Win Prizes Ask an Atheist II

[Gethelred]

Welcome to the Ask an Atheist thread II.

Previous part:

Win Prizes - Ask an Atheist - Shoe's on the other foot now!

Alright, we're going to have a change of tack. As I'm sure you can see, the thread title has been changed to Ask an Atheist. People who have a question to ask of the atheists who populate this thread - more than the christians do - should feel free to ask questions of them. If you've still got...

www.bigfooty.com

Standard board rules apply.

 

[Username Anthony]

No. But it's got thin paper, so consider using it to roll a joint in emergency situations.

Then why bother arguing with Christians here? Have they nothing better to do?

Let me ask you, the thread is called ask an atheist after all, can science prove if someone is of mixed ancestry?

 

[Ghost Patrol]

Then why bother arguing with Christians here? Have they nothing better to do?

Let me ask you, the thread is called ask an atheist after all, can science prove if someone is of mixed ancestry?

Why don't Christians put a strip of sugar gum on the bible paper? Like tally-ho, ventti, etc.

Would sell more copies.

 

[Username Anthony]

Why don't Christians put a strip of sugar gum on the bible paper? Like tally-ho, ventti, etc.

Would sell more copies.

I ask an atheist and he has no answers.

 

[Ghost Patrol]

I ask an atheist and he has no answers.

I'm actually an anarchist.

 

[liz]

Then why bother arguing with Christians here? Have they nothing better to do?

Let me ask you, the thread is called ask an atheist after all, can science prove if someone is of mixed ancestry?

What does “mixed ancestry” mean?

I’m the product of my mother and father so I am a “mix” of their heritage. So yes, basic reproductive science has an answer.

Genomic analysis can provide people with probabilistic descriptions of where their ancestors might have resided, based on clusters of gene variants found in different locations. I’ve never quite understood the point of it, but lots of people seem fascinated by it.

Beyond that I have no idea where you’re coming from or heading.

 

[Total Power]

Unguided atheists can't understand the Bible, so why would a Christian want to hear from them?

Lol. Not talking about 'atheists'..talking about anyone outside of evangelicals. Plenty of people have left their faith after reading the Bible. I grew up as a Christian, i attended plenty of sermons, i attended Church gatherings every sunday for a number of years. Your objectivity goes out of the window if you buy into the snake oil

 

[Total Power]

Don't get me wrong, I'm convinced as an historian Jesus likely existed. His followers were brimming with faith in him as a ressurected being. Some saw him die, and Jesus as a messiah as it was understood then was a bust (no new kingdom, the tevolt in 66 failed) so there was no reason to invent the story. The apostles had a shared experience that convinced many of them that their teacher came back.

I agree with everything you have posted however the resurrection was a made up story which evolved with time. I made a post about this, have a read here.

Also the translation from Greek changed over time. Have a read at my previous post here.

 

[Username Anthony]

Your question has no merit. Why would anyone wonder about this counterfactual scenario?

Work it out lol!

Plenty of people have left their faith after reading the Bible.

"The Scriptures," says S. Jerome, "consist not in the reading but in the understanding:" that is, faith is not in the knowing the words but the sense.

That's also, why atheists go to university, and don't buy the text books to study them at home to avoid paying the school fees.

I grew up as a Christian, i attended plenty of sermons, i attended Church gatherings every sunday for a number of years.

But even then, you were not of us (1 John 2:18-20), just now you're not hidden, you're out in the open.

 

[SBD Gonzalez]

Have you ever wondered why atheists go to university when they can just buy the text books and study them from home, to avoid paying the school fees?

Not sure I understand what you’re getting at.

 

[Total Power]

Work it out lol!

"The Scriptures," says S. Jerome, "consist not in the reading but in the understanding:" that is, faith is not in the knowing the words but the sense.

That's also, why atheists go to university, and don't buy the text books to study them at home to avoid paying the school fees.

But even then, you were not of us (1 John 2:18-20), just now you're not hidden, you're out in the open.

I am glad not to be one of 'you'.

 

[carltonchelsea]

But you get educated by reading don't ya?

So they're already educated when they're loving their lecturers and professors?

No, you get educated by people, people that have read all/most of the literature within their field of expertise and have practiced within that field!

Strawman, non sequitur, University is a place where people meet to discuss, challenge and share information, they attempt to understand, improve and grow the frontiers of knowledge so that society as a whole hopefully gets to benefit from.
The universe provides us with enough researchable and testable data to help us get closer to truth, some of us chose to rail against this, it appears you are one of those people!
Good luck on your endeavour to be one of the “do your own research” journey mate, don’t expect me to listen to your advice, I won’t be listening, I’m just not that into you!

 

[Username Anthony]

I am glad not to be one of 'you'.

As I am glad that the Scriptures are true where you're concerned.

But still, it makes me wonder why you believe a Christian cares what an antichrist has to say? What does a Christian expect you to say?

 

[Total Power]

As I am glad that the Scriptures are true where you're concerned.

But still, it makes me wonder why you believe a Christian cares what an antichrist has to say? What does a Christian expect you to say?

I have been in this thread for more than 5 years, go back and read. Not many Christians could keep up with me, or other posters like me here...they dropped off like flies when challenged after name calling and lots of posts abusing me. You will be gone too..as you sound like a typical fundie yourself.

 

[SBD Gonzalez]

But unguided atheists read the Bible, a Book in which it says "many things are hard to understand," so how can they understand it if they're not guided by the Truth?

I’m far more inclined to follow the guidance of a demonstrably qualified flesh and blood expert, than a deliberately-concealed notion locked inside a box called Truth (noting the grasping capitalisation of the first letter), which is apparently only accessible if I agree to sell my soul to its custodian, sight unseen.

I mean how woo-woo airy-fairy can you get?

And Christians have the gall to ridicule astrology. (Which is horseschitte, by the way.)

 

[carltonchelsea]

Then why bother arguing with Christians here? Have they nothing better to do?

Let me ask you, the thread is called ask an atheist after all, can science prove if someone is of mixed ancestry?

Yes of course it can, science has proven that we all descended from some primordial hominid Eve woman about 5 million years ago.
Genetics tells us this, it also tells us that we are related to every single biological entity that has ever existed on this planet.
Also, it’s not just genetics that determines these facts, there are many other fields in science that allows us this knowledge.
Next question?

 

[Username Anthony]

I have been in this thread for more than 5 years, go back and read. Not many Christians could keep up with me, or other posters like me here.

They're weren't me

they dropped off like flies when challenged after name calling and lots of posts abusing me.

I wont abuse you.

You will be gone too

Do you mean banned? So that's how they don't keep up lol!

"Ask an atheist" hasn't been around that long has it?

 

[ManInTheArena]

What else does my anti-theism exist for except arguing my rejection of theists claims, maybe you could help me out?
What else would I use it for?
Maybe choosing a political candidate, there’s something, you got any ideas beyond that?

I'm asking whether it does have a use.

I hardly even get approached by theists to enforce their worldview on me, and on the rare occasion I do it's easy to move them along. I don't know any theist who has had their mind changed and I've never observed anyone who identifies as an atheist engaging in dialogue because they genuinely care for the theist and want them to be free from the bondages of religion. It's usually some kind of high horse ridicule or at least underlying righteous disdain in disguise as logical debate.

I'd then question it's usefulness because it's seemingly not useful for the atheist or the theist. For the atheist, I think it has an allure of feeling good about oneself by rising above these other "idiots" who believe these "stupid things" but that is short lived, probably it's a hedonistic dopamine hit, but ultimately causes stress in the resistance of another person's worldview and a compulsion to try and change something unchangeable. For the theist there is just ridicule and mockery and that probably needs no further explanation about its usefulness to them.

But the crux of it is that "it" doesn't even exist which is what my original question was about. It's just a human concept. A dog is presumably an atheist using our human concept but it doesn't have the ability to label itself and identity as such. I'd therefore posit that it doesn't get all twisted up about theists and cause itself stress. It stresses about reality, the physical threats to its reproductive success, things that actually exist and things worthy of stress. If it did magically develop the ability to believe in concepts and define itself as an atheist, I'd suggest that wouldn't be a more peaceful life for the dog, but one of resistance as it goes about looking for a theist to lock horns with, try and make wrong, and create tension in its own life and that of the theists.

 

[Total Power]

They're weren't me

People with actually theological knowledge, not fundamentalists like you.

I wont abuse you.

Do you mean banned? So that's how they don't keep up lol!

They lost the debate, go back and read..i am not going to have the same circular arguments with you from the start.

"Ask an atheist" hasn't been around that long has it?

Ask and atheist, ask a christian, god thread, many. Only man standing is Vdubs and he has defeated multiple times. I am not gonna with someone who just called me an anti christ, dude, you have NFI and you quote the scriptures as if it means anything outside of you believing it's true.

 

[Username Anthony]

Next question?

I’m just not that into you!

Make your mind up for crying out loud.

Anyway, you're boring, and you're dismissed. I'll talk with the big man on campus, Total Power lol!

 

[carltonchelsea]

Username Anthony, you can laugh at my post all you’d like, but answer me this, who/whom wrote the Bible?
It was people wasn’t it?
Was the source of that writing supernatural or was it homo-sapiens?

 

[SBD Gonzalez]

Unguided atheists can't understand the Bible, so why would a Christian want to hear from them?

Given that Christianity is a proselytising religion, one might well ask. When one of the fundamentals of a Christian’s self-identity is convincing others to convert to their religion, what interest would they have in any other line of thought? (Other than, conceivably, a tactical “know-thy-enemy” pre-match training session of course).

 

[Username Anthony]

Given that Christianity is a proselytising religion, one might well ask. When one of the fundamentals of a Christian’s self-identity is convinced others to convert to their religion, what interest would they have in any other line of thought? (Other than, conceivably, a tactical “know-thy-enemy” pre-match training session of course).

I'm not trying to convert anyone lol! I believe you can seek what you will. I sought the Truth and found it!

 

[carltonchelsea]

I'm asking whether it does have a use.

I hardly even get approached by theists to enforce their worldview on me, and on the rare occasion I do it's easy to move them along. I don't know any theist who has had their mind changed and I've never observed anyone who identifies as an atheist engaging in dialogue because they genuinely care for the theist and want them to be free from the bondages of religion. It's usually some kind of high horse ridicule or at least underlying righteous disdain in disguise as logical debate.

I'd then question it's usefulness because it's seemingly not useful for the atheist or the theist. For the atheist, I think it has an allure of feeling good about one's self by rising above these other "idiots" who believe these "stupid things" but that is short lived, probably it's a hedonistic dopamine hit, but ultimately causes stress in the resistance of another person's worldview and a compulsion to try and change something unchangeable. For the theist there is just ridicule and mockery and that probably needs no further explanation about its usefulness to them.

I can't see it's use, but the crux of it is that "it" doesn't even exist which is what my original question was about. It's just a human concept. A dog is presumably an atheist using our concept but it doesn't have the ability to label itself and identity as such. I'd therefore posit that it doesn't get all twisted up about theists and cause itself stress. It stresses about reality, the physical threats to its reproductive success, things that actually exist and things worthy of stress. If it did magically develop the ability to believe in concepts and define itself as an atheist, I'd suggest that wouldn't be a more peaceful life for the dog, but one of resistance as it goes about looking for a theist to lock horns with, try and make wrong, and create tension in its own life and that of the theists.

Alright, great response and thanks for the elucidation, we have a foundation.
As I mentioned earlier, it is vitally important to my entire being that I know and understand someones beliefs on these matters before I engage with them on any deeper and more meaningful levels than the normal interactions and relationships I have on a day to day basis.
Political, economic, social, friendship, business etc.
They affect me, they will affect my future and the welfare of my immediate family and our place in this one and only shot at this reality we live in.
I need to be able and aware of knowing the mindset of those I wish to represent my personal values, finances, business dealings and political future with.
I like to know these things, it helps me evaluate my next move, it’s like chess, gotta have several moves and plans on the go, defences and attacks in your back pocket at all times.

 

[carltonchelsea]

It’s clear username tone is a waste of bandwidth in here.
It’s a poor troll, as poor as we’ve seen for a decade or so.

 

[Username Anthony]

People with actually theological knowledge, not fundamentalists like you.

Theological knowledge, I have that

They lost the debate, go back and read..i am not going to have the same circular arguments with you from the start.

Why would I do that do that lol!

just called me an anti christ, dude, you have NFI and you quote the scripture

If you're not with Christ, you're against Him, it's in the Scriptures. You said you left Christ, surely that can't mean you're with Him lol!?

Is to be against Him to be anti Him?

LIke I wrote, the Scriptures don't consist in the reading, you've just proved that, thanks man lol!