MeisterKleister
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You might be an atheist
Excerpts taken from: https://youtu.be/0iVCxx-GkMg
I highly recommend watching Dan Dennett's highly civil and informative conversation about religion with Bill Moyers on the Charlie Rose show: https://youtu.be/EUeQXmYVamA
AllTheEbola
One of the few philosophers I can listen to without falling asleep... he makes it interesting.
spitfires2000
Who is this GOD he keeps talking about?
onikame
Those jokes weren't funny... I wanted then to be, but, nope.
LadiesInboxMeYourInsecurities
Yeah take your labels and shove it. I believe what I believe and fuck the rest. They're MY beliefs; I'll call them whatever I want to.
LadiesInboxMeYourInsecurities
So fucking over this obsessive need to label shit and be considered part of a group or divided from antoher. Fuck that. We're all human.
LadiesInboxMeYourInsecurities
Another*
Snerfmonster
"I'll tell you what you believe." Nah b. God is a symbol, not a concept. You're mixing words.
MeisterKleister
The idea that 'God is a symbol' can be seen as a god concept too. Some other common god concepts: 'God is the universe' or ' God is love'
Messyart
"If you have any doubt what-so-ever you might as well be an athiest". My beliefs don't encompass deities as divine things but I'm no athiest
MeisterKleister
Atheism, in its simplest sense, just means not being a theist. A non-theist. Nothing more. It's fine if you don't like using the label.
Messyart
I've been called pagan plenty of times when I explain what I believe in, but that's not a label I want either. :P
MeisterKleister
He's saying you *might* be an atheist. Drop the "as well" part.
wallaceericson
Theres a difference between agnostic and athiest
SpeltwithaK
Werp
VeritasVector
I prayed for those in attendance. They are lost.
Nobahdi
This is the logical equivalent of Christians saying, "You're not really an atheist, you're just denying that you secretly know god is real."
MeisterKleister
No, it's not. Dennett simply states that believing in the concept of God is not the same as actually believing in God.
Nobahdi
Both are bad arguments. I do not pretend to know the mind of a Christian. Likewise, a Christian does not know my thoughts either.
Nobahdi
If you say you believe in a god, fine. I believe that you believe in a god. But lets go from there and figure out WHY you think its true.
PiercedViking
I'm Agnostic. Where or not there is a god or gods really doesn't affect me one bit.
pirateninjaunicornattacksquad
I call myself an atheist. Does God exist? I don't know, but I won't base personal beliefs on the possibility of his/her existence.
handsomeambulance
People have forgot that agnosticism is an option. They must be true believers one way or another. Just accept that you know nothing.
PiercedViking
I consider myself an Agnostic Pagan. I don't know if there are lots of gods or not.
MeisterKleister
Me too. I don't claim knowledge about the existence of any god/gods (agnosticism) but I also lack a belief in god or gods (atheism).
PiercedViking
If there is a god I'm pretty sure he would look down on anyone joining his club on a "better safe than sorry" deal.
chowdafrenchiesayit
While true, in the bigger scheme of things , should God(s) exist, "don't be a jackass" may be more important
PiercedViking
That should be the case even without the bounds of religion entirely.
chowdafrenchiesayit
Agreed, it's just being a decent human being
MeisterKleister
E.g.: I remain unconvinced that the defendant is guilty. That doesn't mean I believe he is innocent. And it doesn't mean I know either way.
Nobahdi
Dillahunty's response, nice.
NastyWetSmear
Actual question: Is this a real thing? Global Atheist Convention? I didn't know we had a convention and why do we need one?
MeisterKleister
Because there is still a lot of prejudice about atheists. And people who lost their faith often lose their community too and need a new one.
MeisterKleister
Jerry DeWitt (ex-pastor) experienced this first-hand when he lost his faith: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16043570-hope-after-faith
NastyWetSmear
Atheist prejudice?... I've never run across that. Can you expand a little for me? Sorry to harp on, I'm just confused.
Nobahdi
Do you know anything about the US "Bible Belt"?
NastyWetSmear
I know it's a highly religious group of states that, I think, are stereotypically associated with the south, yeah?
MeisterKleister
Jerry DeWitt, a former pastor and great person, lost his construction job, most of his friends & family shunned him after he came out.
NastyWetSmear
Thank you for your replies. You and Marflower filled me in on the details expertly. :)
NastyWetSmear
That's very sad. I don't know that this helps but if it makes him feel welcome I guess. As long as "Atheist" doesn't become his new religion
MeisterKleister
He's primarily a skeptic and a secular humanist helping others. Atheism is just one conclusion on one subject & it's not important to him.
Marflower
Groups striving for secular humanity isn't really a new thing and is quite useful. Decisions based on religion are not really good.
NastyWetSmear
Isn't an atheist convention just "preaching to the choir"?... Hehehe, religion joke. :) His whole speech is something everyone there knows.
Marflower
You assume everyone attending is a stern atheist or one with repository of arguments.
NastyWetSmear
I assume everyone at an Atheist Convention is an Atheist, yes. That's a given. Why do we need 'argument repositories'?
Marflower
It helps to know scientific responses to things religious people may throw around.