mardi, avril 8

weak atheists

From the atheist forum (pinoy_atheists@yahoogroups.com) -- Has anyone encountered a weak atheist? Literally weak. Someone labeling himself as an "Atheist" when in fact he can't even defend what he believes and just using it for the glamour it can bring.

i would not say that there is no god. this makes me a "weak atheist". someone who would say that there is no god is a "strong atheist". note the distinction. i would say i do not know or that there is no evidence to it. like hawkins. he'd say it is highly unlikely.

i am honest to myself that i do not see visions, nor hear voices in my head as claimed by some theists that they converse with god. everything that happens has a logical explanation. and for those which doesn't seem to have a logical explanation. i would say that we need to study it further. thru science we have a closer and more accurate picture of nature. i dont want to jump into conclusions. when we hear thunder, it's not that thor decides to express himself, but rather it is the sound of lightning when it hits the air and produces the sonic shock wave.

i ask the same question of the theist. why believe? he's reason was good experiences, and good people around. this is an odd reason to believe in a god because good experiences and good people happens to everyone. including mohamedans and rizalistas. to hindus. and every type of theist. if good experiences and good people are to be taken as proof of existence then that makes the gods of other types of theists just as valid. existence then must be independent from our experiences.

i gave the example of the continent of africa. i have never been to africa. empirical evidence that is easily verifiable points to that africa exists. even though i have not actually been to africa. i know (by empirical evidence presented) that it exists. this is not the same when we are talking about gods and goddesses. as usual i fail to explain to our theist friends. and the conversation went to focus on subjectivity. suggesting that truth is subjective. the earth was never flat.

to prove the existence of anything we need to define what it is. a lion with wings is lion with additional appendages that enable it to fly. and this again was met with an odd response. that there is no need to define god (their version of it). this leaves me with the thought that theists don't know who or what they're worshipping. they just do wether it be a rock or the worm that lives beneath it. as long as it seemingly renders them with goodness in their lives. and there lies the danger.

i can see why they would continue to believe in gods and goddesses. some people need religion. to put meaning in their lives. having not read about jean paul sartre. they have been programmed. i suppose i have long since given up trying to educate them. this allows me to coexist with them. i am not seen as a threat anymore. nor would i want them to see me that way. its just a pity to witness ignorance and not be able to do anything about it. except maybe point it out.

---

JUNG TOPOLOGY TEST

Your Type is INFP
Introverted 89
Intuitive 12
Feeling 38
Perceiving 22


[snip] gentle being .. develops imaginary playmates .. have the ability to see good in almost anyone or anything. Even for the most unlovable the INFP is wont to have pity .. Their extreme depth of feeling is often hidden, even from themselves, until circumstances evoke an impassioned response. Shocked


ces dernières semaines, j'ai vu les films suivants. j'allais écrire une critique de film pour chaque un mais j'ai devenu assez occupé. beginning to reconnect with asian films. just as i liked to watch jacky chan when i was growing up.

- death note 1 et 2 (japonais) - japanese lore
- mr vampire (chinois) - chinese vampire lore.
- street kings (americain) - typical hollywood.