Rant about religion and army.

[Dowding]

Smugness? I'd say that making the assertion that people abandon perhaps life-long held principles on their death bed, simply to assuage your own personal belief superiority complex is the embodiment of smugness. It's practically ghoulish and a very old cliche.

I'd like the idea of some meta-physical wager, if the concept wasn't firmly based on complete and utter bollocks. The 'bet' was a figure of speech.

The need to believe in a greater being is a symptom of the human mind's incomprehension of the size of the universe and its timescale. Keep to your beliefs and I'll keep to mine.

[AKIron]

Tell ya what Dowding, I'll bet ya $10 just before you die (and if you have time) you're more than willing to forsake your devout Atheism in fervent hope there is a God and an afterlife. Whadda ya say?

[Yeager]

dowding your just plain wierd, are you wearing a kilt?

Im just expressing my own observations and talks with others.  When I find a common theme between my own experiences and those of others on such matters I tend to get contemplative and expressive, communicative, reflective......

I support your right, and the right of anyone to deny God, or any higher value for that matter.

[Dowding]

You're serious? Or just makin a point? If it's the former, I'd better watch my step when the flights from Texas come in - sounds like you want your $10 right now. If it's the latter then I understood your point when Yeager made it.

I'm very stubborn. Even if I wasn't really an atheist, I'd win the bet out of spite.

Your attitude is not a big surprise and you're not alone in sharing it. I've come across it before. Some people like the idea someone is guiding their lives with some greater purpose. They don't understand how to others that makes no sense. Fair enough.

Each to their own.

Oh, and if someone makes the point that atheists are self-centric without a god, they are missing the whole foundation of atheism. I believe we are all so insignificant and short-lived within the universe, that to claim we are in anyway special is the most self-centric argument you could make.

[ravells]

Happy New Year, everybody.

The way I see it, you've got to play the odds on this religion thing. The only way to win is to become a believer on your deathbed. That way you can have a life free of religious restrictions, and then (if there is a god), you get rewarded in the afterlife.

Of course exactly which religion you plumb for when on your deathbed is a totally different question, so I guess you've got to take a random shot at that one and hope you've picked the right one.

Ravs

[Dowding]

dowding your just plain wierd, are you wearing a kilt? [/b]

lol You don't really want to start talking about clothing? Eat my shorts, dude!

[AKIron]

Originally posted by ravells
Happy New Year, everybody.

The way I see it, you've got to play the odds on this religion thing. The only way to win is to become a believer on your deathbed. That way you can have a life free of religious restrictions, and then (if there is a god), you get rewarded in the afterlife.

Of course exactly which religion you plumb for when on your deathbed is a totally different question, so I guess you've got to take a random shot at that one and hope you've picked the right one.

Ravs

Of course you've gotta hope for a deathbed too.

Seriously, many find that their religion provides enough reward in this life and would practice it even without hope in the next.

I was making a joke Dowding, how would you ever collect?

[ravells]

 I wasn't being altogether serious AK Iron.

I can entirely understand that some people find religion a comfort in their day to day lives and know a great many people who do.

Ravs

[Dowding]

I know you were making a joke. Forget about collecting - why would I need the money?

Yeah, I'm sure people would. But the afterlife is a key tenet of most religions.

[AKIron]

Originally posted by Dowding
I know you were making a joke. Forget about collecting - why would I need the money?

Yeah, I'm sure people would. But the afterlife is a key tenet of most religions.

Indeed it is. I think you'll agree that hope in an afterlife does little harm, even to those that don't believe in it.

What is gained by the one dying with their stoic adherence to their belief that they are about to forever cease to exist?

[Dowding]

I believe there is a difference between hope and belief/faith. I'm pretty sure religious leaders of any religion would agree with me.

Hope does no harm, provided you don't live your life 'Waiting for God'. Sadly, I think there are people who do just that.

What is gained by the one dying with their stoic adherence to their belief that they are about to forever cease to exist?

What is to be lost by dying with that belief?

Why does there have to be a reason for the course your life takes? Why does there have to be a reward/punishment? Because it's comforting to think so and because the alternative reduces your importance immeasurably.

Like most people, my own death does not occupy my thoughts very much. I'm perfectly able to live a well-adjusted life believing what I do. I don't have a particular black outlook, although I am a tad cynical; but that isn't neccessarily related to my religious beliefs. Oh, and I'm a happy drunk.

[Yeager]

Dowling, go have an orgasm man, your just plain
awnry today

Ok Im off to Bermuda for a new pair of shorts

[AKIron]

You're also young and probably don't consider your own mortality, at least not as you will when you get older. I bet you also take pride in believing in your own strength. Probably that pride is reinforced by your belief that you are more intelligent than those who are so easily fooled into believing in God.

Like I said before, when you reach the end, that pride will likely mean little when you face your oblivion.

[Dowding]

You're also young and probably don't consider your own mortality, at least not as you will when you get older. I bet you also take pride in believing in your own strength. Probably that pride is reinforced by your belief that you are more intelligent than those who are so easily fooled into believing in God.

A little condescending aren't we? Of course I've considered my own mortality. I also believe that anything I achieve here will be dust in a few hundred years, and that's being very optimistic. The only thing that continues is our genes. The best we can hope for, in my opinion, is that our genes carry on through the generations and perhaps a part of the morality we give to our kids continues too.

Those that believe in a god aren't stupid. I know plenty of clever Christians, and some are definitely more intelligent than me. Are you now saying that a belief is validated according to how intelligent the believer is? Sounds like an odd concept to me.

[Nakhui]

Originally posted by mora
I'm sure there's plenty of other things to worry about than religion.

Worry no... just don't volunteer...

Your buddies will tell you where the good spots are for picking up women and having fun.

if you get over to the Phillipines, say hello to "Mama-san" for me and ask her for the basket ride.

Wear a condom... they got watermelon over there that makes penicillin run for cover.

Good luck