Well, one worries less about death, if they know a god exists and they go to heaven. Even though it might not be true, it gives them a great feeling of relieve, thinking everything will be ok. Even though that may be a lie, and I guess gives them the wrong idea. But if you die, and you believe that your bodies just shuts down, and you won't remember anything anyways, why not die a little more happy. Although I'm not saying that is necessary right, cause if you know there is nothing out there, and if you accept your dead, you stand much stronger.
That may help a person who thinks they're going to heaven, but what happens if they think they're going to hell? It causes only pain and dread.
[Second paragraphs]
Well, that of course I agree is not really right. But what I was more going for was, the people that because they believe also makes them stronger. For example, small things like idk.. a robbery or something. You stay calm, thinking that everything will probably be OK, cause its in gods hand. It gives you some more mental confident, but.. Of course IT SUCKS that they leave everything in his hand, and not take action themselves. That I do agree with, but the people who really believe know that '' (Check my last sentence in this comment)'' (Another horrible example sorry D:)
Again, while it may comfort one person, further down the line it will worry someone, especially if this other someone is doing something illegal, because they might get the idea that god is OPPOSING them. And, again, they might be worried about going to hell.
@fluxinator: Yea I guess youre right, but it could also be the exact opposite. It doesn't happen, but because they believe in there goal, and that they can succeed with a higher powers help they continue to fight for it. But
I guess it just all depends on the people's will power, and how much they actually believe/bond them self to god, and leave everything to him.
But what happens when something BAD happens, and the person looses trust in their god? If they have full confidence that their God will prevent the death of their son on the front lines, but he ends up dying, they will usually in practice develop a pessimistic, hopeless attitude.
See, thats another reason why people become aethiests - so they feel intellectual. People love to believe that science is the opposite of religion. By losing religion, they become believers in science.
Stop right there. You're only a paragraph in and I know this won't end well. I don't "Believe" in science the same way one "believes" in their religion. No atheist does. The word "belief" evokes "faith", which in turn is the exact opposite of what I have. One with faith holds on to their beliefs despite contradicting evidence. If I were to see that the scientific method was an ineffective way of finding truth, I would ditch it in a second. However, there has been no such case yet.
Well science is definitely not removed from religion. Time for an Einstein quote!
"Well, I do not think that it is necessarily the case that science and religion are natural opposites. In fact, I think that there is a very close connection between the two. Further, I think that science without religion is lame and, conversely, that religion without science is blind. Both are important and should work hand-in-hand. It seems to me that whoever doesn't wonder about the truth in religion and in science might as well be dead."
Obviously you don't know Einstein.
In that quote he wasn't talking about religion in a theological since: he was himself an atheist, or at least and agnostic. He meant religion as in a hypothetical "religion of science", a dogmatic approach towards science.
If it wasn't for a belief in god (note, not Christ - not everyone is a Christian for those who haven't realised, nor is every religion similar to Christianity), many scientific developments may not have been made.
That's a very weak argument. It doesn't prove a thing about theism. You might as well have said "If it weren't for Coffee, many scientific discoveries may not have been made."
First, correlation does not imply causation. Just because theism came before any specific discovery doesn't mean that theism caused that discovery.
In fact, usually those with theistic beliefs IMPEDE the advancement of science. One need look no further than Galileo, who was put on house arrest for his scientific propositions.
Your comment, "Ok, so there's a guy in the sky who created everything and runs everything", is very ignorant. Firstly, although the christians may believe it, many religions consider god to be very different.
Errr.... Yeah. And? Whether his description was accurate is beside the point. We are discussing the effects of theism on humanity and humans.
And besides, he was just using an example, because that's how early Christians perceived the god of the Bible.
In fact, you are on the premise that religion contradicts science. It may be for Christianity, but many religions such as Buddhism and Hinduism do not.
Stop, you're making a fool of yourself. At the core of Hinduism is the belief in reincarnation. Hindu beliefs have no concept of a "new soul". If you are alive, then your soul has been borrowed by thousands of people before you, and presumably thousands after you, unless you reach enlightenment, because only then can you escape the endless cycle of reincarnation.
This presents a mathematical impossibility. Hindu beliefs maintain that every time a person is born, the soul of another person is taken (the carrier dies) and is put into the new person.
So what happens when the population rises to billions of people?
I think that someone's been printing up new souls!
Once again, you have generalised religion to Christianity - common mistake, since thats what most have you grown up around. Although Christians may believe god directs our actions, many religions do not. In fact, many religions say that it is our own actions which determine our fate - not god. Take hinduism and buddhism for example. You would have heard of 'karma' I'm sure.
Nice
Straw Man argument, there!
You are arguing against a small pert of his post, but failing to grasp the meaning. He wasn't assuming that all religions operate the same way, he was just using an example to illustrate that when an explanation arises that they can understand, people accept it as truth.
You could easily replace "ooh there is a man in the sky directing everything we do" with "ooh, when we die, our consciousnesses fly into a brand new body, but our body stays here!"
You speak from the point of view of someone who's probably grown up in a western country or one where Christianity is the dominant religion.
"Chirstmas long ago broke away from its strictly religious roots, and although it is a religious holiday it has also developed into a public holiday." How ludicrous! Then why don't you celebrate another festival? Celebrate Hanuka, Diwali or Eid instead? Just because in western countries holidays are given for Christian festivals, doesn't mean its not a religious affair.
You won't go to Afghanistan and find Muslims celebrating Christmas because its a 'non-religious' festival. Nor will you find many Aethiests in America celebrating Eid or Diwali. Why is that I wonder? Just because in places like America children are fed to believe Christmas is a non-religious event that everyone in the world celebrates, doesn't mean its true.
No way should aethiests be denied the right to celebrate Christmas. But they shouldn't conveniently forget that they are in fact celebrating (whether it be meeting with family, or otherwise) the birth of a Christian figure, Jesus.
I'll merely direct you to another thread for this.
http://www.stickpageportal.com/forums/showthread.php?t=97268
As for getting married in Church: well, aethiests should not be restrcited at all, but why Church? If you are not truly Christian inside, why not get married at another 'holy' location. You know - other religions have holy places too. However its hard to understand for 'aethiests' who only know how Christians live - they get married in Churches, take Christian oathes and get blessed by Christian priest. Patheticly ignorant.
Well, firstly, most atheists (SPELL IT RIGHT, YOU IDIOT!) don't have Christian weddings. They have "Civil marriages", usually in a courthouse, and with no religious connotations.
Secondly, most of the ones who still marry in a church only do so because churches are beautiful buildings, with amazing architecture and artwork.
Why not get married in a temple? Or on the beach if you want to stick to your non-belief in god.
Many DO get married in a temple, or on beaches. They get married where they want to.
I can't even count how many 'aethiests' I've met who shout "Jesus Christ" or some other variations in a moment of surprise.
I do things like that all the time.
Does that mean anything? NO.
If I say "Holy cow" does that make me a Hindu? NO.
If an aethiest believes there is no god, yet every minute of his/her life either remembers or celebrates the presence of one (particularly Christ), then I believe there is no need for aethiesm.
Good ****ing god you're an idiot.
Whether I was once a Christian has no bearing on whether I should be an atheist. The only reason I was ever a Christian was because I was forced into it through childhood indoctrination. People around me said it was so, and I believed it.
Save a space in the dictionary, or maybe redefine it to "kids in western countries with Christian families who can't be bothered going to Church".
BTW, I am not a christian and am only expressing an opinion. I hope no-one gets offended.
Thanks.
I AM offended. You are riding under the assumption that atheism is a person who is really a theist deep down, but for some reason denies the existence of god just for shits and giggles.
Atheism, by definition, means WITHOUT ANY BELIEF IN THE EXISTANCE OF A GOD.
I think that god doesn't exist. I'm not just saying that, either, I really feel that way. It may be hard for a simpleton like you to comprehend, but some people actually might have different beliefs then you.