Posted by solomonskink on March 11, 1999 at 16:52:30:
In Reply to: Not true. You must accept the following if you are an athiest: posted by blue on March 02, 1999 at 23:58:35:
:
: To be an athiest, you must 'uncritically accept'
: the following:
I see...
I can only say that my trip into atheism was not
a result of "uncritical acceptance" of anything,
but instead the opposite.
: Matter exists without cause.
Unlike some people, I don't pretend to KNOW what
the "cause" of matter is. Religion has consistantly
failed to show any real ability to describe the
natural world (or much else for that matter), so
as a result I look to the scientific method as a
means of discerning truth.
Now, I can stay abreast of current research and
thinking, and do some toiletbowl philosophising on
"cause" - and I doubt I'll ever KNOW - but this will
lead me to a more accurate picture of the universe
than waving a Bible and asserting, "God did it."
: Matter forms itself into living creatures.
: Matter creates intelligence by assembling itself into living forms.
Again, I can't pretend to have answers to these,
but I find the religious explainations for them
lacking. (And even if the above statements are NOT
true, a lifetime of prayer has not gotten this
intelligent "first cause" to tell me that it needs
/wants/cares about my devotion/politics/sex life.)
It's amusing when rabid theists accuse scientists
of being "reductionist" for trying to understand
a whole system by discovering its constituent
parts. (The Hare Krishnas here in Utah County are
notorious for this...) It seems they want us to
draw a line and say, "God starts here, don't
blaspheme by saying he doesn't." If we won't do
this it doesn't mean we uncritically accept your
above statements.
: Human life has no purpose.
I think this is where religion really goes flat when
it has a chance to shine. "Serve God" is the chosen
purpose I hear the most. That doesn't reflect well
on God, creator of heaven and earth, the most
intelligent, kind and just being in the universe.
: Denial of any of the above is evidence that your faith in your atheist religion is suspect. If your belief in statements like the above is strong, you would be a good priest in the atheist assembly.
Whatever. You insist on making it into a religion
so knock yourself out. No point in getting ruffled
at your attempt to marginalize what you don't
appear to understand.
In MY denomination of atheism the only commandments
are: read, talk, ride your bike, eat root-beer floats,
have sex and watch movies. Salvation comes to
those who do it all twice in one day. ;)
Hallelujah!!! Can I get an AMEN!?
-Alex