Ask an Atheïst

[Sitnamorcen]

[quote author=thalassa link=topic=384.msg5495#msg5495 date=1287665375]
I think it looks cool. Is there are difference in pronunciation for them or something?
[/quote]

It's because in Dutch the letter combination "ei" is a pronunciation similar to that "ij" of "kortrijk" you heard the other day.
Normally we'd pronounce it something like "ateisme" (the way an english-speaking person would hear it) and without the ï you would get the incomprehendable "atijsme" because you don't even use the pronunciation of "ei" or "ij" in English.


[quote author=B. de Corbin link=topic=384.msg5497#msg5497 date=1287665807]
Thanks for coming back with that - I actually wasn't asking about anything supernatural.

So - if we're understanding eachother, what you're telling me is that, when you go out and look at the stars on a clear night, away from city lights, you don't feel anything? Or when you look over a the side of a high mountain, or into a deep canyon, you don't feel anything?

I do - the feeling is best described as "awe" - that's what I was trying to ask about.
[/quote]

I'd probably be thinking "yep... the stars... woohoo" and "yep... it's a mountain... a big one" and immediately move on with what I was doing. So no I wouldn't feel special or anything, really.
But I think that's more the nihilist part about me than anything to do with Atheïsm.

[Sitnamorcen]

[quote author=thalassa link=topic=384.msg5495#msg5495 date=1287665375]
Also, were you raised as any particular religion?
[/quote]

Didn't see that question before, must admit I read past that. A bit busy.

My parents didn't baptise me at birth (which a lot of people did, religious or not) and thought it was best for me to choose my own religion, which I appreaciate.
I have had moments of thinking "would the world be better off without religion?", but not much later thought it would be wise to learn more about it rather than dismissing religion just for the actions of extremists.

[B. de Corbin]

[quote author=Sitnamorcen link=topic=384.msg5499#msg5499 date=1287666449]
I'd probably be thinking "yep... the stars... woohoo" and "yep... it's a mountain... a big one" and immediately move on with what I was doing. So no I wouldn't feel special or anything, really.
But I think that's more the nihilist part about me than anything to do with Atheïsm.
[/quote]

OK - thanks!

[Sitnamorcen]

[quote author=B. de Corbin link=topic=384.msg5503#msg5503 date=1287667513]
OK - thanks!
[/quote]

You're welcome! And sorry if I was a bit vague sometimes, as I said before in this thread it's typical for me to start babbling about what I think you meant with your question without asking details.
Or maybe you just needed to be a bit more direct.

[Caliburn]

What is your opinion on atheistic associations?
What do you like and what do you dislike about them?
Do you think that organized atheism is a form of religion?

[Madness]

Can I play too?!?!

[quote author=B. de Corbin link=topic=384.msg5196#msg5196 date=1287581989]
Do you ever feel (and by "feel" what I mean is have a bodily sensation or emotion, rather than the other "feel" which means "have the opinion that&quot that there are more to some things than can be explained by a physical understanding of those things?
[/quote]

I think this is where I differ from a lot of atheists I know. I DO "feel" something. There's a lot out there that is awe inspiring and a lot things we don't currently understand. For me, atheism is more about the fact that there are no creator gods and no intelligent force guiding things outside my control. It doesn't mean I don't think there's other weirdo woowoo stuff going on out there (that one day, with enough understanding, could be explained by science).

[Sitnamorcen]

[quote author=Caliburn link=topic=384.msg5715#msg5715 date=1287725903]
What is your opinion on atheistic associations?
[/quote]

I must admit that I don't have any experience with or great amount of knowledge about such organizations. But I am guessing (and ONLY guessing) that the need of such organizations arised because of misinformation or certain people treating atheism like it is a mental disease.

[quote author=Caliburn link=topic=384.msg5715#msg5715 date=1287725903]
What do you like and what do you dislike about them?
[/quote]

As said by the question above this one, I don't have much knowledge about such associations and therefor cannot truly say what I like or dislike about atheistic assosiations.
However if you insist on knowing my opinion about a perticular organization, feel free to reply back with the name of the organization in question and I'll look into it in order to give you my unsalted opinion. (maybe some pepper, though ;D *pa dumm tsh* )

[quote author=Caliburn link=topic=384.msg5715#msg5715 date=1287725903]
Do you think that organized atheism is a form of religion?
[/quote]

No, I do not. It does not resemble a religion, but rather an organization (duh) much involved with religion.

A bit off topic, but that reminded me of an awesome part in the Metalocalypse episode "Religionklok":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jncCLe39Btg
(Clip contains a low amount of violence)

[Madness]

[quote author=Caliburn link=topic=384.msg5715#msg5715 date=1287725903]
What is your opinion on atheistic associations? What do you like and what do you dislike about them?[/quote]

That entirely depends on the group. Some are obnoxious and others aren't. I like that certain groups give you a chance to get together with people that you can feel free to express your nonreligious opinion too, without fear of being jumped on or accused of going to hell.

Do you think that organized atheism is a form of religion?

There are certainly some people that treat it as such. While officially the definition of 'religion' connotes a belief in the supernatural, I think it can easily be extended to a 'disbelief' in the supernatural. The people/groups that behave as though it's a religion are usually the ones that proselytize and actively try go convert folks. They usually also have atheism as a key or central point of their lives. For me, it's more of a non-issue most of the time and I'd be a pretty poor follower of Atheism The Religion.

Here's a question for other atheists:

Do you feel the need to find reasons to be an atheist or defend your atheism - i.e., do you look for inconsistencies in the bible or koran, or do you revel in finding logical sequences that end in "there must be no god"? If so, why is that important to you?

[Medusa]

Do you feel the need to find reasons to be an atheist or defend your atheism - i.e., do you look for inconsistencies in the bible or koran, or do you revel in finding logical sequences that end in "there must be no god"? If so, why is that important to you?

I don't ever feel the need to defend my Atheism. Sure, people ask me, prod me, argue with me. But it's not like they are going to get anywhere with me. Thankfully I really care very little of people's opinions in such things.

As for inconsistencies in the bible? Well I don't go actively searching. But it did sort of push me into finding another belief system. If Christian math doesn't work for me I had to find another more suitable answer. Though God does not belong squarely on the backs of Christians. So when I say I am an Atheist, I am also an Atheist to pagan gods et al. As for the Qur'an? Ah, tis the rub. I have yet to really find any inconsistencies there.

[Sitnamorcen]

[quote author=Madness link=topic=384.msg6736#msg6736 date=1288043756]
Do you feel the need to find reasons to be an atheist or defend your atheism - i.e., do you look for inconsistencies in the bible or koran, or do you revel in finding logical sequences that end in "there must be no god"? If so, why is that important to you?
[/quote]

I don't feel the need to find reasons to be an atheïst, because I already know why I am.
And I've never had to "defend" being an atheist, guess it's just a topic that was never brought up.
Plus I don't feel the need to "defend" being an atheist because such discussion seems pointless to me.

I don't actively or deliberately look for inconsistencies in religious texts nor feel a general need to prove non-theïsm.

Although, despite all that, I think I might enjoy a good discussion on the subject with someone of whom I 100% know he/she isn't just trying to troll - and that is a rare find on the internet.