How to talk to an atheist (and you must)

Townhall.com ^ | January 24, 2005 | Mike S. Adams

[7thson]

When I pulled into the parking lot this morning, I saw a car covered with sacrilegious bumper stickers. It seemed obvious to me that the owner was craving attention. I’m sure he was also seeking to elicit anger from people of faith. The anger helps the atheist to justify his atheism. And, all too often, the atheist gets exactly what he is looking for.

[Stone Mountain]

If there is no God and therefore no reward or punishment because there is no afterlife, how can there be such a thing as right and wrong?

So the only reason theists act morally in this lifetime is because they are performing a cost-benefit analysis?

[Stone Mountain]

There is really no such thing as an atheist. Anyone who says they are an atheist is lying (usually to themself). They also tend to be exposing their natural human cowardice. That is, they have much in common with wild animals that live in constant fear of being eaten by something lurking in the bushes.

This is actually an example of how NOT to talk to an atheist...

[orionblamblam]

> If there is no God and therefore no reward or punishment because there is no afterlife, how can there be such a thing as right and wrong?

Because right and wrong do not need to be related to a fear of punishment, in this life or any other. In simplest and simplistic terms, "right" morally is that which provides the best chance for your genes to propogate. Thus murder is out, because people will come kill you for it; rape is out for the same reason. I've yet to come across a bit of (generally accepted) morality that can't be defined in this way.

[TheOtherOne]

So why would any atheist every do anything good, in private?

[cvq3842]

I will have to pick up a copy of that book.

[RobRoy]

I disagree. Christians have beliefs and their lives demonstrate their beliefs. Virtually all professing atheists deny their faith by how they live their lives.

An example of a REAL atheist living according to his beliefs would be the main character in the movie "Natural Born Killers."

As the apostle Paul said, and I paraphrase, "if there is no God, then we of all men are most acursed. We should eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die."

That is the creed of the TRUE atheist. For without God, life truly has no meaning whatsoever. Even the extermination of all mankind - or it's proliferation, would be totally irrelevant.

[Protagoras]

It is sad that some people are only good to get their reward and avoid punishment.

That would be sad.

But what is "good" anyway? And why is it good?

[jagusafr]

Try the audio version with John Cleese reading. Absolutely tremendous!

[RobRoy]

>> This is actually an example of how NOT to talk to an atheist...<<

I agree. That is why I didn't post to the atheist. 8^>

[AppyPappy]

Even Jesus said He wasn't good.

All our good deeds are like filthy rags anyway. It's a moot point.

[GovernmentShrinker]

On the atheist side, you *never* see any that basically boil down to "If you don't believe what I believe, then you're not a *real* American."

Well, except for Michael Newdow, who's been getting much more than his fair share of attention lately. Few atheists are of his ilk, fortunately.

[Pyro7480]

Is he a Randian?

[Protagoras]

Because right and wrong do not need to be related to a fear of punishment, in this life or any other.

Non responsive answer.

In simplest and simplistic terms, "right" morally is that which provides the best chance for your genes to propogate.

Nonsense. A thing can be correct or incorrect for a specific purpose, but morality isn't part of it.

Thus murder is out, because people will come kill you for it; rape is out for the same reason.

Incorrect. Getting CAUGHT for murder is out. Getting CAUGHT for rape is out. What you are saying basically means murder and rape are acceptable if you can get away with them.

I've yet to come across a bit of (generally accepted) morality that can't be defined in this way.

You haven't tried very hard.

[Freepdonia]

There seems to be some confusion between an atheist and an anti-Christian bigot. People who have sacrilegious bumperstickers are anti-Christian bigots.

Right. The former I can coexist with peacefully, while the latter is a different story.

[TheOtherOne]

Christians have beliefs and their lives demonstrate their beliefs. Virtually all professing atheists deny their faith by how they live their lives. An example of a REAL atheist living according to his beliefs would be the main character in the movie "Natural Born Killers."

Nice objective comparison. I guess murderers are atheists and Christians are good people.

[Kurt_D]

That's true... I am more of a funny kind. I am a pro-Christian Atheist. ;)

[BibChr]

One or both of those reasons. It's a fact of human nature, even among the insane. Whether it's that it pleases him to have felt that he's done what he guesses is "good," because it affirms his self-image; because it gives him some advantage; because it helps society (which makes him feel good).

All behavior is motivated by desire for reward and/or fear of punishment.

Dan

[GovernmentShrinker]

Few atheists believe that life is meaningless. Most do not find the need to believe that individual lives are eternal, in order to find meaning in life. They might reasonably ask you why you are so convinced that life without your version of "God" is meaningless.

[BibChr]

Even Jesus said He wasn't good.

Yeah, like never.

Dan

[retrokitten]

They seem to think that all conservatives are bible-thumpers.

I don't get that either. They are just dumbfounded when there is a non-Christian conservative. They seem to save up their most vile remarks for people who don't fit their idea of what a conservative should be.