Well Simple man... It seems as though you are not only arrogant but also misinformed and ignornant.

a) Your comment of lack of emotional intelligence makes me laugh. Like we athiests are the ones who lack intelligence. When you religious people have absolutley no proof of what you believe other then you believe it. I feel that because i am not shackled in life by religion that mind is more open to intelligent thought rather then controlled by ideals taught to you through the power of religion so that you may be controlled like sheep.

b) As for saying we want no accountability... You are also wrong.... again... big suprise. I am accountable for every action I take. See unlike you, I have nobody to blame but myself. Unlike people of religion who will say "god works in mysterious ways" or "It was gods will". Religious people take no accountability.

C) Now as far as objectors of faith... You are 100 percent correct for the first time. Objecting to faith is absolutley beautiful to be able to do. You should try it sometime. Instead of living my life for a god I cant see, touch, or talk to(and dont say, "well you can talk to god whenever you want through prayer". Its bullshit, your talking to yourself), I live my life for my friends, family, and fellow man. (and dont say, "well you can talk to god whenever you want through prayer". Its bullshit, your talking to yourself)

The bottom line is that with me looking out for my fellow man more then an invisible god, how can I be counter productive to society. I volunteer all the time, not because god tells me to but because I have the ability to help somebody other then myself. My morals are intact. I hold the door open for elderly or women all the time, I help people who are in need even when I myself cannot afford to but do anyways. So I'll end this comment the best way I know how to. Open your eyes, stop being and ignorant asshole and realize that it is religion that is counter-productive to a healthy society not the lack of it.

Hello Balkirk and welcome to WonderCafe.

Theism is the belief in God or Gods.  The prefix "a" indicates a non belief in God or Gods.  It is really that simple.

So what?

Those conclusions following immediately your admission that "you do not get atheists" do not indicate a willingness to discuss so much as a willingness to insult.

Having started lobbing insults serving up ammunition to those who may have been offended is pretty gracious of you.

You, in this thread, give every indication of being simple.  I don't know if you want a simple answer, any dictionary would have given it to you, it appears that you want an easy answer so that your simplicity is not threatened.

If you truly wish to have a discussion you might want to alter your tactics.

Grace and peace to you.

John

Ohhhhh, watch out, Balkirk, if you oppose atheism on a United Church sponsored website, you'll get called all sorts of things.  As you have already witnessed, you've been called a troll and a few other things.  You might also be accused of being a sock puppet, a fundamentalist or, even worse, a member of the Conservative Party.  (The United Church, of course, being the NDP with religious overtones.)  Are you an atheist toward atheism. Don't you believe in the god of your own belly button or ego?  "Discussion" in the WC context often means you listen to someone else's mindless drivel but if you go against the grain, you're obviously a simple person.  Otherwise, you'll be banned from WC and cast into outer light, and branded with a permanent label. 

joejack ...my goodness..... have you had enough coffee this morning?

I do hope you are feeling better soon...

Hugs

Rita

Balkirk, meet joejack... joejack, meet Balkirk. You two should get along famously as you're two peas in a trollpod

Yes there are a few loud, obnoxious atheists, just as there are loud, obnoxious Christian... apparently.

Does the chip on your shouldder validate your prejudices? Apparently it does to you. Jesus must be so proud of you.

FYI, I do believe in God. I guess that just goes to show the danger of spouting off your empty religious rhetoric and your pious bigotry before you bother to actually educate yourself.

But that's OK, the true Christians on this site have had lots of experience dealing with self-important pharisaic preacher wannabees like you before. You'll be forgotten soon enough.

Hi Balkirk,

Since the website invites any and all into open-minded discussion it shouldn't be weird at all.  If it was a private place where we zealously guarded the gate to make sure only the acceptable were allowed in and we designated atheists as unacceptable it might be just the place to come in and trash folk so long as they were the kind of folk all the acceptable people disagreed with.

Fortunately WonderCafe is not such a place.

Atheists are welcome here, as are you.

Of course how you and others comport yourself will dictate how welcome you will be.

Using smaller words is not a requirement for delicacy.  Nothing in your initial post seems to be difficult to understand.  Your presentation is unappealing.

Self-justification is satisfying only to the self.

The reference to the dictionary was in response to your not understanding what atheism is about.  The dictionary definition explains what atheism is about.  It may not answer all of your questions.  It at the very least gives you something to work with when you get around to asking questions.  If you just want to dump on people who believe differently then you then don't pretend that you are interested in conversation.

Grace and peace to you.

John

I think this is probably the best attempt you've made, Balkirk, to actually see both sides of this issue. Because this used to bother me too - and it still does, if and when Atheists express their beliefs in the (ironically) holier-than-thou way that implies I am somehow 'less than' for believing in something beyond the physical world. I have definitely experienced implications of weakness, stupidity, etc. However, I think you also hit on something important when you speak of the frailty of the beliefs we must hold if they would fold at the first sight of challenged. And this goes for both sides - I have felt this of very militant Christians who obviously feel threatened by anyone who differs from their view of the Holy, and I have wondered what other possible motivation there could be for Atheists whose goal seems to be to convert all those of faith (what's the threat if *I* believe, so long as I'm not making you do the same, or vice versa?)

And I think that's around where condescension, attempts at proseletyzing (sp?) from either side stopped bothering me, and where I've in fact started tuning out the insults and welcoming honest debate; if my worldview can't withstand questioning and scrutiny, if I truly feel threatened by those who feel differently from me, then it isn't much of a worldview. And on that score, that's where I would come in pursuing conversation more along the vein you just put forward, than your sort of one-sided generalization you opened this thread with. Because it is not a difference of beliefs I abhor; it is fundamentalist, black-white thinking of any variety, and the choice of rhetoric over debate. Your first post exemplified those things; your latter exemplified more in line with what I would imagine WonderCafe strives to be.

No doubt you'll post an equal number of posts where literal theists do the same?

Or are you already engaged in the willful blindness that afflicts so many like yourself who just want to prove their point?

Why not drop the axe you're trying to grind, since the point will never be made anyway, and take a chance on engaging in the wide range of conversation that goes on around here?

I'm quite sure you're capable of a worthwhile contribution to the community, but so far you're not demonstrating it in any way.

Remember the first rule of holes? Stop digging.

Unless of course, that's all you want.

Your choice friend

Stop it.  I'm blushing.

If beliefs are frail...that's not terribly surprising.  Faith is belief without the benefit of evidence as a foundation, so it will often be fragile.  If the questions or comments of an atheist are enough to shake faith, then so be it.  As an anti-theist, I take a rather dim view of holding beliefs for no reason except an old book says so.  Others will disagree, and that's fine.

I don't think you're struggling at all.  I think you've fully harnessed your "holier than thou persona".

OK, so you've experienced "God".  Did "He" tell you todo good things for others?  To be a nice person and give generously?  Great!  Go ye forth and make a difference.

If, on the other hand, "God" told you that same-sex marriage is wrong and we should be denying rights to others, then I and some others are going to have to question your motives.  If (and this is timely) "God" told you that you'll be healed if you only have enough faith, we'll likely question your sanity first, and then we'll openly consider how much of a danger you are to the impressionable in society.

Some beliefs are just funny (see Jae, Riverman), and yeah, some of us will have fun with them. Others are freakin' scary and evil and dangerous, and I believe they should be treated as such.  If you want a nice, comfortable place to practice biblically-based bigotry, there are other places on the web where your sensitivities toward the attitudes and lifestyles of the 1950's won't be so severely tested.

Good morning Chansen------Chansen Wrote-If beliefs are frail...that's not terribly surprising.  Faith is belief without the benefit of evidence as a foundation, so it will often be fragile.  If the questions or comments of an atheist are enough to shake faith, then so be it.  As an anti-theist, I take a rather dim view of holding beliefs for no reason except an old book says so.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Man learns from OLD BOOKS chansen an you know it,If you believe there is no God . Thats a belief, --( Can you prov it ?)

As requested, I'll keep my answers simple.  

1.   If you really are interested in why atheists do not believe in a Supreme Being....ask them.  Telling them your 3 conclusions isn't a great start, but maybe they'll overlook it.

2.  Yes, I've seen many atheists as volunteers.

3.  No, they are not counter productive to the human race. 

4.  You're almost certain??  I don't think you've even asked yet, so save this conclusion for later. 

Sounds like you also need to find a good dictionary.

zero

Isn't false witness supposed to be a sin?

agreed, thats why it comes down to choice in  faith

Beer references aside, you come across like a dumbass.  Joejack and AC33 are even worse.  If you want to debate atheism, go find Siege and bring him back here.  I don't exactly want him on my side of these discussions, but having you three on the other side makes my job too easy to take seriously, and too boring stay interested.

I'm not sure how much it would mean coming from me, but, God bless :)

Wazza Matta Chansen, Cantcha Takea Joke?  You can sure dish it out.  Somebody get Chansen a towel.  Tears may short circuit his keyboard.   Poor Baby.

hahahahahahahahah,,,,, I agree, literally agree!!!!!!!!

he only has rude comments

Just think - to a new visitor here, you might be their first impression of what a Christian on WC is like.  Do you really think you come across as intelligent, likeable, or "Christ-like"?  Do you think you are doing your faith any favours?