Unscientific survey of 'poly religious beliefs

[Tassadar500]

If what you say is true, to be honest, it sounds pretty ****ty.

[Bkeela]

I get the impression that a lot of the atheists here relish the thought that there is no God.

I wish there was a God [not the Christian God though], and I wish we did live forever with our loved ones in a state of paradise. But there is simply no proof for that, so it becomes a ludicrous notion.

[Sava]

I hope there is a God... but only because I want to see evil people punished.

[Tassadar500]

I think an interesting question to ask would be who hopes there is a God. I wonder how many Atheists do...

[Frankychan]

Voted Buddhist. Although I do believe in a "God" or "Creator".

But just because one can't prove something exists, does that mean that it is nonexistant? Just because you think or believe there is no "God", does that make it so?

The universe is an amoral place and doesn't care for your beliefs. This is something I've learned a long time ago.

[St Leo]

Originally posted by Lord Nuclear
If what you say is true, to be honest, it sounds pretty ****ty.

I recommend you refocus your source of happiness on something completely different.

[Spiffor]

I'm a hardcore secular, in that I don't think supernatural "facts" ( ) should be taken into account in human activity.

I'm extremely cynical toward any belief in something that could explain the universe, which makes me generally hostile to religion (because I think religion comes from early human attempts at explaining what was unexplainable). With extremely solid proof, I could be convinced of the existence of the supernatural, but I don't see it coming.

[St Leo]

Originally posted by Sava
I hope there is a God... but only because I want to see evil people punished.

Ah, but you not only hope that there is a God, but you also hope that there is a hell, and that only evil people go there rather than only good people or only people who don't die in battle or everyone.

Evil is a curious notion.

[Moral Hazard]

The quote is meant to be "religion is the opiate of the masses".

I know the original quote, and contend that alcohol suits the role better.

If your belief system works for you, then that's great, just discourage those of the same belief from forcing it on others.

No worries there, I generally follow the teachings of Swedenborg, an 18th century theologian. Belief is not essential to salvation^1 or making us a better person, action and motive are.

The love of ourselves though can damn us. So I will 'preach' against that. Despite being unable to know if it's true.

It's not something I've believed all my life I was a complete hedonist/agnostic through out college.

^1 It does state that we eventually have to accept Christ, but it isn't necessary to accept Him until after death.

Note that atheism doesn't mean lack of belief, of lack of faith. It simply means a belief that there is no theological God. It even allows for a belief in a "personal" God, nature worship or anything transcendental.

Enlightening, thank you.

However yes there are many atheists that reject spiritualism, either greatly or completely. Yes they are more likely to be depressed. That atheism could have negative consequences does not make it false, or even less desireable if it has the best claim to being true. It could well have positive consequences, be they intellectual, humanistic or creative.

It doesn't make it false, but still it's less desirable; unless the gains outweigh the decreased happiness. The same can be said of a Christian faith as it does, if followed, deprive us of certain pleasures. Of course I've been known to slip often. What's the quote "give me chastity and purity, but not yet."

Sava:
People can get lung cancer without smoking cigarettes, and lung cancer isn't alway caused by smoking, in those who do smoke. I wasn't saying that your depression was caused by atheism/agnosticism, I was noting the correlation. I'm pretty sure although; I lack the data to back up my assertion that depression is less common in religious people. And far less common in those who feel they have a purpose in life.

In truth a true humanist, (one who devouts their lives to betterment of humanity) has my admiration and envy; I wasn't strong enough to work toward the betterment of humanity without an invisible presence.

Also purpose and action will solve most depression. (not all of course)

6. I'd rather be depressed than stuck in a dillusion

Honestly, I don't believe you. You wouldn't want to live a full life believing in a few 'possibly' false things.

Gian:
Friends can be fleeting, especially as we become more involved in own personal lives. (Work / Family) We also shouldn't depend on others completely.

[Mrs. Tuberski]

If you ask me faith is something that you hold close inside. A person that has true faith has no reason to try and convince anyone of what they believe. I say this because those that are truly happy are in a set place it doesnt matter what others think.

[Moral Hazard]

A person that has true faith has no reason to try and convince anyone of what they believe

If that faith believes that if you aren't a member of it (thankfully mine doesn't) that they are going to hell. Than it would be completely uncharitable not to try and convert others. Hence why I have no problems with Jehovah's Witnesses etc. In fact I feel bad for them.

By the By I'm not trying to convince anyone here more explaining my own beliefs which is nice to do, for myself. Edit: I do have to add that my faith does put an emphasis on motives (loves) so I feel it is right to try to convince others that they should believe and do things for a cause greater than themselves. (Which could be anything Humanity, Christ, The Proles, the Environment, their country, their company.)

[Whaleboy]

I know the original quote, and contend that alcohol suits the role better.

You may have a point ...insert sedative/stimulant/laxative here!

It does state that we eventually have to accept Christ, but it isn't necessary to accept Him until after death

Ah that's convenient! (in a Pascal's bet kind of way )

It doesn't make it false, but still it's less desirable; unless the gains outweigh the decreased happiness. The same can be said of a Christian faith as it does, if followed, deprive us of certain pleasures. Of course I've been known to slip often. What's the quote "give me chastity and purity, but not yet."

I'd be lying if I said I hadn't had similar thoughts running through my head at times. As for less desireable... well I suppose in these matters it's not a question of pick-and-mix a theology (or lack thereof) that suits, rather what one considers to be the "truth" one accepts, in the same way I accept that there is a coffee stain on my desk whether I like it or not.

Honestly, I don't believe you. You wouldn't want to live a full life believing in a few 'possibly' false things.

I'm very willing to entertain the possibility that atheism could be a consequence of the same thing that could cause "existential depression", and that is perhaps intellect. I don't mean to sound elitist (I know some over the years here have had a problem with what they perceive to be elitism on my part), because you can get some very intelligent people that are theists and some very dumb atheists, but that there is a correlation between, shall we say, a philosophical mindset, and atheism. In that sense, I would rather live without delusion. However, give me a choice between illusion and despair, my intellect and my integrity says I should choose despair, whereas my heart and the bit of my brain that's fed up of SSRI's says I must choose illusion. IMO, different parts of people choose different things, we're complex beasts us humans; existential conflict is hardly surprising, and not limited to questions of faith.

If that faith believes that if you aren't a member of it (thankfully mine doesn't) that they are going to hell. Than it would be completely uncharitable not to try and convert others. Hence why I have no problems with Jehovah's Witnesses etc. In fact I feel bad for them.

By the By I'm not trying to convince anyone here more explaining my own beliefs which is nice to do, for myself.

Appreciated . You have a courteous and friendly manner that can't have gone unnoticed; it's refreshing even though we're coming at it from different angles. I certainly understand how evangelicals (in that sense, people that want to save souls etc) would work, though the concept of one mans faith telling him that his faith is superior to anothers (or lack of) finds me a little uncomfortable.

[Moral Hazard]

You have a courteous and friendly manner that can't have gone unnoticed

Thanks, I was unaware of that. To be a good Christian I really should bring in some fire and brimstone

[Whaleboy]

Add sodomy and Absolut to that and you've got yourself an audience with Whaleboy!

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by child of Thor
But prove that there is not a divine creator or some such force in the universe. How did it all start.

Why would you stop at Creator? By applying your logic, the Creator requires a Meta-Creator, who in turn requires a Meta-Meta-Creator, ad infinitum.