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Materialism / Atheism summarized ...

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  • Materialism / Atheism summarized ...

    Alex Rosenberg is the R. Taylor Cole Professor in the Department of Philosophy at Duke University. He states the following in his book The Atheist’s Guide to Reality: Enjoying Life Without Illusions (New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2011), 1-3:



    "Everyone seems to know what life’s persistent questions are. . . .

    This book aims to provide the correct answers to most of the persistent questions. . . .



    Here is a list of some of the questions and their short answers (expanded in Rosenberg's book)...


    Is there a God? ...... No

    What is the nature of reality? ...... What physics says it is.

    What is the purpose of the universe? ...... There is none.

    What is the meaning of life? ...... Ditto.

    Why am I here? ...... Just dumb luck.

    Does prayer work? ...... Of course not.

    Is there a soul? Is it immortal? ...... Are you kidding?

    Is there free will? ...... Not a chance.

    What happens when we die? ...... Everything pretty much goes on as before, except us.

    What is the difference between right and wrong, good and bad? ...... There is no moral difference between them.

    Why should I be moral? ...... Because it makes you feel better than being immoral.

    Is abortion, euthanasia, suicide, paying taxes, foreign aid, or anything else you don’t like forbidden, permissible, or sometimes obligatory? ...... Anything goes.

    What is love, and how can I find it? Love is the solution to a strategic interaction problem. ...... Don’t look for it; it will find you when you need it.

    Does history have any meaning or purpose? ...... It’s full of sound and fury, but signifies nothing.

    Does the human past have any lessons for our future? ...... Fewer and fewer, if it ever had any to begin with.



    That's it in a nutshell. Here's the one thing that I find most 'amusing' about such people: While the above is their stated position, they live their life quite often CONTRADICTING what they (say they) believe. As just one example among many, such people complain and yell the loudest when they feel that they've been "wronged". But wait, don't they believe that there is no moral difference between right and wrong, good and bad? Don't they teach their children to do the "right" thing? And while we're at it, what standard do they use to tell right from wrong, good from bad? Their own standard? Who do they think they're kidding?

    In short, they are contradictions and hypocrisy on the hoof (but try telling them that). Hehe

    Jorge

  • #2



    Might not be the best place for this thread

    I'm always still in trouble again

    "You're by far the worst poster on TWeb" and "TWeb's biggest liar" --starlight (the guy who says Stalin was a right-winger)
    "Overall I would rate the withdrawal from Afghanistan as by far the best thing Biden's done" --Starlight
    "Of course, human life begins at fertilization that’s not the argument." --Tassman

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    • #3
      Moderated By: Zymologist

      Thread moved to a more appropriate area.

      ***If you wish to take issue with this notice DO NOT do so in this thread.***
      Contact the forum moderator or an administrator in Private Message or email instead. If you feel you must publicly complain or whine, please take it to the Padded Room unless told otherwise.

      I DENOUNCE DONALD J. TRUMP AND ALL HIS IMMORAL ACTS.

      Comment


      • #4
        Originally posted by Jorge View Post
        Alex Rosenberg is the R. Taylor Cole Professor in the Department of Philosophy at Duke University. He states the following in his book The Atheist’s Guide to Reality: Enjoying Life Without Illusions (New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2011), 1-3:



        "Everyone seems to know what life’s persistent questions are. . . .

        This book aims to provide the correct answers to most of the persistent questions. . . .



        Here is a list of some of the questions and their short answers (expanded in Rosenberg's book)...


        Is there a God? ...... No

        What is the nature of reality? ...... What physics says it is.

        What is the purpose of the universe? ...... There is none.

        What is the meaning of life? ...... Ditto.

        Why am I here? ...... Just dumb luck.

        Does prayer work? ...... Of course not.

        Is there a soul? Is it immortal? ...... Are you kidding?

        Is there free will? ...... Not a chance.

        What happens when we die? ...... Everything pretty much goes on as before, except us.

        What is the difference between right and wrong, good and bad? ...... There is no moral difference between them.

        Why should I be moral? ...... Because it makes you feel better than being immoral.

        Is abortion, euthanasia, suicide, paying taxes, foreign aid, or anything else you don’t like forbidden, permissible, or sometimes obligatory? ...... Anything goes.

        What is love, and how can I find it? Love is the solution to a strategic interaction problem. ...... Don’t look for it; it will find you when you need it.

        Does history have any meaning or purpose? ...... It’s full of sound and fury, but signifies nothing.

        Does the human past have any lessons for our future? ...... Fewer and fewer, if it ever had any to begin with.



        That's it in a nutshell. Here's the one thing that I find most 'amusing' about such people: While the above is their stated position, they live their life quite often CONTRADICTING what they (say they) believe. As just one example among many, such people complain and yell the loudest when they feel that they've been "wronged". But wait, don't they believe that there is no moral difference between right and wrong, good and bad? Don't they teach their children to do the "right" thing? And while we're at it, what standard do they use to tell right from wrong, good from bad? Their own standard? Who do they think they're kidding?

        In short, they are contradictions and hypocrisy on the hoof (but try telling them that). Hehe

        Jorge
        Sounds fine to me.
        “He felt that his whole life was a kind of dream and he sometimes wondered whose it was and whether they were enjoying it.” - Douglas Adams.

        Comment


        • #5
          Originally posted by Jorge View Post
          Here is a list of some of the questions and their short answers (expanded in Rosenberg's book)...
          I disagree with about 2/3rds of the short-answers given there.

          Do you think it is reasonable to think that one set of answers is indicative of the views of all atheists? Seems a bit like expecting all Christians to agree on theology.
          "I hate him passionately", he's "a demonic force" - Tucker Carlson, in private, on Donald Trump
          "Every line of serious work that I have written since 1936 has been written, directly or indirectly, against totalitarianism and for democratic socialism" - George Orwell
          "[Capitalism] as it exists today is, in my opinion, the real source of evils. I am convinced there is only one way to eliminate these grave evils, namely through the establishment of a socialist economy" - Albert Einstein

          Comment


          • #6
            Originally posted by Jorge View Post
            Alex Rosenberg is the R. Taylor Cole Professor in the Department of Philosophy at Duke University. He states the following in his book The Atheist’s Guide to Reality: Enjoying Life Without Illusions (New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2011), 1-3:
            Rosenberg is just one atheist among millions alive today. Was he appointed to be the atheist pope when I wasn't watching? What makes you think he has the definitive answers to what atheism is all about?

            Comment


            • #7
              Originally posted by Doug Shaver View Post
              Rosenberg is just one atheist among millions alive today. Was he appointed to be the atheist pope when I wasn't watching? What makes you think he has the definitive answers to what atheism is all about?
              While atheists like to view themselves as wildly individualistic and in possession of an amorphous set of beliefs, there are certain logically necessary conclusions that arise from the premise that God does not exist, and it fascinates me how strongly many atheists object to some of those conclusions.
              Some may call me foolish, and some may call me odd
              But I'd rather be a fool in the eyes of man
              Than a fool in the eyes of God


              From "Fools Gold" by Petra

              Comment


              • #8
                Originally posted by Mountain Man View Post
                While atheists like to view themselves as wildly individualistic and in possession of an amorphous set of beliefs, there are certain logically necessary conclusions that arise from the premise that God does not exist, and it fascinates me how strongly many atheists object to some of those conclusions.
                Really! What are the logically necessary conclusions that arise from the premise that gods don't exist...apart from the lack of mystical wish fulfilment that is.
                “He felt that his whole life was a kind of dream and he sometimes wondered whose it was and whether they were enjoying it.” - Douglas Adams.

                Comment


                • #9
                  Originally posted by Mountain Man View Post
                  there are certain logically necessary conclusions that arise from the premise that God does not exist
                  You say so. Now prove it. Show me one of those necessary conclusions and demonstrate its necessity.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Originally posted by Doug Shaver View Post
                    Was he appointed to be the atheist pope when I wasn't watching?
                    No, for I am The Atheist Pope. He and I are not One.

                    What makes you think he has the definitive answers to what atheism is all about?
                    He does not. I inerrantly declare that he is wrong on many Truths of Atheism.





                    I disbelieve, therefore I am
                    "I hate him passionately", he's "a demonic force" - Tucker Carlson, in private, on Donald Trump
                    "Every line of serious work that I have written since 1936 has been written, directly or indirectly, against totalitarianism and for democratic socialism" - George Orwell
                    "[Capitalism] as it exists today is, in my opinion, the real source of evils. I am convinced there is only one way to eliminate these grave evils, namely through the establishment of a socialist economy" - Albert Einstein

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Originally posted by Doug Shaver View Post
                      You say so. Now prove it. Show me one of those necessary conclusions and demonstrate its necessity.
                      The list in the OP is a good place to start.
                      Some may call me foolish, and some may call me odd
                      But I'd rather be a fool in the eyes of man
                      Than a fool in the eyes of God


                      From "Fools Gold" by Petra

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Originally posted by Mountain Man View Post
                        The list in the OP is a good place to start.
                        There is no demonstration that any of them follows necessarily from atheism. You might as well claim that since Mitt Romney is a Republican and a Mormon, anyone who is a Republican has to be a Mormon.

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Originally posted by Tassman View Post
                          Really! What are the logically necessary conclusions that arise from the premise that gods don't exist...apart from the lack of mystical wish fulfilment that is.
                          I should very much like to know the answers to that question.

                          Comment

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