Is the non existence of God true for everyone.

[Gonnagle]

Dear Rhiannon,

But there's no reason to think that the answer to any of the mystery is God-shaped.

I think that is the question, what is the shape of God?

Gonnagle.

[Rhiannon]

Dear Stranger,

Ah right! well an example would be Sunday opening, Sunday I presume for atheists is just another day, another would be Bishops in the House of Lords or Christmas, just a holiday, that kind of thinking, and before I am jumped on, not all atheists might think like that, these are just examples.

Super-Natural is no different from natural, it is just my way of expressing its wonder, its awe, I tend to think that we take it for granted, it should be revered, protected, for me, it is a gift from God.

Gonnagle.

To this whateverIamist Gonners, every single day - every single minute - is sacred; I don't need your religion shrinking it to one day a week.

[Rhiannon]

Dear Rhiannon,

I think that is the question, what is the shape of God?

Gonnagle.

Well no, because there's no answer to be had.

[Stranger]

Ah right! well an example would be Sunday opening, Sunday I presume for atheists is just another day, another would be Bishops in the House of Lords or Christmas, just a holiday, that kind of thinking, and before I am jumped on, not all atheists might think like that...

...and not all theists (especially the non-Christian type) would think Sunday special, want Bishops in the House of Lords etc..

...for me, it is a gift from God.

What is your concept of God? Who or what is the giver?

[Rhiannon]

Gonners, Alan Watts is talking to me right now ...

'Paradox as it may seem, we likewise find life meaningful only when we have seen that it is without purpose, and know 'the mystery of the universe' only when we are convinced that we know nothing about it at all.'

[Gonnagle]

Dear Rhiannon,

To this whateverIamist Gonners, every single day - every single minute - is sacred; I don't need your religion shrinking it to one day a week.

A day given over to thinking about that every single day, that every single minute, but this has been debated on other threads, it is just the thinking behind it I was trying to express.

Gonnagle.

[Gonnagle]

Dear Stranger,

What is your concept of God? Who or what is the giver?

My concept, somewhere within that Pantheist stuff but more, My Lord Jesus walks with me every single day.

Gonnagle.

[Gonnagle]

Dear Rhiannon,

'Paradox as it may seem, we likewise find life meaningful only when we have seen that it is without purpose, and know 'the mystery of the universe' only when we are convinced that we know nothing about it at all.'

Well I agree and disagree, I think there is a purpose but but agree we know nothing at all.

Gonnagle.

[Rhiannon]

If you know nothing then how can you know there's a purpose?

[Rhiannon]

My problem with 'purpose' is that it lends itself too easily as an excuse to a life half lived - especially if 'purpose' is becomes God and an afterlife. Lose the idea that there is a 'purpose' behind life and making the most of being truly alive to the present matters a whole lot more.

[Gonnagle]

Dear Rhiannon,

When I say we know nothing it is my quiet rant against those who throw science at me, I love science but we have only scratched the surface.

Gonnagle.

[Gonnagle]

Dear Rhiannon,

Purpose? even with no God involved, leave this planet in better shape than you found it.

Gonnagle.

[Stranger]

My concept, somewhere within that Pantheist stuff but more, My Lord Jesus walks with me every single day.

More what?

What does "My Lord Jesus walks with me every single day" mean to you (assuming you don't think a literal 2000 old human knocks on your door for a stroll in the garden each day)?

[Rhiannon]

Dear Rhiannon,

Purpose? even with no God involved, leave this planet in better shape than you found it.

Gonnagle.

But that is a purpose I can choose to give my life, or not. I might choose to love more, learn more, live more. But it's my meaning, not yours or anyone else's. It's not the universal purpose to life.

[Gonnagle]

Dear Stranger,

What does "My Lord Jesus walks with me every single day" mean to you

In my head, never far from my thoughts.

Just wondering, do you think atheists dislike talking about how atheism affects their lives?

Gonnagle.

[Maeght]

Just wondering, do you think atheists dislike talking about how atheism affects their lives?

Gonnagle.

I just think it is a diificult question to answer. How does a lack of belief in something effect your life? I have never had a belief so can't compare to what life would be like if I did. The only thing I would say is perhaps a little irritation at 'religious speak', but I get the same irritation about arty talk too :-)

[Rhiannon]

The biggest difference for me now is that I feel no need to justify my beliefs any more, no emotional investment in being 'right'.

[Stranger]

In my head, never far from my thoughts.

You mean you think about the bible character a lot or think you are communicating with a real entity separate from yourself or something else?

Just wondering, do you think atheists dislike talking about how atheism affects their lives?

I doubt there is one answer to that - we are all individuals, you know.   

[Gonnagle]

Dear Rhiannon,

But that is a purpose I can choose to give my life, or not. I might choose to love more, learn more, live more. But it's my meaning, not yours or anyone else's. It's not the universal purpose to life.

Then maybe it should be, see!! thing is, I agree with Dawkins in his book The God Delusion, he says something like, humans are a species evolved to judge the speed of an antelope running so they can accurately throw their spear, i.e, we are not that bright, or Einstein when he says,

"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe."

Maybe we need a universal purpose, like one day a week allocated to everyone, where there is no commerce, no capitalism, a day for quiet contemplation, we ban cars from being used, except in extreme circumstances, we walk or cycle.

But yes, the above is a pipe dream, silly Gonnagle, that is just plain daft, the above would impinge on my freedom, aye freedom, freedom to tell nature it can go F*** itself.

Gonnagle.

PS:

[Enki]

Dear Enki,

Then I am a whore, all nature should be regarded as Super.

Gonnagle.

Super, yes, but not supernatural. This is surely a misappropriation of the meaning of the word. If, on the other hand, you are making up your own word "Super-Natural", I haven't a clue what that means, just as I have no idea of what your " Super-Natural miracle" actually means?

[Jack Knave]

My Pagan deities are like those of the Greeks, the Romans and the Norsemen. They are far more human that the Christian deity. They have human failings, human emotions.

They did not create the universe or the world, they inhabit it just as we do.

Oh, and they don't give a tinker's damn if we believe in them or not.

So where do you say the universe, and all things, came from then?

[Jack Knave]

Dear Stranger,

Trite, well thank you! but if it is all the same to you I will continue to be trite, why! because I want to know, to understand.

On this forum the amount of times I and other theists are told, what is it you don't understand about the word atheism, well news flash, I understand the word atheism it is the atheist that baffles me.

The last time I tried to have a discussion about how atheism affects the life of an atheist I realised that I was on shaky ground, I was asking them about something which is quite personal, especially those who had travelled from theism into atheism.

So for me, asking them which God/gods they don't believe in ( for me ) is interesting and furthers my understanding of the atheist.

Atheism does affect how you conduct your life, to deny this is ( in my honest opinion ) slightly dishonest, this forum and the old Beeb is littered with stories regarding how some ( I said some ) atheists have rebelled against theism, taking children out of Prayer time or school assembly which has a religious take, Christians are often accused of child indoctrination, but is this true of atheists.

So to continue, if I may!!

I would first like to thank Jeremyp for being open about his thoughts on God, I think when most atheists think on God it is the Christian definition that comes to mind.

Also

I would like to ask other atheists if they agree with Jeremyp, is your first thought of God Jeremyp's definition.

Jack Knaves replies are interesting.


This was mentioned in Shakers opening post on Pantheism.

Sorry this is the link to Shakers thread on Pantheism.

http://www.religionethics.co.uk/index.php?topic=11616.0

I see a similarity when I read some atheist postings regarding science/nature, the words awe, mystery and wonderment are used, maybe not reverence, but I think a reverence for science and nature is very appropriate.

Hell! Vlads pin up boy ( sorry other pin up boy ) Prof Brian Cox loves the word miracle, the one I remember is,

You bet your ass dear Prof, it is a miracle! a Super-Natural miracle.

To end, this is my attempt to open up the discussion on what God is or is not, my attempt to understand the mind of the atheist.

Gonnagle.

Interesting post.

Don't know if this is going to help but as a wee lad I had what I considered at the time an awareness of my personal God. A kind of personal phone line to Mr Big. In my teens and twenties I explored this more with respect to other people and religions, namely the Christian church. It was when I came across Carl Jung and his ideas that I understood intuitively what this was and what he said was correct, but by that time I had a broad overview of many of the ideas of the Gods and so I have no real go to image or conditioned preconceived concept of God that some have that have been forged from their early years and experiences.

[Jack Knave]

Dear Stranger,

In my head, never far from my thoughts.

Just wondering, do you think atheists dislike talking about how atheism affects their lives?

Gonnagle.

I'm sure you have been told this before but all atheism means is a lack of belief in God(s). It has no agenda beyond that and therefore has no policies to apply to ones life. The various reactions of atheists to things that look to be a function of their atheism is a personal disposition of theirs not a necessary follow through from atheism per se. So atheists will take different turnings and directions based on that single position of being an atheist.

[Sassy]

Gonnagle,

Can you not see their hearts and minds hardening to God as the thread continues.
Belief and acceptance of Christ, is the individuals choice.
To those being saved it is the message of salvation and love.
To those lost it is simply foolishness.

When someone sits on the throne of their own lives and sees nothing but what they want to see in front of them.
Then truth is not at the heart of what they seek. It is sad, but you would do well, to know when to stop conversing with some as it only hardens their hearts. 

[BeRational]

Gonnagle,

Can you not see their hearts and minds hardening to God as the thread continues.
Belief and acceptance of Christ, is the individuals choice.
To those being saved it is the message of salvation and love.
To those lost it is simply foolishness.

When someone sits on the throne of their own lives and sees nothing but what they want to see in front of them.
Then truth is not at the heart of what they seek. It is sad, but you would do well, to know when to stop conversing with some as it only hardens their hearts. 

How is accepting Christ working out for you?

You life seems a disaster area with people dead and dying all around you.

Where is your god?