Atheists....

I agree that proof shouldn't enter into it (I believe it was Kierkegaard who said that a Christian needs to believe in God precisely BECAUSE His existence cannot be proven, or something to that effect).

And consequently, I call myself an agnostic because I cannot find enough... consistence in the world for me to believe in either one or the other. There's too much wonders in the world for me to say "All I believe is what I can see with my own senses", yet too much stupidity and cruelty for me to believe that there is any intelligence behind it. And so, I remain on the fence, unable to exclude either alternative. (Which is a very blunt way of explaining an process of thought which for me is in its third decade by now, but...)

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Originally Posted by beer good

Carl von Linné - the father of modern botany - suggested that the forbidden fruit was bananas. Because A) they're so sweet it's almost impossible to resist eating them, and B) their leaves are several feet long and cover a lot more than a fig leaf could. (I'm sure Freud might have something to say about the theory of Eve being unable to resist a banana...) :banana:

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I'm allergic to bananas. Beer good, bananas bad. Just think, if it had been Xamonas & Eve, we night still be in Eden. :lol:

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Originally Posted by Xamonas Chegwe

I'm allergic to bananas. Beer good, bananas bad. Just think, if it had been Xamonas & Eve, we night still be in Eden. :lol:

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I do not get the sense of your words, my firend.

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Originally Posted by Xamonas Chegwe

I'm allergic to bananas. Beer good, bananas bad. Just think, if it had been Xamonas & Eve, we night still be in Eden. :lol:

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What about banana beer? http://www.clicksmilies.com/s0105/er...smiley-015.gif

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Originally Posted by water lily

But I have a question for the atheists: Would you prefer it if God did exist, but are convinced that he does not or that it is impossible? Or do you prefer it that he doesn't?

Hope that was clear.

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Very clear. First, let me say I love your avatar, because I don't believe I've done that yet. :D It's lovely.

Personally, I'm not at all opposed to the idea that God may exist. I think it would add some beauty and magic to the world if there were a guiding hand behind it all. It's not an aversion to the idea that caused my disbelief; it's simply not in me to believe. I think it would be lovely if elves and fairies existed, too, and unicorns. Inside me is always a bit of sadness—well, a lot of sadness, but a bit of it quardoned off to the idea that there are no magic gardens and groves of talking animals having tea parties and things, like in Disney movies. But that's a wish, not a reality. I think of God the same way.

Perhaps I am really an agnostic, but I never describe myself as such because, in my experience, the word holds some pretentious associations. I've heard people describe themselves as such who then go on to say scathing things about religion, and I feel as though they only adopted the label to sound more open-minded than they are. In theory, I believe I should give equal credit to the ideas of the religious as I do to those of athiests. I think there is no way of knowing whether or not there really is a God, and I would be pleasantly surprised to die and discover that there is yet more to come. But, in practice, the gut feeling inside of me is that there is not, and so I describe myself as an atheist.

:eek2: Ladies and gentlemen, this thread is now hijacked.

Worry not, XXdarkclarityXX (do you have a real name by which we can call you?), I have reclaimed it. :D

Name? Dissent is my name, and it is I who plagues the realm of tranquility in this tangible world which we call life. My identity is that which articulates the nature of my personality. Therefore you may call me dissent. Ahhh the amusement of the intellectually blind! The splendor of those who speak but know not! How the folly of human views have perverted the truth, such a melancholy tale is this! No, there is nothing left now. Merely the remnants of dark clarity. Find what you can in the dark and elucidate. Find a target in the dark and take a shot. It's all that's left. When the light invades the void of visual knowledge that is the darkness, the truth will surely nullify the effort made by your senses to rationalize such a phenomenon. Enlighten and be awakened! Hide not in the darkness, for the light is what is needed now...take not what you want, take what is necessary! The time has arisen to abandon the depths of the unknown to begin traveling the path which leads to what is and what can be. Be not idle, be not still in the dark! All will be dark in the realm of the unknown...

Careful around whom you say the words "take a shot," XXdarkclarityXX...:p


http://www.websmileys.com/sm/violent/sterb001.gifhttp://www.websmileys.com/sm/violent/sterb043.gif

Just keep your quiver full, Robin....

Aww, just one shaft--did you mean "dissent"?

Otherwise, a very eloquent résumé, XXdarkclarityXX! (Do you happen to have a nickname to go with that?)

Indeed, I meant dissent. You wish to have my nickname? t'is.....Tim! Yes, it is my name. Thou may calleth me Tim.

...Tim? Well, if you say so...

Interestingly enough, I've also heard theories that the forbidden fruit of infamy was actually a pomegranate.

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Originally Posted by RobinHood3000

...Tim? Well, if you say so...

Interestingly enough, I've also heard theories that the forbidden fruit of infamy was actually a pomegranate.

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Sure you're not thinking of persephone? Mind you, both legends could come from the same original source I suppose. Both involve a woman being tempted with fruit. Personally, I find that plying them with drink and professing an interest in whatever garbage they come out with is more effective. :lol:

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Originally Posted by beer good

What about banana beer? http://www.clicksmilies.com/s0105/er...smiley-015.gif

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Sadly that has the same effect - thus proving that it does contain real bananas. I prefer beer that doesn't make my mouth swell up like this. :rage:

I cannot for the life of me make anything out of about half this thread.I realilze that I have been head injured so perhaps that accounts for it. Darkclarity-Tim if you will you are so confusing to me. All this time I have seen you as a troubled unhappy belligerant sort of person but then you say we mayest call thee Tim and just how you put it in that beautiful prose about well what I am not sure, I see that I have had a totally wrong impression of you. You have much more depth and swirls of humanity and emotion that is kind than I knew. But it doesn't help me understand what you are really saying or banana beer or any of this stuff. help me I am so confused
Am I to believe that atheists are always swimming in dark seas, have a lot of allergies to fruit, love beer and in general are hopeless? :confused:
please someone other than Em who made perfect sense, help me understand.
please and thankyou.

Rachel,

I think all of us (and atheism in general) is like a prism. It LOOKS clear and pretty, and it seems to be pretty simple. It's just a cool looking rock, right? Well, shine some light on it and what do you get? The full color spectrum, which initially scares the hell out of you because you're not sure of what to make of the prism because it just got WAY more complicated. People and atheists are the same way. I am not a belligerent individual, I only acted that way because I was under some very falsified impressions that I have rid myself of. Have a great day.

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Originally Posted by Xamonas Chegwe

I'm allergic to bananas. Beer good, bananas bad. Just think, if it had been Xamonas & Eve, we night still be in Eden. :lol:

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Holy crap. I'm allergic to bananas too! I've never heard of that in anyone else before! Are you allergic to carrots and celery too?

Sorry to interrupt the ideas that were going on in this thread, but I can't let something so special as this pass me by. I'd have sent a PM, but that seems less interesting.

Rachel,

Yes - you got it in one. All atheists are allergic to bananas, love beer and are hopeless. Glad that's sorted out. Let's talk about muffins instead - what's your favourite flavour?

XXdcXX errrm...Tim (Are you related to Tim the evil enchanter in Monty Python & the Holy Grail? (a far more convincing version of the legend than Dan Brown's, if you'll excuse the double parentheses.))

Actually, I think you'll find that most people are multi-faceted. The ones that appear not to be are faking and I don't trust them an inch! For the record, I'm starting to think you may be more trustworthy than my original assessment.

As I've said elsewhere - superficiality is only skin deep - and that's nowhere near as flippant as it sounds.

Unspar,

I luuuuuurrve celery and have no problem with carrots. I have a slight allergy to avocados though, how about you?

"Follow, but follow only if ye be men of valor! For the entrance to this cave is guarded by a creature so fowl, so cruel that no man yet has fought with it and lived. Bones of four fifty men lie strewn about its lair! So, brave knights, if you do doubt your courage, or your strength, come nay further, for death awaits you all . . . with nasty big pointy teeth!" - Tim the Enchanter, brethren of mine

XC, you are most correct in your assertions regarding my identity. My kin is none other than the Enchanter known as Tim. Watch out, for a dangerous bunny rabbit lurks within the ravages of this forum. Good day to all.

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Originally Posted by XXdarkclarityXX

"Follow, but follow only if ye be men of valor! For the entrance to this cave is guarded by a creature so fowl, so cruel that no man yet has fought with it and lived. Bones of four fifty men lie strewn about its lair! So, brave knights, if you do doubt your courage, or your strength, come nay further, for death awaits you all . . . with nasty big pointy teeth!" - Tim the Enchanter, brethren of mine

XC, you are most correct in your assertions regarding my identity. My kin is none other than the Enchanter known as Tim. Watch out, for a dangerous bunny rabbit lurks within the ravages of this forum. Good day to all.

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Fortunately, I travel not far without possessing in my possession the true and only HOLY HAND-GRENADE (I'm not going to sink so low as to do the "three shalt thou count..." routine - funny though it is). Bring on thy rabbit. Thou heathen!

oops, just remembered, I'm a heathen as well. You'd better take that as a compliment then.

You thought Xamonas that because I care deeply about people and know that there is something unique and beautiful in each one that I was a skin deep lollipop fruitcake unreal fake?
I LOATHE muffins. The very thought of them makes my stomach do gymnastics I never thought were possible.
Darkclarity I ask your forgiveness for even remotely thinking you less than the rich person you are. And now that I remember I also ask your forgiveness Xamonas(remember the s, remember the s) for wrongly assuming something way back that earned me the revolting hated dreaded loathed name of dude.
Now then, do atheists believe in meat eating or vegetarianism or do they just subsist on berries and beer?
You have a kitty cat Xamonas. WEll well there goes the last vestige of your snarly persona. hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaah ahahahaha!!!!!!

Actually, I did have a pet cat once - his name was Harry the B******. He gave me these scars. Perhaps I should have realised he didn't like playing "throw the cat into the air" a little earlier. Nowadays I just breed them for restaurants.

I actually am a vegetarian, (if you don't count cannibalism) but I make an exception with cats, they're soooooo juicy!

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Originally Posted by Xamonas Chegwe

I actually am a vegetarian, (if you don't count cannibalism) but I make an exception with cats, they're soooooo juicy!

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Do you prefer them roasted too?

I rescue cats and love them and feed them and find homes for them, you eat them.
Well at least we have cats in common.
(by the way your prose on Riesa has to be the funniest thing I have read since a child.I shudder to think what sort of child you were, cute or not)So as I see it atheists are vegetarians that see cats as a sort of hairy veggie?(trying to keep on topic here)

Ha, the discussion has taken an amusing turn! The chosen path now leads toward the realm of the grotesque! Fear not, for safeguarding one's mind will lead to a most needed diversion. Let not the thoughts of a few pollute the minds of many! Animals we are, and to animals we shall return...

Well, it seems to suit that the atheists' corner of the religion forum would be the most off-topic and darkly humored of the bunch. "We" seem to hijack every other thread and turn it to the subject of atheism, so in the one thread specifically regarding said topic, hijacking necessitates turning the conversation in another, more cat-eating-oriented direction. :rolleyes:

Refer to the next post for the tool of deletion has yet to be found...

The comments of Emily attempt in vain to cast light upon an unknown cavern of atheistic belief! Are we not perplexed at the difficulty present in shedding light upon that which resides in darkness? The dwellers of such a place can only look upon the penetrating lumination as a sign of what could be but never will. What irony! Light has been repulsed by that which commands the dark! The fruitful labors of the enlightened cannot redeem those who inhabit this void of luminous prescence. Humorous is the individual who attempts to attain the unattainable, yet merely gazes in subdued disbelief after finding his attempts futile. One need not shed the light upon that which harbors it, for the darkness is too powerful. He can only hope that those who call the darkness home may one day look upon the face of the illuminator and will allow curiosity to guide his steps out into the light, for that is the moment of salvation.

ah ha. another thread I would be better off to avoid. oh, pooh, everyone. just remember to breathe. why even discuss these unanswerable questions?(shut up!) It just leads to people assuming one thing or another about the other. It's sooooo lame. It's just what is wrong with the world. and it will never change, will it? God, I hate being human.

Lame is he who examines not the world around him. Damned from salvation is the individual who fails to recognize his need for intellectual salvation. Your mind is perverted by darkness! Bring forth the essence that is the light and allow it to pervade your mind! Make the choice, for the choice is yours...

you are right, dearie

I hate to drag the thread back to the topic but now there is a poll you can take on the subject!

PS: Let's try not to personalise the discussion. :)

The truth is personal for it applies itself in a plethora of ways in order to match the acuity of the individual. However, I will restrain myself from further personalized comments. My apologies.

Xamonas--No, seriously. I once read a newspaper article about the supposition that the Forbidden Fruit of Eden was the pomegranate.

XXdarkclarityXX--Kindly tell that rabbit friend of yours to run around a bit. Moving targets are more challenging.

Wily is the rabbit who evades the bow and arrow. Persistent is the man who chases him. Think like the rabbit, and you will find him...until then, I shall draw amusement from your little expedition of hilarity. Carry on, bearer of the bow!

I'll do you one step better...

~shifts into FOX MCCLOUD, wiliest space pilot in the universe and acclaimed hunter of wascally wabbits...:D~

I like the way you express yourself, dark clarity, or Tim or whomsoever you be.

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Originally Posted by Riesa

ah ha. another thread I would be better off to avoid. oh, pooh, everyone. just remember to breathe. why even discuss these unanswerable questions?(shut up!) It just leads to people assuming one thing or another about the other. It's sooooo lame. It's just what is wrong with the world. and it will never change, will it? God, I hate being human.

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but sweet woman, it is just that tender humanity in you that brings sanity backfrom a whirpool of strange emotions that don't satisfy anyone. Your tender heart is needed, I am so glad you are human.
And unless you are a beer drinking, bannana allergic, hairy cat eating vegetarian , you know you have something fresh and wonderful to say that will bring joy and light to such a thread as this. :D

lol. that would be something to be wouldn't it. "I was a skin deep lollipop fruitcake unreal fake?" brilliant. I love that, but you forgot Milquetoast. that would have fit in nicely there.

Sorry, Rachel.
That was it.