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Fair enough Graham - but what would you do in the hypothetical (I hope) situation of facing a potentially fatal accident (eg ship sinking) or fatal disease affecting you/someone you know. Would you be tempted to say a little prayer?
Having been in situations like that I can happily report the answer is no. But even if I had, what would that prove? That humans are fearful and look for a comfort blanket in times of stress? That they often hedge their bets, after all what is there to lose by saying a prayer "just in case"?
Seems to prove the point that religion is often driven by fear and ignorance.
If atheists had much more important issues, would so many be posting on this thread?
The lack of worshipping gives us a bit more free time than the theists.
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If atheists had much more important issues, would so many be posting on this thread?
of course religious people have more issues than atheists, that should go without saying. 🙄
Cougar 🙂
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Fair enough Graham - but what would you do in the hypothetical (I hope) situation of facing a potentially fatal accident (eg ship sinking) or fatal disease affecting you/someone you know. Would you be tempted to say a little prayer?
I don't think so.
When relatives have died there was a part of me that really wished I could believe they were off to a better place, would be reunited with Grandad and still be looking out for me, etc - but I knew I would just be lying to myself.
It is false comfort (to me) - like that mother's hug: the world really isn't alright when she cuddles you, even if it feels like it is just for a moment. Tomorrow will still be Monday and Mr Blakely the gym teacher is still going to touch you funny in the showers after PE.
I think science has much more important issues to address than superstition.
What, like sending crap gadgets to Mars, just to see them break down before they've even got there?
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Fifty million quid. For bugger all. 🙄
there is no doubt at all that Catholic churchs position on condoms is responsible for many deaths
I'll wager it's more than offset by its responsibility for the number of births.
(Which, of course, is the point of the policy; to create as many ready-made believers as possible.)
That's a a very positive outlook Graham. Sounds a right laugh that. Suddenly religion sounds like a hoot!
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Show me some evidence. Which governments do you mean? Surely it's the Government to blame. If the the ignorant masses were influenced by a man in a dress, you might reasonably blame the man in the dress. But if a government listens to the man in a dress, they are culpable. If the Pope told them to jump off a bridge would they?
There was a lot of religious lobbying when PEPFAR was being enacted:
http://www.carnegiecouncil.org/resources/journal/21_3/essay/001.html
The act specifically included a get-out clause for religious objection to condoms. I freely admit I have no idea if the pope himself was personally involved in the lobbying.
I'll find out for you Fred
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I can't imagine the Pope has a lot of use for condoms these days.
there is no doubt at all that Catholic churchs position on condoms is responsible for many deaths
I'll wager it's more than offset by its responsibility for the number of births.(Which, of course, is the point of the policy; to create as many ready-made believers as possible.)
If the catholic population keeps increasing, think of the amount of cats they'll need to feed their addiction.
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To address the original question; while people have have argued about everything since forever the phenomenon of the angry atheist really kicked off when people in the states (again) started trying to get evolution dropped from the school curriculum and replaced with a creation myth. In some cases, they even succeeded for a while. That's worth getting upset about.
And they're not really that angry either; the Four Horsemen, for example, spend a small amount of their time calmly demolishing religions' claims to truth or moral superiority. I've seen people spout more vitriol about wheel sizes.
Not troling. A Genuine question here: Do all you atheists celebrate Christmas? If so, how? If not, what do you do instead
Like I said: genuine question. I'm interested
That's a a very positive outlook Graham. Sounds a right laugh that. Suddenly religion sounds like a hoot!
Existence is suffering.
I think atheism is actually a very lonely and difficult path. You are always one step from the depressing pit of existential nihilism.
well done binners. I may not be a troll but should be good for another few pages. Wasn't even needed as the thread wasn't running out of steam yet 🙂
Not troling. A Genuine question here: Do all you atheists celebrate Christmas? If so, how? If not, what do you do instead
Yes or at least I do. I have a slap up meal with my parents/sisters/whoever else and we then proceed to have the same arguments that we've been having for the past 25 years. In any case celebratory feasts around the time of midwinter pre-dates christianity by some considerable way.
Do all you atheists celebrate Christmas?
I doubt it - not all Christians do...
If so, how?
Same as most people I reckon, just with nothing to do with religeon
Why? What's Christmas these days got to do with religeon?
Not troling. A Genuine question here: Do all you atheists celebrate Christmas? If so, how? If not, what do you do insteadLike I said: genuine question. I'm interested
I celebrate it as a midwinter festival (as it originally was before being hijacked by Christianity) an excuse to eat drink and be merry, I have nothing to do with the religious side of the festival, or the queens speech.
Do all you atheists celebrate Christmas? If so, how?
Of course. A time for giving and family to cheer up the depths of winter, followed shortly after by Hogmanay, a time for friends and new starts.
[url= http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2009/may/20/research-proves-ducks-like-water ]Or, like a study into wether or not ducks like water.[/url]
Freeundred fahsand pahnds. 😯 Somebody needs a good kicking...
And can anyone tell me what significant benefits the Space Shuttle programme brought to a nation which does not in any way even provide adequate health care for millions of it's own citizens? Apart from installing weapons/spy satellite systems and giving a bunch of astronauts a bit of a gigle as they float about doing 'experiements'?
Billions and billions of dollars. Cooduv funded some proper education in many parts of Africa for that sort of money. Helped provide clean drinking water. Y'know, stuff of benefit to Humanity...
In't Science brilliant?
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Do all you atheists celebrate Christmas? If so, how?
Same way everyone else does. It's a seasonal holiday. I can give gifts to loved ones at Christmas and dress up as a goth on Hallowe'en without having to believe in gods or witches. I'm quite happy to eat chocolate eggs at Easter without subscribing to that whole 'zombie Jesus' business.
Christmas isnt really a christian holiday, its an amalgumation of holiday traditions from a variety of backgrounds - Roman, Pagan, Druid, Scandinavian etc.
So yes.
Obviously I dont do the nativity thing (well since i was in primary school and unable to make my own decisions).
But I put up decorations, exchange a few gifts, drink port and eat turkey and vast amounts of stilton 🙂
GrahamS - MemberThat's a a very positive outlook Graham. Sounds a right laugh that. Suddenly religion sounds like a hoot!
Existence is suffering.
I think atheism is actually a very lonely and difficult path. You are always one step from the depressing pit of existential nihilism.
"I shall simply say that those who offer false consolation are false friends"
Do all you atheists celebrate Christmas? If so, how? If not, what do you do instead
Same way most people do. Have family over, get drunk, spend too much then argue.
I do have to get up early to get an hours run in to stop me going "stir crazy" in the afternoon!
I was once told by a monk - a gay one at that - that many theologians think that Jesus (if he existed) was born around April. Would have been a bit of a sod having to celebrate a birthday then a few days/weeks/month later celebrate his death.
Loving the "I celebrate the Winter Feast" retorts.
For you that claim that - how many other pagan festivals do you partake in throughout the year?
For you that claim that - how many other pagan festivals do you partake in throughout the year?
Hard to say. How many other festivals have Christians stolen then re badged then claimed as their own? Give me the list and I am sure we can give you an answer.
Like the Easter one though, I love Choclate me!
binners - MemberNot troling. A Genuine question here: Do all you atheists celebrate Christmas?
Of course I do.
I sing carols too (I sing along when 'Werewolves of London' comes on the radio too. Don't believe in those either).
Proper little hypocrite, me. 😀
I think all the atheists should be made to work on all religious based holidays, as well as Saturdays and Sundays.
I can't see them having a problem with that tbh, what with their hatred of religion and all it stands for.
And notice none of them have owt to say on when Science is used for bad, eh? In spite of criticising Religion for bad stuffs. funny that, eh? Go all quiet when challenged about stuff they have unfaltering belief in being less than perfect....
Not troling. A Genuine question here: Do all you atheists celebrate Christmas? If so, how? If not, what do you do instead
Not really no. No decorations in the house, no special meal on the 25th. I do take more note of the Solstice and new year.
You are aware that most of the "traditional Christmas" stuff is actually pagan anyway?
the holly and the ivy - pagan fertility symbols. etcetc
i don't find existential nihilism depressing, i think it's liberating and humbling.
solstice is the key for my celebrating round christmas. nights start to get shorter, got to be a good thing.
many theologians think that Jesus (if he existed) was born around April
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http://www.farleftside.com/2008/12-24-08.html
Oh and of course; 'holiday' = 'holy day', so none of those for you either then. 😆
Work 7 days a week, 365/6 days a year. It's what you heathens deserve....
Easter was eostre, no? Or something like that. To do with doing naughty things, rebirth.
The other Christian holidays - nope, can't think of any I celebrate. Pancake day seems to pass me by. I've dumped the old funny-named (whitsun? other stuff like that?) days to the bin.
Oh, I do an advent calendar because it means I can eat chocolate, if that helps.
Celebrating whatever you choose is absolutely fine so long as you're ok with it...
Hard to say. How many have Christians stolen then re badged?
As many as the Sons of Men 😀
But seriously - surely you would know, right ?
Loving the "I celebrate the Winter Feast" retorts.For you that claim that - how many other pagan festivals do you partake in throughout the year?
Why should it matter?
I can spend time with my family for whatever reason I want to, whenever I want to. Its absolutely of no concern to anyone...
Because I enjoy christmas with friends does not mean my ideas about religion have changed. Why would anyone be narrow minded enough to think that? Well done you 'caught me out', I once said 'oh my god' duing sex so I must be a lapsed atheist 🙂
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I celebrate the festival of Sol Invictus, which pre-dates Christianity and [i]utterly coincidentally[/i] seems to have been picked by the Christian church to also be the day some fella was born in a barn.