Benefits of Atheism

I'd like to start a thread discussing the benefits of atheism.

[fidiot]

Atheism in itself has no benefits. It's just a lack of belief in god.

Nothing you HAVE TO do sunday morning.

Extra change from not tithing.

I don't have to be moved by arguments based on the contents of "holy text".

I can enjoy jokes like "Jesus throws three nails on the hotel counter and says 'Can you put me up for the night?'".

[Loki]

Benefits :

1. Being in the majority in any debate against a particular religion
2. Not having to worry about consequences for anything I do...apparently (wish I'd found about this little perk a lot earlier! Where were you when I needed you Franko?).
3. Freedom to play Grand Theft Auto 3 without guilt
4. Heavy Metal music
5. Permission to stare lustily at nuns (ohhh....nuns...)
6. Harry Potter
7. Not being associated in anyway with Logical Deism
8. Being associated (even vaguely) with Soubrette and Seelie

Disadvantages :

None! (bwahahahaha)

[LucyR]

A concomitant belief in ones innate intellectual superiority?

Nah, but I don't have to believe what I'm told just because it came from some nut in a robe.

There are plenty of bright religious people. They're geniuses at rationalizing away details like how the world didn't end at the appointed date (yet again).

Another benefit: when someone predicts the end of the world at a mighty hand of judgment, I can laugh at them.

[LucyR]

Well, in my experience the better the scientist (for example), the less likely he/she is to be religious.

I stress "in my experience".

Furthermore, I've noticed that on this forum particularly, atheists seem to have a better command of English, and are also rather more skilled at articulating their thoughts, than their non-atheist counterparts.

Quote:

Originally posted by LucyR
Well, in my experience the better the scientist (for example), the less likely he/she is to be religious.

This has almost been proven, at least if "better" implies "extremely well-known in a very specific area of research." While about 60% of U.S. scientists don't believe in a God, that number jumps to 93% for NAS members.

But the pattern is much less distinct for equally well-educated non-scientists such as doctors and attorneys.

Quote:

Furthermore, I've noticed that on this forum particularly, atheists seem to have a better command of English, and are also rather more skilled at articulating their thoughts, than their non-atheist counterparts.

That's because the more vocal theists are disproportionately likely to be trolls, and trolls aren't usually Einsteins.


Cheers,

[LucyR]

"...non-scientists such as doctors..."

That's rather vicious, Tom. However, I tend to agree with you.

[c4ts]

Disadvantages:

1) No money from tythes
2) You can't justify your arguments with "because God says so"
3) You can't skip work because of random non-secular religious holidays
4) You have to take responsibility for your own actions
5) Your career as Pope is over before it can start
6) No fasting unless you're on a diet
7) People think you're a strawman
8) You can't take credit for inventing Logical Deism
9) You can't worship Denise
10) Stupid people will annoy you

[Yahzi]

Benefits of Athiesm:

1. Being right.

[c4ts]

Quote:

Originally posted by Yahzi
Benefits of Athiesm:

1. Being right.

Not necessarily, but "not being wrong" works.

Quote:

Originally posted by LucyR
"...non-scientists such as doctors..."

That's rather vicious, Tom.

It did sound that way, didn't it? I should clarify: speaking as someone who knows more Ph.D.'s than he should and has a nephew in med school, I think that the education doctors get is probably far more rigorous than the education most Ph.D. students get. But I tend to think of doctors as professionals like lawyers or engineers, and not as research scientists (though some doctors certainly are, and there are even joint MD/Ph.D. programs for people who want to do that sort of thing).


Cheers,

Quote:

Originally posted by LucyR
A concomitant belief in ones innate intellectual superiority?

Which would be unjustified looking at their "arguments".

[c4ts]

Quote:

Originally posted by Interesting Ian


Which would be unjustified looking at their "arguments".

For once, you're actually right, but in a slightly different context.

[CWL]

A refreshing lack of dogma.

[Peter Jenkins]

Where to start?

1) Lack of unwarrented guilt (for sex outside wedlock, masturbation, sexual thoughts, use of birth control, & so on)

2) More money (not having to pay tithes and offerings - these are a real burden if you happen to be, for example, a Mormon)

3) Ability to make up your own mind, without waiting to see what the prophet/pope/religious leader of choice thinks.

4) Ability to accept new concepts without having to see if they fit in with a 200+ year old book.

5) dietary restrictions are physical, not spiritual (MMMM - pork chops - 12:30 - must be lunchtime

[Skeptical Greg]

Accepting responsibility for my actions.

Don't have to worry about ' God's Will ', or say " The Devil Made me do it.."

[Franko]

1) Ability to unjustifiably feel superior to all of the other religions.
2) Ability to pretend religion of A-Theism is not a “religion”.
3) Ability to pretend that the TRUTH doesn’t really matter. (Non-beneficial, or “Non-Useful” Truths are not True if you don’t want them to be.)
4) Ability to pretend that you don’t follow any rules.
5) Ability to pretend that there will be no consequences for your actions.
6) Ability to pretend that actions are not governed by rewards and punishment.
7) Ability to pretend that reality is fundamentally magical and incomprehensible.
8) Ability to pretend that the past is not based on the present, nor will the future be based on the present.
9) Ability to pretend that there is one set of rules that A-Theists follow, and another set for everyone else. (A-Theist don’t need to prove their god (“free willy”) only other Theists have to prove that their “gods” exists. (i.e. the Great Double Standard of A-Theism))
10) Ability to ignore the horrible Fate which awaits You.

[Franko]

Quote:

A refreshing lack of dogma.

Unless you have concrete, irrefutable proof for the existence of "free willy" then you are LOADED with dogma!

[Akots]

Quote:

Originally posted by Franko


Unless you have concrete, irrefutable proof for the existence of "free willy" then you are LOADED with dogma!

Can you give me concrete, irrefutable proof for the non-existance of free will?

[Franko]

Quote:

Can you give me concrete, irrefutable proof for the non-existance of free will?

[sarcasm on]

OHHH SO I HAVE TO PROVE A NEGATIVE NOW?!?! I have to prove to YOU that your "free willy" god DOESN'T EXIST?!?!

Obviously you don't know anything about Logic you "Theist" moron!

[sarcasm off]

Okay Akots, here is the reason I don't believe you have "free will".

Atoms obey TLOP.
Your Brain is made of atoms.
The Atoms in your brain obey TLOP just like all atoms do.

If you have a remote control miniature CAR, and you are driving it all around, telling it where to go, how fast, controlling it; who is more conscious, you or the CAR?

TLOP has Your remote, and YOU are the miniature Car being driven around and controlled.

Explain how you used "free will" to select your parents, your genetics, any of the things that make YOU -- YOU?

What exactly is making the choice anyway? Where is the YOU? Aren't YOU just your physical brain, and isn't your physical brain just a collection of atoms obeying the same rules (TLOP) that ALL atoms (chemicals) obey?

[Occasional Chemist]

Quote:

Originally posted by Franko
Unless you have concrete, irrefutable proof for the existence of "free willy" then you are LOADED with dogma!

Concrete, irrefutable proof of the existence of "free willy".

benefits of atheism? hmmm...do whatever feels good without any consequences, and when confronted with this, then deny it? LOL...

atheists= compulsive liars, and when confronted that they are liars, then they deny it..

[Akots]

We may not chose what's on the menu, and sometimes other peopel choose for us, but sometimes we DO make a choice.

I do not obey TLOP, Franko. You cannot prove I do not.

[Franko]

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We may not chose what's on the menu, and sometimes other people choose for us, but sometimes we DO make a choice.

really? When specifically. Why don't you tell me the conditions under which you have "free willy" and we will test for them?

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I do not obey TLOP, Franko. You cannot prove I do not.

Dream on Pal.

considering you have based your entire belief system on No evidence, I'd say it would be a tough nut to prove to you that your delusions aren't real.

[Franko]

Quote:

The Muscle:
benefits of atheism? hmmm...do whatever feels good without any consequences, and when confronted with this, then deny it? LOL...

hehehe! I really like this guy!

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atheists= compulsive liars, and when confronted that they are liars, then they deny it..

Well what do you expect from a bunch of nitwits who claim that there are no ultimate consequences for their actions?

I guess it is hard to seek the Truth or obey God's will when you are busy obeying your own. (selfish bunch of short-sighted losers)

[CWL]

Quote:

Originally posted by Franko
Well what do you expect from a bunch of nitwits who claim that there are no ultimate consequences for their actions?

Franko, why is it so hard for you to correctly describe the contentions of your opponents? Us nitwits have never claimed that there "are no ultimate consequences for our actions". We have claimed that there is no proof for any "ultimate consequences" as there is no proof that we survive our deaths.

Subtle but important difference. But you of course prefer debating your straw-men instead of the real arguments against your position...

[Akots]

I prefer debating his strawmen too... quite an ego booster.

[Tricky]

Quote:

Originally posted by Akots
I prefer debating his strawmen too... quite an ego booster.

Yes, we all have fun playing BOBS. I still wish I could set the difficulty level higher.

[Skeptical Greg]

Quote:

Originally posted by muscleman
benefits of atheism? hmmm...do whatever feels good without any consequences, and when confronted with this, then deny it? LOL...

atheists= compulsive liars, and when confronted that they are liars, then they deny it..

Let me see if i understand this...




Liars will ... lie...?


I never thought of it that way...

[Franko]

Quote:

Franko, why is it so hard for you to correctly describe the contentions of your opponents? Us nitwits have never claimed that there "are no ultimate consequences for our actions". We have claimed that there is no proof for any "ultimate consequences" as there is no proof that we survive our deaths.

How exactly is believing coins always land TAILS up based on no evidence "more smarter" than believing coins land HEADS up based on no evidence?

I'd just call that emprical evidence for YOU being a dire pessimist. I guess you must have liked that answer a little too much, or you would have tried looking a little deeper.

But that's okay, I know the Truth scares you A-Theists.

[CWL]

Quote:

Originally posted by Franko


How exactly is believing coins always land TAILS up based on no evidence "more smarter" than believing coins land HEADS up based on no evidence?

I'd just call that emprical evidence for YOU being a dire pessimist. I guess you must have liked that answer a little too much, or you would have tried looking a little deeper.

But that's okay, I know the Truth scares you A-Theists.

And this has exactly what to do with the post you replied to? How about having a go at explaining quantum gravity for us instead?

Or is the truth too much for us to handle?

[Franko]

Quote:

Or is the truth too much for us to handle?

Since you obviously can't deal with the TRUTH of Fatalism, I'd say that it is impossible for you to go down the rabbit hole any deeper.

Enjoy your brief meaningless existence while it lasts ...

[Ossai]

Franko

Quote:

9) Ability to pretend that there is one set of rules that A-Theists follow, and another set for everyone else.

No, just one set of rules for everyone. The theists are the ones mucking them up by postulating the existence of their unnecessary rules.

Quote:

(A-Theist don’t need to prove their god (“free willy”) only other Theists have to prove that their “gods” exists. (i.e. the Great Double Standard of A-Theism))

No again. Freewill is ultimate responsibility for your own actions. No god(ess(s)) to fall back on.

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10) Ability to ignore the horrible Fate which awaits You.

Exactly which horrible fate is that? The Christian purgatory or hell? The Jewish version of the afterlife (can’t remember the spelling)? The Hindu version of perpetual reincarnation? The ancient Egyptian version? The Norse Hel? Etc, etc, etc…

Quote:

What exactly is making the choice anyway? Where is the YOU? Aren't YOU just your physical brain, and isn't your physical brain just a collection of atoms obeying the same rules (TLOP) that ALL atoms (chemicals) obey?

So I’m not responsible for anything, cool.

Quote:

Well what do you expect from a bunch of nitwits who claim that there are no ultimate consequences for their actions?

But according to you since I don’t have freewill then I can’t be responsible for my actions. Therefore the one controlling me is responsible and is ultimately the one that will suffer the consequences. I’m still free and clear.

Ossai

[Aoidoi]

If nothing else, atheism is one of the few ways I constitute a minority. Gives some perspective on things.

It also allows one to consider how society and morality function without postulating divine plans (aka attempting to understand what is specifically stated as impossible to understand)

[Franko]

Quote:

No, just one set of rules for everyone. The theists are the ones mucking them up by postulating the existence of their unnecessary rules.

No you a-Theist have an absurd double standard, and nothing else.

Why is it okay for you to believe in your god "free willy" based on no evidence, but if a Christian believes in their god based on no evidence they're crazy?

Atoms obey TLOP.
You are made of atoms.
YOU OBEY TLOP!

TLOP (God) controls YOU controls CAR

When YOU go for a ride in your CAR, who has more "free will"? YOU, or your CAR? Okay, so what makes you think that you have more "free will" than TLOP (God)?

[Ossai]

Franko

Quote:

When YOU go for a ride in your CAR, who has more "free will"? YOU, or your CAR? Okay, so what makes you think that you have more "free will" than TLOP (God)?

Exactly, as I stated if I have no freewill, as you postulate, then I have no responsibility. Therefore no matter what I or anyone else does, it’s not our fault because we aren’t controlling ourselves. Or to put it another way, all human responsibility is illusionary.

Ossai

Do you people not see this thread being hijacked by Franko? Maybe you knew that when you started.

My benifits of atheism;

I am my own person. In matters of decision I am ultimately in charge of my own fate. If I succeed then I get the credit, if I fail then I get the blame.

I see things clearer without god goggles on. I am able to seek out the truth whatever and where ever it may be with no taboos.

I get immense pleasure from helping others, purely from my own free will, not because I am required by some sky daddy to do it.

I can feel compassion for anyone I choose, without someone else telling me who I can or cannot empathise with.

There is a certain satisfaction in being right. When I hear theists give me their rationalization for this or that, and I am able to correct them from knowledge it is rewarding.

I have the trust of my friends and family because they know my word is my bond. I will not screw them over because a religion allows me to be hypocritical. I value that trust.

I can speak out against injustices freelly no matter where they are from. I can speak out on all religions because I have no affiliation with any.

I cannot imagine being fettered to some religion or sky daddy that demanded to do your thinking for you. I feel a genuine pity for those that are under this kind of thumb, wondering what they would be like if they could shed the thought cuffs that theism puts on them.

[Loki]

jimmygun,

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Do you people not see this thread being hijacked by Franko?

Hijacked? - No, I invited him in!

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Maybe you knew that when you started.

Oh yeah - in fact, the only reason I posted was to bait Franko into the thread (not that he'd need my encouragement, of course!). Hell, if whodini keeps starting such obvious "hit me Franko, hit me" threads then I may be forced to assume collusion between them.

Now, perhaps it's time to reset
BOBS

PS. Good work Franko - a new analogy. Remote Control Cars are an accurate model of reality - who would have thunk it! Does this mean we are entering the Era of Remote Control? You know, after the Era of Individuality, but before the Era of Toasters? Oh, don't bother answering - I bet I know what you'll say anyway! (damn - maybe he's right - this "humans as gravitonic algorithms" stuff really works???)