tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095807065479059898.post7777370878711310019..comments2023-06-21T00:36:40.840-07:00Comments on Plead Ignorance: Atheism Is WorkRobert the Skeptichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10863488312604865183noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095807065479059898.post-1856694867729230852011-12-09T11:32:36.665-08:002011-12-09T11:32:36.665-08:00Dr.Mom Heyyy, welcome back. I've missed you! ...<b>Dr.Mom</b> Heyyy, welcome back. I've missed you! Yes, belief among the younger people in general is rapidly fading. One of the things driving them away that they are more sensitive to, and accepting of, gender preference issues, pro-choice and other stances of organized religion which contradict their values.Robert the Skeptichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10863488312604865183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095807065479059898.post-28556142541194165082011-12-09T11:25:54.460-08:002011-12-09T11:25:54.460-08:00(formerly "the Mother")
I wouldn't...(formerly "the Mother") <br /><br />I wouldn't call your "ask an atheist" meetings a bust if you found new non-believers and told them they weren't alone.<br /><br />My teenagers assure me that, among their friends raised in religious households, religion is a lost cause. <br /><br />I have to believe that. On faith. Probably the only thing I force myself to believe without proof.History Dochttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17359304564761950649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095807065479059898.post-84385018195660188962011-10-30T05:23:41.834-07:002011-10-30T05:23:41.834-07:00Been away and catching up. Almost missed this and ...Been away and catching up. Almost missed this and that would have been a pity.<br /><br />"...only once a month does our local secular society attract a dozen or so non-believers." I'm green with envy! in SC, if a few of us dared to gather in one room, somebody would torch it.<br /><br />I would add that atheism spurs one to social activism. When we can no longer shrug and "give it up to God," we realize we need to get very busy ourselves. There's a work ethic for you!Nancehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15166865250789996825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095807065479059898.post-87557105772669103242011-10-26T15:47:09.088-07:002011-10-26T15:47:09.088-07:00Jayne I guess there is ultimately only one way to ...<b>Jayne</b> I guess there is ultimately only one way to find out.Robert the Skeptichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10863488312604865183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095807065479059898.post-28605027771628010242011-10-26T15:21:00.046-07:002011-10-26T15:21:00.046-07:00You know, no matter what you believe or non-believ...You know, no matter what you believe or non-believe, truth is elusive, as is what happens beyond life here on earth, if anything at all...Jaynehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06694559900539722616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095807065479059898.post-1715108622894803992011-10-21T12:44:53.677-07:002011-10-21T12:44:53.677-07:00Tommykey I'm going to grant you the point; tho...<b>Tommykey</b> I'm going to grant you the point; though people may indeed schedule a lot of their personal time around their religious life, I should have been more clear about my questioning of how much time/effort they put into "questioning", vetting or otherwise critically fact-checking their beliefs. You are right, many believers spend more time than just Sunday at their houses of worship. But my point is; how many stop and ask why they are doing this and/or is it worth it? I don't believe the majority of them do.Robert the Skeptichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10863488312604865183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095807065479059898.post-89194915751521376882011-10-21T09:56:53.425-07:002011-10-21T09:56:53.425-07:00It is believing that easy – it requires no thought...<em>It is believing that easy – it requires no thought, preparation or investment of time or energy.</em><br /><br />Though I'm an atheist, I would have to disagree with this part.<br /><br />Going to church on Sundays, especially if one has children, does require preparation and investment of time and energy.<br /><br />As a parent of two children, I have overheard a number of conversations by theist parents lamenting how hard it is to squeeze church, religious classes, communion parties etc. into their schedules.<br /><br />Just the daily routine of orthodox Jews is an investment in time, energy and thought. They even have to say a prayer after taking a dump to thank god for giving them an ass.Tommykeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14751182125861177379noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095807065479059898.post-90899705254466498322011-10-20T09:49:52.927-07:002011-10-20T09:49:52.927-07:00Murr Paula nailed it.
Anonymous You appear to ha...<b>Murr</b> Paula nailed it. <br /><br /><b>Anonymous</b> You appear to have a bit of a problem with reading comprehension, I'll state for the SECOND time; I never claimed Athiests have a 'monopoly' nor any similar contention, regarding the truth. Those are YOUR words. <br /><br />I am sure you do know people who put effort into studying their belief, I do as well. But I contend they are the exception, not the rule and the Pew Center survey essentially confirms that assertion. There is an inherent danger for believers who study their religion too deeply; like scholar Bart Erhman, they can end up losing their belief. Questioning is risky business.<br /><br />Like Murr points out, Atheists don't go to people's door and try to convert them. When the missionaries come to my home and hand me a pamphlet someone else has prepared for them, I hand them <a href="http://www.skepticalmedia.com/docs/door-to-door%20missionaries%20pamphlet.pdf" rel="nofollow">MY pamphlet</a> asking them to read it and come back and talk with me. Not one ever has! What are they afraid of? What would be the risk if you applied reason to your beliefs?<br /><br />Athiests never claim they know the truth, but they do seek it through reason. Our minds are open if you or anyone has any new information. As far as we can tell, ya got nothin'.<br /><br />As the wife of a Christian friend told me once: <i>"The more you think about it, the harder it is to believe."</i> It is my opinion that my friend's wife represents the majority position, believers don't want to risk thinking about it least they fear losing their belief.Robert the Skeptichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10863488312604865183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095807065479059898.post-40413494852370584782011-10-20T07:38:01.576-07:002011-10-20T07:38:01.576-07:00Hogwash...I know many believers of various religio...Hogwash...I know many believers of various religions who did not blindly accept what they believe in. Atheists do not have a monopoly on truth or wisdom or reason for that matter and your denigrating statements only serve to prove the point...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095807065479059898.post-92203611590141642062011-10-19T23:57:30.209-07:002011-10-19T23:57:30.209-07:00I love what Paula Poundstone said. That atheists c...I love what Paula Poundstone said. That atheists can't exactly knock on people's doors like the Witlesses. Someone would answer, and they'd have to shrug and say "I got nuthin'."Murr Brewsterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03422638986410813520noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095807065479059898.post-87690723986862949262011-10-19T20:17:58.888-07:002011-10-19T20:17:58.888-07:00BackRow Well why should they? They have all the an...<b>BackRow</b> Well why should they? They have all the answers anyway. Pray for the Market. [sighs]Robert the Skeptichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10863488312604865183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095807065479059898.post-85917149991900759972011-10-19T17:33:21.891-07:002011-10-19T17:33:21.891-07:00Ah, and thus the outright disdain and undermining ...Ah, and thus the outright disdain and undermining of science we see by the ultra-conservative, evangelicals.<br />Not only do they not "want to know", they don't want anyone else to know, either.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095807065479059898.post-15894208449758269612011-10-19T09:59:51.503-07:002011-10-19T09:59:51.503-07:00Anonymous ... where did I make such a claim? Athei...<b>Anonymous</b> ... where did I make such a claim? Atheists 'seek' the truth rather than blindly accept that which is fed to them. Big difference!Robert the Skeptichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10863488312604865183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095807065479059898.post-24589557365045045752011-10-19T06:37:30.185-07:002011-10-19T06:37:30.185-07:00Atheists have no monopoly on the truth...Atheists have no monopoly on the truth...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095807065479059898.post-65692265945106395192011-10-18T22:30:11.557-07:002011-10-18T22:30:11.557-07:00Cryptos Well for one group, death is the end, but ...<b>Cryptos</b> Well for one group, death is the end, but for another it is the beginning. For me I have a hard time accepting that my consciousness, what makes me ME, would enjoy everlasting existence. I think not.Robert the Skeptichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10863488312604865183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095807065479059898.post-7238562352208965842011-10-18T13:55:31.878-07:002011-10-18T13:55:31.878-07:00I was going to post John's anecdote, instead:
...I was going to post John's anecdote, instead:<br /><br />Believers or not, death awaits us all.Antares Cryptoshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12197876328401157462noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095807065479059898.post-59576466596492912722011-10-17T22:49:50.096-07:002011-10-17T22:49:50.096-07:00John Indeed believers will swear that prayer works...<b>John</b> Indeed believers will swear that prayer works! They just rationalize that sometimes the answer to their prayers is "no"... which, to my thinking, is pretty much the way one could expect things would turn out were there no god.Robert the Skeptichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10863488312604865183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095807065479059898.post-45374362144250394862011-10-17T20:49:15.001-07:002011-10-17T20:49:15.001-07:00A blogger recently quoted this:
Danish physicist ...A blogger recently quoted this:<br /><br /><i>Danish physicist Neils Bohr, a founder of much of our understanding of atomic science, was once chided by a visitor to his island home who spotted a horseshoe above a door. Did he really believe a horseshoe would bring him luck? "Of course not," he answered. "But I am told it works even if you don't believe in it."</i><br /><br />Pray for me Paul. I would like some dry-roasted cashews while you have His ear.John Mystehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16263634313238599515noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095807065479059898.post-36249086996709427882011-10-17T08:36:03.308-07:002011-10-17T08:36:03.308-07:00Stinkypaw This is true. My sister once expressed t...<b>Stinkypaw</b> This is true. My sister once expressed to me fear that her cat might have Feline Leukemia. When I asked her why she didn't take her cat to the vet, she revealed her fear that she "didn't want to know". Fear of the "real" truth is a big motivator in religion.<br /><br /><b>Paul</b> Thanks but there's no need to pray for us, the Mormons are baptizing us without our permission, so apparently, our bases are covered.Robert the Skeptichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10863488312604865183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095807065479059898.post-85223331997147118122011-10-17T06:35:35.819-07:002011-10-17T06:35:35.819-07:00I love atheists and pray for them everyday...:-)I love atheists and pray for them everyday...:-)Paulhttp://shadowofdiogenes.blogs.com/shadow/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095807065479059898.post-44410508015044084532011-10-16T22:12:35.018-07:002011-10-16T22:12:35.018-07:00Good post. True how most with a beelief (no matte...Good post. True how most with a beelief (no matter what it is) will try to get others to change their minds and how science is changing lots of things... Knowledge and comfort are just not for everyone... ;-)stinkypawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04418558395508830375noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095807065479059898.post-30312227906127005132011-10-16T21:59:58.048-07:002011-10-16T21:59:58.048-07:00SecretAgent This can be very true. A buddy of mine...<b>SecretAgent</b> This can be very true. A buddy of mine gave up volunteering with with the local Democratic Party leadership because he was unable to instill moderation into a group with too extreme Liberal viewpoints.<br /><br />The Atheist group in the city south of us has disbanded twice. Although a group may share the kernel of agreement, scope, methodology or other factors can create discord.<br /><br />Then again look at the extremely broad range just of Christian beliefs. This extremely divergent sets of beliefs is probably our best insurance against a Theocracy ever being established in this country.Robert the Skeptichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10863488312604865183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095807065479059898.post-30515027847622041262011-10-16T17:42:21.905-07:002011-10-16T17:42:21.905-07:00The atheist/skeptics group here was pretty lacklus...The atheist/skeptics group here was pretty lackluster. I found that I didn't align with most of the folks in this particular one politically, and lost interest. Turns out a lack of belief isn't enough in common to want to spend time with a group.<br /><br />You might enjoy the Friendly Atheist blog if you don't know it:<br />http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/secret agent womanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03763879283931347382noreply@blogger.com