Question for Athiests

[KennyD]

Is being athiest a way of not being responsible for your actions? I mean being a christian myself, what we belive in basically boils down to if you live a responsible, honest life, you will be rewarded with Heaven the place of eternal bliss, if not then you are punished in Hell, the eternal place of agony. However being athiest, there is no consequences for your actions on earth. No matter how good or bad you are, once you die, thats it.
I'm not trying to start a christian vs. athiest hate-fest, I'm just wanting to know if this is in fact, one of the reasons for being an athiest?

[reviewer-general]

You're suggesting that people might be atheists because they don't want to be punished for being bad?

How cute.

;

[ImaSmartass2]

I am currently Athiest because I don't believe in god. I don't think Athiests are athiest because we are irresponsible, if we wanted that, we would simply be Christian and repent. This is destined for a flame war btw.

[Fbj676]

So you live your life by a book and teachings written in a different time with a differnt way of life and expect that by being as good as someone else tells you you will get a reward at the end, if there even is an end after this life..................

[samwazhere]

I suppose that could be a reason if you hadn't put much thought into your faith. One of the main reasons people choose Athiesim is because they don't see enough evidence in what others are telling them.
E.g Christians base their beleifs off the bible yet the bible was written hundreds of years ago by people who had ideas and beleifs that can't be verified.

Until an Atheist sees irrefutable proof of divine work they have no reason to beleive.

[Boltrig]

At 3/7/08 09:34 PM, KennyD wrote: Is being athiest a way of not being responsible for your actions? I mean being a christian myself, what we belive in basically boils down to if you live a responsible, honest life, you will be rewarded with Heaven the place of eternal bliss, if not then you are punished in Hell, the eternal place of agony. However being athiest, there is no consequences for your actions on earth. No matter how good or bad you are, once you die, thats it.
I'm not trying to start a christian vs. athiest hate-fest, I'm just wanting to know if this is in fact, one of the reasons for being an athiest?

So you live your life by the theological Carrot and Stick? How can you have free will when youve already decided that if you go slightly wrong youre going to burn for all eternity. I really want to see an acceptance of the satnce that Morality =/= Religion.

im an agnostic. Ill concede that this is all a pretty big coincidence, but so far thats all it is to me. Prove / convince me otherwose and ill gladly become reigious, but dont label me as a thief / adulterer / murderer just because i dont believe in a non specific god deity.

Atheists and agnostics are plenty moral due to an inbuilt sense of whats right and wrong. We dont all need the threat of hell to keep us on the straight and narrow.

[KennyD]

At 3/7/08 09:39 PM, reviewer-general wrote: You're suggesting that people might be atheists because they don't want to be punished for being bad?

How cute.

;

Basically, if there is no afterlife, then go commit every "dirty" thought you've ever had. If theres no consequences for your actions here on earth and after you die that it, why hold yourself back?

[johnfn]

Christians live in a state of "Well, if I don't do everything I want to in life, there's always heaven". Not only is this self delusional, it's actually detrimental. At the end of their life, they will have put off and missed out on things that might have been important or just interesting to see. Atheists view every day as their last, as they understand that they only have one life and better freaking well make the best of it.

Atheists aren't atheistic because they think there will "be no punishment". First of all, they know they will have no repercussions for their actions, but that doesn't mean they go around and rape people. Atheists are atheists because they have understood that there is no God up there dictating the world, creating the rich and poor, creating cancer, causing wars... it just doesn't make any sense. If people didn't want repercussions for their actions, they would have chosen ignorance.

[Elfer]

At 3/7/08 09:34 PM, KennyD wrote: Is being athiest a way of not being responsible for your actions?

No, it's a way of holding yourself accountable for your actions.

Atheists refrain from immoral behaviour because we know it's wrong, not because we fear punishment.

[KennyD]

At 3/7/08 09:59 PM, Elfer wrote:

At 3/7/08 09:34 PM, KennyD wrote: Is being athiest a way of not being responsible for your actions?

No, it's a way of holding yourself accountable for your actions.

Atheists refrain from immoral behaviour because we know it's wrong, not because we fear punishment.

But the basic "laws" (I.E. 10 commandments) of Christianity ouline what is wrong and right. If you don't believe in God, then these laws should be moot and irrelvant.

[reviewer-general]

At 3/7/08 10:07 PM, KennyD wrote: But the basic "laws" (I.E. 10 commandments) of Christianity ouline what is wrong and right. If you don't believe in God, then these laws should be moot and irrelvant.

Why?

They make good COMMON SENSE, whether or not they come from The Holy Word of God Our Heavenly and Infallible Father.

;

[ImaSmartass2]

At 3/7/08 10:07 PM, KennyD wrote:

At 3/7/08 09:59 PM, Elfer wrote:

At 3/7/08 09:34 PM, KennyD wrote: Is being athiest a way of not being responsible for your actions?

No, it's a way of holding yourself accountable for your actions.

Atheists refrain from immoral behaviour because we know it's wrong, not because we fear punishment.

But the basic "laws" (I.E. 10 commandments) of Christianity ouline what is wrong and right. If you don't believe in God, then these laws should be moot and irrelvant.

Civilizationdoesn't need laws from a higher being. Athiests believe in doing good deeds just to be nice, not to win the favor of an ever-loving god. We know the difference between right and wrong okay?

[KennyD]

At 3/7/08 09:58 PM, johnfn wrote: Christians live in a state of "Well, if I don't do everything I want to in life, there's always heaven". Not only is this self delusional, it's actually detrimental. At the end of their life, they will have put off and missed out on things that might have been important or just interesting to see. Atheists view every day as their last, as they understand that they only have one life and better freaking well make the best of it.

Atheists aren't atheistic because they think there will "be no punishment". First of all, they know they will have no repercussions for their actions, but that doesn't mean they go around and rape people. Atheists are atheists because they have understood that there is no God up there dictating the world, creating the rich and poor, creating cancer, causing wars... it just doesn't make any sense. If people didn't want repercussions for their actions, they would have chosen ignorance.

Why is Grand Theft Auto so popular? Because its as close as we come to living out some of our sickest fantasies. If you "know" there will be no repercussions for your actions, then why don't you? Because theres something inside you that tells you its wrong. You may call it morals, but isn't that based off your beliefs? If you don't belive in anything, then why hold back? I like to think that their is a higher power at work telling me what is right and wrong, and I live my life to the fullest within those morals. I have never held back on something I wanted to do in life becuase all the things I've done, or plan to do fall within my morals.

[reviewer-general]

At 3/7/08 10:19 PM, KennyD wrote: If you don't belive in anything, then why hold back?

Because we have to answer to OURSELVES.

;

[KennyD]

At 3/7/08 10:09 PM, reviewer-general wrote:

At 3/7/08 10:07 PM, KennyD wrote: But the basic "laws" (I.E. 10 commandments) of Christianity ouline what is wrong and right. If you don't believe in God, then these laws should be moot and irrelvant.

Why?

They make good COMMON SENSE, whether or not they come from The Holy Word of God Our Heavenly and Infallible Father.

;

If you don't believe in God, then these laws should be moot and irrelevant.

[reviewer-general]

At 3/7/08 10:23 PM, KennyD wrote: If you don't believe in God, then these laws should be moot and irrelevant.

So, God is the only one who can tell us / make us be good people?

Why am I somehow incapable of developing my own morals and being a good person?

;

[KennyD]

At 3/7/08 10:20 PM, reviewer-general wrote:

At 3/7/08 10:19 PM, KennyD wrote: If you don't belive in anything, then why hold back?

Because we have to answer to OURSELVES.

;

Then your only as moral as you allow yourself to be. So why again, do you hold back on all the things you want to do, no matter how morally deprived or socially unacceptable they may be? If you want to do those things, and you only answser to yourself, then why the hell not?

[reviewer-general]

At 3/7/08 10:30 PM, KennyD wrote: Then your only as moral as you allow yourself to be. So why again, do you hold back on all the things you want to do, no matter how morally deprived or socially unacceptable they may be? If you want to do those things, and you only answser to yourself, then why the hell not?

I suppose I can't give you a real reason, other than that I AM a moral person. It's a lame argument, but it's the only real way to explain it. Why does anyone do anything?

Here's another thing to ponder: if God gives YOU the free will to do whatever you want, why do YOU hold yourself back? Punishment in Hell? Well, an atheist would still answer to society and the penal system, yes?

;

[gufu]

Humanity always had moral - before the bible and after it. With the help of bible and completely without. Murder, rape, and thief are the basics which didn't flood the human settlements. Humanity did not commit to those - not because they believed in god (and even if some did, quiet a few, didn't) - but because morals of a human mind. Creatonism is a very bothersome theory and basicly says what go... er, where am I going? Different topic, sorry about that. When I was born, I knew I shouldn't kill, steal, or rape. It's common sense. Ignorance is te only thing which denies it. Thats why religion is used by ignorant people - it's a substitute for common sense.

[KennyD]

At 3/7/08 10:25 PM, reviewer-general wrote:

At 3/7/08 10:23 PM, KennyD wrote: If you don't believe in God, then these laws should be moot and irrelevant.

I'll go religious on you for this one.
So, God is the only one who can tell us / make us be good people?

Thats the general consensus (1.9 billion christians worldwide 2nd is Islam with 1.1 billion)

Why am I somehow incapable of developing my own morals and being a good person?

We as humans are falliable, therefore we have a higher being to guide us down the right path of life.

;

[StealthJew]

At 3/7/08 10:37 PM, KennyD wrote:

At 3/7/08 10:25 PM, reviewer-general wrote: Why am I somehow incapable of developing my own morals and being a good person?

We as humans are falliable, therefore we have a higher being to guide us down the right path of life.

So, human behavior outside of God's "guiding light" is inherently flawed?

Sorry, max number of replies reached.

;

[K-RadPie]

What do you mean no consequences for our actions? Atheists can still go to prison.

[gufu]

At 3/7/08 10:37 PM, KennyD wrote: We as humans are falliable, therefore we have a higher being to guide us down the right path of life.

;

Oh, but if you remember the bible, it is said what human was made to some extent, alike god. Not with the superior skills of making stuff by snaping his fingers, but by intellegence and abilities. Therfore humanity can logicaly reason, as it while not a god - also has intellegence.

[Elfer]

At 3/7/08 10:07 PM, KennyD wrote:

At 3/7/08 09:59 PM, Elfer wrote: Atheists refrain from immoral behaviour because we know it's wrong, not because we fear punishment.

But the basic "laws" (I.E. 10 commandments) of Christianity ouline what is wrong and right. If you don't believe in God, then these laws should be moot and irrelvant.

No, there are logical secular reasons for following such laws, regardless of the existence of a God or Gods to enforce them.

"Don't kill people" wasn't invented by the Abrahamic religions.

[SadisticMonkey]

At 3/7/08 10:37 PM, KennyD wrote:

At 3/7/08 10:25 PM, reviewer-general wrote: So, God is the only one who can tell us / make us be good people?

Thats the general consensus (1.9 billion christians worldwide 2nd is Islam with 1.1 billion)

Funny how 95% of American prisoners are Christians : /

We as humans are falliable, therefore we have a higher being to guide us down the right path of life.

Yes. We need god's timeless wisdom to lead a moral life.

For example: Deuteronomy 13:6, 8-5
-Kill anyone who attempts to persuade you to worship other gods.

Leviticus (all)
-Stone to death people who: commit heresy, homosexuality, idol worship, practice of sorcery; grow multiple crops in the same field, wear attire comprised of two fabrics, and a wide variety of other imaginary sins.

And yes, I can hear you now, angrily replying that Christians aren't supposed to follow these laws any more. But if these laws are no longer followed, doesn't that make god fallible?

thanks for playing though

[SadisticMonkey]

As for the ten commandments, the first four have NOTHING TO DO WITH BEING MORAL.

[SEXY-FETUS]

Well I'm glad to know the only punishment for doing bad things is hell. I'm off to rob a bank. I can't wait to see the looks on their faces when I tell them "HAHA. I'm an athiest!" They'll be helpless.

[stafffighter]

We have an official topic for this particular pissing contest.

[a2toedmonkey]

At 3/7/08 09:54 PM, KennyD wrote:

At 3/7/08 09:39 PM, reviewer-general wrote: You're suggesting that people might be atheists because they don't want to be punished for being bad?

How cute.

;

Basically, if there is no afterlife, then go commit every "dirty" thought you've ever had. If theres no consequences for your actions here on earth and after you die that it, why hold yourself back?

/sigh- kenny i suggest you don't post on this again but if you must know- what stops atheists is what stops most rational human beings who don't put to much thought into religion- our conscience. honestly if you need punishment and reward to be there to do the right thing- is that a good thing?

[Trampalite]

It's very scary that the only reason you aren't murdering and raping everyone who lives in your trailer park is because you are scared of magic demons that will torture you forever if you do not please him. See unlike you atheists are moral on their own good will, and there for often are more moral then a Christian who feels it's morally correct to enslave a people or blow up a hospital. You see Christian morality is a farce, put up to hide the fact that most Christians are heartless monsters who feign pity around Christmas and repent on their death beds. There are 3 million people incarcerated in the United States, .2% of them are atheists 75% are Christian.