Atheism As A Gateway Drug For Activism
If this is gods plan, there is nothing we can do about it.
If we can do something about it, we must.
Tough part is when, how, to what extent and at what cost.
Thoughts.
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Samuel Skinner Said,
May 11, 2008 @ 4:42 pm
It is like trying to change something if you are inside the Matrix- anything you do can be over ridden.
Needless to say that would be a problem for anyone who thinks God is above human morality or that since he has more knowledge he sees the big picture.
If there is a God, your actions could very well go down the memory hole.
Not a reason to be an atheist, but just to realize that theism is a little more… disturbing than first glance.
Adam Said,
May 11, 2008 @ 5:09 pm
Sam, I get the matrix metaphor but everything else you said just blew on by me.
Care to clarify?
And on the matrix thing, why would my good deeds in helping to end hunger or poverty in the world result in god restoring a backup to overwrite my actions?
Just because someone put in a book that chuck norris can explode the heads of fifty men with a single clap of his hands doesn’t mean he he can.
Samuel Skinner Said,
May 11, 2008 @ 9:12 pm
What I was refering to is if there is a good it could be like… well, the reset button. Basically none of your actions matter if someone can not only eliminate tehm, but make it so they don’t exist in the first place. Yeah- that is the problem in existing in someone elses world; with unlimited power comes the potential for unlimited abuse Stalin could only dream of.
And, before you ask, I am an atheist. I have just been infected by the “suspension of disbelief” debating method used at Stardestoyer.net. Currently the Bible and the Star Trek series are tied for internal contradictions and stupidity.
Adam Said,
May 12, 2008 @ 12:48 pm
Being an Atheist has no suspension of disbelief.
It is believing that there is no god.
For me god is as relevant as Chuck Norris. Shit, at this rate, alien civilizations may think he a diety based on our online and broadcast re-run worship.
If there is a god it could be like anything. Literally. But there isn’t.
So what that being the case, there being no god, what do we do about what is wrong in the world? Who’s responsibility is it to fix things?
Samuel Skinner Said,
May 12, 2008 @ 7:25 pm
That is strong atheism.
Suspension of disbelief refers to a method used to deal with literary works in a vs debate. Sorry if I carried it over to hear. I was doing the “if god was real then…”
You need to fear Chuck Norris- or stick him with Rielly, Kirk, Bond, Rambo and the Governator. It is an alien vs predator level of unknown.
Whose responsibility? That sounds dangerous close to opening up the season of finger pointing.
For me, responsibility is less important than having the job get done. Of course, given my family history that is self serving.
Adam Said,
May 12, 2008 @ 9:00 pm
I do want to point the finger.
That is the whole point. . .
Since there is no god, and we individually will make realizations to this effect, then the woes of the world fall squarely on the shoulders of we individually.
The scapegoat is gone.
It’s up to us. . . individually, together.
Don’t you think?
What is responsibility without accountability.
Are we not accountable?
Adam Said,
May 12, 2008 @ 9:02 pm
Also, what is the difference between:
weak and strong atheism?
weak and strong activism?
Samuel Skinner Said,
May 15, 2008 @ 12:36 am
Weak atheism- I don’t believe in God
Strong atheism- there is no God.
Weak Activism- I’m willing to devote time
Strong Activism- I’m willing to devote my life
Fanatical Activism- I’m willing to die for this cause
The activism definitions are my subjective opinion though- weak and strong atheism are dictionary.
Adam Said,
May 15, 2008 @ 4:09 am
Thank you for that.
I suppose then that the point of my queries in the original post represent a new shift in my thinking.
I have only recently moved from weak atheism to strong atheism. Mainly a confidence thing. I am less concerned about the .001% possibilities.
With that shift has come a desire to be a strong activist as well. This post represent my thinking when I realized that the 2 were intrinsically tied together.
It seemed like something worth exploring.
Samuel Skinner Said,
May 15, 2008 @ 6:09 pm
Good luck.
John Said,
May 23, 2008 @ 12:12 am
check out ‘Letters to a Christian Nation’
Adam Said,
May 25, 2008 @ 5:52 pm
Solid recommendation John. We can talk more about it when you settle across the pond.
For others who want to learn about it, here is a link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Letter_to_a_Christian_Nation