101 Atheist Quotes

[Dozyproductions]

^^ its like you had a bomb, and then you just dropped it.

[Turf1600]

^^ its like you had a bomb, and then you just dropped it.

I don't think I understand what you mean.

[markseven]

There's a pretty simple reason for this. Generally, people fall into the category a thinker or a feeler (like on the Myers-Briggs personality type indicator). When presented with a situation, feelers have an immediate emotional reaction and then find logic to suit their feelings(I guess I felt that way because...). Thinkers actually logic out the situation, come to a rational conclusion and then decide how to feel about it. Naturally, most atheists are thinkers. It's not very comforting to believe that when your family is gone they are gone. No heaven, no guardian angels or songs from single handed ex-golfers singing "I've only just begun". Nor is it pleasant to think that when it's over your spirit dies and all of your memories go with it. Feelers are attracted to religion for this reason - and are generally so comforted by the promises and the group solidarity that their emotion over rides any rational thought that they may encounter on a bad day. This is why priests often say "everyone has doubts sometimes, faith blah blah blah". They abandon their logical thoughts in favor of what feels good.

Now, I'm an optimist. I'm comforted by atheism and am not afraid to die - but I love life. I treat everyone with respect and hold myself to a pretty rigid moral standard - but others don't always. Some seem to think that since life is "meaningless" suicide is appropriate, immorality and disrespectful behavior is moot and that consequences are irrelevant in the long run. I'm of the opinion that we're all very fortunate to have this life. It's such an exponentially rare phenomenon that it shouldn't be wasted by remorse, regret, wrong doing and the like. I have equal respect for the lives of others and do my best to make their limited time pleasant.

Going back to humility, thinkers don't always do the best job of displaying sincerity or emotion. It's not that it doesn't exist, it's that it's constantly over-ridden with the desire to be efficient, articulate and precise. You'll note that most talented poets or novelists are none of the above. It does not mean that there is no feeling or humanity - just that all of the sentences thinkers write and words they speak are refined, calculated and designed to be easily understood rather than loaded with emotion.

Having taken some time to understand this about myself, I make efforts to modify my behavior so as to appear more approachable - specifically while at work.

Interesting, thank you for taking the time to explain :D

[briansjacobs]

You don't recognize it, but there is humility lacking in the way you and other atheists present your opinions. But then again, if you believe that humans are the most intelligent life form in the known universe... :giggle:

I think there is a lack of humilty and mutual respect on both sides of these debates. I try to treat everyone as well or better than they treat me, every now and again I loose my patience, but I will say it is not isolated to just the atheist.

[Anguz]

tha man

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeSSwKffj9o

[Turf1600]

I think there is a lack of humilty and mutual respect on both sides of these debates. I try to treat everyone as well or better than they treat me, every now and again I loose my patience, but I will say it is not isolated to just the atheist.

It's been my experience that heavy feelers are far more likely to be offensive than thinkers. When you say something that they do not like you are disrupting their ability to be comfortable by making them doubt their own feelings. To the thinker it's of no consequence because everything is objective. I also find that thinkers are generally more open to other opinions - though they may rapidly dismiss them due to inconsistency. This will make them appear to be hard headed and difficult when in fact they are just not being approached properly. This is why it's important to know yourself and also to be able to percieve your audience so that you can adjust accordingly. The same could be said about introversion vs extroversion.

[markseven]

I think there is a lack of humilty and mutual respect on both sides of these debates. I try to treat everyone as well or better than they treat me, every now and again I loose my patience, but I will say it is not isolated to just the atheist.

My bad on the blanket statement.

[z31maniac]

To yourself? None as far as you're concerned. This isn't just about "faith" per se. You've got to understand that while you discount my personal experience and anyone elses, there's a LOT of people out there that wouldn't be what they are without God and have seen him move in the hearts, minds and lives of HUNDREDS of people. All in the same general direction, towards him. Again, you don't and refuse to accept any of these accounts as they are from "superstitious, weak minded, herd mentality" types. Which is fine, but you claim that while science cannot prove something doesn't exist, science discounts any evidence of God because it's all "relative". There's a loop hole of reasoning. Again, I urge you to read Timothy Kellers book, "The Reason for God" as he's very logical and in such thought provoking. I'll gladly read anything from your camp/school of thought in return. Discussion would ensue, it would be epic.

Sorry, I just don't put stock in things that can't be proven empirically.

Like, "We prayed for little Jimmie's cancer to be cured and it was!" Now it could be that little Jimmie's cancer would have been cured without praying, but it most certainly wouldn't have been cured without medical treatment.

So how do you rationalize something like that in your head?

My dad has 5 different surgeries in the last 2-1/2 years, I never prayed once for him, yet he made it through each one spectacularly. So did God heal him without me praying? If so, then why pray if God is going to take care of it anyway? (That's a big of tongue-in-cheek but I hope you see what I'm getting at.)

There's a pretty simple reason for this. Generally, people fall into the category a thinker or a feeler (like on the Myers-Briggs personality type indicator). When presented with a situation, feelers have an immediate emotional reaction and then find logic to suit their feelings(I guess I felt that way because...). Thinkers actually logic out the situation, come to a rational conclusion and then decide how to feel about it. Naturally, most atheists are thinkers. It's not very comforting to believe that when your family is gone they are gone. No heaven, no guardian angels or songs from single handed ex-golfers singing "I've only just begun". Nor is it pleasant to think that when it's over your spirit dies and all of your memories go with it. Feelers are attracted to religion for this reason - and are generally so comforted by the promises and the group solidarity that their emotion over rides any rational thought that they may encounter on a bad day. This is why priests often say "everyone has doubts sometimes, faith blah blah blah". They abandon their logical thoughts in favor of what feels good.

Now, I'm an optimist. I'm comforted by atheism and am not afraid to die - but I love life. I treat everyone with respect and hold myself to a pretty rigid moral standard - but others don't always. Some seem to think that since life is "meaningless" suicide is appropriate, immorality and disrespectful behavior is moot and that consequences are irrelevant in the long run. I'm of the opinion that we're all very fortunate to have this life. It's such an exponentially rare phenomenon that it shouldn't be wasted by remorse, regret, wrong doing and the like. I have equal respect for the lives of others and do my best to make their limited time pleasant.

Going back to humility, thinkers don't always do the best job of displaying sincerity or emotion. It's not that it doesn't exist, it's that it's constantly over-ridden with the desire to be efficient, articulate and precise. You'll note that most talented poets or novelists are none of the above. It does not mean that there is no feeling or humanity - just that all of the sentences thinkers write and words they speak are refined, calculated and designed to be easily understood rather than loaded with emotion.

Having taken some time to understand this about myself, I make efforts to modify my behavior so as to appear more approachable - specifically while at work.

Very well put, I underlined the part I especially agree with. I am always sincere, but sometimes lack couth.

Don't confuse sincere with caring, they are not synonyms.

Sincere merely means to be free of pretense or deceit.

[briansjacobs]

My bad on the blanket statement.

no worries, we tend to notice what offends us personally more so than others

[briansjacobs]

It's been my experience that heavy feelers are far more likely to be offensive than thinkers. When you say something that they do not like you are disrupting their ability to be comfortable by making them doubt their own feelings. To the thinker it's of no consequence because everything is objective. I also find that thinkers are generally more open to other opinions - though they may rapidly dismiss them due to inconsistency. This will make them appear to be hard headed and difficult when in fact they are just not being approached properly. This is why it's important to know yourself and also to be able to percieve your audience so that you can adjust accordingly. The same could be said about introversion vs extroversion.

while you and I agree on most points when it comes to religion, I think you need to think a little more about the way present a statment. When someone says they way you speak is offensive to them it may not help your case to refer to yourself as a "thinker" and them as a "feeler" as it implies they do not think, and that is offensive. Any chance you had of them seing your side of the point is now gone by insulting them, you closed a dorr that you might need to walk through again. If we as Atheist are supposed to be the once of science, let us use a little bit of psychology to help us in our cause. Think about how your words will be beneficial to your argument and if you would be offended by the statement if you were on the other side.

[Turf1600]

while you and I agree on most points when it comes to religion, I think you need to think a little more about the way present a statment. When someone says they way you speak is offensive to them it may not help your case to refer to yourself as a "thinker" and them as a "feeler" as it implies they do not think, and that is offensive. Any chance you had of them seing your side of the point is now gone by insulting them, you closed a dorr that you might need to walk through again. If we as Atheist are supposed to be the once of science, let us use a little bit of psychology to help us in our cause. Think about how your words will be beneficial to your argument and if you would be offended by the statement if you were on the other side.

I'm referencing the myers-briggs type indicator when I use those terms. It's a widely used and heavily studied tool. I'm not passing judgement on anyone, just attempting to identify their preferences.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myers-Briggs_Type_Indicator

For what it's worth, I fall into four categories.

ENTP
ESTP
INTP
ISTP

[RobertK]

^Want to rehash the same old discussions?





So then you are aware that I was baptized and raised in an Episcopal church and participated until Jr. High?

Oh you weren't? Ahhh, so more assumptions on your part.

What does your baptism or church raising have to do with the derogatory comment regarding missionaries in your previous post?

My assumptions are you have never preformed missionary work before and by missionary work I mean the real deal 3rd world country poverty community for months at a time shit. Not the youth group spends a Saturday fixing porches for low income seniors down the street.

Since you didn't mention it here I can only ASSUME my assumption was right and you've yet to perform any such task.

As to the second part, you're being ridiculous and you know it.

By saying that "I believe in me" I'm saying that I believe that I am in control of my destiny and that I am responsible for what becomes of my life.

I don't believe in "There but for the Grace of God go I"

Of course you are in control of your destiny silly.. Remember the whole freedom to choose thing?

The Bible may say that God provides food for the birds in the sky but no where does it say he puts it in their mouth. Everyone is responsible for their actions regardless of religious belief those who choose to blame God's will for their condition are usually just flat out lazy.

[Turf1600]

Of course you are in control of your destiny silly.. Remember the whole freedom to choose thing?

The Bible may say that God provides food for the birds in the sky but no where does it say he puts it in their mouth. Everyone is responsible for their actions regardless of religious belief those who choose to blame God's will for their condition are usually just flat out lazy.

If you don't mind, if you're in contol of your destiny then why pray?

Additionally, I have to disagree. No one is in omplete control of their destiny. You can make decisions that are the least likely to put you at risk - but when it comes down to it all you can control is yourself.

Don't bother with the prayer question - it was rhetorical. It makes perfect sense that people pray. It gives them a reason to summarize their problems, suggest a reasonable solution and better internalize their emotions. Guess what? When you do those things it makes it easier to solve a problem. Go figure.

[markseven]

If you don't mind, if you're in contol of your destiny then why pray?

Additionally, I have to disagree. No one is in omplete control of their destiny. You can make decisions that are the least likely to put you at risk - but when it comes down to it all you can control is yourself.

Don't bother with the prayer question - it was rhetorical. It makes perfect sense that people pray. It gives them a reason to summarize their problems, suggest a reasonable solution and better internalize their emotions. Guess what? When you do those things it makes it easier to solve a problem. Go figure.

Regarding the bolded part of your post, that is seeking the Lord's hand (problem solving and provision).

Some pray in search of the Lord's heart (revelation who He is, and seeking His will and plan for their life).

[RobertK]

If you don't mind, if you're in contol of your destiny then why pray?

Additionally, I have to disagree. No one is in omplete control of their destiny. You can make decisions that are the least likely to put you at risk - but when it comes down to it all you can control is yourself.

Don't bother with the prayer question - it was rhetorical. It makes perfect sense that people pray. It gives them a reason to summarize their problems, suggest a reasonable solution and better internalize their emotions. Guess what? When you do those things it makes it easier to solve a problem. Go figure.

I think people have this misconception that prayer is something they should do when they want something or need something to happen. Like God is some great big Santa Claus who going to change the outcome of your actions and/or situation because you believe in him and pray to him with your requests.

Most people pray mainly for the peace of mind it gives them regardless if their prayers are ever answered. I've found some people pray because they like to use their God as a scapegoat for not applying themselves (ie. "If God wanted me to be rich then he would GIVE me the money.")

The thing is with the freedom God gives you is also the consequences of your actions. When I say a prayer I thank God for the good and the opportunity to learn from the bad because I learn to grow from either experience and if I ask for anything its for the strength and wisdom to preserve through lifes challenges. How I choose to apply that is up to me and the consequences will apply accordingly.

I think overall, if you view God more as a personal father then you begin to realize he's not there to coddle you and blanket you with gifts. Just like a real father he wants to see you grow into a well rounded responsible caring adult but once you hit that age of enlightment its like turning 18, he's not going to stick around just to bail you out of bad situations because you believe in him. Usually I find that God tends to bless productive individuals that are responsible for their actions and with the resources provided to them but also give back to society in some form or fashion.

Of course, I'm by no means a traditional Christian and I still hold many reservations about organized religion, church doctrine, and even the Bible just because they've alll been tainted by man. But no matter what form of God or religion you choose to believe if you just apply a little common sense, do the best you can following though with what you fell is right in your heart, and take note when you screw up then you can learn to find contentment in your life no matter what your situation is.