The Atheism Thread - Part 7

[rodhulk]

That he hopes people won't dismiss your argument? Okay? That doesn't mean anything.

Ah yes the prophecy. You do love the idea of the end times and the end of humanity hey? That's nice.

Exactly why I am here (as per Jaymes last sentence).

And humanity doesn't end, just the current way of things. Until then, more can and will be saved.

 

[Feenix]

And we're done. I'm not a fan of Christians who believe in the end times because they seem so excited about it and they see atheists and homosexuals and feminists as the signs that those times are coming. It's disgusting. People who revel in the idea of the rapture or of sinners being stuck on Earth to rot are awful human beings.

 

[Marvolo]

During the days of Alexander the Great male lovers were very common. Homosexuality levels today are no higher than they have been at other points in the past.

To quite Marty:

"For thousands of years old men have said that the world was coming to an end...old men die and the world spins on."

 

[MrsKent26]

This is a thread for discussions related to atheism, is it not?

Unless I'm mistaken, this thread is NOT a podium for religious folks to try converting the heathens.

Enough is enough, rodhulk. Go to the Worship thread because if you keep on with this talk that makes it seem like you're here to convert people, I may have to ask a mod if they think that's an appropriate use of this thread.

 

[KevanG]

I really don't get the point of the end times. Eventually humanity will end, it's an inevitability. Be it by our own hands, cosmic accident or just the end of our evolution and we die out, we will end some day. It's not being a fatalist, it's just acknowledging that no matter what we do eventually some day in the future our species will be gone. I don't see the point in looking to it and thinking that it'll be some grand thing that means the extinction of us, whether there is an afterlife or not.

If there is an afterlife then that means we're done forever. We'll never grow or change anymore and we'll always just be exactly as we are no matter what happens which I detest as the point of humanity is to change, grow and become more than what we are. If there isn't an afterlife then all we'll have left behind is just a tombstone on our species and maybe we'll leave some other species, through genetic engineering or just an alien one, all we have to continue on.

My big issue with Creationism is that 'something' made us to be what we are. I'm fine with random chance but if something, God or whatever, made us and everything we know as a scientific basis in geology, history, anthropology ect. is a lie then what's the point? It means that we didn't do any of this ourselves. Everything we've ever done is because of something else making us do what it wants. A benevolent guiding force or not, it still undermines every single achievement we've ever made in our entire history, from fire to walking on the moon, every single thing was not due to ourselves but something else.

The idea that we've changed, we've evolved from thoughtless apes to what we are now just dumbfounds me. That we've made ourselves, over millions of years, into what we are now is just one huge brilliant achievement for the entire human race. That we owe everything to a creator god that made us into humans as we are now with all of this knowledge inside us already demeans all of that.

 

[Thundercrack85]

This is a thread for discussions related to atheism, is it not?

Unless I'm mistaken, this thread is NOT a podium for religious folks to try converting the heathens.

Enough is enough, rodhulk. Go to the Worship thread because if you keep on with this talk that makes it seem like you're here to convert people, I may have to ask a mod if they think that's an appropriate use of this thread.

Let's not do that. This isn't the Worship thread, where they have a double standard on who can post.

Let him speak his mind, even if it is little more than proselytizing.

 

[Thundercrack85]

I really don't get the point of the end times. Eventually humanity will end, it's an inevitability. Be it by our own hands, cosmic accident or just the end of our evolution and we die out, we will end some day. It's not being a fatalist, it's just acknowledging that no matter what we do eventually some day in the future our species will be gone. I don't see the point in looking to it and thinking that it'll be some grand thing that means the extinction of us, whether there is an afterlife or not.

If there is an afterlife then that means we're done forever. We'll never grow or change anymore and we'll always just be exactly as we are no matter what happens which I detest as the point of humanity is to change, grow and become more than what we are. If there isn't an afterlife then all we'll have left behind is just a tombstone on our species and maybe we'll leave some other species, through genetic engineering or just an alien one, all we have to continue on.

My big issue with Creationism is that 'something' made us to be what we are. I'm fine with random chance but if something, God or whatever, made us and everything we know as a scientific basis in geology, history, anthropology ect. is a lie then what's the point? It means that we didn't do any of this ourselves. Everything we've ever done is because of something else making us do what it wants. A benevolent guiding force or not, it still undermines every single achievement we've ever made in our entire history, from fire to walking on the moon, every single thing was not due to ourselves but something else.

The idea that we've changed, we've evolved from thoughtless apes to what we are now just dumbfounds me. That we've made ourselves, over millions of years, into what we are now is just one huge brilliant achievement for the entire human race. That we owe everything to a creator god that made us into humans as we are now with all of this knowledge inside us already demeans all of that.

Thoughtless is a bit unfair.

Admittedly there are times where I think that the average chimp – and the average weasel – is nobler than the average human.

 

[KevanG]

Thoughtless is a bit unfair.

Admittedly there are times where I think that the average chimp – and the average weasel – is nobler than the average human.

Thoughtless as in without culture or history. Not so much mindless and comatose.


I'm fine if he wants to attempt to prove his point to us and I wish we'd get more people in here to get a more varied viewpoint. I prefer to have an actual conversation on the differences and try to have everyone get a better view on both sides.

 

[MrsKent26]

Let's not do that. This isn't the Worship thread, where they have a double standard on who can post.

He had better quit acting like he's here to convert people then. I have no problem with him posting, but no one should have to deal with that in an atheism thread. He can keep it to discussion only. He's going too far.

 

[Thundercrack85]

Well, I do think it would be fascinating to meet one of our ancestors. Personally I find something very disturbing about a creature that has the intelligence of something between say a chimp and a human.

 

[KevanG]

There are certain animals which have been tested and have a very high intelligence when it comes to memory, reasoning skills and tool using. Many of them aren't humanoid at all, including parrots.

 

[Thundercrack85]

Planet of the Parrots just doesn't have quite the same ring to it.

 

[KevanG]

http://www.nbcnews.com/id/24628983/ns/technology_and_science-science/t/smartest-animals/

Just a few of them.

 

[MrsKent26]

Aren't octopuses pretty smart?

 

[KevanG]

Yep, cephalopods and elephants among others are highly intelligent.

 

[KRYPTON INC.]

Let's not forget about those tool using Sea Otters... Those bastards are planning something.

 

[MrsKent26]

They'll inherit the Earth when the rapture hits and takes out humanity.

 

[Thundercrack85]

I wouldn't say any of those – except cetaceans – really compare to chimps though. Well, maybe the elephants.

Still, some of them are pretty bright. Pigs makes dogs look rather dumb.

It's rather unsettling how smart some whales are. One of the few animals that appreciates the concept of revenge.

 

[Marvolo]

I wouldn't say any of those – except cetaceans – really compare to chimps though. Well, maybe the elephants.

Still, some of them are pretty bright. Pigs makes dogs look rather dumb.

It's rather unsettling how smart some whales are. One of the few animals that appreciates the concept of revenge.

Water Buffalo also take revenge seriously or so Ive heard.

 

[redhawk23]

Can't forget about these guys...

[YT]ojydNb3Lrrs[/YT]

 

[KRYPTON INC.]

Water Buffalo also take revenge seriously or so Ive heard.

Put that **** on a T-shirt. Out of context it just sounds awesomely strange. t:

 

[MrsKent26]

The idea of these smart animals does make one think. For those who believe in evolution, it would be reasonable to think it will continue. So, I wonder what certain animals will be like in another 500 years or so, provided they don't end up extinct.

 

[KevanG]

They'll be delicious.

 

[KRYPTON INC.]

They'll be delicious.

Or we'll be delicious to them.

 

[MrsKent26]

They'll be delicious.

They might also be smarter. You might feel guilty about eating them.