[Dimensio]

Whatever you want!

I want a million dollars. How am I to get that?

It is only rational and very futile!

Why is it rational?

I am referring to a rational conclusion based on the atheistic perspective.

And given that I'm an atheist who does not behave as you suggest nor do I know any atheists who behave as you suggest, I say that you're flat-out wrong.

There is no rational basis for goodness and love with atheism.

But you just said that it is "rational" for us to take whatever we want! What if we "want" to experience love? You've just contradicted yourself in your attempt to demonize atheists through your arrogant presumptions.

The fittest survive so why worry about the weak?

What if I feel sorry for them?

The only rational reason to care about someone else is what you get out of it

So what if I get a positive emotional response out of it? I suspect that is the motive for many charitable works, including those done by Christians.

I am only claiming that one must be irrational to be an atheist -- if one looks at their beliefs rationally!

And I'm telling you that you're deciding ahead of time what you want atheists to be, and ignoring relevant factors that might prove you wrong.

[balrog666]

So what if I get a positive emotional response out of it? I suspect that is the motive for many charitable works, including those done by Christians.

True. But their motives are pure Christianâ!

[nasamn777]

And given that I'm an atheist who does not behave as you suggest nor do I know any atheists who behave as you suggest, I say that you're flat-out wrong.

Let us take one point. Why should an atheist be honest? The only reason is because it makes you feel good. But what if an atheist doesn't feel good about being honest? What basis is there for him to be honest? There is none. So getting the most out of life may vary from one atheist to another. One may choose to live a "moral" life because it makes him feel good. Another may choose to rape kill and pillage because it makes him feel good. How can you -- the moral atheist -- judge the "immoral" one. And who is to decide what is moral and immoral?

Our conscience tells us that there is a right and wrong. This would seem to conflict with the atheists world view. Right and Wrong -- to an atheist -- is based on what makes you feel good.

[pharmamom]

Boy, I take a couple hours' break to go to some stupid black tie thingie, and the state of affairs here just deteriorates. Must be the 2nd law of thermodynamics at work.