Should I become an atheist and why?

[Wootah]

Should I become an atheist and why?

What are the benefits, practices, beliefs? Any good conversion stories?

[historia]

I did watch the video - or enough to see that it was worse than making a bad argument (atheism in itself is a position on a claim. It does not have to be a fascinating pursuit in itself - atheist have lives outside of atheism) but that it was 'boring' was given as a reason not to do it, which is an awfully bad argument.

Yeah, that's not at all what the video is about. This section from the video dispels your mischaracterization completely:

Before I go further I want to offer a disclaimer: What I say in this video is not a reason for God belief or an argument against disbelief in any given deity. If you want theology or if you want apologetics please look elsewhere.

What I intend to explore here is a sociological anomaly within the phenomenon of New Atheism as it appeared in the early 21st century, and this mystery begins with atheism being boring. Now being boring is not a reason to reject a belief. I myself have many boring beliefs, and I'm quite comfortable with most of them.

However, when it comes to concepts used to organize groups -- used to organize one's life -- being boring is a good reason to question why a certain idea holds claim to your time and devotion, especially if you might expect that it's boring exterior is covering up something more nefarious going on behind the scenes.

I guess you just didn't watch enough. Too bad.

The jabs and put down atheism makes...well ok, but if they are not valid, let theist apologists refute them rather than play the victim.

Atheism doesn't make arguments -- people do. And the Christians here largely just ignore the jabs and put-downs, so aren't playing the victim, as already noted.

The argument of course should be on the evidence or logic, not poking fun or suggesting to give up a valid logical position on the poor grounds that it is boring.

Not everything on this site has to be serious. Ask Joey.

[JoeyKnothead]

Rather than cheap shots, I see valid doubt and question about the claims of religion, particular Christianity.

There are those too. But I see an inordinate number of silly jabs and put-downs from the atheists on this forum -- the occasional barb I can appreciate, but the sheer number of cheap shots actually makes you all look desperate. Those largely go without any response from the Christians here. I guess they just have a thicker skin.

However, your point that atheism is boring . . . and linking a video saying that's why it should be given up, is indeed a cheap shot as well at fatheaded.

I take it from this and your earlier comment you didn't actually watch the video. Too bad, it makes a more sophisticated point than the title would suggest.

I'm disappointed as I usually expect quality arguments from you, not this cheap smearing.

I'll just have to find some way to recover, I guess.

I did watch the video - or enough to see that it was worse than making a bad argument (atheism in itself is a position on a claim. It does not have to be a fascinating pursuit in itself - atheist have lives outside of atheism) but that it was 'boring' was given as a reason not to do it, which is an awfully bad argument. The jabs and put down atheism makes...well ok, but if they are not valid, let theist apologists refute them rather than play the victim.

The argument of course should be on the evidence or logic, not poking fun or suggesting to give up a valid logical position on the poor grounds that it is boring. I see no way that any sophistication could save such a fundamentally flawed argument.

If only for me, I consider "jabs and put downs" an appropriate, nonviolent response to how seriously some theists take their goofy claims / beliefs.

I encourage anyone to fetch on down here to the Bible Belt, and see how Christians submit "jabs and putdowns" by way of murder, oppression, and all manner of accusing folks of being "evil".

I encourage anyone to take a count of the Christian to atheist ratio involved in the attempt to overthrow the United States government on 06 Jan 2021.

It ain't near as much some folks have em a "thick skin", as they have em a thick skull!

[TRANSPONDER]

I did watch the video - or enough to see that it was worse than making a bad argument (atheism in itself is a position on a claim. It does not have to be a fascinating pursuit in itself - atheist have lives outside of atheism) but that it was 'boring' was given as a reason not to do it, which is an awfully bad argument.

Yeah, that's not at all what the video is about. This section from the video dispels your mischaracterization completely:

Before I go further I want to offer a disclaimer: What I say in this video is not a reason for God belief or an argument against disbelief in any given deity. If you want theology or if you want apologetics please look elsewhere.

What I intend to explore here is a sociological anomaly within the phenomenon of New Atheism as it appeared in the early 21st century, and this mystery begins with atheism being boring. Now being boring is not a reason to reject a belief. I myself have many boring beliefs, and I'm quite comfortable with most of them.

However, when it comes to concepts used to organize groups -- used to organize one's life -- being boring is a good reason to question why a certain idea holds claim to your time and devotion, especially if you might expect that it's boring exterior is covering up something more nefarious going on behind the scenes.

I guess you just didn't watch enough. Too bad.

The jabs and put down atheism makes...well ok, but if they are not valid, let theist apologists refute them rather than play the victim.

Atheism doesn't make arguments -- people do. And the Christians here largely just ignore the jabs and put-downs, so aren't playing the victim, as already noted.

The argument of course should be on the evidence or logic, not poking fun or suggesting to give up a valid logical position on the poor grounds that it is boring.

Not everything on this site has to be serious. Ask Joey.

Yes,the video was about bad arguments, but are you saying it was all a joke? Too often I have seen bad arguments presented - not just by 'people' (another bad argument) but by theists and Christians and often creationists/Fundamenmtalists (people get labels so we know what people they are, you see, it's what we do) and when they get shot down they try to pass it off as a joke.So no, kidding or not the point has to be rebutted.

Still, You suggest that I should watch it all. I will and if I have misunderstood, I'll say so and retract.

[Davado]

Might I suggest another option.
Belief in Jesus but reject him.
Why must you be Christian just because Jesus is real?

[Diogenes]

Might I suggest another option.
Belief in Jesus but reject him.
Why must you be Christian just because Jesus is real?

If Jesus is indeed God, one would be a fool not to align oneself with Him.

But that is a big "if." I love and admire many of the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. But I do not believe he was God any more than I believe the fairy tales of Hans Christian Anderson or the Grimm Bros. I do not believe it is prudent to defy God. I just believe there is no God to defy.

[Shem Yoshi]

Should I become an atheist and why?

What are the benefits, practices, beliefs? Any good conversion stories?

It really doesnt matter... If atheism is true, and scientific materialism is true, nothing really matters. "let us eat and drink for tomorrow we die" (1 Corinthians 15:32).

Personally you would be better off becoming a Greco-Roman Pagan, worshiping the epic dramas of life. Atheism doesn't have much to offer except a world view of scientific materialism...

But if scientific materialism is true, and the physical world is all there is, and humans consciousness is nothing more then a brain fizzing with chemicals... Then what does it matter what you believe?

If the truth we experience is nothing more then a brain fizz, then lets take Mountain dew and Dr pepper, shake them up and let them fizz... Which one is better? Mountain Dew or Dr. Pepper?

[Diogenes]

It really doesnt matter... If atheism is true, and scientific materialism is true, nothing really matters. "let us eat and drink for tomorrow we die" (1 Corinthians 15:32).

Personally you would be better off becoming a Greco-Roman Pagan, worshiping the epic dramas of life. Atheism doesn't have much to offer except a world view of scientific materialism...

But if scientific materialism is true, and the physical world is all there is, and humans consciousness is nothing more then a brain fizzing with chemicals... Then what does it matter what you believe?

If the truth we experience is nothing more then a brain fizz, then lets take Mountain dew and Dr pepper, shake them up and let them fizz... Which one is better? Mountain Dew or Dr. Pepper?

I think it is sad that some need a make believe god to find meaning in life. Let us assume there is nothing more than "scientific materialism," whatever that means. Let us assume there is no god or meaning imposed by some deity; we can still find meaning in life. We have the joy of this wondrous world. We have the joy that loving and helping others brings. If you can't experience love just looking your dog or cat in the eye, nothing will help you. If you cannot find love and meaning by helping a stranger in need, you are lost regardless of your religion.

But let us suppose there really is a God. You can call him Jesus or YHVH or whatever you want. So, what meaning do you have then? Whatever your God says? That is the trouble. You believe in God and then what? What meaning do you derive? What do you have besides the 'meaning' your God tells you to have?

Belief in God is no more than your own abdication of the quest for meaning.

Finding God does not add meaning unless you say "God IS meaning." This is circular. Therefore belief in God adds nothing to the quest for meaning. It simply gives it a label.

I repeat, Belief in God is no more than an abdication of your personal quest for meaning.

[Miles]

Should I become an atheist and why?

What are the benefits, practices, beliefs? Any good conversion stories?

It really doesnt matter... If atheism is true, and scientific materialism is true, nothing really matters. "let us eat and drink for tomorrow we die" (1 Corinthians 15:32).

Personally you would be better off becoming a Greco-Roman Pagan, worshiping the epic dramas of life. Atheism doesn't have much to offer except a world view of scientific materialism...

But if scientific materialism is true, and the physical world is all there is, and humans consciousness is nothing more then a brain fizzing with chemicals... Then what does it matter what you believe?

If the truth we experience is nothing more then a brain fizz, then lets take Mountain dew and Dr pepper, shake them up and let them fizz... Which one is better? Mountain Dew or Dr. Pepper?

Believe it or not, but atheism address one (1) issue and one (1) issue only, the existence of god. While some atheists may embrace scientific materialism – "which holds that our experience of the world is generated by the brain yet somehow remains outside of us and is separate from and indifferent to human purposes – informs all aspects of life yet remains largely unquestioned."* it is purely coincidental.

* source

.

[SacredBishop]

Should I become an atheist and why?

What are the benefits, practices, beliefs? Any good conversion stories?

Yes, give it a shot. I think it takes little convincing. As Christopher Hitchens said, " whatever reasons you use to reject every other deity, simply apply them to your own." As far as the benefits of atheism, I imagine a bit of stress relief, i.e. no spirtual forces messing with me. No holy book to try to figure out. Don't have to go to church, observe holy days, rituals, or get frustrated with unanswered prayers or be burdened with theological mysteries, why God allows suffering etc. I don't think boredom would be an issue though, there's plenty of hobbies to do. But, there's the nagging what if I'm wrong dilemma, but religious people gave that too.

[Shem Yoshi]

It really doesnt matter... If atheism is true, and scientific materialism is true, nothing really matters. "let us eat and drink for tomorrow we die" (1 Corinthians 15:32).

Personally you would be better off becoming a Greco-Roman Pagan, worshiping the epic dramas of life. Atheism doesn't have much to offer except a world view of scientific materialism...

But if scientific materialism is true, and the physical world is all there is, and humans consciousness is nothing more then a brain fizzing with chemicals... Then what does it matter what you believe?

If the truth we experience is nothing more then a brain fizz, then lets take Mountain dew and Dr pepper, shake them up and let them fizz... Which one is better? Mountain Dew or Dr. Pepper?

I think it is sad that some need a make believe god to find meaning in life. Let us assume there is nothing more than "scientific materialism," whatever that means. Let us assume there is no god or meaning imposed by some deity; we can still find meaning in life. We have the joy of this wondrous world. We have the joy that loving and helping others brings. If you can't experience love just looking your dog or cat in the eye, nothing will help you. If you cannot find love and meaning by helping a stranger in need, you are lost regardless of your religion.

But let us suppose there really is a God. You can call him Jesus or YHVH or whatever you want. So, what meaning do you have then? Whatever your God says? That is the trouble. You believe in God and then what? What meaning do you derive? What do you have besides the 'meaning' your God tells you to have?

Belief is God is no more than your own abdication of the quest for meaning.

Finding God does not add meaning unless you say "God IS meaning." This is circular. Therefore belief in God adds nothing to the quest for meaning. It simply gives it a label.

I repeat, Belief is God is no more than an abdication of your personal quest for meaning.

Well i said you can go do whatever you want, and if looking in a dogs eye brings love in your life, good for you...

"If you cannot find love and meaning by helping a stranger in need, you are lost regardless of your religion."

However you claim people are "lost" if they cant find love and meaning by helping a stranger... On what ground would you say that? What are they lost from? What if someone doesnt want to help? What if someone wants to be a recluse and doesnt like helping strangers? What if someone helps stangers and they get robbed and therefor they dont like helping strangers...

Shoot is the robber any worse off? then the man who helps? What if someone doesnt like your concept of "love"? What if someone would rather be alone?

You say they are lost, what are they lost from? Your brain fizzing, saying they are lost?