*blows trumpet* Exciting news I have now re-converted to atheism

[Helm]

Ok it's not all that exciting but I thought it worth mentioning, there won't be a prayer listening focuss of worship diety or deities imo, not as far as I can tell anyway. What I will try and aim for is a softer more enlightened Humanist form of atheism rather than all out anti-theism or materialism. There could very possibly be more than just what we see here but what that would entail I just wouldn't know so I'm just going to stay neutral on that issue. I would consider life here on this planet interesting enough on it's own without needing the addition of spirits, angels, gods or whatever kind of supernatural powers you may want to add to it. As for morality I don't feel that our moral values originate from religion or any kind of supernatural power so that's a complete non-issue for me.

[Biggreenfellow]

Dear God..

[Helm]

Dear God..

No such thing of course, imo , but I can see why people believe in it and what they get from it.

[Gaidin]

Timer starts now. Place your bets on next thread's posting date!

No but seriously. Weak atheism. Just say it. It works as a term and is a lot easier for people to follow along.

[SigniferOne]

Raise your hand if you didn't see this coming. No one who converted for such insubstantial reasons could continue in that belief.

[Tankbuster]

Welcome back?

I still think (and maybe your short excursions into all manner of kooky pagan religions will make you agree) that if the best you can say is that you're going to stay neutral about supernatural matters, as in "I won't make a pronouncement either way", you're just bound to relapse into the forms of kookiness mentioned above.

Surely you can't just be neutral about the existence of Odin, can you? Surely we can reasonably and reliably come to the conclusion that Odin most likely does not exist, just like most Gods (all Gods?) most likely do not exist?

It's one thing to say that you are open to evidence either way and that you will change your mind when proper counter-evidence is presented; hopefully we are able to do that. It's another to say that you're going to stay neutral and not make pronouncements either way. It seems that that's being too wishy-washy about rejecting clearly unsupported claims.

Raise your hand if you didn't see this coming. No one who converted for such insubstantial reasons could continue in that belief.

Actually, my money was on esoteric high-on-acid woo-woo nonsense being Helm's next stop. Now I guess drinks are on me.

[Gaidin]

It's one thing to say that you are open to evidence either way and that you will change your mind when proper counter-evidence is presented; hopefully we are able to do that. It's another to say that you're going to stay neutral and not make pronouncements either way. It seems that that's being too wishy-washy about rejecting clearly unsupported claims.

See the catch here is that there is more than one form of atheism. There is the atheism where you don't think the gods are there. And there is the atheism where you just don't follow any given god. Something of a paradox given the traditional arguments regarding atheism and theism, but popularly the term can be either one.

[Tankbuster]

See the catch here is that there is more than one form of atheism. There is the atheism where you don't think the gods are there. And there is the atheism where you just don't follow any given god. Something of a paradox given the traditional arguments regarding atheism and theism, but popularly the term can be either one.

Considering how many times I've pushed for that distinction, I don't think you need to enlighten me, Gaidin (Though it's always nice to see you turn up in the EMM)

Still, I think anyone who will only ever go as far as to say that they don't have a positive belief in Odin, is either being far too wishy-washy or has some problems seperating mathematical/philosophical precision with colloquial language. Surely everyone can say "I believe Odin does not exist" without feeling they have violated their personal philosophical principles.

[Gaidin]

(Though it's always nice to see you turn up in the EMM)

I blame the warning system, myself.

[Logios]

Considering how many times I've pushed for that distinction, I don't think you need to enlighten me, Gaidin (Though it's always nice to see you turn up in the EMM)

Still, I think anyone who will only ever go as far as to say that they don't have a positive belief in Odin, is either being far too wishy-washy or has some problems seperating mathematical/philosophical precision with colloquial language. Surely everyone can say "I believe Odin does not exist" without feeling they have violated their personal philosophical principles.

But Odin does exist, Tankbuster, or there would not have been wednesdays or the number one.
So Helm, what do you say for swearing then?

[Squiggle]

Welcome back?

You mad?

On behalf of all theists, I must say, thank GOD Helm is an atheist again. Cheers!

[Gaidin]

You mad?

On behalf of all theists, I must say, thank GOD Helm is an atheist again. Cheers!

You say that like him saying he's atheist would stop us arguing points he makes that we disagree with...I don't understand why.

[Squiggle]

You say that like him saying he's atheist would stop us arguing points he makes that we disagree with...I don't understand why.

No...I dont. I say that like him being an Atheist is embarrassing for you, and it is, as he misrepresents your positions at every turn.

[Gaidin]

No...I dont. I say that like him being an Atheist is embarrassing for you, and it is, as he misrepresents your positions at every turn.

Except we aren't that organized of a group to be embarrassed by actions and thoughts of one person.

[hellheaven1987]

An atheist convert back from Pagan?? You think I buy that Helm??

[The Dude]

No...I dont. I say that like him being an Atheist is embarrassing for you, and it is, as he misrepresents your positions at every turn.

Ah the legendary univocity of the atheist position.

Helm is simply someone on a quest for knowledge. He just doesn't know where to look. Makes him say silly things at times, but that's ok. It's still preferable over people who claim to know the truth even if there's no way of verifying that. The ease with which people condemn Helm, even if he's a bit of an unnecessary trumpet blower, is laughable.

[CamilleBonparte]

Good. Stop making threads.

[Khassaki]

Ok it's not all that exciting but I thought it worth mentioning, there won't be a prayer listening focuss of worship diety or deities imo, not as far as I can tell anyway. What I will try and aim for is a softer more enlightened Humanist form of atheism rather than all out anti-theism or materialism. There could very possibly be more than just what we see here but what that would entail I just wouldn't know so I'm just going to stay neutral on that issue. I would consider life here on this planet interesting enough on it's own without needing the addition of spirits, angels, gods or whatever kind of supernatural powers you may want to add to it. As for morality I don't feel that our moral values originate from religion or any kind of supernatural power so that's a complete non-issue for me.

Whatever

[Brain_in_a_vat]

You convert/deconvert for all the wrong reasons, so I'm not impressed at all.

[Gromovnik]

These threads are a form of spam by now...