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Read Me: Topics and Guidelines Naturalism 101
February 7th 2007
Replies: x
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Jaltus
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Posted: June 17th 2003
@ 02:13 PM
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What I am looking for from you guys in this forum is exactly what you should see in the Theology 101/201 or Christology 201 areas:
Debate amongst yourselves about your "in house" issues.
This section is not about how stupid creationists are nor is it a place to stack arguments.
You could debate atheistic philosophy in here and discuss worldviews or whatever, but no theist bashing or argument stacking.
I am just going to assume this forum will run quite smoothly without much or any...
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Anoetos
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Posted: November 13th 2009
@ 05:13 PM
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I am currently taking a course in cellular biology and I am struck by the amazing complexity of eukaryotic organisms, especially the "division of labor" and function of organelles in the cell. It is really remarkable.
Without going into a lot of detail, it has reaffirmed my belief in a Creator.
I once heard someone say that the very very tiny things are matters for chemists, things smaller than that are for physicists to worry about and then the very very large things are where physicists...
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Seasanctuary
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Posted: November 8th 2009
@ 01:12 AM
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Ok, fellow unbelievers, what do you personally consider the best arguments for Christianity? No lampooning, please.
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autoartist
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Posted: November 6th 2009
@ 06:05 PM
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As some of you know my faith in the Bible is pretty much gone.
But I do think there might be a God. I cannot get over the complications of the Universe and all that is in it.
So my question is:
How does an atheist know there is no God?
Is Agnosticism more logical? I think it might be.
Thanks for your time.
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Seri
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Posted: October 25th 2009
@ 11:25 PM
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Posted with moderator permission (National Intelligence Director Phoenix and Mountain Man).
My brother's son is five and recently told my brother that he "believed in God and in Jesus." Part of the problem was obvious: his kindergarten teacher had apparently broached the subject (mind you, public school), but it had also come up by way of the his friend's girlfriend while said friend was babysitting.
He's explained, as best he can, why it seems improbable that an entity created the universe,...
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Benster
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Posted: September 14th 2009
@ 09:44 PM
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(Sorry if this is a recurring topic)
Atheist: Someone who does not believe in God. (Still open to the possibility, however small, that there might be one.)
Hard Atheist: Someone who is pretty darn sure that there's no God! Believes that the existence of God is impossible.
Agnostic: Someone who can't himself prove (by logic, reason or science) that God exists.
Hard Agnostic: Someone who believes that it is theoretically impossible to prove that God exists.
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M.Talkingsworth
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Posted: May 12th 2009
@ 08:17 AM
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Hello all,
Recently I have been assailed quite frequently with claims that I have no basis from which to question the moral and judicial decisions of Yaweh as they are described in the Old Testament. I also run into this claim when discussing the problem of evil. The claim usually centers on the fact that since I do not believe in God, I cannot have an "objective" moral standard and therefore my value judgments are opinions and therefore, somehow, carry no weight.
I understand that there are...
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lao tzu
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Posted: May 5th 2009
@ 11:03 PM
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Atheist responses only, please.
Friday the 13th was unlucky this year. I lost my best friend, a guy I've been trying to keep breathing for most of the last decade, acting as a personal caregiver for the last couple years.
Personally, the most difficult aspect of dealing with his death is dealing with the sympathy, especially from theists who want to fall back on the "better place" response. It's unavoidable, and the presuppositions are so tightly packed that I'm forced into a rictus of...
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PolarBeer
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Posted: April 26th 2009
@ 03:06 PM
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I was going to post this as a reply in the death and atheism thread, but it occurred to me it might deserve it's own thread.
The phrase that caught my attention was "the emotional and physical benefits of a godless worldview." I was wondering what benefits people feel they get from a godless worldview?
I've always been of the opinion that at an internal level, most people don't suffer simply because they happen to believe in a god or gods. Indeed, I seem to recall that various studies have...
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Seasanctuary
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Posted: April 4th 2009
@ 02:06 AM
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I've recently seen some forum posts and pro-Atheism book excerpts which strongly associate Atheism with support of legal abortion. Of course we know that the only true defining attribute of Atheism is not believing in a God, but this can lead to secondary strongly-related positions when God belief seems the only reason to hold the opposite position.
E.g: being for legal same-sex marriages is strongly associated with Atheism because it is hard to see why anyone would reasonably be against it...
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Ishmael
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Posted: March 10th 2009
@ 12:10 PM
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Okay, here is the question and this thread is limited to those who think it is okay for Atheists/Agnostics to consume alcoholic beverages in moderation.
What about getting drunk once in a blue moon.
I am serious, if so, why? If not, why?
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scisyhp
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Posted: February 1st 2009
@ 04:55 PM
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What I really fail to understand is how they continue to reject it despite the fact that there is so much information on the subject, and the information that there is, is so overwhelming. I mean, isn't there a certain point where your faith has to take a back seat to easily varifiable, grade school science? http://evolution.berkeley.edu/
Many Creationists claim that they don't believe in it becouse evolution is bad science, and scientists do not know what they are doing. Now I ask them this,...
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Bagger_Vance
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Posted: February 1st 2009
@ 10:45 AM
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Atheism as I understand it is a rejection in the belief of a god. This is true of all ideas of god including the christian version but there is something more at work. I could become a theist without worshipping god. That is to say that if real solid evidence proved that the god of the christian bible was real then I would be forced by reason to believe in his existence but I would never worship the fellow. There would be no point in trying to fool him into thinking that I loved him when in...
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Sarek
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Posted: December 28th 2008
@ 06:38 PM
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What is your biggest pet peeve when a Christian argues they're god is right while coming off as ridiculous to the rest of us?
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Griggsy
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Posted: October 19th 2008
@ 07:50 AM
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:smile:The presumption of naturalism is that not only are natural causes and explanations efficient but also necessary, primary and sufficient. They, contrary to Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, are the sufficient reason. This neither begs the question nor sandbags theists no more than Hume does in his questioning of miracles but is merely the demand of evidence for any occult force as Einstein had evidence to overcome Newton.:ahem:
The ignostic-Ockham affirms this. The atelic argument affirms...
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Switch89
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Posted: September 23rd 2008
@ 02:53 PM
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Hi,
I'm wondering if anyone has looked into the arguments for Jesus' Resurrection and if they have some rebuttals. I've been trying to sort this out but have found that it is a difficult and often confusing issue.
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avaya
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Posted: August 23rd 2008
@ 03:00 PM
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Transcribed from part of a debate with Sam Harris:
Imagine the Koran exactly the way it is, but with one additional line "If you see a red haired woman on your doorstep at sunset, cut her head off". Just imagine a text like that which makes it down through the ages and is still there today. I can tell you what kind of world we would live in: a world in which red haired women are found murdered (in the Muslim World)... we would open the NY Times and read that 20 heads were just found in a bag...
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avaya
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Posted: August 22nd 2008
@ 11:46 PM
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1. Stop representing science is on the path of solving the mysteries of the universe. Our goal is to convince everyone that that love and curiosity are enough.
2. We should be open to extra-ordinary experiences and claims, even though we know the metaphysics and dogmas of religion are not true.' We should be open to the idea that consciousness is not merely a matter of calculations until neuroscience does more research on what it is (which will likely happen in the next couple decades).
3....
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Zeluvia
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Posted: August 9th 2008
@ 02:59 AM
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http://www.theologyweb.com/campus/showthread.php?t=115616
this has to be one of the best threads on Tweb right now.
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Nicholas
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Posted: July 6th 2008
@ 08:03 AM
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Lately I've been doing some thinking about the possibility of things beyond the realm of the natural world and was wondering if anyone else had any thoughts on the possibilty of some sort of spiritual realm of existence.
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Zeluvia
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Posted: May 23rd 2008
@ 10:11 AM
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http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9E04E2DE1438EF32A25755C2A9679D946497D6CF
Okay, there is another thread in Apologetics about Evangelists and other
so-called hypocrites, I do not want to discuss THEM.
There is also a thread about Christian Mysticism
I want to discuss religion in it's social context, and what you think about
1) The social psychology of people that "follow" the "hypocrites".
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Nanimose
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Posted: May 20th 2008
@ 01:46 AM
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Not saying that I can't leave this place anytime I want, ever since I was a christian theist I've liked to talk about God. I have a habit of it, but sometimes it gets overwhelming and seems too strong for my comfort. Is it safe and healthy to talk openly about the supernatural like there's a possibility for it? (I'm convinced that people make up things and that's the end of it).
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BeHereNow
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Posted: May 3rd 2008
@ 11:01 AM
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I'm interested in the non-theist side of this issue. As non-theists, we do not have one specific doctrine that we can point to for our answers. Nonetheless, we each consider ourselves to be moral beings, with established references of right and wrong. Every mentally competent human ponders questions as good and evil, and when you don't have a doctrine it can be a challenge.
So I'm not really looking for debates per se, or people critcizing others' opinions. Just a comparison of personal...
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spirit5er
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Posted: April 30th 2008
@ 04:14 AM
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not sure if there is a god, but i don't find anything wrong with "naturalism".
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Zeluvia
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Posted: April 15th 2008
@ 06:47 PM
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http://www.samharris.org/images/uploads/Sacks_Hirsch_Editorial.pdf
There is probably something wrong with my brain, because my first response to almost ANY input is disbelief, but then I am also a bit anti-social = p
Or, they need to study these reactions in elderly people....
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bandecoot
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Posted: April 14th 2008
@ 12:49 PM
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The reason I submit to the mental torture of reading the apologetics section and posting there from time to time.
I'm doing the Christians a favour, If they did not have us to beat up on they would turn on each other.
Behold: Christian X holds a position on something NOT related to Christianity. Christian Y holds an opposite view. Result? Go read the PoliSci board!
I am told that the situation gets much worse in the Christian only rooms, I would not know for sure as I dont read them very...
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Bagger_Vance
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Posted: March 25th 2008
@ 03:09 AM
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http://www.venganza.org/
The Flying Spaghetti Monster seems to be the most sensible way for me to maintain my intellectual integrity and still conform to the demands of theistic ways of thinking.
I'm not being faceitious. I could honestly say I belong to a church and that I am a man of faith...so long as there were no requests for further elaboration while also still having lax rules and intellectual freedom.
Plus it is full of kicks and giggles. I love reducto-ad-absurdum.
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LGM
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Posted: March 17th 2008
@ 03:44 PM
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Matt,
Feel free to use this thread to ask any Tweb naturalists questions about their experiences in transitioning from organized superstitious religions, and specifically Christianity, to naturalism, and where to seek out additional information and resources.
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zorathruster
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Posted: March 4th 2008
@ 02:35 PM
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There exists behaviors which are necessarily either moral or immoral. Moral behavior is a special category of behavior that is such based on some criteria. Immoral behavior likewise is categorized based on some criteria.
Objective morality is a way to differentiate specific behavior as moral. Objective Morality as proposed is a criteria that exists outside of the human mind. I have many objections to objective morality as asserted.
1. Objection from an intelligent mind perspective
How...
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Iconoclastithon
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Posted: February 4th 2008
@ 04:20 PM
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So, I'm not quite a PURE Deist{was once though}
I am an Anti-theistic Agnostic-Deist.
On that note, ask me anything you wish about deistic theory.
In Reason:
Icono:teeth:
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lao tzu
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Posted: January 28th 2008
@ 08:34 AM
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This thread is for non-theists only. If you believe in a god, post your comments elsewhere, please. Yes, this thread is also about Laura, aka Storico.
Elsewhere on this site, theists are consoling themselves with thoughts that Laura has gone on to a reward, that they will someday meet again, that this parting is not forever. But we know that's not the case. She is dead and that's the end of the story. For a time, memory of her will remain, but this too will pass.
While she was alive,...
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Zeluvia
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Posted: December 11th 2007
@ 07:40 AM
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http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/fulltext/117858891/HTMLSTART?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0
....interesting...especially the possible applications...
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zorathruster
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Posted: December 9th 2007
@ 11:45 AM
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I see unwillingness to follow rules might be a result of psychological factors. (teenagers who feel rules impose on their lives and it is an avenue to throw off oppression) Some people have imbalances in their brains which lead to incorrect functioning. (drug addicts who find the need for another fix of greater personal motivation than their inhibition against stealing) Some people are willing to compromise their social inhibitions against certain acts just because they think they can get...
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klm3
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Posted: October 15th 2007
@ 07:08 PM
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I’ve seen a lot of venial Christians and churches use tract or propaganda for lack of a better word. If they believe that this is an effective way to get there message out to the “lost” than why don’t atheist and agnostic organizations produce there own tracts for distribution. It’s got to be more effective than the smut for smut campaign that atheist group used in Texas.
I’ve been toying with the idea of passing out a freethinker pamphlet I created for school project to the Christian group...
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Zeluvia
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Posted: October 9th 2007
@ 10:06 AM
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Here is a post of Sam Harris's address to an "atheist" audience:
http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/sam_harris/2007/10/the_problem_with_atheism.htm
I agree with him.
Thoughts?
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Zeluvia
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Posted: September 6th 2007
@ 04:16 PM
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Okay, I posted this here to discuss with OTHER non-believers. This post is mine from another board, changed and edited to clarify my question to Keith Rex, whom I know most of you think is a troll, but, well I have nearly infinite patience, even with trolls.
But many times I see arguements about the existance of God go willy nilly all over the place, because people are trying to prove/disprove too many different things, covering too many aspects of the idea of God.
Carpe hit another good...
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zorathruster
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Posted: August 29th 2007
@ 02:46 AM
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How would we describe the social network that happens when humans form various levels of social bond? The people are bound by a common precept which appears to direct their actions. This common precept need not be true or valid to have an actual effect on the actions of people.
This tendency manifests itself in often weird acts to prove devotion to the group norms. An example is in the Amazon where the men build tall towers and tie vines to their ankles then jump off. The act proves they are...
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Bagger_Vance
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Posted: August 26th 2007
@ 12:55 PM
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I can tell you what makes a bad one because I happen to be one. Apparently if you mock god and the religious viewpoint you are a bad skeptic. Who knew? I thought coming to a religious website and voicing anti-religious views would make me the most popular fellow here. But there are some of you who for various reasons get what they call their respect. I'm dubious of how much respect they actually exhibit but still...what do you think makes a "good" skeptic? Hopefully some of the "good" ones will...
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Peter Kirby
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Posted: August 18th 2007
@ 02:39 PM
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Hello,
I would like to hear from nontheists that subscribe to "moral realism" or "ethical objectivism," however you would like to define those phrases.
If that describes you, please state what your position is. Optionally you can state why you hold it.
If you wish to argue against moral realism, please spin off your own thread. In this thread I would like simply to hear from those who hold to this position. I think that this format will encourage more of these nontheists to respond. ...
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Zeluvia
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Posted: August 7th 2007
@ 04:52 PM
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So, I was messing around with google, trying to find more explanations of honor/shame cultures, when I chanced upon some related articles. Posting this here to remove chances of discussion by theists of the various merits of different religions.
The first...
http://frontpagemag.com/Articles/Read.aspx?GUID={1D05C15D-A01A-409A-AB9B-9BDAD39DEE4D}
reponse:
http://drsanity.blogspot.com/2005/08/shame-arab-psyche-and-islam.html
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Zeluvia
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Posted: July 25th 2007
@ 06:52 AM
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Note to Mods: Deliberatly posting this in atheist only area to avoid evolution arguements.
From: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sciencenow/watch/comi-070724.html
Watched this last night, and one thing confused me. In the mouse group, the "fat" mouse mother was fed a special diet which affected her offsprings epigenetic expression...but when he talked about the third generation, he said some were born with the epigenetic expression without having to feed the parents a different diet.
Does...
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Bagger_Vance
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Posted: May 29th 2007
@ 06:48 PM
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I can say with all honesty that not one I've read on TWEBB has ever shook my foundations in the least but being a former christian I can say that a couple at least made good arguments at the time.
I think CS Lewis who gets hammered here and rightly so. In some ways he deserves to be discredited but he is also insanely clever, humorous, and fun to read. I think his great skill was making you want to believe that he was right. He could paint a landscape that made you want to be a part of it if...
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Mentalist
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Posted: May 29th 2007
@ 06:37 PM
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(to non-theists)
As a religion, how do you regard Christianity?
Such topics might include:
Is it more, less or equally as plausible than other religions?
Does it provide good and relevant lessons/teachings? More or less so than other religions?
Does it provide bad lessons/teachings? More or less so than other religions?
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Bagger_Vance
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Posted: May 28th 2007
@ 04:09 PM
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There is nothing more subjective and boring than a personal testimony. Christians get giddy and think that if they tell me how God spoke to their heart I will somehow be transformed. I don't get it. It only makes me wonder why God didn't speak to me or heal me. Not only does it show that God gave them preferential treatment but there is no way to verify that they are telling the truth. Are we supposed to take their word? God spoke to you? Then get him to speak right now. God healed you? Why...
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Bagger_Vance
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Posted: May 28th 2007
@ 03:28 PM
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I myself was quite the fundamentalist at one time. My de-conversion was very gradual. I started as fire and brimstone inerrantist. I studied and discussed and the more I read, saw, and discussed the more I saw nuance and doubt. I found myself bending over backwards to excuse things in the Bible and I really started disliking my fellow christians. :lol:
First it was little things. I acknowledged evolution as fact(I know that sounds lame but hey small steps). Then I moved from Biblical...
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autoartist
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Posted: May 28th 2007
@ 02:44 PM
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As some of you know I have been deconverted now for about 4 weeks.
Things are great by the way. I can't believe I was so scared to leave Christianity. I am so glad I did.
I was always a naturalist at heart.
Anyway, I was thinking as I was walking to my car from Wal-mart.
"How am I going to handle set backs in life?" You know the things that happen to us that are un-desireable.
Thanks for your input
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lao tzu
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Posted: May 28th 2007
@ 08:51 AM
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http://lippard.blogspot.com/2007/05/clark-adams-rip.html
"THOUGHTfully yours." Those of us who've had the privilege of seeing this closing signature may wish to visit the IIDB memorial thread.
http://www.iidb.org/vbb/showthread.php?t=208143
For those near Vegas, Judy will be posting information about the memorial services when it becomes available.
*raises a glass to a life well lived*
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MrFrankZito
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Posted: May 28th 2007
@ 01:31 AM
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In my nearly 25 years of life, rarely have I had the displeasure of looking death in the face. Unfortunately, that is the situation with which I currently must contend. My maternal grandfather, who has been sick with cancer for about a year, has been given a terminal prognosis. Although we are not sure how long he has—it could be weeks or months—everybody’s emotions are welling up as we prepare for the inevitable.
Although I never would presume to think my grief is comparable to that of my...
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FormerFundy
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Posted: May 27th 2007
@ 08:40 PM
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This thread is for non- believers only, there is another thread for believers to tell why they believe in God.
A national survey was done some time ago and I will reveal those results in one week but I want to see what kind of responses we get here first.
Please categorize the following reasons for why you think people believe in God as:
Very Important Reason(s)
Mildly Important Reason(s)
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Seasanctuary
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Posted: May 15th 2007
@ 05:40 PM
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A year or so ago I was asked to speak before a college youth group on Agnosticism. I was one of a series of guest speakers from non Christian religions (or religious viewpoints).
It must have gone over well, because I've been invited back for a similar series...this time for the high school youth group. It's meant to be instructional, more of a world religions class than anything apologetical. I'm laid back by nature, and have known this large church's leadership for a few years. So, I'm...
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Storico
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Posted: May 5th 2007
@ 12:09 AM
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Hey, guys. I was given permission to post this thread here, so I hope you don't feel like I'm stepping on your toes. I wanted to talk about a magazine full of very, very neat articles. I picked up the most recent copy of Skeptic Magazine a week or so ago because it was a feature on Carl Sagan and his work.
http://www.skeptic.com/news_images/news_magv13n1_cover.jpg
I wanted to talk to you guys about it, just coming from whatever stance you'd like to take on it. There was some neat evolution...
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