An atheists world: A cold dark place.....?

Cmass · Post by **Cmass** » Tue Oct 03, 2006 2:28 am

Note: This refers to the earthly world, not the spiritual world:
If you are Christian, do you think atheists laugh as much as you do?
Do you think they are capable of deep, committed relationships with their wives/husbands/families? As deep and committed as yours? Really?
Do you think atheists look with absolute joy, wonder and splendor at the world around them?
Are their lives as richly experienced as yours?
Since atheists do not believe in an afterlife, would they be more or less willing than a Christian to step in front of a moving train to save your child's life?
Do you think atheists allow themselves any silly, illogical superstitions even if they know further analysis would likely render the belief untrue?
Do atheists experience joy in the same way as you and/or experience the depth of joy you experience?
Do they partake in ritual?

You can take whatever part of this you want to and run with it.
Honest answers only please.

skepticFromTX · Post by **skepticFromTX** » Fri Nov 17, 2006 9:34 am

The Persnickety Platypus wrote:
Darfur.
The kid got Darfur wrong.
No, genocides are in God's jurisdiction.

He's just laying down on the job. As usual.

It's not the first time, either.
We should bring it up at His next performance review
Quit being so lenient.
Quit making excuses for Him. (Yeah, but He's like... infinitely wise y'know, and maybe we shouldn't like... y'know, question...)
Me, I'd recommend not renewing His option.

The Persnickety Platypus · Sat Nov 18, 2006 12:18 am

If only there was some way of holding him accountable....

skepticFromTX · Post by **skepticFromTX** » Sat Nov 18, 2006 7:31 pm

The Persnickety Platypus wrote:If only there was some way of holding him accountable....

But him is us, and as a species we have more evolving to do, civilized behaviorwise. It's a battle between our "self first at any cost" instincts that made it possible for us to come as far as we have, and the "better angels of our nature" that persist in asserting themselves after our primary survival needs have been met. So even though right now H. sapiens is collectively at probably a twelve year old level of moral development, some progress has been made over the last couple of thousand years. (For instance, they don't burn witches anymore.)

The question is whether or not we can survive long enough to grow up.

The Persnickety Platypus · Sat Nov 18, 2006 9:14 pm

Did you know that conflict levels are at their lowest point in over thirty years? (http://www.humansecurityreport.info/HSR ... /index.htm)

I'd say our morals have matured well beyond age 12. I'd say more aroung 21-25. The only recent spike in violence has been during the world war/cold war years. We can consider that time period as our rebellious teen phase.

skepticFromTX · Post by **skepticFromTX** » Sat Nov 18, 2006 9:30 pm

The Persnickety Platypus wrote:Did you know that conflict levels are at their lowest point in over thirty years?

I'd say our morals have matured well beyond age 12. I'd say more aroung 21-25. The only recent spike in violence has been during the world war/cold war years. We can consider that time period as our rebellious teen phase.

I didn't know that, but I think it's great.

Still, I tend to stick by my estimate of 12, the reason being that I'm not just counting armed conflict. For instance, there's also the predation by the powerful and well connected upon the less powerful and well connected.

Check out a short paper at
http://www.nd.edu/~rbarger/kohlberg.html
that summarizes Lawrence Kohlberg's system of classifying moral development.

The Persnickety Platypus · Sat Nov 18, 2006 9:59 pm

That's a great link, thanks.