Greetings, Shall We Play A Game?

[The Magic Pudding]

I think it's handy that religious people think they'll get credit from god by doing unpleasant work, like working with incontinent elderly folk.  They'll often work cheap or for free even.  It's annoying that they'll try to deny me the right to choose not to continue my own life if it turns shitty.

I don't really understand unconditional love. 
If someone performs heinous acts it's unlikely they'll receive love from me.

Welcome

[Siz]

O

In contrast to many atheists I have spoken with, it's a refreshing change to see "happy" atheists. Many atheists I had previously talked with are negative and surround themselves with negativity. Alas, perhaps I have found "happy atheists"

In any event, I came here to discuss with atheists not to debate the existence of God, but rather reveal that spirituality is not so bad without the extremism. I feel that many atheists I have spoken with in the past use the non-proof of God to justify a non-morality per say. Just because you are an atheist doesn't mean you have to have no morals and break the law. 

Regardless and above all, I respect the freedom that is given to all people on this planet. In that I respect most atheists that have positive contributions to society. Perhaps a "happy atheist" at the very least may be able to respect the positive contributions of spirituality, such as unconditional love and understanding?

Feel free to PM me for deeper discussions!

I don't know any unhappy atheists. In fact I think you'll find that many contributors here have come to atheism from the church and found much solace and personal peace having deconverted.

Have you REALLY talked to 'many' negative atheists?

[Asmodean]

Have you REALLY talked to 'many' negative atheists?

If the answer is yes, could the reason lie in your personality, behavior or something else that has to do with you, and not the atheists in question?

(In case of misunderstandings: question is directed at TheouLive, not Scissorlegs)

[The Magic Pudding]

We aren't really denying the existence of the ugly atheist are we?
I've exchanged posts with them, back in the day the church was the light that drew these mad hate filled twisted fuckers in, now we share them.

Non belief is amorphous, I'd assume there's a whole range of happiness going on.

[DeterminedJuliet]

I'm sure there are negative, unhappy atheists, just as there are negative, unhappy Christians, Jews, Muslims, White folk, Brown folk, Women folk, Men folk, etc.

There are always going to be negative, unhappy people. Sweeping assumptions don't really get to the heart of why, though. (some) Christians assume that Jesus makes everyone happy because that is part of their dogma and I think a lot of them are fully willing to ignore the actual reality of the people living around them.

Afterall, why would you want to really scientifically study human happiness and it's causes, roots, correlations when you have a book that flat out tells you that the root of all human happiness is religious belief.

[xSilverPhinx]

I'm going to take a stab at this, tho I'm fairly certain I'll be wrong.  Perhaps the connection lies in a requirement for mindlessness in both things?  My own not very sure definition of "spirituality" is a belief in things that can't be proven, whether it's gods or ghosts; in other words things to which one cannot apply the intellect, even if one wants to, so it must be accepted emotionally. 

Unconditional love also suggests mindless, emotional acceptance to me and I've never been able to believe that unconditional love is a good thing.  It's unchallenging, it sets no bars, which seems to me actually detrimental to the development of character.  Perhaps unconditional love is something that's best left to questionable spiritual beings to dispense.

The bit about understanding I'm at a loss about.  I don't see how my lack of belief in unprovable things can effect my ability to understand, say, the theory of evolution.  But maybe what the OP means is that lack of belief in unprovable things keeps you from understanding how believing in unprovable things can be a benefit.  That one is way too murky for me.

Perhaps, there is a certain amount of mindlessness that's pervasive among theistic religions.

I've always associated understanding with knowledge, never with any form of vague 'spirituality'.

As for unconditional love, I do have unconditional love for those closest to me, but that also doesn't mean unconditional tolerance. My father, for instance, is a shit and I have less and less patience and tolerance for him and the things he does, but he's still my father. It also has nothing to do with 'spirituality'.

[The Magic Pudding]

As for unconditional love, I do have unconditional love for those closest to me, but that also doesn't mean unconditional tolerance. My father, for instance, is a shit and I have less and less patience and tolerance for him and the things he does, but he's still my father. It also has nothing to do with 'spirituality'.

Nya unconditional love what absolute crap who invented this, he's not well give allowance, ye OK my brother Adlolph he's sorry.

[xSilverPhinx]

As for unconditional love, I do have unconditional love for those closest to me, but that also doesn't mean unconditional tolerance. My father, for instance, is a shit and I have less and less patience and tolerance for him and the things he does, but he's still my father. It also has nothing to do with 'spirituality'.

Nya unconditional love what absolute crap who invented this, he's not well give allowance, ye OK my brother Adlolph he's sorry.

My brains must be scrambled, but that didn't make much sense to me. ???

I decide on what grounds and to what extent I'll pardon and give allowance for certain behaviours and trespasses, based on their causes. My family is my family.

I don't base those on emotion, however, which I see to be more destructive than anything. If I did, I would be in a very different place right now, possibly.

[Tank]

As for unconditional love, I do have unconditional love for those closest to me, but that also doesn't mean unconditional tolerance. My father, for instance, is a shit and I have less and less patience and tolerance for him and the things he does, but he's still my father. It also has nothing to do with 'spirituality'.

Nya unconditional love what absolute crap who invented this, he's not well give allowance, ye OK my brother Adlolph he's sorry.

My brains must be scrambled, but that didn't make much sense to me. ???

I agree, I think TMP has finally lost it, whatever it was 

[The Magic Pudding]

As for unconditional love, I do have unconditional love for those closest to me, but that also doesn't mean unconditional tolerance. My father, for instance, is a shit and I have less and less patience and tolerance for him and the things he does, but he's still my father. It also has nothing to do with 'spirituality'.

Nya unconditional love what absolute crap who invented this, he's not well give allowance, ye OK my brother Adlolph he's sorry.

My brains must be scrambled, but that didn't make much sense to me. ???

I agree, I think TMP has finally lost it, whatever it was  

Scrambled brains shouldn't be blamed for not understanding my posts.
Scramblidity is actually a useful starting point for understanding.

I can't agree with the finally lost it accusation either.
I loose it all the time and it takes ages to find it again.
It'd be easier if I could just remember what I'm looking for.

[Sandra Craft]

Scrambled brains shouldn't be blamed for not understanding my posts.
Scramblidity is actually a useful starting point for understanding.

I thought you were having a go at speaking in tongues!

As for unconditional love, I do have unconditional love for those closest to me, but that also doesn't mean unconditional tolerance. My father, for instance, is a shit and I have less and less patience and tolerance for him and the things he does, but he's still my father. It also has nothing to do with 'spirituality'.

I kind of understand what you mean here, being in a similar position with my mother, whom I haven't seen or spoken to in nearly 20 years (it's the only way I can put up with her).  There's no question that I don't love her the way I loved my Dad, but I can't really say I hate her either, despite everything, and if she needed help I'd give it to her with only one condition -- that we didn't need to be in the same room for it.  That's not unconditional love, but it's something above and beyond what I'd allow anyone else.

[Sweetdeath]

I have a feeling OP may not return, but i'll post anyway.

I don't believe in unconditional love.   You can love someone up to a point.   Sometimes people fall out of love, it happens.
If I am with someone, but then years later, he gets laid off, then developes an alcohol addiction and beats me-- will I love him?  Not as much as I love myself to get out of that situation asap.

As far as morals go.   I myself don't smoke, drink or even drive xD   I don't go out there to purposely break laws either.  Then again, I spend a lot of time at home  sacraficing babies. e__e

[Sandra Craft]

I have a feeling OP may not return, but i'll post anyway.

I don't suppose I'd get any takers on a bet that the OP is off crabbing that those "happy atheists" he found are just as angry and bitter as all other atheists he's ever talked to?  While I don't deny the existence of angry, bitter atheist I have to ditto Asmodean here in thinking there's some cause and effect going on here with the
OP talking to atheists.

[Tank]

Still only the one visit, looking more like a troll by the day.

[fyv0h]

sooooo....no game? i got all excited for nuthin.