Ask An Atheist Anything., Actually, don't. Keep it relevant. Aliteration is cool. Options

[Cow-Moo]

Oooookay..
Your point?

You're an atheist.
Want a cookie?

lol lots of people are these days.
I believe in reincarnation and I have since I was about 4.
=]

But other than that. I don't want to know about all that other junk.
It's life. Let's live it.

[illriginal]

In an atheist's point of view, is there an afterlife? What exactly do you expect once your physical being is nothing but rotting flesh?

And also... the thought of death, do you fear it? If so, why?

What is the meaning of life? Assuming there's no after life, then what's the point of life in the first place?

[ersatz]

Oooookay..
Your point?

You're an atheist.
Want a cookie?

lol lots of people are these days.
I believe in reincarnation and I have since I was about 4.
=]

But other than that. I don't want to know about all that other junk.
It's life. Let's live it.

No one's asking for any cookies. They're asking for questions, because sometimes people are confused about things, and things need clarification. It's sometimes difficult for someone who does believe to understand why and how another person does not.

In an atheist's point of view, is there an afterlife? What exactly do you expect once your physical being is nothing but rotting flesh?

And also... the thought of death, do you fear it? If so, why?

What's is the meaning of life. Assuming there's no after life, then what's the point of life in the first place?

No, there is no afterlife. You die, someone buries you or cremates you, that is it, goodbye. I don't expect anything. I'm dead. I can no longer expect.

I personally have been consumed by fears of death since the death of someone I knew recently, but that may be just me. It's not fearing death so much but fearing the end of everything that I am, and since I'm young, I haven't done much, and I'm afraid to leave it all behind and stuff...I don't fear death itself. I know it's going to happen. I just don't want it to happen right now.

There is no "meaning" or "point" to life; you just live. We're all animals. There's no purpose to us being here, we just are here. Evolution and time happened, and here we are. This is life. One can have their own individual self-made "purpose," but there is no overlording meaning to every life ever made.

[*yrrnotelekktric*]

In an atheist's point of view, is there an afterlife? What exactly do you expect once your physical being is nothing but rotting flesh?

And also... the thought of death, do you fear it? If so, why?

What is the meaning of life? Assuming there's no after life, then what's the point of life in the first place?

no, there isnt an afterlife. you don`t expect anything to happen to you, because you`re dead. that`s it, nothing else. Atheists dont entirely reject the supernatural, per se. we`re just skeptical about it. (some atheists reject it fully.)


personally, i dont fear death. i believe that once people die, nothing happens. it`s that same "feeling" (if you can call it that) that you try to feel before you`re born. you can`t visualize anything, etc. so when you die, i think the same thing happens. its just, blankness. so basically, there isnt a point to fear death if nothing is going to happen to you after death.

you could ask many people what the meaning of life is. people have tried for centuries to figure out if there is or ever will be a point or purpose to life. being an atheist just means you dont believe in a god, or a supreme being. personally, i dont think there is a point to life. and like Sammi (ersatz) said, we`re all animals. we just live it. imo, i dont understand what gives humans the need to feel so important that aside from other animals, we have to have a purpose for life.

[illriginal]

I see...

Could an atheist agree that the meaning of life is simply... "Experience"? To experience life to the fullest, it's ups and downs, and learn from it? To gain knowledge of self and all else?

Or would atheist in general disagree with this notion?

[brooklyneast05]

I see...
Could an atheist agree that the meaning of life is simply... "Experience"? To experience life to the fullest, it's ups and downs, and learn from it? To gain knowledge of self and all else?
Or would atheist in general disagree with this notion?

i'm atheist and i agree with that. i don't think life is pointless... i mean it means something to me lol. i don't think it has a purpose in the sense that i'm here to serve some god or go to another life. it's pointless and it's not. it has point to me, in the over all scheme of things then i guess it can be called pointless.

for me, life is more pointless from a christian standpoint.

[illriginal]

i'm atheist and i agree with that. i don't think life is pointless... i mean it means something to me lol. i don't think it has a purpose in the sense that i'm here to serve some god or go to another life. it's pointless and it's not. it has point to me, in the over all scheme of things then i guess it can be called pointless.

Ok.. and what if I told you that in terms of religion, that's what God gave us. The privilege to experience the mortal life. To learn as much as possible from our very livelihood. Whether there's reincarnation or not, or even an afterlife to begin with, that's truly the meaning of life.

Would you then disagree with this small philosophy?

[brooklyneast05]

i just wouldn't get the point of adding in the random variable of god for no apparent reason. since i don't see any evidence or reason to add that in then i wouldn't.

i don't know if you get what i'm saying. i just don't have any reason to further complicate things, so i don't. i don't disagree as much as it just doesn't make sense to me personally.

[*yrrnotelekktric*]

Ok.. and what if I told you that in terms of religion, that's what God gave us. The privilege to experience the mortal life. To learn as much as possible from our very livelihood. Whether there's reincarnation or not, or even an afterlife to begin with, that's truly the meaning of life.

Would you then disagree with this small philosophy?

haha, well, seeing as you`re telling this to a bunch of atheists, we`re really not going to make sense of things when you put God into something. (i mean we understand this concept of God, but im saying including god into something is not going to make us care, because we dont see god's significance in it). so yes, i would say atheists would more or less disagree with the fact that "what God gives us" is what we have. Like JC said, putting god into the mix further complicates things. Not that we all hate this idea of God, we just dont believe in one. There`s a difference.

But for me, god has nothing to do with anything.

[illriginal]

K thanks guys

[TimeZonesAway]

i haven't read this whole thread.
so someone could've said basically exactly what i said.

but i guess if i were to share my opinion it would go something like this: i feel religion is a waste of time.
don't mind me when i change the topic name to "ask a religious person anything"
why do you believe in whatever it is that you believe in.
please don't give me a simple one sentence answer. feel free to make it lengthy. i would love to get into detail into your answer

the one thing i have a problem with when it comes to people believing in god is i dont like how they pray to "him" when they want something to happen.
like "please, god help us win this game"
i feel like i should tell them not to depends on god because what is "he" going to do.
i personally don't believe in god. i'm speaking as if "he" exists although i do not think that is true.
but why depend on god and hope that "he" helps you or something..do it yourself and be independent without hope for help from some spirit within the "heavens" or whatever.

[*yrrnotelekktric*]

but i guess if i were to share my opinion it would go something like this: i feel religion is a waste of time.

i completely agree.

[illriginal]

why do you believe in whatever it is that you believe in.
please don't give me a simple one sentence answer. feel free to make it lengthy. i would love to get into detail into your answer

Honestly, there's soooo much. I mean creation of everything that exists. You could use Science to prove that, but there's a small problem, such as the Big Bang theory... no one can replicate it.

You know, I honestly can't answer your question, I don't even know where to start. Right now there's like thousand things running through my head at the speed of light in terms of "why" I believe in God lol

But one thing I could say is... what do I have to lose? What's so wrong about believing in God? Nothin... I kinda find it exciting learning different aspects of God from different parts of the world. Makes my mind flex its muscles :P

the one thing i have a problem with when it comes to people believing in god is i dont like how they pray to "him" when they want something to happen. like "please, god help us win this game"

I fully agree with you. I dislike people who pray to God just for material things. The way I see it is, do yourself first. Don't depend on friends, family, or just hand outs in general.

Strive to become successful, find yourself, and then figure out if you're willing to devote your life to God.

But while I agree with you on that, I also admit I dislike non-believers who on their dying days they come in terms with God. They all of a sudden expect God to accept them to the heavens because now they beg God for forgiveness and to accept them to his throne.

but why depend on god and hope that "he" helps you or something..do it yourself and be independent without hope for help from some spirit within the "heavens" or whatever.

In terms of Jihad (life's struggles), where one feels as if they have no control of their lives, no control over their emotions/feelings, it is not bad to depend on God to give you the strength in which you feel weak in. Such as depression, addiction, over all mental/physical health issues or what have you.

But like I said, it is never good to ask God for material things, or just things you can do yourself. If you have no ambition don't ask God to give you hand outs, instead ask God to give you the ambition you need in order to succeed.

[TimeZonesAway]

Honestly, there's soooo much. I mean creation of everything that exists. You could use Science to prove that, but there's a small problem, such as the Big Bang theory... no one can replicate it.

You know, I honestly can't answer your question, I don't even know where to start. Right now there's like thousand things running through my head at the speed of light in terms of "why" I believe in God lol

But one thing I could say is... what do I have to lose? What's so wrong about believing in God? Nothin... I kinda find it exciting learning different aspects of God from different parts of the world. Makes my mind flex its muscles :P

I fully agree with you. I dislike people who pray to God just for material things. The way I see it is, do yourself first. Don't depend on friends, family, or just hand outs in general.

Strive to become successful, find yourself, and then figure out if you're willing to devote your life to God.

But while I agree with you on that, I also admit I dislike non-believers who on their dying days they come in terms with God. They all of a sudden expect God to accept them to the heavens because now they beg God for forgiveness and to accept them to his throne.
In terms of Jihad (life's struggles), where one feels as if they have no control of their lives, no control over their emotions/feelings, it is not bad to depend on God to give you the strength in which you feel weak in. Such as depression, addiction, over all mental/physical health issues or what have you.

But like I said, it is never good to ask God for material things, or just things you can do yourself. If you have no ambition don't ask God to give you hand outs, instead ask God to give you the ambition you need in order to succeed.

well let me ask you this;
i feel the need to ask terrorists the same question

what happens when you die and it's not what you thought?
in a terrorists case: what would happen if he died and there were no virgins. well his suicide was obviously pointless.

.
may i say i support people who have beliefs and it's not like i'm against religion or anything
.

but also; i hope i'm not being offensive when i say this but there are people in mental institutions that say they have been told things through their dreams. or that people that aren't really there are talking to them. i just can't help but wonder that moses..or whoever it was, was also mentally ill when they said god talked to them.
isn't that a possibility? making that whole situation false.
or maybe moses just wanted some attention cause his family neglected him. i don't think people will know the real truth because people tend to base it all on a book.
just because the bible said it doesn't make it true.

what if a group of people got together and made up this nonexistent world of heavens and gods and angels and hell and the devil and wrote a book about it. just to see what would happen.

[illriginal]

well let me ask you this;
i feel the need to ask terrorists the same question

what happens when you die and it's not what you thought?
in a terrorists case: what would happen if he died and there were no virgins. well his suicide was obviously pointless.

Erm... Well lets clear things up first. Those terrorists are no better than the KKK. Both claim to be religious yet they commit terrorism.

No where in the Quran nor the Bible does it say that it is Holy to commit terror and strike fear into the people. Yet these sub-human fools commit them anyways assuming they're doing God a favor, or God willed them to commit these acts.

On top of that, there's generally 3 versions of the Quran. Two of which are peaceful with just 1 difference in the history of Islam, nothin else. While the 3rd is this fake militant philosophical version of the Quran.

Terrorists follow this militant version of the Quran which is blasphemous as well.

So to answer your question, lol heck no they're not going to heaven. Committing suicide is no way in any shape or form holy.

Dying for a cause... a good one, that's considered true martyrdom. For example, your home is being attacked by 3 individuals, you have a weapon as well as they do. They're coming straight towards your family and you step up to fight them off to protect your home and family. Even if you kill all three but the 3rd attacker simultaneously kills you as you kill him, you're a martyr, you killed in defense not offense. A true martyr is merited to go to Heaven (assuming he/she followed the Laws of God through out their life)

but also; i hope i'm not being offensive when i say this but there are people in mental institutions that say they have been told things through their dreams. or that people that aren't really there are talking to them.

We cannot judge these people just because they hear voices in their dreams or see things in their dreams.

If these people were psychotic, to the point that they don't belong in society.. that's different. But just because you claim to see things people don't and hear things people normally don't... that gives no one any right to judge you and prescribe them with FDA approved drugs.

I dunno if you have any knowledge of Vertigo children, but many of them were considered "bad" for society, even though they never did anything to create that judgment. Then they're sent to a mental institute for their divine abilities.

i just can't help but wonder that moses..or whoever it was, was also mentally ill when they said god talked to them.
isn't that a possibility? making that whole situation false.

Fortunately, our scientists have found one of the two tablets of which was given to Moses by God. Yes you read it correctly. It was found in England, no bogus crap either, I promise. That's why I love science, I thank God nearly everyday for these wonderful pioneers who help God reveal the divinity.

So to answer that question, no lol Moses wasn't insane, he wasn't hopped up on drugs or hallucinating. It is authentic by 3 main religions, Islam, Judaism, and Christianity. And soon enough, in the near future by our very own Scientists :)

what if a group of people got together and made up this nonexistent world of heavens and gods and angels and hell and the devil and wrote a book about it. just to see what would happen.

Quite frankly, they did. The New Testament. The New Testament was meant to kill the true existence of God and replace God with a Prophet by the name of Jesus Christ. The Trinity is a farce... to trick people into thinking that a Prophet became one with God and that the Prophet is the only one worthy of our prayers. Unfortunately, many people bought into this forged transcript. Many people were forced by the sword to take Christianity as their only way of survival.

I hope these answered your questions :P

[*yrrnotelekktric*]

^ by saying

what if a group of people got together and made up this nonexistent world of heavens and gods and angels and hell and the devil and wrote a book about it. just to see what would happen.

she means more along the lines of "doesnt it seem kind of like bullshit", and it does, for me.

[illriginal]

^ by saying
she means more along the lines of "doesnt it seem kind of like bullshit", and it does, for me.

It's cool... I depend on physical evidence over faith

[NoSex]

In an atheist's point of view, is there an afterlife? What exactly do you expect once your physical being is nothing but rotting flesh?

And also... the thought of death, do you fear it? If so, why?

What is the meaning of life? Assuming there's no after life, then what's the point of life in the first place?

I really wish people had the capacity to actually read a thread. For as enlightened as you claim to be, jackass, you sure are pretty damned clueless.

Well, first off, the idea of an afterlife is not entirely mutually exclusive to atheism. Atheism only posits, in its most broad manifestation, a lack of belief. Atheism is not a system of beliefs or a religion much like theism is not. Atheism merely communicates one's non-belief in any sort of god. So, an atheist might happen to believe in ghosts. He might believe in aliens. He might be into taro cards and the Jersey Devil. He might believe in the afterlife. Granted, this is highly unlikely, for, if the atheist is honest and dispassionate in his disbelief, he would, in the same vain, have no courtesy or dispensation for those other innumerable superstitions. In my own personal case, I'm proud to be entirely superstition free - I don't believe in any of that shit. However, it isn't impossible for an atheist to transgress in such a manner (I've met plenty of silly, down right moronic, atheists in my life).

Alright, now, to more directly address these questions:

You die. I don't believe in any sort of afterlife due to several things. Firstly, the lack of any observed phenomena which would suggest such a reality beyond our lives. Secondly, the contrary observations we make everyday which seem to suggest our consciousness is a meaningless byproduct of our material brains and that dissipation and denigration of body is equitable to dissipation and denigration of mind. And, lastly, the obvious psychological fairy tale motivations behind the invention of such an idea - it's very human.

Life is purposeless and meaningless. But we live it anyways. And, billions and billions of people find billions and billions of different excuses (although most of those excuses tend to be very similar or arguably the same). People find comfort and solace in an explicitly detailed meaning or purpose - but that doesn't make one a reality. Largely, I think that people invent purpose and meaning and or look for it (as in the case of religion) in order to sooth their insecurities and weaknesses. The realization of an objectively meaningless world is a troubling reality for the weak and frightened. To an average human being this realization will be battled passionately and without restraint - they will deny the meaningless world in order to protect their world views and maintain a status quo of effortless comfort and familiarity. For many atheists this meaningless world is found bathed in a sort of perverse beauty - an awe and "magic" which denies purpose and extends into infinity. In my own personal case, I've never had a serious existential crisis (at least not to the point of distress). I've once held my existentialistic beliefs concerning the individualistic search for meaning. I've once believed man has within him the power to bring forth meaning and purpose. I've once prescribed to Sartre dictum - "existence precedes and rules essence." And, really, I would still prescribe to such ideas if it were not for my extended philosophical studies - I've become a determinist. But, in either case, life is a blast - without it you'd be dead.

As goes being afraid of death? No. Not really.

I see...

Could an atheist agree that the meaning of life is simply... "Experience"? To experience life to the fullest, it's ups and downs, and learn from it? To gain knowledge of self and all else?

Or would atheist in general disagree with this notion?

He could, but I wouldn't. Being an atheist doesn't really make it one way or the other on any of these questions...

But, personally, no. Life is completely and utterly meaningless. There is no understood, outside, force imposing an objective status to life itself in any sort of humanistic way. No perceived sentience, no outlined guideline. Our lives are our own to create, or something fancy like that.

[*yrrnotelekktric*]

It's cool... I depend on physical evidence over faith

oh, ok.

[illriginal]

I really wish people had the capacity to actually read a thread. For as enlightened as you claim to be, jackass, you sure are pretty damned clueless.

R u mad?

[NoSex]

Honestly, there's soooo much. I mean creation of everything that exists. You could use Science to prove that, but there's a small problem, such as the Big Bang theory... no one can replicate it.

You know, I honestly can't answer your question, I don't even know where to start. Right now there's like thousand things running through my head at the speed of light in terms of "why" I believe in God lol

But one thing I could say is... what do I have to lose? What's so wrong about believing in God? Nothin... I kinda find it exciting learning different aspects of God from different parts of the world. Makes my mind flex its muscles :P

It's cool... I depend on physical evidence over faith

R u mad?

Fuming. If you have evidence, present it to us - clearly and accurately. Otherwise, butt out, your pontifications are boring and obnoxious.

[illriginal]

Fuming. If you have evidence, present it to us - clearly and accurately. Otherwise, butt out, your pontifications are boring and obnoxious.

Or you could just get laid for once and release your stress before you have a heart attack.

I just told you one of the two tablets of the ten commandments were possibly discovered in England, you damn wanker.

I would be nice enough to supply you with the hand out of information, but you make me wanna dismember your fingers. Go google it.

By the way, thanks for the pontiff compliment. I do find myself above most priests/pastors and that shitty pope.

[NoSex]

I just told you one of the two tablets of the ten commandments were possibly discovered in England, you damn wanker.

Even if that were true (great job substantiating it), how the f**k would anyone know that they were designed and put into existence by the "lord God?"

[TimeZonesAway]

Or you could just get laid for once and release your stress before you have a heart attack.

i'm guessing you're a christian.? if you are; isn't it bad to have sexual intercourse? or is it just premarital sex that is looked down upon. if so, why are you promoting that?

By the way, thanks for the pontiff compliment. I do find myself above most priests/pastors and that shitty pope.

i'm not sure what religion the pope is. but shouldn't you not be swearing? isn't that a sin? you may just be going to hell now. congratulations.




and what NoSex just said ; [[too lazy to go back and quote 'em]]
but i think that person makes a good point. and that's kinda what i was asking.
i feel you are trying to avoid the possibility of the bible or the ten commandments or whatever being a fraud.

so what, a tablet was discovered, YIPPEE, any person can make something like that and pretend god told them to do that.
i dont know quite how the story went so i'll stop before saying anything else.

actually i don't know much about religions at all so i'll try to lower the usage of "fake knowledge"

[illriginal]

i'm guessing you're a christian.? if you are; isn't it bad to have sexual intercourse? or is it just premarital sex that is looked down upon. if so, why are you promoting that?
i'm not sure what religion the pope is. but shouldn't you not be swearing? isn't that a sin? you may just be going to hell now. congratulations.
and what NoSex just said ; [[too lazy to go back and quote 'em]]
but i think that person makes a good point. and that's kinda what i was asking.
i feel you are trying to avoid the possibility of the bible or the ten commandments or whatever being a fraud.

so what, a tablet was discovered, YIPPEE, any person can make something like that and pretend god told them to do that.
i dont know quite how the story went so i'll stop before saying anything else.

actually i don't know much about religions at all so i'll try to lower the usage of "fake knowledge"

Christian? WTF O.o I don't believe in the authenticity of the New Testament, thus making Christianity not authentic enough... to me.

There's no law that claims "cursing" is a sin. Cursing/swearing in the name of God... now that's a different story.

How can you even attack a religion when you don't know jack shit about it to begin with? If atheist are this ignorant then it's just comical to me.

Even if that were true (great job substantiating it), how the f**k would anyone know that they were designed and put into existence by the "lord God?"

Science.. -.-