Religion

edhopper

(37,471 posts)

24. Well certain things don't need to be looked at once the question is moot

Thu Aug 29, 2013, 06:46 PM

Aug 2013

which gods control which natural force. Should we still discuss if Zeus or Thor controls lightning?

How about where Noah's ark landed, should we still look into that?

Or why the Sun is angry when there is an eclipse?

What about the density of the universal ether?

There are questions that are answered, and absent of new information, they don't need to be addressed.

Others can spend their time figuring out the true nature of God. But since there is no evidence that any such entity exists, why pursue that avenue of inquiry, when actual cosmic questions are still out there. The nature of Dark Matter is much more interesting and pertinent.

Should we investigate the biology of dragons, mermaids and the Loch Ness Monster because some people think they are real?

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To my fellow atheist, do you think believers just wrong? [View all] edhopper Aug 2013 OP

I don't see anything controversial in the idea that an atheist thinks believers are wrong about god. enough Aug 2013 #1

And a secular society edhopper Aug 2013 #2

Why does there need to be a "right" or "wrong"? murray hill farm Aug 2013 #3

Why don't you care edhopper Aug 2013 #8

I don't believe that my idiologies or lack of them are either right or wrong.. murray hill farm Aug 2013 #13

Yes edhopper Aug 2013 #14

And will you care when religious fundamentalists manage to ban abortion AtheistCrusader Aug 2013 #88

Never going to happen. They have been trying for a very long time. cbayer Aug 2013 #101

Have you been living under a rock? States all over have instituted de-facto abortion bans cleanhippie Aug 2013 #104

They have made considerable progress in just the last year. AtheistCrusader Aug 2013 #116

There have been some inroads in some states, but I think it will be reversed over time. cbayer Aug 2013 #119

Then you are part of the problem. AtheistCrusader Sep 2013 #131

Lol~ I am part of the problem? cbayer Sep 2013 #137

Yes, part of the problem. AtheistCrusader Sep 2013 #143

Oh, back off. You have no idea what I do or don't do. cbayer Sep 2013 #147

I know you dismiss and minimize the current fight on for reproductive freedom AtheistCrusader Sep 2013 #158

You make assumptions that are incorrect. cbayer Sep 2013 #159

It is very close to 50/50 edhopper Sep 2013 #162

They were your words. AtheistCrusader Sep 2013 #163

Right vs. Wrong on the *effects* of believing is where I stop Lemonwurst Aug 2013 #71

Yes, how dare we suggest others might be wrong. trotsky Aug 2013 #16

Simple; if their god existed, he could stop abortion him or herself. AtheistCrusader Aug 2013 #89

I care, because people like to legislate upon their religious beliefs. AtheistCrusader Aug 2013 #87

And yet here you are hanging out in the religion group. cbayer Aug 2013 #103

And? AtheistCrusader Aug 2013 #117

I didn't say you didn't have the right to post here. You most certainly do. cbayer Aug 2013 #118

You know, believers spend time talking to non-belivers too. AtheistCrusader Sep 2013 #130

I think someone who is really hostile towards non-believers probably cbayer Sep 2013 #136

I don't understand why you asked the original question in the first place. AtheistCrusader Sep 2013 #142

What original question are you talking about? cbayer Sep 2013 #146

This. AtheistCrusader Sep 2013 #157

You obviously love tussling when it comes to religion. cbayer Sep 2013 #160

Keep their religion to themselves within the scope of the law. AtheistCrusader Sep 2013 #161

I don't think it is possible to seperate the two edhopper Sep 2013 #164

I tend to agree, that is the reality of it. AtheistCrusader Sep 2013 #165

It is a matter of venue edhopper Sep 2013 #166

Frankly, the "why not question it quietly" argument sounds a lot like... LibAsHell Sep 2013 #128

I don't think that's a philosophically sound position Proud Public Servant Aug 2013 #4

Disagree with that edhopper Aug 2013 #7

Incorrect Promethean Aug 2013 #48

I get it, but not absence of evidence Proud Public Servant Aug 2013 #68

In this case, it is reasonable to say that it is. cleanhippie Aug 2013 #105

You're assuming that the only two possibilities okasha Aug 2013 #107

Do Protestants think Catholics are just wrong? Do they both think that about Muslims who Bluenorthwest Aug 2013 #5

It is a generality edhopper Aug 2013 #9

Protestants and Catholics used to kill each other over what edition of the bible got taught in schoo AtheistCrusader Aug 2013 #90

Could this be a version of strict atheism vs agnosticism. longship Aug 2013 #6

I don't disagree edhopper Aug 2013 #10

No, they are not "wrong" for their beliefs. Starboard Tack Aug 2013 #11

Are you answering that edhopper Aug 2013 #12

Yes Starboard Tack Aug 2013 #62

I think there is a wording difference between you and the OP. Goblinmonger Aug 2013 #17

Thank you edhopper Aug 2013 #18

I disagree with you assertion that they are not wrong in their beliefs. DrewFlorida Aug 2013 #21

I don't believe there is a god either, at least not for me. Starboard Tack Aug 2013 #63

Many people declare something as their belief, but their actions don't match their beliefs. DrewFlorida Aug 2013 #22

Best to judge peole by their actions, rather than by the beliefs they declare. Starboard Tack Aug 2013 #65

Yep. trotsky Aug 2013 #15

Interesting questions to think about QSkier Aug 2013 #19

I think believers have a certain arrogance to think they know it all. DrewFlorida Aug 2013 #20

Could not that same argument be applied to non-believers that think they know it all? cbayer Aug 2013 #23

Well certain things don't need to be looked at once the question is moot edhopper Aug 2013 #24

The whole question of whether there is a god or not is moot. cbayer Aug 2013 #25

nothing arrogant about that reply CBGLuthier Aug 2013 #26

Things we no longer need to question. edhopper Aug 2013 #41

Yes, what you propose is true, but that wasn't the question posed by this thread. DrewFlorida Aug 2013 #34

But it is very much the question posted by this thread. cbayer Aug 2013 #52

I for one am not saying I don't know edhopper Aug 2013 #57

A high probability of certainty? Really? cbayer Aug 2013 #59

After several edhopper Aug 2013 #67

No one is asking that you accept a god. cbayer Aug 2013 #69

the universe I know has an objective truth edhopper Aug 2013 #86

The critical words here are "I know" cbayer Aug 2013 #99

God of the gaps is edhopper Aug 2013 #122

I agree that god of the gaps is a flimsy argument. cbayer Sep 2013 #135

and bigfoot hunters can still look for bigfoot edhopper Sep 2013 #140

So what? Let them look if it rings their bell. cbayer Sep 2013 #145

Because people who have false beliefs edhopper Sep 2013 #151

OMG, talk about believing in myths, you are absolutely convinced that you are right here. cbayer Sep 2013 #155

The point edhopper Sep 2013 #156

Tell me Cybar, do you believe Jesus was God's only son..... DrewFlorida Aug 2013 #64

Why does it matter what I do or don't believe? cbayer Aug 2013 #70

This is not my definition. DrewFlorida Aug 2013 #72

No, it is your definition. cbayer Aug 2013 #74

Yes, when my actions don't fit my stated beliefs, that means I don't believe my statement. DrewFlorida Aug 2013 #75

So, let me ask you this. cbayer Aug 2013 #77

Well said. Manifestor_of_Light Aug 2013 #79

This is a caricature of Christianity. LTX Aug 2013 #97

No, you don't know that someone doesn't believe okasha Aug 2013 #108

I have met precious few Atheists that positively declare there is no god. AtheistCrusader Aug 2013 #91

I do declare, with a high probability of certainty edhopper Aug 2013 #94

Declare is it now? Don't we need some fanfare and other assorted regalia? cbayer Aug 2013 #102

Paul is also fond of that verb. okasha Aug 2013 #110

That is precisely the problem with religion. AtheistCrusader Aug 2013 #114

Agree. It's a bad answer, just as saying that one has failed to find evidence proves that something cbayer Aug 2013 #121

Depends on why you were seeking it in the first place. AtheistCrusader Sep 2013 #132

See, I don't give a shit if there is an invisible pink firebreathing dragon in your garage. cbayer Sep 2013 #138

so you actually accept the possibility edhopper Sep 2013 #141

Let me make this crystal clear - I don't care. cbayer Sep 2013 #148

And you don't care to edhopper Sep 2013 #150

I don't care to inquire into whether god is real or not. cbayer Sep 2013 #152

Because belief is not a vacuum edhopper Sep 2013 #154

Would it be bothering you if I tried to pass laws getting the invisible pink AtheistCrusader Sep 2013 #144

Yes it would., just as it bothers me that god is mentioned on those things. cbayer Sep 2013 #149

So when people with beliefs you oppose edhopper Sep 2013 #153

We agree. AtheistCrusader Aug 2013 #113

I agree. I also have met very few. cbayer Aug 2013 #100

I accept that an omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent being that does not wish to be perceived AtheistCrusader Aug 2013 #115

Sounds reasonable to me. cbayer Aug 2013 #120

i should amend my declaration edhopper Aug 2013 #123

Excellent point. AtheistCrusader Sep 2013 #133

Great post. nt raccoon Aug 2013 #76

I am an agnostic, because I see no evidence of a deity but not certainty that one does not exist. Agnosticsherbet Aug 2013 #27

Yep, they're wrong. dballance Aug 2013 #28

Tax the Churches DontTreadOnMe Aug 2013 #29

Not OT edhopper Aug 2013 #38

It doesn't matter whether I'm right or they're right. no_hypocrisy Aug 2013 #30

So you have no opinion edhopper Aug 2013 #36

It's a classic dicotomy of whether something is "right" and true if I think it is and if it truly is no_hypocrisy Aug 2013 #92

I think I understand your view. edhopper Aug 2013 #93

I'll try to specifically address your premise. no_hypocrisy Aug 2013 #95

Thanks edhopper Aug 2013 #96

I'm a combination no_hypocrisy Aug 2013 #98

I'm in line with the OP, and several other notables posted here. immoderate Aug 2013 #31

I *believe* that people who believe in god(s) are flatly wrong . . . MrModerate Aug 2013 #32

"more concerned about the negative effects of religion than the negative effects of faith" QSkier Aug 2013 #35

I think he means edhopper Aug 2013 #37

Being a believer in the supernatural is a disordered state of mind . . . MrModerate Aug 2013 #45

Oh, I think a lot of edhopper Aug 2013 #46

Yes, they are wrong DavidDvorkin Aug 2013 #33

Everyone who has any view at all about religion believes that someone else is wrong. eomer Aug 2013 #39

Well a true agnostic edhopper Aug 2013 #40

If they "think that answer is unknowable"... eomer Aug 2013 #42

Edhopper asks us what we think, I for one think the believers are wrong. dimbear Aug 2013 #43

What do I think as an atheist? LostOne4Ever Aug 2013 #44

Thanks for the reply edhopper Aug 2013 #47

I did not mean to nit-pick LostOne4Ever Aug 2013 #80

i think the use here is belief based on faith as in religion edhopper Aug 2013 #124

+1 - excellent answer cbayer Aug 2013 #61

Thank you! LostOne4Ever Aug 2013 #81

I'm really enjoying your participation here. cbayer Aug 2013 #82

Again thank you! LostOne4Ever Aug 2013 #84

Though we've disagreed, sometimes sharply, okasha Aug 2013 #109

Just because we disagree LostOne4Ever Aug 2013 #111

I've probably been a nerd okasha Aug 2013 #112

Well..... WovenGems Aug 2013 #49

So your saying edhopper Aug 2013 #50

Alot of Atheists evangelize about their own brand of faith more than believers wercal Aug 2013 #51

Absurdly untrue edhopper Aug 2013 #54

How the heck would I know wercal Aug 2013 #78

thanks for the longer reply edhopper Aug 2013 #85

I stand by Wheaton's Law Drale Aug 2013 #53

But do you think there is validity to their faith edhopper Aug 2013 #55

It really doesn't matter what I think Drale Aug 2013 #56

Does it matter to you what you think. edhopper Aug 2013 #58

But I did answer the question Drale Aug 2013 #60

The question is edhopper Aug 2013 #66

Message auto-removed Name removed Aug 2013 #73

Yes Laochtine Aug 2013 #83

Yes rock Aug 2013 #106

All believers ultimately worship themselves while proclaiming humility... Humanist_Activist Sep 2013 #125

I think it's reasonable to say they are most likely wrong LibAsHell Sep 2013 #126

No, I think it's a lot more complicated than that Warpy Sep 2013 #127

Nothing supernatural exists. Deep13 Sep 2013 #129

At this point our science may not have advanced far enough to prove beyond a doubt ... spin Sep 2013 #134

just God of the gaps again. edhopper Sep 2013 #139

I believe we should have single payer healthcare edhopper Sep 2013 #167

You have completely moved the goalposts here. cbayer Sep 2013 #168

We obviously differ there edhopper Sep 2013 #169

I never said that the existence of god should be in a different category, but cbayer Sep 2013 #170

That's fine edhopper Sep 2013 #171

militants MFM008 Sep 2013 #172

hmmm edhopper Sep 2013 #173