Political Crossfire Forums

[Pike]

Atheism is not a philosophy; it is not even a view of the world; it is simply a refusal to deny the obvious. Unfortunately, we live in a world in which the obvious is overlooked as a matter of principle. The atheist is simply a person who has perceived the lies of religion and refused to make them his own

It is worth noting that no one ever needs to identify himself as a non-astrologer or a non-alchemist. Consequently, we do not have words for people who deny the validity of these pseudo-disciplines. Likewise, atheism is a term that should not even exist. Atheism is nothing more than the noises reasonable people make when in the presence of religious dogma. The atheist is merely a person who believes that the 260 million Americans (87% of the population) who claim to never doubt the existence of God should be obliged to present evidence for his existence and, indeed, for his benevolence, given the relentless destruction of innocent human beings we witness in the world each day.

We live in a world of unimaginable surprises--from the fusion energy that lights the sun to the genetic and evolutionary consequences of this lights dancing for eons upon the Earth--and yet Paradise conforms to our most superficial concerns with all the fidelity of a Caribbean cruise. This is wondrously strange. If one didn't know better, one would think that man, in his fear of losing all that he loves, had created heaven, along with its gatekeeper God, in his own image.

Consider the destruction that Hurricane Katrina leveled on New Orleans. More than a thousand people died, tens of thousands lost all their earthly possessions, and nearly a million were displaced. It is safe to say that almost every person living in New Orleans at the moment Katrina struck believed in an omnipotent, omniscient and compassionate God. But what was God doing while a hurricane laid waste to their city? Surely he heard the prayers of those elderly men and women who fled the rising waters for the safety of their attics, only to be slowly drowned there. These were people of faith. These were good men and women who had prayed throughout their lives. Only the atheist has the courage to admit the obvious: These poor people died talking to an imaginary friend.

Of course, there had been ample warning that a storm of biblical proportions would strike New Orleans, and the human response to the ensuing disaster was tragically inept. But it was inept only by the light of science. Advance warning of Katrina's path was wrested from mute Nature by meteorological calculations and satellite imagery. God told no one of his plans. Had the residents of New Orleans been content to rely on the beneficence of the Lord, they wouldn't have known that a killer hurricane was bearing down upon them until they felt the first gusts of wind on their faces. Nevertheless, a poll conducted by The Washington Post found that 80% of Katrina's survivors claim that the event has only strengthened their faith in God.

Only the atheist realizes how morally objectionable it is for survivors of a catastrophe to believe themselves spared by a loving God while this same God drowned infants in their cribs.

READ THE FULL MANIFESTO:
http://www.breakthesilence.ca/politics/April%2006/athiest.htm

[Clara Listensprechen]

Izzat you, Robert Larimer? You know better.

[Sataere]

Whoa, fantastic manifesto! It's very well written and thought out, I love it. I have a website with a similar book that I am writing about atheism, and this article gives me so much inspiration and new subject matter on the topic.

[socalmasta666]

i should use this in my arguements agianst christians lol

[ideal]

You've got to be kidding me.

Quote: Likewise, atheism is a term that should not even exist. Atheism is nothing more than the noises reasonable people make when in the presence of religious dogma.

So, what's the purpose here? I would think that if atheism truly fit that description no one would have bothered to write a 'manifesto'.

Quote: The atheist is merely a person who believes that the 260 million Americans (87% of the population) who claim to never doubt the existence of God should be obliged to present evidence for his existence and, indeed, for his benevolence, given the relentless destruction of innocent human beings we witness in the world each day.

I'm sure they'll get on that as soon as atheists start providing evidence God doesn't exist.

[ieatfood]

because there is neither evidence that god does or does not exist, the correct philosophy would be to just say I don't know, and go on with your life

i dunno if that falls under atheism or whatever, but that is the only logical philosophy there is.

[Clara Listensprechen]

The Bible provides proof a-plenty how the God of The Bible doesn't exist. Not like a Christian's gonna recognize proof when they see it--that's a whole nuther can o worms.

[Saf]

How can there be a manifesto for a non-group? These people don't speak for me.

[thebreadloaf2003]

Saf wrote: How can there be a manifesto for a non-group? These people don't speak for me.

a single person can have his own personal manifesto. If he decides to write a book about it, that doesnt mean that he is trying to make people follow him/her. Maybe the writer is just trying to inform people about him/herself and inform people about people like him/her.

[Dragoon]

Interesting. I didn't know we had a manifesto. :lol:

[milo1047]

Neither did I, for that matter.

[Clara Listensprechen]

Dragoon wrote: Interesting. I didn't know we had a manifesto. :lol:

A lot of atheists don't know that the 5th Circuit declared atheism a religion, too--the argument being that they have just as much right to be tax exempt in operations that print and publish tracts and evangelize their views. One person involved with following the case quipped that atheism is a religion like "bald" is a hair color, but it is true that compared to the breaks that the state gives religion, atheists have been unfairly held at a disadvantage.

So there's not just a manifesto, but a TAX EXEMPT manifesto that has the same rights of distribution as any Christian tract.

[feederband]

Clara Listensprechen wrote: Dragoon wrote: Interesting. I didn't know we had a manifesto. :lol:

A lot of atheists don't know that the 5th Circuit declared atheism a religion, too--the argument being that they have just as much right to be tax exempt in operations that print and publish tracts and evangelize their views. One person involved with following the case quipped that atheism is a religion like "bald" is a hair color, but it is true that compared to the breaks that the state gives religion, atheists have been unfairly held at a disadvantage.

So there's not just a manifesto, but a TAX EXEMPT manifesto that has the same rights of distribution as any Christian tract.

Maybe I should open up a church then...

[Clara Listensprechen]

Madelaine O'Hare (sp?) tried that already and suddenly disappeared. If you do that, make sure it's immune from religionist blackguards.

[eynon]

Pike wrote: Atheism is not a philosophy; it is not even a view of the world; it is simply a refusal to deny the obvious. Unfortunately, we live in a world in which the obvious is overlooked as a matter of principle. The atheist is simply a person who has perceived the lies of religion and refused to make them his own

It is worth noting that no one ever needs to identify himself as a non-astrologer or a non-alchemist. Consequently, we do not have words for people who deny the validity of these pseudo-disciplines. Likewise, atheism is a term that should not even exist. Atheism is nothing more than the noises reasonable people make when in the presence of religious dogma. The atheist is merely a person who believes that the 260 million Americans (87% of the population) who claim to never doubt the existence of God should be obliged to present evidence for his existence and, indeed, for his benevolence, given the relentless destruction of innocent human beings we witness in the world each day.

We live in a world of unimaginable surprises--from the fusion energy that lights the sun to the genetic and evolutionary consequences of this lights dancing for eons upon the Earth--and yet Paradise conforms to our most superficial concerns with all the fidelity of a Caribbean cruise. This is wondrously strange. If one didn't know better, one would think that man, in his fear of losing all that he loves, had created heaven, along with its gatekeeper God, in his own image.

Consider the destruction that Hurricane Katrina leveled on New Orleans. More than a thousand people died, tens of thousands lost all their earthly possessions, and nearly a million were displaced. It is safe to say that almost every person living in New Orleans at the moment Katrina struck believed in an omnipotent, omniscient and compassionate God. But what was God doing while a hurricane laid waste to their city? Surely he heard the prayers of those elderly men and women who fled the rising waters for the safety of their attics, only to be slowly drowned there. These were people of faith. These were good men and women who had prayed throughout their lives. Only the atheist has the courage to admit the obvious: These poor people died talking to an imaginary friend.

Of course, there had been ample warning that a storm of biblical proportions would strike New Orleans, and the human response to the ensuing disaster was tragically inept. But it was inept only by the light of science. Advance warning of Katrina's path was wrested from mute Nature by meteorological calculations and satellite imagery. God told no one of his plans. Had the residents of New Orleans been content to rely on the beneficence of the Lord, they wouldn't have known that a killer hurricane was bearing down upon them until they felt the first gusts of wind on their faces. Nevertheless, a poll conducted by The Washington Post found that 80% of Katrina's survivors claim that the event has only strengthened their faith in God.

Only the atheist realizes how morally objectionable it is for survivors of a catastrophe to believe themselves spared by a loving God while this same God drowned infants in their cribs.

READ THE FULL MANIFESTO:
http://www.breakthesilence.ca/politics/April%2006/athiest.htm

I remember when I was an athiest my manifesto was "blood, cum, and fun" :lol:

[annabelle]

Something very similar to this was posted in the philisophy section a few months ago with the title "A Defense Of Atheism."

[Saf]

thebreadloaf2003 wrote: Saf wrote: How can there be a manifesto for a non-group? These people don't speak for me.

a single person can have his own personal manifesto. If he decides to write a book about it, that doesnt mean that he is trying to make people follow him/her. Maybe the writer is just trying to inform people about him/herself and inform people about people like him/her.

Then that single person should write "Johnny's Manifesto," not try to speak for all atheists.

[wormwood]

Quote: Atheism is not a philosophy; it is not even a view of the world; it is simply a refusal to deny the obvious. Unfortunately, we live in a world in which the obvious is overlooked as a matter of principle. The atheist is simply a person who has perceived the lies of religion and refused to make them his own Perhaps, or perhaps both sides simply find what they go into the situation searching for...

Also, could you define "the obvious"?

Quote: The atheist is merely a person who believes that the 260 million Americans (87% of the population) who claim to never doubt the existence of God should be obliged to present evidence for his existence and, indeed, for his benevolence, given the relentless destruction of innocent human beings we witness in the world each day.

Last things first, most of the destruction of innocents takes place by human hands. Secondly, Christ seemed to start the whole "loving God" aspect, if you read the Torah, YHVH can be pretty heavy handed. Finally, you are in the minority and therefore it is up to you to prove your position. If I said the world was flat, it wouldn't be up to you to prove it was round. When this country is 87% atheist come talk to me 8:) .

Quote: --and yet Paradise conforms to our most superficial concerns with all the fidelity of a Caribbean cruise. This is wondrously strange. If one didn't know better, one would think that man, in his fear of losing all that he loves, had created heaven, along with its gatekeeper God, in his own image. Yeah, ...OR could it be a metaphor to describe the indescribable?


Quote: Consider the destruction that Hurricane Katrina leveled on New Orleans. http://www.rumormillnews.com/cgi-bin/forum.cgi?read=78103 :lol: 8:)

Seriously though, just because you do not understand or agree with someone is not really a reason not to believe in them. So a town was leveled... do you know each person who died? Maybe there was a purpose we can not understand. Did the families get anything out of the experience? Maybe they were tough events that needed to happen, part of some greater plan. Maybe it was a wake up call. The results are pretty clear though:
Quote: Nevertheless, a poll conducted by The Washington Post found that 80% of Katrina's survivors claim that the event has only strengthened their faith in God. :wink:

[John Wilkes Booth]

ieatfood wrote: because there is neither evidence that god does or does not exist, the correct philosophy would be to just say I don't know, and go on with your life

i dunno if that falls under atheism or whatever, but that is the only logical philosophy there is.

Yes, it does. It's called weak atheism.

Strong atheism is when you consciously or actively believe that no, God does NOT exist.

Weak atheism is the mere absence of a belief. People often erroneously call this "agnosticism," which actually refers to the specific belief that human beings are incapable of ever learning the answer to the God question.

[John Wilkes Booth]

Clara Listensprechen wrote: Dragoon wrote: Interesting. I didn't know we had a manifesto. :lol:

A lot of atheists don't know that the 5th Circuit declared atheism a religion, too--the argument being that they have just as much right to be tax exempt in operations that print and publish tracts and evangelize their views. One person involved with following the case quipped that atheism is a religion like "bald" is a hair color, but it is true that compared to the breaks that the state gives religion, atheists have been unfairly held at a disadvantage.

So there's not just a manifesto, but a TAX EXEMPT manifesto that has the same rights of distribution as any Christian tract.

Oops! Hehe, did I say atheism isn't a religion? Cuz it totally is.