

keith2004 · February 05, 2009, 09:32:57 PM

I like Richard Dawkins reply to this.....I am athiest in the same way you are an Atheist to Zues, Apollo, and the Hundreds of other gods, i just take it on "GOD" farther than you do

Nazzer · February 06, 2009, 07:50:03 PM

I tried that once with another theist, and when I got to the "like you are an atheist towards" part, she freaked out and just flat denied that she was an atheist.

toadhall · February 06, 2009, 11:59:33 PM

Quote from: "keith2004"I like Richard Dawkins reply to this.....I am athiest in the same way you are an Atheist to Zues, Apollo, and the Hundreds of other gods, i just take it on "GOD" farther than you do

Ihateyoumike · February 07, 2009, 01:20:08 AM

Quote from: "toadhall"
Quote from: "keith2004"I like Richard Dawkins reply to this.....I am athiest in the same way you are an Atheist to Zues, Apollo, and the Hundreds of other gods, i just take it on "GOD" farther than you do
:brick: ) are both very well though out and really make me want to rethink my positions. I hope you keep the insight coming, and keep opening everyone's eyes with your wonderful comments like this. :sarcasm:

toadhall · February 07, 2009, 07:35:17 AM

Quote from: "Ihateyoumike"
Quote from: "toadhall"
Quote from: "keith2004"I like Richard Dawkins reply to this.....I am athiest in the same way you are an Atheist to Zues, Apollo, and the Hundreds of other gods, i just take it on "GOD" farther than you do
:brick: ) are both very well though out and really make me want to rethink my positions. I hope you keep the insight coming, and keep opening everyone's eyes with your wonderful comments like this. :sarcasm:
I had thought just would be sufficient to remind the HAF readers at how silly Richard Dawkins is being here. The British professor is abandoning his beloved reason with this statement; there is no way anyone can be an atheist "to" a particular god. An atheist is simply a person who believes that no gods exist. By the way, what is your position on this?

Xalle · February 07, 2009, 01:25:30 PM

I think all Dawkins was trying to do was to get the concept to fit into the space in their heads.

The number of Christians that pooh pooh other gods (say for example a Heathen god like Zeus) and say that they don't exist and actually laugh at people for believing in them need to be shown that in the same way they disbelieve in those gods... so an athiest takes that notion futher to encompass ALL gods. I dont think he was abandoning his reason. Sometimes when you are trying to get a message through to someone you have to make the concept something they can grasp. "Start small" as it where. There is zero point in talking over their heads, they just freak out, stick their fingers in their ears and disregard anything you say. Far better to compare it to something they understand.

Ihateyoumike · February 07, 2009, 05:57:14 PM

Quote from: "toadhall"By the way, what is your position on this?

I agree with Dawkins on this one. It's easy to scoff at religions for being ridiculous, but if you're in one, you don't do that. I scoff at them all. They are all nothing to me. I, unlike Dawkins, do not think that everyone who is religious is a threat, but I would like to see it go away. I am an atheist.

Ihateyoumike · February 07, 2009, 06:03:19 PM

Quote from: "Xalle"...they just freak out, stick their fingers in their ears and disregard anything you say.

You said it.

Nazzer · February 08, 2009, 01:39:15 PM

Quote from: "toadhall"there is no way anyone can be an atheist "to" a particular god. An atheist is simply a person who believes that no gods exist. By the way, what is your position on this?

I actually disagee. Atheist means "lacking belief in a god", so while it refers to "lack of belief in any god" in any other context, when applied to a particular god, it would mean "lacking belief in this god".

To be fair, however, one should modify the usage and context to fit this idea. Perhaps "you are atheistic towards every other god humanity has ever believed in" works better.

Kyuuketsuki · February 09, 2009, 05:33:22 PM

Quote from: "Nazzer"
Quote from: "toadhall"there is no way anyone can be an atheist "to" a particular god. An atheist is simply a person who believes that no gods exist. By the way, what is your position on this?
I actually disagee. Atheist means "lacking belief in a god", so while it refers to "lack of belief in any god" in any other context, when applied to a particular god, it would mean "lacking belief in this god".

I agree (with you Nazzer that is)!

Kyu

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Responding to Lower-end Chrstian Questions