Skip to main content

Honest answers please. How do you think we atheists live? Not how you think we should live our lives, but your ideas about how we actually function in society on a day to day basis. And bill, you are welcome to respond, but I want peoples thoughts, not what your bible tells you.

Atheists, you're welcome to comment on your daily life.
Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

Probably the same way any one lives. Work, eat, sleep. Watch TV, play with the kids. Go out once in a while. Pay bills and hope the money makes it till the end of the month. It never does.
Laugh, cry, get mad, make love, curse the boss and hope the check gets deposited before the bills come in.

How do you think Christians live?
Well, first of all, you are one Atheist and do not speak for all Atheists. By that I mean there's no way to answer how "we Atheists" live because you are not mirror images of each other. Atheists are individuals with differing opinions on many subjects...you just happen to agree there is no God.

I imagine most Atheists live healthy lives with healthy relationships, do not have a superiority complex and do not obsess over people who after careful examination have come to a different conclusion on the subject of God...and then there are those who should consider seeking help as soon as possible...much like any other people group. Big Grin
quote:
Originally posted by Unobtanium:
i am a sour, depressed person. i hate everyone and everything. the biggest pleasures in my life include long walks through thorn bushes and kicking the dog for fun. i am certain i am typical of all atheists and proudly speak for all of them.
You forgot pulling the wings off butterflies.
quote:
Originally posted by Jennifer:
Honest answers please. How do you think we atheists live? Not how you think we should live our lives, but your ideas about how we actually function in society on a day to day basis. And bill, you are welcome to respond, but I want peoples thoughts, not what your bible tells you.

Atheists, you're welcome to comment on your daily life.

----------------------------------------

There is no such thing as an atheist. Your just trying to get
ideas to be a good christian.


.
I don't care how 'atheists', or any other tagged group lives their lives. As long as you aren't endagering society in some way, who would care?

INDIVIDUALS do bad things reguardless of the aformentioned "tagged group" heading they fit under. For me to speak negatively about all claimed atheists because of a few who have a problem living in society would be just as idiotic as an atheist speaking negatively about all claimed Christians who have a problem living in society.

You would NEVER do that though would ya Jenn???
Wink
quote:
Originally posted by Jennifer:
quote:
There is no such thing as an atheist. Your just trying to get
ideas to be a good christian.

Good christian? How so? Correct me if I'm wrong, but to be a christian would require a belief in your god. I don't need ideas from a book about a mythical being to be a good person.

----------------------------

A good atheist wouldn't talk back, so are you going to be a
good atheist?


.
Funny...the thought of atheists living any different than anybody else had not entered my mind.
A thought this topic did trigger, however, would be an atheists appearance. Well, not all atheists, just a few on this forum.
I would think, that they could easily be spotted by their much larger than normal head. Maybe...twice the normal size? Ya know...to hold those "super brains"? The superior "intellegence" that you dummy christians don't have. Wink
quote:
Originally posted by Jennifer:
quote:
A good atheist wouldn't talk back, so are you going to be a
good atheist?

In your wet dreams they don't "talk back". Yes, I'm a good atheist. Save that "don't talk back" crap for your old lady.

---------------------------------------

Did Loretta Lynn do that song "Wet Dreams", maybe it was the Blue Miner.
I don't remember right now. Good atheist = Oxymoron.


.
Hi Jennifer,

As several people have said, we cannot spot an atheist by his/her appearance. And, I know there are many really nice atheists -- and some not so nice; just like we have in Christian circles.

But, Cage's response did trigger a memory for me. About 7 or 8 years ago, my daughter needed one more credit to get her BA degree. So, she took a World Religion class at our local Junior College.

In the class, the professor said they could earn extra credit by doing a special project, such as inviting someone to speak to the class.

She asked me to speak on Christianity to her class. Before I went in, she told me, "The class is made up of believers and non-believers. But, there is one atheist in the class." However, she did not tell me which one was the atheist.

After I spoke with the class and did a PowerPoint presentation, she and I were in the hallway talking. I told her, "The atheist was the guy sitting on the first row to my left, in the last seat. The guy with the goatee."

She said that he was the one and asked how I knew. It was nothing he said, for he did not speak. It was just something about his attitude, the way he sat, the way he listened. Somehow, I just knew he was the one atheist in the class -- and I was right.

Is this being prejudiced? No, it was just an intuitive response I had to this man. Maybe, as Cage said, it was his head, his goatee -- I don't know; but, I spotted him right away as I began my talk.

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill

Attachments

Images (1)
  • Friends_TiggerToo_Bear_Piggy_On-Limb-TEXT
quote:
Is this being prejudiced? No, it was just an intuitive response I had to this man. Maybe, as Cage said, it was his head, his goatee -- I don't know; but, I spotted him right away as I began my talk.

Maybe he was the one looking bored and rolling his eyes. I can spot a christian before they declare it by watching them twitch and purse their lips, and then they get all red in the face.
quote:
Originally posted by Jennifer:
quote:
Is this being prejudiced? No, it was just an intuitive response I had to this man. Maybe, as Cage said, it was his head, his goatee -- I don't know; but, I spotted him right away as I began my talk.

Maybe he was the one looking bored and rolling his eyes. I can spot a christian before they declare it by watching them twitch and purse their lips, and then they get all red in the face.

No, Jennifer,

He sat very quiet and respectful. After all, his professor was watching. No, there was no outward expression or action -- just something within me that told me he was the atheist. I cannot explain it further than that.

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill

Attachments

Images (1)
  • Friends_TiggerToo_Bear_Piggy_On-Limb-TEXT
quote:
Originally posted by Jennifer:
quote:
He sat very quiet and respectful. After all, his professor was watching. No, there was no outward expression or action -- just something within me that told me he was the atheist. I cannot explain it further than that.

I guess he had manners. I'd have just skipped class.

AND, YOU PROBABLY WOULD HAVE FAILED THE CLASS -- ACTIONS AND CONSEQUENCES, AS I HAVE SAID -- "FREE WILL."

Attachments

Images (1)
  • Sylvester-Cat-2_TEXT
quote:
Originally posted by Jennifer:
quote:
Originally posted by Unobtanium:
i am a sour, depressed person. i hate everyone and everything. the biggest pleasures in my life include long walks through thorn bushes and kicking the dog for fun. i am certain i am typical of all atheists and proudly speak for all of them.
You forgot pulling the wings off butterflies.


you too? that is one of the only things that comes close to brining a smile to my sad, sad face.

someone shoot me, please?
quote:
Originally posted by CageTheElephant:
Funny...the thought of atheists living any different than anybody else had not entered my mind.
A thought this topic did trigger, however, would be an atheists appearance. Well, not all atheists, just a few on this forum.
I would think, that they could easily be spotted by their much larger than normal head. Maybe...twice the normal size? Ya know...to hold those "super brains"? The superior "intellegence" that you dummy christians don't have. Wink
Well if there are any with heads like that you can tell them where you get your hats. I haven't seen one atheist claim to be any more intelligent than anyone else as far as a non-belief in a god. I have said that I know many intelligent people that believe in a god and I can't think how they could. But then again I can't see why anyone stupid or intelligent would be a believer. On the other hand I've seen plenty of stupid people that believe too. As I told peter all that means is they're a christian AND a stupid person. Not stupid because they believe, but just stupid. I don't think it's an argument about intelligence. I think there are many reasons people believe and many reasons people don't. I have my own thoughts and I came to my non-belief on my own as most athesists do. Now you do have some christians that claim that atheists are not as intelligent as they are or they'd believe. Address them while you're spouting off.
quote:
Originally posted by Jennifer:
quote:
AND, YOU PROBABLY WOULD HAVE FAILED THE CLASS -- ACTIONS AND CONSEQUENCES, AS I HAVE SAID -- "FREE WILL."

Fail an atheist because they won't sit and listen to a lecture from a christian? Can anyone say lawsuit?

Jennifer,

When that atheist registered for this class -- he knew it was a World Religion class. And, as such, would discuss all world religions as well as Christianity. So, no, he would have no justification for skipping classes when it did not fit his beliefs, his religion. World Religion means ALL religions as well as Christianity. If he did not want to hear about Christianity, he should not have registered for the class.

And, as I did for my daughter, that man had the opportunity to bring in his atheist priest to speak to the class and give him extra credit. Why did he not do this if he believed so strongly in atheism?

Bowman, you asked if the atheist in this Religion Forum are typical of all atheists. Some are, some are not. Many of our atheist Friends are here to share their beliefs. Others are here just to find a convenient place to argue. I will leave it to you to figure out who is who.

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill

Attachments

Images (1)
  • Friends_TiggerToo_Bear_Piggy_On-Limb-TEXT
quote:
Originally posted by bowman:
The vast majority of my exposure to atheism has been in this forum. So, to all the atheists out there, are the responses I see in this forum a good representation of modern atheism?


actually, no. they are a good representation of the atheists in this forum, not atheists in general. no more and no less.

the fact is that atheism is "agnostic" with respect to a person's lifestyle or choices they make in life. we are gay, straight, black, white, depressed, happy, smart, stupid, republican, liberal, democrat, conservative. we are quiet about our lack of belief or obnoxiously outspoken or apathetic.

the only thing that all atheists have in common is a positive assertion that gods do not likely exist. every other similarity will be the same similarities you find in any other group of people.
quote:
Originally posted by Unobtanium:
quote:
Originally posted by bowman:
The vast majority of my exposure to atheism has been in this forum. So, to all the atheists out there, are the responses I see in this forum a good representation of modern atheism?

actually, no. they are a good representation of the atheists in this forum, not atheists in general. no more and no less.

the fact is that atheism is "agnostic" with respect to a person's lifestyle or choices they make in life. we are gay, straight, black, white, depressed, happy, smart, stupid, republican, liberal, democrat, conservative. we are quiet about our lack of belief or obnoxiously outspoken or apathetic.

the only thing that all atheists have in common is a positive assertion that gods do not likely exist. every other similarity will be the same similarities you find in any other group of people.

Uno,

From your post, it would appear that you are not truly an atheist, but, instead, you are an agnostic -- sitting on the fence waiting to see which way to fall.

Over the past four years, you have described yourself as an agnostic, then an atheist, then a humanist, then back to being an atheist. Now, you define yourself as an agnostic.

It would appear that you really do not know what your believe.

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill

Attachments

Images (1)
  • Confused
quote:
Originally posted by bowman:
The vast majority of my exposure to atheism has been in this forum. So, to all the atheists out there, are the responses I see in this forum a good representation of modern atheism?


Not exactly. Atheism isn't a belief, it's lack of a belief that there is a god. While there are several social groups that many atheists belong to around the country, they don't have a set of rules they adhere to. The only thing in common for many of them is the lack of belief. You will find atheists of many flavors. Many even with completely opposite political and social opinions.

Actually when you think about it, everyone in the world is an Atheist. Some just believe in one less god than some others. Smiler
quote:
Originally posted by Unobtanium:


all atheists are agnostics (or should be). all agnostics are not atheists. i'll leave you to figure how that can be possible knowing full well that you cannot.


Look up Russell's Teapot! The burden of proof falls on those making the claim to provide evidence to support the claim, not on those who find no evidence to believe the claim.
quote:
Originally posted by Jennifer:
quote:
all atheists are agnostics (or should be).

Not me. Full on atheist. Can't even pretend to pretend there might be a god.


me neither, jen. but you cannot logically state with 100% certainty that no gods exist any more than you can say unicorns definitely do not exist. i am only 99.999...% certain. that minuscule chance leads me to be open for evidence while doubting very much that any will ever be presented.
quote:
Originally posted by Loki:
quote:
Originally posted by Unobtanium:


all atheists are agnostics (or should be). all agnostics are not atheists. i'll leave you to figure how that can be possible knowing full well that you cannot.


Look up Russell's Teapot! The burden of proof falls on those making the claims, not on those who find no evidence to believe the claim.


absolutely!

but i cannot intellectually claim that it is not possible there is a teapot orbiting the earth. even if i look, it may hide itself in another dimension.

on a quantum scale, all of reality is simply a set of probabilities. chances are infinitesimally small that gods exist no may atheism is provisional. i will certainly change my stance once sufficient evidence is presented. that said, i cannot think of any sort of evidence that would change my mind. i've watched too much Star Trek to know that many alien's just pretend to be gods just to trick us into giving up our women.

i am an atheist because i assert no gods exist. i am an agnostic because i am certainly open to the idea if overwhelming evidence is presented - no matter how unlikely that may be.
quote:
me neither, jen. but you cannot logically state with 100% certainty that no gods exist any more than you can say unicorns definitely do not exist. i am only 99.999...% certain. that minuscule chance leads me to be open for evidence while doubting very much that any will ever be presented.

But I do say it with 100% certainty. That's just me I guess. But once I knew I didn't believe anymore, all thoughts that a god might exist was gone. I went through that "maybe" stage and came into the nope, there isn't a god stage. Maybe some are still unsure, I can't fault them, been there done that so to speak. I've said it before, I don't look for any proof of a god, and I firmly believe there is nothing supernatural about anything that happens in life.
it occurs to me that some of us need a refresher on the terms agnostic and atheist. i can understand the confusion because i muddy the waters myself. but here is the explanation for why i (and any other atheist) is or should be an agnostic.

agnosticism (greek - "without knowledge") refers only to what is known or knowable. You can use the word in reference to gods or any other body of knowledge. i am "agnostic" on the topic of fairies and global warming. i cannot claim absolute knowledge where none exists.

atheism (greek "without god") refers only to our opinion (not "knowledge") of the existence of gods. it says nothing about what we

i used to be a defacto agnostic. i claimed that i did not know whether or not gods existed but REALLY hoped there were. after careful reflection, i came to the conclusion that it is overwhelmingly obvious that no gods likely exist. that positive assertion makes me an atheist.

but i cannot "know" with absolute certainty that there are no gods. so i am an agnostic with respect to that "knowledge."
quote:
Originally posted by Jennifer:
But I do say it with 100% certainty. That's just me I guess.


i agree, jen. the difference is really splitting hairs a bit. it's almost a semantic argument. who cares, really. on the other hand, it is important to understand that we all have a limit to what we can "know" about anything.

i "know" (as much as i can know anything) that no gods exist. but no one can be 100% sure. for all you know, our entire existence is an experiment carried out by a super-intelligent alien race (aka "god") and you are simply executing your part of the program. in this universe, "absolute knowledge" does not exist. there are only probabilities.

i am a little less agnostic over my lack of belief in bigfoots. they might exist but i'm nearly 100% sure they don't. so i'm agnostic with respect to bigfoots even thought i definitely don't believe in them and think people who do are kooks.

so even though I agree with everything you state, from a "absolute knowledge" standpoint, you are an agnostic atheist. .... or just plain atheist.

Add Reply

Post

Untitled Document
×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×