It's been my experience that Atheists love to show up to religious threads. They get to have their say. They get to destroy their opponents. They get to prove how cool they are in the world of philosophy.
But this is why I say they are cowards. Because they are afraid to reveal what they believe.[1] For instance, what do Atheists believe?[2]
Nothing.[3] One common doctrine.[4] God doesn't exist. An argument based on a negative.[5] That is it.[6] Nothing else. We are not allowed to know what else they believe - because there is no common factor.
Hence why Atheists are COWARDS.[7]They criticize - but without fear of being criticized. That is not criticism. That is safe ground. Bogus. really.[8]
[1] Failure to do something out of fear is not necessarily cowardice. I am afraid to jump under passing trains and therefore I don't. How about you? Are you afraid to jump under passing trains ?
[2] That varies, but most atheists believe the earth is round and few atheists are afraid to reveal that.
[3] Can you prove that atheists believe nothing ?
[4] Belief in the nonexistence of something hardly qualifies as a doctrine.
[5] You are mistaken. Atheism is not an argument but a (lack of) belief.
[6] If that is it, then, contrary to what you claim, atheists have nothing to reveal and therefore cannot be afraid to reveal anything.
[7] You claim to have identified some problems with atheism and atheists, but fail to make the connection with the attribution of cowardice. Yet you repeatedly claim they are cowardly. Bald assertions are typical for theists.
[8] Most atheists don't pick their belief to make debates more challenging. They just want to believe in reality. That does indeed make their position easier to rationally defend than most theistic positions. You may see that as a drawback, but most people don't. Moreover, if one wants more challenge in debates, one can choose to defend a position one doesn't hold.
Are there more doctrines for the atheist than there is no God? No. nary a one. LOL! laughable. And weak.[9] Cowardly really. there is no other words that can account for this state of being.[10] A worldview - that is not really a worldview - a position - that is not really a position - a statement that allows no criticism.[11] Imagine if we tried to apply to that any religion? It would be laughed out of the stadium.[12] that is why Atheism is cowardly. One rule for them.
My view is that only people with worldviews should be allowed to contribute in a religious forum.[13] An atheist ought be rejected unless they can provide a worldview to be considered. Unless this occurs - then there is no basis of comparing and contrasting. There is no basis for conversation.
Unless an atheist is able to come up with a worldview - then the atheist's opinions ought not be welcome.[14]
We should not be permitted to criticize others unless we have something alternative to offer. Atheists have nothing to offer - of their own admission [15] - so why ought we subject to ANY of their criticisms.[16] By admitting they have no other doctrines, they admit they use religious doctrines to live their lives.[17]
[9] The narrowness of the scope of a concept is not a flaw.
[10] The word you were looking for is reason.
[11] You are mistaken. Atheism does not prohibit criticism.
[12] Yahweh does not accept criticism. When do you plan on laughing him out of the stadium ?
[13] I disagree, but in my opinion you are entitled to share your opinion, even though it is not relevant here because lacking a worldview is not intrinsic to atheism.
[14] You clearly dislike freedom of speech. There are forums where atheists are censored, not because they can't come up with a worldview, but because theists dislike being embarrassed.
[15] You are mistaken again. I have not admitted I have nothing to offer.
[16] If your worldview were able to stand up to scrutiny, you would be open to criticism to show that it is. If you favoured reality-belief over God-belief you would be open to criticism to learn about potential flaws in your worldview.
[17] How so ?
What do non-smokers believe? Nothing. This is essentially what you’re arguing. Most atheists just live their lives just as religious people do.
Thanks Reece, but you are incorrect. That is not what I am asking. There is no reason for a non-smoker to come to a religious forum as a non-smoker. Atheists do come intentionally as atheists.[18] They ask questions - fair enough - they criticize - again fair enough - but when a theist starts to question the atheist - the smoke screen comes up.[19] We don't actually believe anything.[20] Not that you can pin on me as an atheist.
Hence your comparison is flawed.
[18] Correction: Some atheists come debating here as atheists. Most atheists don't debate relegion.
[19] In case I have inappropriately raised a smoke screen when faced with one of your questions, please point out such instance.
[20] “I don't know.” is sometimes preferable over some extraordinary explanation. Do you have an explanation for every paranormal phenomenon ?
It wouldn’t be so frustrating if you had enough evidence to meet the burden of proof you give yourself when you make a claim, such as “a god exists”.
Do you mean for you or theists? I find it frustrating that atheists - choose not to give a reason. They don't think that's necessary. And for the record, theists give excellent reasons for why they believe in God all the time.[21] It is just that non-theists choose to believe that they are weak reasons. That doesn't mean that the standard is not met - it only means that the atheist doesn't understand what the correct standard is.[22] It happens in jury trials all of the time. Lawyers tend to call it bias. It's one of the reasons we like to select juries.
[21] When has that paradigm shift occurred ? Until recently, theists avoided providing good reasons for their beliefs as if that would give them the plague.
[22] Flat-earthers give excellent reasons for why they believe the earth is flat. It is just that round-earthers choose to believe that they are weak reasons.
Can we agree atheism and even theism to a lesser degree doesn’t represent a persons whole identity?
Yet the atheist come here and tell the theists all the time that that part of their life is their business and they should get to tell them that they shouldn't practice it, they shouldn't get to believe it and they're stupid and they're evil and they're mentally retarded and they're abusing their kids.
Have you ever wondered why you are unable to back up your claims ?
This is why I find the atheist position so well cowardly. It is permitted to attack my views - which incidentally I am ok with - since it will help me understand my own views better. Yet, it never provides an alternative - except - there is no god. And that is it.[23]
It fails to engage properly with its own position. So not only is it cowardly, it is stupid.[24] And self-demeaning. Yet for whatever reason thinks it is objective, rational, and elitist. and somehow morally superior. True not all atheists think that way. Yet not thinking it doesn't remove it from their lips.
[23] You are mistaken. The atheist does not always shy away from attempting to explain wordly mysteries. Often occurs a situation where a theist makes a claim that an atheist challenges. The theist, being unable to back up his/her claim, then challenges the atheist to provide an alternative explanation. The atheist often complies and the following discussion is then about the atheist's beliefs, allowing the theist to get away with a bald assertion.
[24] Your fallacy of choice is the non-sequitur. That atheism does not properly engage with its own position does not imply it is cowardly or stupid.
But how can an idea - since it is clearly not more than that - it is self professedly not a worldview, somehow take on the persona that it can destroy entire worldviews? It logically just can't do that. An idea must fit within a context - a worldview to have such a self-important view of itself. Yet as soon as it does it, it effectively destroys itself as an idea only.
First, idea is a poor word for the concept of atheism. Better is (lack of belief)
Would it make you feel better that I no longer feel attached to the label "atheist"? Since it comes with baggage on both sides and since someone else's understanding of the term (you in thiscase) cannot change my actual position I have come to refer to myself as simply someone who does not believe in any god(s)
In any case I am more than happy to discuss MY views and beliefs so long as you understand that they are not necessarily representative of the larger community of those who do not believe in any god(s).
Call yourself whatever you want. That is a matter for yourself. Not me. This was not a topic about changing people's points of view. It was a topic I started out the frustration of some on this site - and wrongly I made it general.
I have never had a problem with you nor with most of the atheists on this site. Mostly, you are agreeable even when you are disagreeing with me. It doesn't normally get to personal and helps the conversation. I apologize I made this such a general post.
Indeed. Atheists are not cowards. Some atheists are cowards, as are some members of almost any group.