Positive Aspects of Atheism?

[Vera_Ljuba]

What about giving God a chance, after all, He is God. Maybe you can try to figure out what is He’s way and try to take that and see what happens?

I gave all the chance during my life. He declined it. As long as I shall live, I will be open and willing. The ball is in HIS court.

so do you believe in God or not? This is a very confusing post.!

No, I don’t. But my beliefs are irrelevant. IF God wants to contact me, I am here, ready and willing to listen.

An atheist is a person who does not believe in God and does not want God in their life.

That is a non-sequitur. I would love to have a caring God in my life, IF there would be incontrovertible evidence that he exists, and is loving and caring. Who would not? But there is no evidence of God’s existence, AND his alleged benevolent nature is flatly contradicted by the observable state of affairs.

In a way they are already in Hell, because they do not want to be near God. The definition of Hell is the absence of God and how true it is!

If this existence is “hell”, I would have no problem with it. But the traditional concept of hell (for what there is NO evidence at all) is unending, horrible torture. Not mere separation from God. The funny thing is that even you - the believers - can agree just what heaven and hell would be.

Heaven will be an eternity of glorifying our beautiful and perfect and good God.

Do you have a video to support this?

An atheist always can come around and believe in God but If one remains an atheist until death, they will go to Hell because they are choosing to. Although this may seem a bit harsh, you must ask this question “Do you think atheists would even like to be in Heaven, where they must spend an eternity with God, when they wanted to live without God for their entire lives?”

Since God NEVER manifested his existence, what other choice do the atheists have? Give us a guided tour of heaven and hell, and then we could make an informed choice.

 

[Vera_Ljuba]

The funny thing is that even you - the believers - can agree just what heaven and hell would be.

Sorry. A typo needs to be corrected. The correct sentence would be: “The funny thing is NOT that even you - the believers - can agree just what heaven and hell would be.”

 

[Abba]

I gave all the chance during my life. He declined it. As long as I shall live, I will be open and willing. The ball is in HIS court.

It is good that you have found it in you to state you are open. I will take that as a step forward. I think another step you can take is to get rid of the label of atheist. The journey is long and why caring heavy luggage that is unneeded. This is your journey and you are seeking Truth, that is difficult enough as it is than to complicate matters having to defend a label. “The woods are lovely, dark and deep. But, I have promises to keep. And miles to go before I sleep. And miles to go before I sleep.”

Between you and me here and before Charlemagne III gets back and kicks us out of the thread for going off topic, , let’s get down to business a little bit. What exactly is it that you have done to give ‘chance’ to God to let you know He exists?

 

[Qoeleth]

I gave all the chance during my life. He declined it. As long as I shall live, I will be open and willing. The ball is in HIS court.

No, I don’t. But my beliefs are irrelevant. IF God wants to contact me, I am here, ready and willing to listen.

That is a non-sequitur. I would love to have a caring God in my life, IF there would be incontrovertible evidence that he exists, and is loving and caring. Who would not? But there is no evidence of God’s existence, AND his alleged benevolent nature is flatly contradicted by the observable state of affairs.

Since God NEVER manifested his existence, what other choice do the atheists have? Give us a guided tour of heaven and hell, and then we could make an informed choice.

I share your experiences. I was raised a Christian, drifted away, and came back. God has never really manifested Himself to me in any experience. My only evidence for God is the feeling of being in exile in this world, and a certain spontaneous feeling of love towards the Blessed Virgin, and compassion for Christ on the Cross.

But still, given the choice between believing in a God without evidence and NOTHING (I mean, the real nothing of the nihilist), I suggests it better to opt for believing in God.

I mean, if there’s no God, it doesn’t really matter if we believe in Him, does it? Since, in the end, everything will be nothing anyway…

 

[CHRISTINE77]

Sorry. A typo needs to be corrected. The correct sentence would be: “The funny thing is NOT that even you - the believers - can agree just what heaven and hell would be.”

Hell is the absence of God. It’s the correct definition.

 

[CHRISTINE77]

I gave all the chance during my life. He declined it. As long as I shall live, I will be open and willing. The ball is in HIS court.

No, I don’t. But my beliefs are irrelevant. IF God wants to contact me, I am here, ready and willing to listen.

That is a non-sequitur. I would love to have a caring God in my life, IF there would be incontrovertible evidence that he exists, and is loving and caring. Who would not? But there is no evidence of God’s existence, AND his alleged benevolent nature is flatly contradicted by the observable state of affairs.

If this existence is “hell”, I would have no problem with it. But the traditional concept of hell (for what there is NO evidence at all) is unending, horrible torture. Not mere separation from God. The funny thing is that even you - the believers - can agree just what heaven and hell would be.

Do you have a video to support this?

Since God NEVER manifested his existence, what other choice do the atheists have? Give us a guided tour of heaven and hell, and then we could make an informed choice.

Sorry there are no videos nor materialist “proofs”. The closest thing to proof is to look at the world around you before man destroyed it. Look at the sunsets, sunrises, animals, plants, stars and planets. That will give you an idea of heaven and God. Look at love and trust and hope. Those are manifestations of the Holy Spirit.

To know God you must have faith and realize that you need God.

There is not a manual, but there are many guides: the Bible, beautiful music, art, poetry: works that were/are inspired by God. If you will search, you will find. Don’t close yourself off in a cage of your own making.

 

[Dorothy]

Vera Ljuba,

<<My answer would be simple: I asked (not “demanded”) to see you, to have a conversation with you, and you NEVER responded. How could I have “loved” you. if you were hiding above the clouds? >>

Our Lord Jesus Christ, Second Person of the Blessed Trinity answered you with His infinite Love when He gave His life on the Cross for you.

Peace,

Dorothy

 

[AdamP88]

IMO, there are no good aspects of atheism, mostly it just leads to a rejection of objective morals and the idea that every moral act is relative.

 

[Abba]

Good morning.

IMHO, I think someone that is seeking to know if God exists or not, would do good to get rid of the label of ‘atheist.’ Why find yourself having to defend the mumblings of an alcoholic from London who may or may not have uttered them between lines of cocaine? And, you do not know the reasons certain people do not believe in God or refuse to.

You are blessed to be discussing with Catholics in your search. Suggesting that you drop the label is not an attempt to indoctrinate you. We don’t indoctrinate, we evangelize. We give you the Good News and then it is up to you. No tricks. In sects people are indoctrinated and are forced to take steps without using their reason. Not the case here. What I consider in that suggestion is that the journey although you take it as a member of the human race - it is very personal. God is personal.

It’s like a man choosing a wife or a woman a husband. It wouldn’t make a lot of sense for the man to consider 25 specific books and 10 selected speakers who belong to the male sex and what they have determined when he selects a wife. My example would not apply in some villages in Turkey where the mothers of the males are the ones to select the bride, but, I think you can appreciate my example. I think you would agree that it is a personal decision from the heart and soul of the man or woman who they would marry, right? It’s personal. It’s a similar situation with God. It’s very personal and deep. God enters into a personal and deep spiritual relationship with you.

I hope I succeeded in making my point. I am not the most eloquent person in town.

Good luck.

 

[HerCrazierHalf]

IMO, there are no good aspects of atheism, mostly it just leads to a rejection of objective morals and the idea that every moral act is relative.

Your* morality is also relative. Based on my interactions with Christians, in practice Christian (though not necessarily Catholic) morality is based on one’s interpretation of God.

*The more generic “your” as I do not personally know you.

 

[Charlemagne_III]

Between you and me here and before Charlemagne III gets back and kicks us out of the thread for going off topic, …

I don’t mind a little diversion here and there. But I do think the atheists/agnostics and whoever have decided to turn this thread away from a list of positives for atheism … because there aren’t any positives for atheism?

 

[inocente]

My God, if such people go to heaven, why not be an atheist?

Did you mean that to sound like belief is a chore, and if there’s no guaranteed reward for the chore, then why not be an atheist?

Catholics are going around vehemently criticizing Pope Francis and accusing him of not being a good Catholic and misguiding etc., because he said that salvation is open to atheists. People accuse him of being a liberal Pope and watering down the faith. In fact, these accusations are not true at all. I don’t recall Jesus ever saying that being a shepherd is an easy job. He did tell Peter he will be taken where he will not want to go.

And then, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?”. Perhaps the Pope is saying it’s for God to decide such things, and for God alone.

 

[Vera_Ljuba]

What exactly is it that you have done to give ‘chance’ to God to let you know He exists?

I am sorry, but I have no idea what you mean. I explicitly asked (not demanded!) God to manifest himself to me. God has no address, where I could go and bang on his door. All I can do is wait for God to come and then I will open the door - literally and figuratively.

 

[Vera_Ljuba]

I mean, if there’s no God, it doesn’t really matter if we believe in Him, does it? Since, in the end, everything will be nothing anyway…

It does for me, because it is not sufficient to believe that God exists. It is necessary to devote your life to God, to serve God. And that means a whole lot of actual activities, observing a bunch of rules, literally wasting your life on something that does not exist. Yes, at the end we shall all die, get buried and eventually forgotten. But our legacy will live on. As the saying goes: “the fun is in the journey and not the destination”.

 

[Vera_Ljuba]

Hell is the absence of God. It’s the correct definition.

In this existence we are separated from God - and it does not look like hell.

Sorry there are no videos nor materialist “proofs”. The closest thing to proof is to look at the world around you before man destroyed it. Look at the sunsets, sunrises, animals, plants, stars and planets. That will give you an idea of heaven and God. Look at love and trust and hope. Those are manifestations of the Holy Spirit.

That is called cherry-picking. If you think that “beauty” is evidence for God, then look at “ugly” stuff.

 

[Charlemagne_III]

It does for me, because it is not sufficient to believe that God exists. It is necessary to devote your life to God, to serve God. And that means a whole lot of actual activities, observing a bunch of rules, literally wasting your life on something that does not exist. Yes, at the end we shall all die, get buried and eventually forgotten. But our legacy will live on. As the saying goes: “the fun is in the journey and not the destination”.

You cannot know for a certainty that God does not exist, therefore you cannot say with certainty that believing in him results in a “whole lot of actual activities, observing a bunch of rules, literally wasting your life on something that does not exist.”

Actually, there is some fun in the journey, but also much pain for everyone.

If one gets to the right destination, it’s all fun. You are will to forego that for lots of pain at the wrong destination?

So in the end this is your list of positives for atheism?

Not having to follow rules and having lots of fun along the way?

 

[Vera_Ljuba]

You cannot know for a certainty that God does not exist, therefore you cannot say with certainty that believing in him results in a “whole lot of actual activities, observing a bunch of rules, literally wasting your life on something that does not exist.”

I know with absolute certainty that “married bachelors” do NOT exist, so all those people who base their life upon observing the commandments ostensibly issued by “married bachelors” DO waste their time.

 

[Charlemagne_III]

I know with absolute certainty that “married bachelors” do NOT exist, so all those people who base their life upon observing the commandments ostensibly issued by “married bachelors” DO waste their time.

Being a bachelor has nothing to do with the fate of your immortal soul.

Please get back on track. Since you cannot know for a certainty there is no God, you cannot know for a certainty that having all the fun you like with no guilt trips is really the best way to go.

Anyway, good luck with that gamble.

See you on the other side, or not. :sad_bye:

 

[CHRISTINE77]

In this existence we are separated from God - and it does not look like hell.

That is called cherry-picking. If you think that “beauty” is evidence for God, then look at “ugly” stuff.

Okay stay in Hell.

 

[Tantum_ergo]

I know with absolute certainty that “married bachelors” do NOT exist, so all those people who base their life upon observing the commandments ostensibly issued by “married bachelors” DO waste their time.

Ah, so the Jewish people, the Christian people, the Muslim people. . .not to mention those people like Buddhists, Shinto, Hindu who look upon their founders as a god or gods, and who obey commandments that are common to just about every group of people, ‘theistic’ or not, are just wasting their time.

Because unless their ‘commandments’ were brought about by plain old humans, agreed upon by the majority, changed to suit whatever tastes of the current society demanded, they’re wasting their time.

But ‘plain old humans’ in prehistory, whose religious practices if any are obscure, came up with most of those ‘married bachelor commandments’ all on their own.

Now just how did they manage that?

And if later generations decided they wanted to ‘make up some god’, how come they didn’t change around a lot of those pesky things like not killing, or not stealing? I mean, they could make up literally ANYTHING, and if it was supposed to be 'GOD", well gee, what a great way to get some of that fine happy life and have it be ‘God-ordained’, right? If humans want happiness above all, why are so many of the ‘natural law’ commandments aimed at curtailing individual happiness? For ‘society’s sake?" But society is just a bunch of individuals working together for some reason or other. It’s fluid. You don’t like your ‘society’, you can opt out, move, seek out a more congenial one. What makes ‘society’ more important than the people within it? Sheer numbers? The idea of somebody ‘taking the risk’ to help a drowning man is one on one. "Self preservation’ is a huge hardwire of the human personality. What makes it the acknowledged moral right action, from the time of the cave people to today, for any John Doe seeing a person in danger to risk HIS LIFE for that person? Why should he? Doesn’t John have a family himself? Isn’t his life just as important? But John has that desire to ‘help’, and instead of being vanquished by the ‘self preservation’ desire, John will feel not just that he should help, but that he is doing wrong if he does NOT help.

How does this (as well as many other moral rights) get explained by the atheists? How did humanity come up with this ‘independently’, why is it so universal, what ‘purpose’ does it serve that can be satisfactorily explained, and why has it lasted so long?