Australian Politics Forum - Is Atheism a Religion?

Soren Gold Member Offline Posts: 25654 Gender:	Re: Is Atheism a Religion? Reply #495 - Mar 17^th, 2013 at 8:19pm Facing the question is not a succumbing to obsessive-compulsive nonsense. Life throws up questions. We face them. Getting obsessive-compulsive about not facing some questions is the obsessive-compulsive response.
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NorthOfNorth

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Re: Is Atheism a Religion?
Reply #496 - Mar 17^th, 2013 at 8:23pm

Soren wrote on Mar 17^th, 2013 at 8:19pm:

Facing the question is not a succumbing to obsessive-compulsive nonsense. Life throws up questions. We face them.
Getting obsessive about not facing some questions is the obsessive-compulsive response.

I think its safe to say that the ultimate question - the one we'd give all to know - (Why) is unanswerable.

Learning to live with 'why'... To detach from it, is to learn how to 'answer' it.

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Conviction is the art of being certain

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muso

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Re: Is Atheism a Religion?
Reply #497 - Mar 17^th, 2013 at 9:28pm

Soren wrote on Mar 17^th, 2013 at 8:19pm:

Facing the question is not a succumbing to obsessive-compulsive nonsense. Life throws up questions. We face them.
Getting obsessive-compulsive about not facing some questions is the obsessive-compulsive response.

It doesn't matter how much you face that particular question, you'll never know the answer, although some may think they do. Life is too short to spend valuable time on matters that are outside our control or influence.

Focus instead on matters that are within your sphere of influence.

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« Last Edit: Mar 17^th, 2013 at 9:38pm by muso »

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NorthOfNorth

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Re: Is Atheism a Religion?
Reply #498 - Mar 17^th, 2013 at 9:47pm

It's our first brush with existential angst when, at the early age, we ask why?

When, finally, coherent answers from those we ask - those who '(should) know' - run thin, then falter and stop, is when we first face the void of the unknowable...

Only we're still too young to know that we have glimpsed the impassible abyss and (like the perverse, adrenalin inducing need to jump from a great height - to become one with the nadir) we are tempted to jump from its edge - its 'event horizon' - to take a leap of faith - to be with 'the gods' or... descend into the hell of eternal falling.

For the obsessed, hell is better than not knowing.

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Yadda

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Re: Is Atheism a Religion?
Reply #499 - Mar 17^th, 2013 at 10:13pm

NorthOfNorth wrote on Mar 17^th, 2013 at 9:47pm:

It's our first brush with existential angst when, at the early age, we ask why?

When, finally, coherent answers from those we ask - those who '(should) know' - run thin, then falter and stop, is when we first face the void of the unknowable...

Only we're still too young to know that we have glimpsed the impassible abyss and (like the perverse, adrenalin inducing need to jump from a great height - to become one with the nadir) we are tempted to jump from its edge - its 'event horizon' - to take a leap of faith - to be with 'the gods' or... descend into the hell of eternal falling.

Nah.

Most of us are content to keep breathing in, happy in anticipation of what the new sunrise tomorrow will bring to our consciousness.

Quote:

For the obsessed, hell is better than not knowing.

Most are [rightly imo] content to be 'addicted' to the physical senses that this world has 'gifted' to us.
[....or, is it, those physical senses that our body 'gifts' to us, in our continuing interaction with this world ?]

For the obsessed the reckless, hell is better than not knowing.

We will all 'know', soon enough. Wink

But hey, if ya wanna be reckless......

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"....And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead."
Luke 16:31

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NorthOfNorth

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Re: Is Atheism a Religion?
Reply #500 - Mar 17^th, 2013 at 10:34pm

Yadda wrote on Mar 17^th, 2013 at 10:13pm:

NorthOfNorth wrote on Mar 17^th, 2013 at 9:47pm:

It's our first brush with existential angst when, at the early age, we ask why?

When, finally, coherent answers from those we ask - those who '(should) know' - run thin, then falter and stop, is when we first face the void of the unknowable...

Only we're still too young to know that we have glimpsed the impassible abyss and (like the perverse, adrenalin inducing need to jump from a great height - to become one with the nadir) we are tempted to jump from its edge - its 'event horizon' - to take a leap of faith - to be with 'the gods' or... descend into the hell of eternal falling.

Nah.

Most of us are content to keep breathing in, happy in anticipation of what the new sunrise tomorrow will bring to our consciousness.

Quote:

For the obsessed, hell is better than not knowing.

Most are [rightly imo] content to be 'addicted' to the physical senses that this world has 'gifted' to us.
[....or, is it, those physical senses that our body 'gifts' to us, in our continuing interaction with this world ?]

For the obsessed the reckless, hell is better than not knowing.

We will all 'know', soon enough. Wink

But hey, if ya wanna be reckless......

Which is true of you?

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Conviction is the art of being certain

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Yadda

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Re: Is Atheism a Religion?
Reply #501 - Mar 17^th, 2013 at 10:55pm

NorthOfNorth wrote on Mar 17^th, 2013 at 10:34pm:

Yadda wrote on Mar 17^th, 2013 at 10:13pm:

NorthOfNorth wrote on Mar 17^th, 2013 at 9:47pm:

It's our first brush with existential angst when, at the early age, we ask why?

When, finally, coherent answers from those we ask - those who '(should) know' - run thin, then falter and stop, is when we first face the void of the unknowable...

Only we're still too young to know that we have glimpsed the impassible abyss and (like the perverse, adrenalin inducing need to jump from a great height - to become one with the nadir) we are tempted to jump from its edge - its 'event horizon' - to take a leap of faith - to be with 'the gods' or... descend into the hell of eternal falling.

Nah.

Most of us are content to keep breathing in, happy in anticipation of what the new sunrise tomorrow will bring to our consciousness.

Quote:

For the obsessed, hell is better than not knowing.

Most are [rightly imo] content to be 'addicted' to the physical senses that this world has 'gifted' to us.
[....or, is it, those physical senses that our body 'gifts' to us, in our continuing interaction with this world ?]

For the obsessed the reckless, hell is better than not knowing.

We will all 'know', soon enough. Wink

But hey, if ya wanna be reckless......

Which is true of you?

What ?

Am i a reckless person, do you think ?

Dictionary;
reckless = = without thought or care for the consequences of an action.

Reckless ?

Me ?

Nah.

I'm just a 'testing agent', that has come into the life of people like yourself.

But then, we are all 'testing agents', for each other, ....aren't we ?

Psalms 27:10
When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.

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« Last Edit: Mar 17^th, 2013 at 11:42pm by Yadda »

"....And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead."
Luke 16:31

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NorthOfNorth

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Re: Is Atheism a Religion?
Reply #502 - Mar 18^th, 2013 at 7:36am

Yadda wrote on Mar 17^th, 2013 at 10:55pm:

What ?

Am i a reckless person, do you think ?

Dictionary;
reckless = = without thought or care for the consequences of an action.

Reckless ?

Me ?

Nah.

I'm just a 'testing agent', that has come into the life of people like yourself.

But then, we are all 'testing agents', for each other, ....aren't we ?

Did you not 'leap from the edge'?

I can't say whether you're reckless, I don't known you.

'testing agent'? Are you saying you're a pool water chemical?

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Conviction is the art of being certain

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Yadda

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Re: Is Atheism a Religion?
Reply #503 - Mar 18^th, 2013 at 8:07am

NorthOfNorth wrote on Mar 18^th, 2013 at 7:36am:

Yadda wrote on Mar 17^th, 2013 at 10:55pm:

What ?

Am i a reckless person, do you think ?

Dictionary;
reckless = = without thought or care for the consequences of an action.

Reckless ?

Me ?

Nah.

I'm just a 'testing agent', that has come into the life of people like yourself.

But then, we are all 'testing agents', for each other, ....aren't we ?

Did you not 'leap from the edge'?

I have never had an inclination to leap off an edge in my life.

I have seen a horizon, far off, and decided to head towards it though.
e.g.
When i was younger, i hitch-hiked across Australia - e2w.
And i have slept in deserts, and on the tops of mountains.

Quote:

I can't say whether you're reckless, I don't known you.

No.

But ppl like myself, worry ppl like yourself though.

Coz, ppl like yourself, think that ppl like myself, should be confused.

It is said that;

'Conviction is the art of being certain'

But you and ppl like yourself, are the ones who are uncertain and confused.

Its a worry, isn't it. Wink

I did not travel your path - the path of the many.

I come at things from a different direction, is all.

Coming from a different direction, doesn't make ppl like myself wrong.

Quote:

'testing agent'? Are you saying you're a pool water chemical?

Yes.

That's me.

"Not to be ingested!"

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"....And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead."
Luke 16:31

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NorthOfNorth

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Re: Is Atheism a Religion?
Reply #504 - Mar 18^th, 2013 at 8:26am

Yadda wrote on Mar 18^th, 2013 at 8:07am:

Quote:

I can't say whether you're reckless, I don't known you.

No.

But ppl like myself, worry ppl like yourself though.

Coz, ppl like yourself, think that ppl like myself, should be confused.

It is said that;

'Conviction is the art of being certain'

But you and ppl like yourself, are the ones who are uncertain and confused.

Its a worry, isn't it. Wink

(Can always count on narcissism to let in the light).

No, you don't worry me at all.

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Yadda

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Re: Is Atheism a Religion?
Reply #505 - Mar 18^th, 2013 at 8:36am

NorthOfNorth wrote on Mar 18^th, 2013 at 8:26am:

Yadda wrote on Mar 18^th, 2013 at 8:07am:

Quote:

I can't say whether you're reckless, I don't known you.

No.

But ppl like myself, worry ppl like yourself though.

Coz, ppl like yourself, think that ppl like myself, should be confused.

It is said that;

'Conviction is the art of being certain'

But you and ppl like yourself, are the ones who are uncertain and confused.

Its a worry, isn't it. Wink

(Can always count on narcissism to let in the light).

No, you don't worry me at all.

So i'm a narcissist then ?

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"....And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead."
Luke 16:31

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Yadda

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Re: Is Atheism a Religion?
Reply #506 - Mar 18^th, 2013 at 9:15am

North,

Hitler was a narcissist wasn't he ?

What should societies do with people who are narcissists ?

What should society do with a narcissist like myself ?

Medicate me, maybe ?

Forcefully give me psychotropic drugs, to 'help' me ?

Google;

soviet commit dissidents, to psych

Google;

suppressing dissident views, to psych

North said;
Quote:

"No, you don't worry me at all."

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"....And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead."
Luke 16:31

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Yadda Gold Member Offline Posts: 21897 A cat with a view	Re: Is Atheism a Religion? Reply #507 - Mar 18^th, 2013 at 9:20am Who is it, that has the narcissistic character, North ?
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Grey

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Re: Is Atheism a Religion?
Reply #508 - Mar 18^th, 2013 at 11:06am

Soren wrote on Mar 17^th, 2013 at 8:19pm:

Facing the question is not a succumbing to obsessive-compulsive nonsense. Life throws up questions. We face them.
Getting obsessive-compulsive about not facing some questions is the obsessive-compulsive response.

I simply don't believe that you can be a member of this forum and think that. To my mind the obsessive-compulsive response is to answer the question whether you know it or not. It's what makes 'citing' so popular in academia and 'evidence' the foundation stone of modern science.

As far as life being uninteresting without the contribution of religion and the religious, rather the reverse is true. The unanswered question is a lot more interesting than the false answer.

A list of 'uninteresting' authors. -

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_atheist_authors

N.B. My point is not that atheist authors are more interesting. It's that they're just as interesting; making it probable that in the absence of religion, life would remain just as interesting.

In your Eurocentric view Soren, religious morality is superior in every way to atheistic ethics. Maybe you could glean some idea of the atheist viewpoint by contemplating sharia law.

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« Last Edit: Mar 18^th, 2013 at 11:22am by Grey »

"It is in the shelter of each other that the people live" - Irish Proverb

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Amadd

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Re: Is Atheism a Religion?
Reply #509 - Mar 18^th, 2013 at 11:55am

Quote:

As far as life being uninteresting without the contribution of religion and the religious, rather the reverse is true. The unanswered question is a lot more interesting than the false answer.

I think that's a very good point, although religions certainly can provide something special when it comes to gatherings.

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