Atheist Dave

"If you look for the bad in people, you will surely find it" - Abraham Lincoln
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I've heard People say "People will believe what they want to believe" as if they actually believed that line themselves. But what I "know" and what I "want to believe" are clearly NOT related.
I know I am not rich, but would like to believe it, and I don't "believe" we have been visited by green men either. But I don't rule out the possibility of other intelligent life. In fact I want to believe that other life exists outside of what we see. This does not affect the facts in any way but rather my perception of what is real based on available evidence. This does not mean that we haven't had visitors but the evidence just isn't compelling and seems to be absent.
I am concerned with understanding reality and I want to understand as much as "Humanly Possible". I want my understanding to be accurate and to reflect what we have as evidence?
Can you choose to believe something in spite of evidence?
Does the context of the word "belief" change to match the word "faith" a little too often?
What is the difference between Faith, Belief and conviction and can we create uncertainty by being unclear?
Some people do not investigate the origins of their beliefs enough to provide themselves with the certainty necessary to support their ideas. Shouldn't we make an effort to be certain of their importance? Shouldn't we measure their importance and compare every idea until we have some "reasonable certainty"?
People often know little of the history of their particular (social)political party/sect/denomination and what they do know is what has been learned by them naturally as part of their experience/environment. Each social/political/belief system/idea is subject to many possible interpretations. Many claiming to have "Truth" only with their specific interpretation which excludes others as valid and often creates an uncompromising "Dogma" which is followed without exception or compromise.
How can "truth" be made so unclear? What is it that makes us so afraid to examine all of the evidence/facts about what we believe, even when we are not talking about religion? Why are we afraid to change our minds? Is there any other way to learn?
It goes deeper than religion alone and has a lot to do with habits/learned behaviors of society that are hard to change especially when fear and uncertainty are involved. One way to make a significant change is to convince people that the Desire for Understanding is key. Should we let fear guide our thinking? Can we have compassion/love for our neighbor without first understanding the social/political/religious environment that they are exposed to and/or brought up in?
Why I am an atheist:
We are the only animal able to express ideas through language. We can express our love which is an emotion that exists only in the mind, ideas exist and can be expressed but it is not a physical existence. The "Christian God" is something that often can only be defined by the individual. I think we all know how misguided and uncompromising these versions of "God" can become allowing for intolerance and hatred which is very different from the teachings of Jesus whom is defined as "God in the flesh", "Son of Man", "Son of David".
The Christian "God" is often said to be infinite and not bound by logic. This aids in defense of whatever belief you have regardless of facts, so long as you say it came from "God".
"God" is often just another product of the Human mind left open to interpretation by the believer..an idea that changes over time and between cultures and often between individuals who claim to hold the same "truths". But what happened to "Jesus" or the "Christ" whom the faith takes it's name from? Why does it seem so many have abandoned his teachings?
Being a revealed religion makes a belief seem that much more suspect, especially when the "book" says that the "Holy Ghost" can speak to an individual directly. How do we know who/what the "Holy Spirit" is and could John the Baptist have just simply been speaking of Jesus? It seems quite convenient that people can use the "Holy Spirit" to justify any position they wish giving it "divine authority" and thus making it seem unquestionable. We have probably all seen what can happen when people make claims that "God" speaks to them directly with Jim Jones, David Koresh etc.. or one could just read Joshua and Deuteronomy(assuming that there may be some truth to the stories...I don't believe they were meant to be taken literally).
When an argument for "God" is introduced it/him/her can become non-descript until an opportunity arises in which the believer can modify his/her argument at will.
Many defenders of the "Faith" constantly contradict the "idea" when they open their mouths because they introduce logic through language which they can manipulate. As an opposing argument demonstrates itself as sound the argument can immediately change and derail the whole discussion making progress impossible often through semantics. So why argue the existence of "God"? I'm not so sure that it is beneficial anymore. I would rather see people try to understand each other and decide what "Good and Evil" are and seek a deeper understanding of those who disagree with their positions/beliefs so that they will be capable of showing compassion/love/charity/respect. I would like to see people focus more on the teaching of Jesus which can be understood as true cross culturally without insisting on the following of "Doctrine and Dogma" which Jesus seemed to oppose anyway.
Once you define god you have limited him to your logic so he becomes "your personal God" which according to the "book" is idolatry. Most Christians I speak to use a different defense for god for each argument placed against. Their facts need not be arranged to any standard because many claim "their God" is not held to any standard or bound by logic. If we were talking about cars we would have an opportunity to introduce logic and maintain a coherent argument structure and facts that would not change, because no matter what we say, if we genuinely want each other to understand what a car is we will be honest and as objective as possible. Not to mention I could run over your ass if you didn't believe in cars. But don't we all have a pretty clear understanding of what Jesus taught? Why then all the confusion/arguments? Is the message that complicated? Doesn't it ring true regardless of background, culture or upbringing? Isn't it doctrine/dogma/ritual/laws that divide us? Do you think it would matter to Jesus if you were uncircumcised? If you weren't "Fully Submerged" at your baptism? If you didn't eat the right food?
With the imagination, and no logical boundaries, some have already contradicted themselves just by entering into an argument over the existence of a "God". I am just trying to point that out in language so that people will realize that the idea of "God", as defined by our culture, completely contradicts all wisdom and knowledge thus making this particular "God" an idea existing in the minds of Humans and something we should question just as our founding fathers did. Merely a projection of Human ideals, if you could call it that.
That is why I am writing my book which remains without a title:)
How many of you have ever heard of the Counsel of Nicea? Do you know what the Latin Vulgate is? Do you know when the King James Version of the Bible was published? Do you know what the Deuterocanon is? Did you know there are many books in existence that could have been in the Bible but were excluded?
I try examine all of the information available, even if I think it will be biased and wrong and I am no longer afraid of being "wrong/mistaken". Knowing other peoples view points is very valuable...almost as valuable as finding out when I am wrong and learning from it. Most fear this kind of change when it should be embraced.
I am a Defender of Atheism, social minorities and people with "Alternative Lifestyles/religions". I do NOT like discrimination nor do I want MY government controlling my actions by setting limits on my personal, "Human liberties". I am also a Humanist and was raised a Pentecostal ministers son..lol.
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