How do you become an Atheist?

Bill · Nov 27, 2012

GekiDan said:
Atheists are people who don't believe in God or any other gods. In short, they are the one who don't have a religion.

Since I have read many posts contradicting(that's what I thought) other religions here, especially Christianism. I really do believe that these people are Atheist. What is your religion when you were born? Where do you really believe? Science? And, when and how did you became an Atheist?

I was raised as a Catholic.

I don't see the need to choose between science and belief in God.

I was never an atheist, I was agnostic for quite a long time. Even though I was raised in a Catholic household and went to Catholic schools from 1st grade all the way up to and including my under-grad studies I never saw any evidence that God existed. I didn't really believe until I was in my 30's.

tecoyah · Nov 27, 2012

How did I become an Atheist?

Years studying Religion(S)....it was inevitable.

Hammer · Nov 27, 2012

tecoyah said:
How did I become an Atheist?

Years studying Religion(S)....it was inevitable.

Your posts related to religion don't reflect erudition but only simple bigotry.

Take your last post, #42, in this thread. It's simply an assertion that education led you to Atheism. You don't even attempt to provide any support for that assertion. So far, there's not a single word in in this entire thread from you that reflects that you have the first clue about any religion. I'm not saying you don't know anything about religion, but only that you haven't offered even the thinnest support for the assertion here that I've quoted.

In another thread, you reveal that you think the government should force a school to give up its First Amendment rights or else not be able to accept students with federal student aid (a totally unrelated program). That's not education, that's hateful bigotry -- that's the real source of your Atheism.

tecoyah · Nov 27, 2012

Hammer said:
Your posts related to religion don't reflect erudition but only simple bigotry.

Take your last post, #42, in this thread. It's simply an assertion that education led you to Atheism. You don't even attempt to provide any support for that assertion. So far, there's not a single word in in this entire thread from you that reflects that you have the first clue about any religion. I'm not saying you don't know anything about religion, but only that you haven't offered even the thinnest support for the assertion here that I've quoted.

In another thread, you reveal that you think the government should force a school to give up its First Amendment rights or else not be able to accept students with federal student aid (a totally unrelated program). That's not education, that's hateful bigotry -- that's the real source of your Atheism.

Oh...and sweet little Christians like the above, are another reason.

RoccoR · Nov 27, 2012

Zoomer, et al,

The God gene hypothesis proposes that a specific gene predisposes humans towards spiritual or mystic experiences.

I don't think the article, cited below, says that at all. Although it may be possible, it is unlikely. The theory is taking heat from all sides.

=Zoomer= said:
Rocco, neurological science disagrees with your basic assertion that a person's religious beliefs are "entirely learned". The theory is, we ARE genetically predisposed to believe in more than our 5 known senses tell us...

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn16687-humans-may-be-primed-to-believe-in-creation.html

food for thought~

(REFERENCES)

Why Belief in God Is Innate http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304198004575172233981688208.html

Are We Genetically Predisposed to Believe in God?
http://biologos.org/blog/are-we-genetically-predisposed-to-believe-in-god

The Fallacy of the God Gene
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeff-schweitzer/the-fallacy-of-the-god-ge_b_448024.html

Washington Post said:
LONDON — An American molecular geneticist has concluded after comparing more than 2,000 DNA samples that a person’s capacity to believe in God is linked to brain chemicals.
His findings have been criticized by leading clerics, who challenge the existence of a “God gene” and say the research undermines a fundamental tenet of faith — that spiritual enlightenment is achieved through divine transformation rather than the brain’s electrical impulses.
Dean Hamer, the director of the Gene Structure and Regulation Unit at the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, asked volunteers 226 questions in order to determine how spiritually connected they felt to the universe.
The higher their score, the greater the person’s ability to believe in a greater spiritual force and, Mr. Hamer found, the more likely they were to share the gene VMAT2.

Read more: Geneticist claims to have found 'God gene' in humans - Washington Times http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2004/nov/14/20041114-111404-8087r/#ixzz2DRylEcfE
Follow us: @washtimes on Twitter

PENTAGON BRIEFING ON REMOVING "The God Gene"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nADFJlAggnY

(COMMENT)

I think you will find the "God Gene" (VMAT-2) is more like a genetic weakness. The Pentagon has a research project (FUNVAC) to vaccinate religious fanatics and neutralize the VMAT-2. (See last Reference link.)

Not all genes are good for you. The "God Gene" is curable.

Most Respectfully,
R

Bill · Nov 27, 2012

RoccoR said:
Not all genes are good for you. The "God Gene" is curable.

Most Respectfully,
R

Do you think this is a good idea? Do you support doing this?

Hammer · Nov 27, 2012

Bill said:
Do you think this is a good idea? Do you support doing this?

Commies can be counted on to support things like this. How many millions of his own people did Mao kill? What percent of his country's population did Pol Pot kill? Atheists would happily sacrifice the health of practically their whole population in an effort to make them more amenable to Atheism.

The "God gene", though, at this point is nothing but a hypothesis.

=Zoomer= · Nov 27, 2012

RoccoR said:
Not all genes are good for you. The "God Gene" is curable.

Most Respectfully,
R

As a programmer, I would say, "It's a bug. Was supposed to default to '0' (off)".....

Bill · Nov 27, 2012

=Zoomer= said:
As a programmer, I would say, "It's a bug. Was supposed to default to '0' (off)".....

Bullcrap, being a programmer has nothing to do with this opinion.

=Zoomer= · Nov 27, 2012

Bill said:
Bullcrap, being a programmer has nothing to do with this opinion.

lol,,,,i know Bill. It was a joke, nothing more.

Bill · Nov 27, 2012

=Zoomer= said:
lol,,,,i know Bill. It was a joke, nothing more.

Hello World?

=Zoomer= · Nov 27, 2012

Bill said:
Hello World?

No, Rocco called the "God Gene" curable, and that not all genes are "good genes" (which I agree with).....Was just making an (obviously bad) joke that when we were created (computer lingo "implemented"), they (or God if you believe so) let that gene default to "On" instead of "Off"......a "computer bug" if you will......

Sorry for any confusion~

=Zoomer= · Nov 27, 2012

Rocco...Great references. The Fallacy of the "God Gene" is very powerful observation. All were good, and that one really nails it. Thanks~

tecoyah · Nov 28, 2012

Bill said:
Do you think this is a good idea? Do you support doing this?

If this was real, and a viable alternative to killing fanatics who commit violent acts that terrorize millions based on belief would it not be preferable?

If we could vaccinate the Jihad out of the world...there would be no "War on Terror"....if there were no side effects, I likely would support the idea.

Bill · Nov 28, 2012

tecoyah said:
If this was real, and a viable alternative to killing fanatics who commit violent acts that terrorize millions based on belief would it not be preferable?

If we could vaccinate the Jihad out of the world...there would be no "War on Terror"....if there were no side effects, I likely would support the idea.

My main issue here is that the premise seems to be that the "God gene" results in evil. I do not agree with that. Some people are manipulated through religion but can you prove that they actually believe in God?

Even if we could "vaccinate Jihad" out of the world, are we going to pretend that that solved a problem? There are plenty of violent, evil people on this planet who are not motivated by a belief in God.

The problem with Atheism is that it's an opinion, not a fact. An Atheist comes by his beliefs the same way a believer does, by evaluating "evidence" and then forming a conclusion based on that evidence. Some in here obviously do not believe in God, but I do. I am not bothered by the idea that others do not believe the things I believe, I say live and let live. An Atheist in this thread, on the other hand, is trying to pass off his opinion as fact and not only doesn't believe in "live and let live" but has suggested that people who hold beliefs different than his are almost entirely evil and should be subjected to genetic manipulation.

Now I ask, who's evil?

tecoyah · Nov 28, 2012

Bill said:
My main issue here is that the premise seems to be that the "God gene" results in evil. I do not agree with that. Some people are manipulated through religion but can you prove that they actually believe in God?

Even if we could "vaccinate Jihad" out of the world, are we going to pretend that that solved a problem? There are plenty of violent, evil people on this planet who are not motivated by a belief in God.

The problem with Atheism is that it's an opinion, not a fact. An Atheist comes by his beliefs the same way a believer does, by evaluating "evidence" and then forming a conclusion based on that evidence. Some in here obviously do not believe in God, but I do. I am not bothered by the idea that others do not believe the things I believe, I say live and let live. An Atheist in this thread, on the other hand, is trying to pass off his opinion as fact and not only doesn't believe in "live and let live" but has suggested that people who hold beliefs different than his are almost entirely evil and should be subjected to genetic manipulation.

Now I ask, who's evil?

I have never seen an Atheist push the lack of belief on others. Never had an Atheist knock on my door to "Save" me, and never seen an Atheist discriminate against an entire population of fellow human beings. I have never seen Genocide based on Atheist lack of belief, systematic hatred because an Atheist Book tells people to, or any Atheist, Anywhere demand they be treated special because they do not have a God.

tecoyah · Nov 28, 2012

As for the "Problem" with Atheism being that it is just opinion. Can we then assume every religion, God, and congregation on the Planet is a Problem?

Bill · Nov 28, 2012

tecoyah said:
I have never seen an Atheist push the lack of belief on others.

Soviet Union, almost any American college.

Never had an Atheist knock on my door to "Save" me, and never seen an Atheist discriminate against an entire population of fellow human beings.

How often do people knock on your door to save you? Is it evil when they do? Do other people knock on your door for other reasons and are you OK with that? Once again, I'm going to mention the Soviet Union in regards to discriminating against an entire group of people.

I have never seen Genocide based on Atheist lack of belief, systematic hatred because an Atheist Book tells people to,

Genocide is a very strong word, and it's pretty rare. What genocides specifically are you referring to?

or any Atheist, Anywhere demand they be treated special because they do not have a God.

We just had an example of that in this thread. I'd say that advocating for people who do not agree with you on one single issue to be genetically altered is asking to be treated pretty special.

tecoyah · Nov 28, 2012

Bill said:
Soviet Union, almost any American college.

Are you referring to science in these colleges? As I do not see factual education as "pushing" a belief...I see it as education. As for Stalin...granted he was an Atheist, but his actions had nothing to do with that and instead were political.

How often do people knock on your door to save you? Is it evil when they do? Do other people knock on your door for other reasons and are you OK with that? Once again, I'm going to mention the Soviet Union in regards to discriminating against an entire group of people.

The frequency of my doorbell ringing is unimportant in my reply, That it happens at all was my point...which is valid. It is certainly not evil, which is also not my point. My point seemed clear, but I will clarify:
As an Atheist I do not care, nor am I compelled in any way to convert others...so I do not.

Genocide is a very strong word, and it's pretty rare. What genocides specifically are you referring to?

No specifics, but it is not all that uncommon. Again....my point was not how often, but that no Atheist do so. Once is too often.

We just had an example of that in this thread. I'd say that advocating for people who do not agree with you on one single issue to be genetically altered is asking to be treated pretty special.

Which is not real, or happening, nor has it in the past. It is also not an Atheist movment....rather a military one.

Bill · Nov 28, 2012

tecoyah said:
Which is not real, or happening, nor has it in the past. It is also not an Atheist movment....rather a military one.

I see, when I attack Atheists, you see other motivations and don't blame Atheism, but when faith is attacked, you no longer see other motivation, you ignore secular concerns and motivations, faith is purely to blame.

BTW, is it still OK to genetically mutilate those who hold differeing opinions?

How do you become an Atheist?

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