[lyner]

Why do so many Atheists make a religion out of their Atheism?
What makes them so twitchy about a God?
I think it's because of what has been called the 'God Gene'. Whether rational or irrational, we have all evolved with a need for a Jimminy Cricket to regulate our behaviour. Atheists also have a Jimminy Cricket but it gives us an internal conflict; you have to acknowledge the need to 'be good' but can't allow yourself to be told, on religious grounds, how to behave. It needs a lot of intellectual effort to be a true non-religious atheist.
So no atheist should be surprised that there a people who believe in a God; it's by far the easiest way to be.

[Vern]

I don't know why some folks do that; I don't do that. When I am in church, I try my best to look just like all the other happy true believers. I don't advocate either way.

About the only time I will be there is at funerals and weddings []

[_Stefan_]

Why do so many Atheists make a religion out of their Atheism?
What makes them so twitchy about a God?
I think it's because of what has been called the 'God Gene'. Whether rational or irrational, we have all evolved with a need for a Jimminy Cricket to regulate our behaviour. Atheists also have a Jimminy Cricket but it gives us an internal conflict; you have to acknowledge the need to 'be good' but can't allow yourself to be told, on religious grounds, how to behave. It needs a lot of intellectual effort to be a true non-religious atheist.
So no atheist should be surprised that there a people who believe in a God; it's by far the easiest way to be.

I'm not sure what you mean by that post.
Are you suggesting that people need religion to be good? That is certainly untrue.

If you are also asking why atheists becme irritated by religious nonsense, I can tell you that in my case it's because it's nonsense, which has the potential to corrupt minds, by blinding them to reason, enforcing ignorance, and in the worst cases, promoting evil deeds in the guise of god's will. 

[justaskin]

So three pages on.What was that mathematical proof again.I don't think it was actually stated was it.
Maybe X+Y=GOD

Cheers
justaskin

[lyner]

Stephan
I am saying that we all have strong, built-in, mechanisms which regulate behaviour. How do people explain / rationalize the results of it? They attribute it to an outside agency: God.
It seems to me to be a fair enough interpretation if they don't / can't think it through.
Why get so hot under the collar about it?
I can't be too surprised that they hang on to it like a drowning man.

[_Stefan_]

Stephan
I am saying that we all have strong, built-in, mechanisms which regulate behaviour. How do people explain / rationalize the results of it? They attribute it to an outside agency: God.
It seems to me to be a fair enough interpretation if they don't / can't think it through.

That I can agree with. It would be nice if they did think it through though.

[Don_1]

As an athiest, I have no objection to those who wish to believe in any God. We are all entitled to our own opinions and beliefs.

But I object to those who claim there is a mathematical or scientific proof of the existance of a God. There CANNOT be any such proof and the concept is beyond belief.

2 + 2 = God???
2 atoms H + 1 atom O = God???
E = God???

You might just as well say this:

10gms self raising flour + 10gms castor sugar + 10gms butter + 2 eggs, bake in oven at 180^oC for 25 mins = God. IT DOES NOT, it = Victoria Sponge.
2 + 2 = 4
2 atoms H + 1 atom O = Water
E = MC²

[demadone]

What makes them so twitchy about a God?

They are religious too. Just that they don't realize that believing that God exists not is also believing. They laugh at the word 'believe' and end up doing the same thing and fight tooth and nail to defend that belief.

If you are also asking why atheists becme irritated by religious nonsense, I can tell you that in my case it's because it's nonsense, which has the potential to corrupt minds, by blinding them to reason, enforcing ignorance, and in the worst cases, promoting evil deeds in the guise of god's will.

A generalization. Not religion teaches nonsense. If only you knew. Sometimes it is the assumption that the only guys who are religious are the ignorant and low level thinkers.

What do you mean by "set"? Just because things behave consistently doesn't have to imply that 'someone' designed it that way.

Rules are always set. Give an example of organization that results from Chaos. Developed nations are only such because of being organized. If rules are not set or followed nothing works well. An example is the global financial crisis.

[lyner]

Stephan
I am saying that we all have strong, built-in, mechanisms which regulate behaviour. How do people explain / rationalize the results of it? They attribute it to an outside agency: God.
It seems to me to be a fair enough interpretation if they don't / can't think it through.

That I can agree with. It would be nice if they did think it through though.

That would involve what is referred to as 'formal thought'. Very few humans actually engage in formal thought. Why do you think Football is the main topic of conversation in most groups of humans? Yawn.

Demadone
Yet more circular arguments from you, I'm afraid.

Saying that we 'believe' just because we are thinking about it is totally begging the question. Your model is not the only one which can apply.
Why are rules 'set'?
I have already dealt with the difference between Scientific 'Laws' and the laws which the Church used to say that God imposes.

[demadone]

But I object to those who claim there is a mathematical or scientific proof of the existence of a God.

Not to sure what that can mean. I don't think there is any scientific or mathematical proof of anyone's existence. You either know or you don't know. Believe that Hitler existed or don't believe. That Christ existed or didn't. Maths and science are not for proving individuals.

[demadone]

Saying that we 'believe' just because we are thinking about it is totally begging the question. Your model is not the only one which can apply.

I find it hard to accept that most of you are 'thinking' about it. To me it's more like you have reached the conclusion. I call it worship because you refuse to think outside the box of what you believe. God is rather obvious when you do. Also I'm not saying worship is sticking to a conclusion because that's the dangerous kind of worship. Sometimes we need to adjust. We adjust if all the dots connect and if there are fewer questions left to be answered.

The foresight exhibited in nature and it's beginning tell of a very intelligent being, which chaos does not.

[Don_1]

I think someone should initiate a forum dedicated to the argument between religion Vs atheism and creation Vs evolution, where all those who want to try to convert each other can do so, rather than putting up a barrage of such topics on TNS. Do religious forums have a constant barrage from evolutionists and atheists trying to convert them?

[dentstudent]

I think someone should initiate a forum dedicated to the argument between religion Vs atheism and creation Vs evolution, where all those who want to try to convert each other can do so, rather than putting up a barrage of such topics on TNS. Do religious forums have a constant barrage from evolutionists and atheists trying to convert them?

I AGREE! I've already had a comment about this....Don - I guess that you should make a comment in the feedback section....

[demadone]

We're trying to answer a beginning. What was there before the singularity. Who made the rules of the universe we live in. The very one's this forum is all about.

[justaskin]

 

  Why do you think Football is the main topic of conversation in most groups of humans?

Now SC you can slag off those other religions as much as you like but when it comes to slagging off football well thats heresy. []

Cheers
justaskin

[justaskin]

We're trying to answer a beginning.

No I think we were supposed to be proving the existence of god using mathematics'

What was there before the singularity.

God knows.

Who made the rules of the universe we live in.

God knows

The very one's this forum is all about.

No this forum is about science.Which seems to have been left behind a long time ago in this thread.

Cheers
justaskin

[lyner]

  Why do you think Football is the main topic of conversation in most groups of humans?

Now SC you can slag off those other religions as much as you like but when it comes to slagging off football well thats heresy. []

Cheers
justaskin

Yes yes - I know it's more serious than life and death!!
I thought it would bring some such reply.

[demadone]

Talking football. Everything that starts with 'Ar' is good for Arsenal. Welcome my boy Arshavin.

[demadone]

I wish someone could answer my other threads. []

[lyner]

I read that as "threats".
Am I paranoid?