h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Is it good to be atheists? It's better than the alternative. For starters, if something's fun and harms nobody you get to have a go at it without being threatened with eternal ghastliness or similar.

Unless, of course, the theists got there first and decided to make it illegal for everybody. That's when people get hanged for being gay and stuff. Not good.

Are atheists afraid of death? I'd rather avoid it but reckon I'm on to a bit of a loser with that one.

What moral values have atheists? Personally? Be good to each other.

Why do people become atheists? I reverted when I realised there was nothing to substantiate the alternative position.

It's "Be EXCELLENT..." report to Atheist Reprogramming immediately.

2legs : Post 17

"None of which, of course, explains the price of potatos... which is quite worrying."

I can explain the price of potatoes easily...


...are you ready???



It's because, if you don't give me this much money, you can't ing take any!

In the words of Aleksandr 'Simples'

Oops!

"Active Belief" is THE keyword, thanks for bringing in what my limited English failed me to introduce. I am an agnostic, I don´t believe in there being a God and I don´t believe in there being none - I just don´t see the point.

"I am an agnostic, I don´t believe in there being a God and I don´t believe in there being none - I just don´t see the point."

No, you're not an agnostic by that definition. Agnostics say you can't know.

Those who just can't see the point are apatheists

oh, and I neither believe that there is a god nor do I believe that there is not a god.

Thanks, Ictoan - my ancient Greek doesn´t need polishing, as I never had any...not having any religion, and having to accept I need quite a bit of studying to be allowed not to...

re post 25.

Then you're an atheist Pit. An agnostic atheist like Richard Dawkins and most of the rest of us. You lack an active in a a god or gods, that's all the word atheist means.

Jack, "lack" is the word. I don´t. I´m very happy not to have a faith to defend against people I could otherwise be friends with.

Jack - you missed atheists like me who think that the word 'God' is meaningless and therefore 'There is a God' is a meaningless statement which one doesn't have to agree with or disagree with.

From this descussion I've got that atheists act according to their personal opinions about good and bad deeds. How do atheists form their personal opinions aboud good and bad deeds?

Indeed Dogster; I don't beleive in faries, in dragons, or gods. Unfortunately because so many people believe in gods, we end up having a label.

Igor: they try to figure out if it would be hurtful to people or not.

Xanatic, how do atheists decide what things are hurtful for people?Can some things be hurtful for some people and useful for others?

Trial and error.

There´s usually not anything that´s good for everybody. You´ll just have to go with what does the least harm.

>>How do atheists form their personal opinions aboud good and bad deeds?<<

I consult the entrails of my fallen foes.

I'll get to reading through the thread entire in a bit but meanwhile....


Is it good to be an atheist?
++++++++++++++++++

It's FABULOUS darling! No gods no demons, no ell below us above us only sky, and they're just crackers for crying out loud.

Are atheists afraid of death?
++++++++++++++++++
Dying - yes, depends on the method and the manner.
Death - Not at all. I was dead before I was born and it is a state of unknowing that I will return to, the interval in-between is to be enjoyed (malcontent ticket punchers at train stations notwithstanding - see my journal.)


What moral values have atheists?
The usual, they probably don't differ much in basic from most theistswith the sole major exception that we reject as false, and debasing and dehumanising, the idea that morals are the inspired word of god or that it requires a knowledge and belief in gods to be moral. such a patently absurd idea is internally incoherent. Even the religious when pressed tend to give secular reasons for why murder is bad or theft to be deplored. And it is on the secular points we can agree on

Why do people become atheists?
Personally speaking this journey began when I reasoned myself out of believing in ghosts aged about 10 and culminated when I lost any sense of dualism after studying dualism at university for my degree. God by this point was a non-entry for me anyway, but this removed the last place people usually put him when they realise there is no earthly proof for such a concept.

I have yet to hear a good argument or be presented with a piece of evidence that would convince me I'm wrong (and oh my they do try! ) And I don't wish to be wrong - I think most religions are inimicable to reason and we can be glad they are false.

Xanatic,from your words I've got that on opinion of atheists deeds that cause the least harm to other peope are good. How do atheists determine how much harm their deeds bring to other people? Please give me some examples of deeds that are conidered good by atheists and deeds that are considered bad by atheists.