Comments on: Golden Atheists http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/09/golden-atheists.html NIGHTTIME IS FOR DREAMING. DAYLIGHT IS FOR ACTION. Mon, 1 Dec 2008 17:09:38 +0000 By: Valhar2000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/09/golden-atheists.html#comment-27342 Valhar2000 Wed, 26 Sep 2007 15:43:31 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/09/golden-atheists.html#comment-27342 <blockquote>[...]if there was a heaven, one good deed would do more to merit acceptance than a lifetime of faith[...]</blockquote> That reminds me of this line of Isaac Asimov's, talking about what a god "might" be like: <blockquote>I think he would prefer an honest and righteous atheist to a TV preacher whose every word is God, God, God, and whose every deed is foul, foul, foul</blockquote> Priceless! Then again, as Steve Dutch <a href="http://www.uwgb.edu/dutchs/PSEUDOSC/10DumRel.htm" rel="nofollow">says</a>, if there is a god, it has the properties it has, rather than the properties one imagines it has.

[...]if there was a heaven, one good deed would do more to merit acceptance than a lifetime of faith[...]

That reminds me of this line of Isaac Asimov's, talking about what a god "might" be like:

I think he would prefer an honest and righteous atheist to a TV preacher whose every word is God, God, God, and whose every deed is foul, foul, foul

Priceless!

Then again, as Steve Dutch says, if there is a god, it has the properties it has, rather than the properties one imagines it has.

]]> By: Tommykey http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/09/golden-atheists.html#comment-27316 Tommykey Wed, 26 Sep 2007 00:19:25 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/09/golden-atheists.html#comment-27316 Ebon, that wasn't a 90 year old atheist on the bus with you, that was Satan! Now we all know how you went astray! ;-) Ebon, that wasn't a 90 year old atheist on the bus with you, that was Satan! Now we all know how you went astray!

;-)

]]> By: Thumpalumpacus http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/09/golden-atheists.html#comment-27302 Thumpalumpacus Tue, 25 Sep 2007 22:45:02 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/09/golden-atheists.html#comment-27302 Random Guy: I am reminded of the old saw, "Everybody wants to go to Heaven, but no one wants to die." (Forgive the assumption of faith it contains, please). Alex: As a former Air Force firefighter, when I faced danger I wasn't thinking of Mom, Dad, or anyone else. I only knew that I couldn't let my buddies down, and even that was not so much a conscious thought as it was an emotional drive. Random Guy:

I am reminded of the old saw, "Everybody wants to go to Heaven, but no one wants to die." (Forgive the assumption of faith it contains, please).

Alex:

As a former Air Force firefighter, when I faced danger I wasn't thinking of Mom, Dad, or anyone else. I only knew that I couldn't let my buddies down, and even that was not so much a conscious thought as it was an emotional drive.

]]> By: Alex Weaver http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/09/golden-atheists.html#comment-27267 Alex Weaver Tue, 25 Sep 2007 02:37:07 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/09/golden-atheists.html#comment-27267 I suppose "there are no atheists in foxholes" is a true statement in the sense that there are also no (or, at least, very few) Buddhists, Christians, Muslims, etc. in foxholes--in a life or death situation like a battlefield or the midst of a natural disaster, people with any sense at all aren't going to stop to worry about their philosophical positions, and those that do reportedly tend to have a low survival rate. I suppose "there are no atheists in foxholes" is a true statement in the sense that there are also no (or, at least, very few) Buddhists, Christians, Muslims, etc. in foxholes--in a life or death situation like a battlefield or the midst of a natural disaster, people with any sense at all aren't going to stop to worry about their philosophical positions, and those that do reportedly tend to have a low survival rate.

]]> By: Neil Phalanx http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/09/golden-atheists.html#comment-27263 Neil Phalanx Tue, 25 Sep 2007 02:13:53 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/09/golden-atheists.html#comment-27263 I always took exception to this one especially, being that I was in the military. I was an agnostic by this point, and always agreed with that statement (to give credit to Clay's comment) to the extent that the unprepared were willing to grab onto the convenience and comfort of religion. It is like the convict finding Jesus (or Islam) while paying for his/her crimes against society. They always laughed at the need for religion, but when the chips were down, it was there and waiting for them. When I was facing danger, I thought of loved ones. I had already decided no god would look out for me, so I looked out for myself. I like "there are no Christians in the path of a bullet". I will have to use that. I always took exception to this one especially, being that I was in the military. I was an agnostic by this point, and always agreed with that statement (to give credit to Clay's comment) to the extent that the unprepared were willing to grab onto the convenience and comfort of religion. It is like the convict finding Jesus (or Islam) while paying for his/her crimes against society. They always laughed at the need for religion, but when the chips were down, it was there and waiting for them.

When I was facing danger, I thought of loved ones. I had already decided no god would look out for me, so I looked out for myself. I like "there are no Christians in the path of a bullet". I will have to use that.

]]> By: random guy http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/09/golden-atheists.html#comment-27253 random guy Tue, 25 Sep 2007 01:11:52 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/09/golden-atheists.html#comment-27253 I always like to counter with the "no atheist in foxholes" argument with a "no Christians in the path of a bullet". The way I see it is that whenever some deranged maniac starts firing a gun in public people will scatter. They run, they hide, they shield their loved ones. Which is understandable. The only problem is that when asked about their beliefs on statements such as: "I believe God is looking out for me." or "I believe that I will go to heaven when I die." or "Everything happens according to Gods Will." a majority of theists will agree with them. If they truly believed in these statements there would be no need to panic for anything, ever. I mean if God is looking after you or He has a Reason for something bad to happen to you then none of it matters cause you'll be eternally rewarded. But thats not the way these people behave. As soon as shit hits the fan they respond to their flight or fight instincts, just like everyone else. They suddenly turn into the most skeptical of materialists. Doubting the power of their God and believing very firmly in the reality of the bullet and the very real death it can cause. Simply by being in a foxhole you doubt the existence of your God. True believers would walk onto battlefields without armor or weapons and, believing in some kind of divine invulnerability, be promptly shot. I always like to counter with the "no atheist in foxholes" argument with a "no Christians in the path of a bullet".

The way I see it is that whenever some deranged maniac starts firing a gun in public people will scatter. They run, they hide, they shield their loved ones. Which is understandable. The only problem is that when asked about their beliefs on statements such as:

"I believe God is looking out for me."

or "I believe that I will go to heaven when I die."

or "Everything happens according to Gods Will."

a majority of theists will agree with them. If they truly believed in these statements there would be no need to panic for anything, ever. I mean if God is looking after you or He has a Reason for something bad to happen to you then none of it matters cause you'll be eternally rewarded. But thats not the way these people behave. As soon as shit hits the fan they respond to their flight or fight instincts, just like everyone else. They suddenly turn into the most skeptical of materialists. Doubting the power of their God and believing very firmly in the reality of the bullet and the very real death it can cause.

Simply by being in a foxhole you doubt the existence of your God. True believers would walk onto battlefields without armor or weapons and, believing in some kind of divine invulnerability, be promptly shot.

]]> By: Strappado http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/09/golden-atheists.html#comment-27252 Strappado Tue, 25 Sep 2007 01:07:28 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/09/golden-atheists.html#comment-27252 This line made me think: "people can only be atheists in times of comfort and security". Sounds pretty un-American to me to be against Atheism. Think about this: "people can only have a swimming pool in times of comfort and security". Bad thing? So next time, just reply that Atheism = success. This line made me think: "people can only be atheists in times of comfort and security". Sounds pretty un-American to me to be against Atheism.

Think about this:
"people can only have a swimming pool in times of comfort and security".
Bad thing?

So next time, just reply that Atheism = success.

]]> By: OhioAtheist http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/09/golden-atheists.html#comment-27249 OhioAtheist Mon, 24 Sep 2007 21:14:12 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/09/golden-atheists.html#comment-27249 I wish I had the patience and time to read three books a week! Good for Ms. Hull! I wish I had the patience and time to read three books a week! Good for Ms. Hull!

]]> By: Kelly http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/09/golden-atheists.html#comment-27246 Kelly Mon, 24 Sep 2007 21:05:19 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/09/golden-atheists.html#comment-27246 Well said. It is important that people base belief on logic and evidence, not the "hoped for." Well said. It is important that people base belief on logic and evidence, not the "hoped for."

]]> By: javaman http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/09/golden-atheists.html#comment-27243 javaman Mon, 24 Sep 2007 19:42:05 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/09/golden-atheists.html#comment-27243 As we atheists age perhaps we could use this story as a model, and each one of us individually start our own informal outreach mission to young school age and college students. Our everyday language is filled with religious references ( eg. god bless you after sneezing) and during the holidays which serve as a starting point.As a H.S. teacher I find a large marjority of students are natural atheists in their world view and are very receptive to honest dialog. Many young people are afraid to express their natural atheist views in a society that discriminates against us. Each one of us should try our own real world experiment. As we atheists age perhaps we could use this story as a model, and each one of us individually start our own informal outreach mission to young school age and college students. Our everyday language is filled with religious references ( eg. god bless you after sneezing) and during the holidays which serve as a starting point.As a H.S. teacher I find a large marjority of students are natural atheists in their world view and are very receptive to honest dialog. Many young people are afraid to express their natural atheist views in a society that discriminates against us. Each one of us should try our own real world experiment.

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