For most if not all, sin is more desirable than God. One has no problem with sexual pleasure (pornography), drunkenness, drugs, evil deeds, unless of course there is a God (then your in trouble). So they simply convince themselves or simply deny the existence of God, as to have pleasure without guilt. This is atheism and the reason thereof. And this would not work without a vast amount of people who agree. For if it was just one atheist amongst us, he might be able to convince himself his evil deeds are ok, but with everybody shaming him this would keep him from those evil deeds, at the least openly. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOE9zEXRLmc&t=1933s What are your thoughts?
Atheists aren't all hedonists. An atheist can claim that there are certain values or virtues that worthy of doing. They're metaethical view would be secular in nature.
Well this is an epic failure and not what atheism is at all it is not even an accurate description of atheists. Not one shred of evidence supports your premise which is that atheists are all indulging in drugs and illicit or dangerous sex. Athiests generally tend to be well behaved disciplined and intelligent people which means not likely to be drug abusers or engaging in risky sex. Theists however ESPECIALLY christians are consistently and hypocritically doing these things ( swaggert, bakker, haggarty, many catholic priests etc ). Atheists overwhelmingly do not reach a conclusion of no god because of some excuse to have fun. However if this were the reason it is a good one. IT is morally superior to reject the sickening and depraved teachings of a barbaric deity who hates you for what you are such as being gay. Or who demands that you only have sex with approved people in approved positions etc. The grotesque and evil god character you believe in is a petty tyrant engaging in thoughts crimes and any intelligent person should resist any ideology which preaches such filth. But this is not why atheists reject your ugly and wicked idea of god they do so because they are smarter.
So the reason atheism exists is because some people like to sin, but others people tell them there is a god who will punish them for those sins, which forces the people who are enjoying earthly pleasures to exclaim there isn't a god, so they will not feel guilty for enoying sensual pleasure? What about the people who have been taught god exists, and that he is this, that, or the other, and yet when these people look at human existence, they see that if god exists he is one cruel son of a (*)(*)(*)(*)(*)? And so since they cannot imagine such a sick bastard being in charge, they reject that god exists? What about these people? And of course it does not help matters when these gods are not self evident, clear, obvious, for they seem to never reveal themselves to us? Think about it. All god would have to do is to appear to every person on earth at once, tell us the truth, what we must do, and you would have a world wide conversion. And it would involve free will on our part to do what he told us to do. Yet god does not do this, but relies upon one book, while there are other books just as old, or older, that speak of god, just not the god in the bible. So god plays with man, and not only allows for one book, but many books, and now we must pick the right one, playing Russian roulette. That some people would reject this, and be an atheist, might not have a thing to do with guilt free pleasures. Do you feel a really strong drive to sin, bed down as many females as possible, while snorting coke, or doing meth which can enhance he senses while enjoying your concubines, and because you believe in god must forever fight against the desire to indulge in such earthly pleasures? Is it a constant battle? You know, just to think of the act is a sin, even if you never physically did it. So look, if you are thinking about it, you may as well go ahead and do it. The sin is the same.
Jesus said straight out he was an alien visitor, so is it really smart not to listen to what he has to say? "I know where I came from and where I am going, but you have no idea where I come from or where I am going....you are of this world, I am not of this world...though you do not believe me, believe the miracles...I'll tell you things hidden since the creation of the world" (John 8:14/ 8:23/10:38/Matt 13:35)
There may be something to the bolded statement above. After all, why should one feel guilty about having pleasure? What kind of ******** would want people to feel guilty for having pleasure? Given that the notion of sin was invented to make people feel guilty for having pleasure, so that even the small bit of happiness which life affords us mortals might be ruined, of course that mindset should be rejected. Because the reality is, you only live once, and you shouldn't let repressed religiotards with Stockholm Syndrome ruin it for you.
Sex is natural behaviour. It has nothing to do with a God or gods. If it didn't give pleasure we'd stop doing it. If that happened we'd die out as a species. Getting intoxicated is pleasurable that's why we do it. There is of course the law of diminishing returns on intoxication but that's up to the individual consumer to work out. If it did't feel good we wouldn't do it. Believing in God gives pleasure. If it didn't we wouldn't do it.
Both are equally willing to rationalize their misconduct. Atheists use secular rationalizations. the religious tell themselves that God said it would be Okay as long as he was in on the deal. Half the time there a cleric or a scripture selling folks that there is a religious duty to pillage, rape, steal, and kill 'for God'.
I don't know. Plenty of prophets and random crazies have claimed the same thing. Is it smart not listen to what they all have to say? Do you listen to them?
I find it 'professionally' fascinating that you imagine god is in the equation for 'most, if not all'. And even more fascinating that you use the singular and very personal 'god', instead of the plural reality of thousands of gods. What kind of mental gymnastics must be done to support the idea that 'most, if not all' reject YOUR god?
It's smart to listen to what everyone has to say, whether it's in books, TV or what not. How else can one learn and discern?
And let's not forget that the Church sold indulgences. Nice little earner. But I don't know if I'd say it was "misconduct" being discussed here. There's a reference for that and it's called the criminal law and it applies equally to believer or non-believer. If you're discussing immorality then atheists are at least not hypocrites.
And why is it that atheists are immune from hypocrisy? I have seen occasional hypocrisy in most all human conduct, and little of it has much to do with church activities. Every time someone cheats on their taxes, but condemns cheaters. Every time someone laments disrespect for the law, after driving 35 in a 25 mile an hour zone, every time someone slams gossip, but engages in same at a party, every time someone scolds their kid for bullying and yet threatens or intimidates in some way, as part of their professional lives. And lets not forget all those who give speeches about keeping promises, yet cheats on their spouses, or fails their child support responsibilities. That (*)(*)(*)(*) is not faith based hypocrisy, its just hypocrisy for convenience. I see faith or its lack, as having a zero sum impact morally in the big picture, while either may have extreme impact in select individuals and select cultures to make them better or worse.
Sounds fair to me, we have all the fun because you no longer have the power to shame people. Take it up with your God why he stops you doing fun things and calls it sin.
Get your free Atheism here, Sex with no strings, eat what you like, drink what you like and party like you only have one life. Please use your atheism responsibly and be aware of the medical implications of all that fun. And you must abide by the laws of the land you are an atheist in. So no murder,rape or pillage!
What a steaming pile of self agrandizing nothing that post is. This crap is exactly why people are moving away from Christianity in the western world. This does nothing to evangelize ore glorify God in the least. This serves to fill your echo chamber with your own nonsense. Atheist people know why they are atheist, and your assumption, or better yet the assumption of some other self agrandizing demigod that said something you agreed with, is based on ignorance and the desire to be heard. I feel sorry for christianity for having you as a mouthy part of it.
My thoughts? You in particular seem to believe you have an understanding of Atheism above and beyond that of Atheists and it is extremely tainted with your disdain for everyone who does not follow your "God". In this case you are again completely wrong concerning "Atheists" and ignore the terrible sexual activities of the theists, including those who claim power within the church communities. It seems you not only take issue with Atheists but, have some serious sexual hangups.....I suggest you try to lose weight and meet a few females who can or will "Explain" what sex is.
[MENTION=69206]jrr777[/MENTION] and other various posters seem to feel they passes the knowledge of that of a god, or at least think they do. How else would they know what everybody else thinks better than the persons that think it themselves? It strikes me as a psychosis. Either a form of Jerusalem syndrome type of event, or the desperate fabrication of such knowledge to prop up a crumbling delusion. It's sad really. Why can't people of religous faith simply accept that some people are not? It seems they need to create this reality and these events and desires merely to protect an illusion. That isn't the Action of a person with complete trust in their gods. That seems to be the action of somebody who is trying to compel consensus. Such an utterly futile waste of a life.
Jr777 gives the game away here, "but with everybody shaming him this would keep him from those evil deeds, at the least openly." It is their loss of power and control that makes atheists scare them witless.
I think it's also jealousy. They can't not feel guilt because they have been programmed to do so. When you psychologically implant that guilt reaction in a child it's hard to undo.