101 Atheist Quotes

this is a great thread. glad i stumbled upon it.

 

10-20-----10-23

 

I don't understand why some people would tell someone else they're going to hell for not going to their church or believing what they believe, much less teach their children to do so. I feel bad for your daughter because if those type of peers remain prevalent she may have to face some drama in high school. She'll probably learn to drop those kinds of friends, but that doesn't really make it any easier. I hope she doesn't have it too bad.

Craig, thanks for the long response! I know it can be a lot to type. 12th run of what? Anyway, to miracles and time. Well, if you define a miracle as something like an anomaly that can't be explained or shouldn't have happened, no I am not necessarily attributing it to an act of God. With as many variables and conditions as there are in the universe, anomalies and secular "miracles" are bound to happen, at least I think. I think I see what you're saying about the "time" concept, and I do agree with you that many things are coincidence. I have actually not thought of the morbid example you posed, but I have considered it in a different way. For example, if I misplace my car keys (Why are they on the toilet? Who knows.) Once I find them, I usually think of whether or not that happened for a reason. Perhaps if I had my keys right away, I WOULD have gotten into a fatal wreck. I hadn't considered the opposite, and that is probably a product of the "it won't happen to me" mentality. I'm an opponent of that mindset, but the fact is I haven't been in a fatal wreck as a result of misplacing my keys, "yet". I can't however, know whether or not I would have been in a wreck had I not misplaced them. Since that is the unknown, I must assume that the number is 0 or more. If I put those two outcomes on a scale, the scale would either do nothing or tip to the "Saved my ass" side throughout a life time, so perhaps that's why I only ever considered it that way. Does that make sense? Oh, and one last thing. The biggest lesson I try to take from that way of thinking is that if I were a better, more cautious driver, perhaps I wouldn't need my keys hidden from me, if that is in fact a way of protecting me (By God, or whatever else someone may believe protects them such as an angel or passed loved one). The trick here is if I WERE a better and more thoughtful driver, I would probably ALSO be less likely to misplace my keys, forgetfully. So this really works out either way, and if it's really all just coincidence, I would still theoretically come out of the "test" a better driver, win win.

Not that I'm just choosing win/win bets (Like that Pascal's wager business) I do hold to having a very good reason for my belief, whatever it may be in. I feel that's important for everyone to have.

So, given the idea that time controls everything, I'm assuming you use the term "control" loosely? Considering time doesn't discriminate and isn't sentient?

As for the singularity, surely you're not expected to have an answer. No one could know, at least not yet. So you say you base your hypothesis by the way everything works after that, and what do you mean by that? Is there a specific law or discovery that pulls you in that direction?

To the point of your friends being shocked. First of all, reciting the Bible is impressive no matter what you believe! But I would bet that there are plenty of atheists who know the Bible better than Christians, which obviously is vital, because when you're turning your back on what your formerly/currently believe to be the thing that matters more than anything ever will - you want to study up and make sure your ducks are in a row. So what do you mean by the force fed dogma bit? Do you mean parents taking their children to church, or something more?

That really bothers me about the lawsuit, an erected monument is not on the same level as a seasonal decoration. Had they petitioned for putting up their own sign/set, that'd be different. I'm with you on the season's greetings - If someone wishes me well, I don't care what they say or what language they say it in. They're wishing me happiness! Right back at them! It shouldn't matter what either of us believe. I still say Merry Christmas, however, mainly because most people have absolutely no problem with it and embrace it. Secondly, if I do happen to say it to a non-Christian - Holy shit, are they about to go home and do nothing on December 25th? Are they going to be at work? Save a select few, I highly doubt not. So even though Christmas is centered around Christ, plenty of families still gather 'round the tree and love each other without it being a religious thing.

In the final instance where someone might correct me, then I'll say it again how they like! I just love December. Happy HanuQuanzaRamadan!

Funny, same thing happened to me. Never saw it, must have gotten dug up.

Yeah, I get that it's comedy but that's a little crude. Not sure if it should be noted that it's largely inaccurate.

 

It takes more faith to be an atheist than a believer.

 

There"s knowlege and devotion, day and night, happiness and sorrow...
A lot to really learn from bkwsu.org , at least what this thread is about is Athiest, means you are open to listen because u dont believe, Good, to get poor nectar in your cup , you better empty it at clean it up, otherwise you can"t fill it up and or taste and color wont be the sane. In other ex. We start talking even before listening, our cup is our mind , and is so rusted that like tacoma franes, we just got used to it.

Good thread, didnt got close as someone predicted, first time i see Freedom of speach without agression. Enjoy weekend tacoma brothers. Seeya later.

 

Subbed, SCIENCE BE PRAISED!!!!!

 

I work as a FireFighter so when I typed that it was my 12th run of the day and we had just got back at 4:59am so I was a bit groggy when I typed all that up so it might not have been as coherent as I wished.

The example that I brought up about time was a easy way for me to explain how "I" view the way everything works in the grand scheme of things. The misplaced car keys was relatively small example that in reality could have drastic repercussions at any given time. So, if I may, let me propose a different scenario. About 15 years ago my Mother used to own a Dodge / Chrysler dealership (yeah I know lol) that was about 100 miles from home. Every Monday she would drive to the dealership and return on Friday. Say that I was a Christian and I prayed for her to have a safe trip up and back. If she did then my prayers were answered no? If for some reason a terrible series of events happened and she didn't make it back my prayers weren't answered and this supreme being decided it was her time to go. My prayers were fruitless and in actuality didn't have an effect either way. This is where time comes into play for "me" and how I think everything is controlled by time. Time is a constant that we can all agree on (unless you want to talk about quantum physics and the difference in time the closer you get to the speed of light). So with that said (probably not very well I'll admit), a person that attributes a miracle to something, "I" personally believe that we are just talking about time and being at the right place at the right time when that event happened. The same could be said for something terrible happening. Wrong place at the right time. A lot of people say the "wrong place at the wrong time" but that is incorrect in my opinion. Everything you do from the moment we enter this world, every decision you make, every action you take in life will have an effect somewhere down the line that will have a positive / negative effect. So there are a lot of people that put faith in a supreme being that takes control of everyone's daily activities. I personally don't subscribe to that belief system.

You are correct that I do not have the answer to the singularity. At this point in "time" no one does. With that said, we are getting closer. So right now, in a sense, we are talking about the aftermath of what occurred after that point in time. That said... we are getting closer to knowing what happened during that period of time down to billionths of a second if not even further. What molecules were created at what time etc... So given time we will eventually develop an answer to the hypothesis. Of course when I talk about "my" hypothesis I'm not only speaking for myself but in the scientific community as a whole. Without going into too much boring detail... everything in the universe is expanding away from itself. Not getting closer by any means. So if you subscribe to the "big bang" (I dislike that description since there was no bang due to no air to carry sound waves and its wasn't big at the time it happened) then you would agree that everything that came to be came from one central point in time. Time will tell how and why that happened. Until then we will just have to wait but we are getting closer.

That said, On my days off when not on duty I teach a 5th grade science class. Generally I teach cell structures and functions but I also teach atomic particles and scale. Working as a Haz Mat Technician with a Chemical engineering Nuclear Science degree gives me a easy way to break down things to a very simple way to explain how things work. That said, I steer away from speaking about how everything was formed since we are dealing with a diverse group of children and different belief systems that their parents might not find comforting or appealing to have a stranger say to them "this is how it happened". Plus it's not my place to discount someone's belief when I'm there to just present the facts of atomic level structures or how cells work. But I do like to take them on a trip from the smallest things we know about to the grandest scale of the universe and where we actually fit in. When you think about it, we are but a speck in this vast space at a singular point and time.

I agree. To be a true atheist you must know the subject matter. If not you're just spouting off things that you've heard others say with no proof to back up what you are talking about. That said, I do not know everything. Far from it for that matter. But I've got a pretty good grasp on the subject matter. I was brought up in church and I did believe until I was around 14. But that is when I began my own personal journey of studying the bible in depth. Not long after that I developed my love of science and science gave "me" the answers that I was looking for. Yes I can recite scripture, bible verses, the Lord's Prayer, books of the bible, etc... much to the surprise of my religious friends but that is only half of it. Understanding that scripture and the context it was written in is very subjective.
So yes, I am an atheist but I think what bothers me is "most" (and I hate to lump a group of people for the sake of argument) of the people that are religious have not actually studied their religion or belief system. They take what their Pastor, Priest, Rabbi, etc... has said as the word of God and accept it as truth. The canonical version of the bible varies from traditions or different groups but I "personally" believe to fully understand the true biblical scripture you must know Hebrew in its original form.

Agreed

I hear that quite often but I respectfully disagree. If I have facts to support what I believe then it is no longer a matter of faith. If you can point to the fact that Christ died on the cross and was resurrected on the third day (other than the few that supposedly witnessed it) then that takes more faith than being an atheist in my opinion.

 

I just realized that I didn't answer this part of your question. What I mean by being "force fed" dogma and being indoctrinated is that small children are very impressionable. We tell our children that there are such things as Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, the tooth fairy, etc... but over time children figure out that's not really the case. Not so much when we are speaking of belief systems that a family structure holds true to themselves. As I mentioned I grew up in church and I did believe that the earth was created in seven days, there was a talking snake, that Noah built an ark, the burning bush that wasn't consumed, that Moses parted the Red Sea, etc... but (and this is just my opinion) those things didn't happen. Children are indoctrinated into those cultures and are preached dogma that clearly (in my opinion) isn't true. That bothers me. As I mentioned before. My daughter goes to church with my parents every other weekend and I have no issue with that. That said, I try to help her keep an open mind about how things happened and what sounds more plausible? A talking snake or... that the universe was created around 13.8 billion years ago which can be proven by facts. Billions of years is a amount of time that is very hard to comprehend but so much can happen in that amount of time and actually has happened in that amount of time. Hope that makes sense?

 

"the good thing about science is that its true whether or not you believe in it"

 

That depends on the scientist too, for instance Ancel Keys started out with the end result first and then did research after to try to prove it which is the complete opposite. Also look at the phony Global Warm Cult, they do the same thing in altering data to fit the narrative and ignore or fudge numbers that will help them so they can continue getting funding.

 

I like the track you are on. However, I believe "science" to be something of an idea accepted out off the scientific community, more than just a fact and or idea put out by a person who takes part in practicing with the sciences.

 

This thread has helped restore my faith in humanity

 

I believe in Science and in God. Even with science there are so many things that are just so amazing in how they work..fit together etc..that you can't think these things just "happen".

 

I feel your beliefs in both science and god contradict one another. I fail to see where one can agree with both sides.
the thing about "you cant think things just happen" is exactly right... you can, its called having faith in something...
the thing about "you cant think things just happen" is exactly right... you cant, its call science

 

2. Faith means not wanting to know what is true. - Friedrich Nietzsche


copied from OP in thread.

 

Not sure if this was on the original list.

Saying atheism is a religion is the same as saying not collecting stamps is a hobby.

 

If god did not exist, it would be necessary to invent him. - Voltaire, as seen at the House of Blue Lights in Easy Rider.

 

You can't understand or "believe" ANY aspect of evolution if you think things can't just happen uncontrolled. There is plenty of evidence that things do just happen though evolution.

 

I am trying to learn how to relate understand and accept religious worshipers.

As a person of science logic fact and never ever fiction...

I now think that when the world accepts combined 99% science and 1% faith of religion. We can move forward as one.

I not long ago would have never accepted that 1% of faith or religion.

But seems in fact, it really may be needed after all.

As only 99% would not be enough. We need that 1%.






you know what really really bothers me. is that the military has a slogan they use frequently "god & country" that shit eerks the shit out of me.... who the fuck be done taught that one...

 

This is a great quote list. I am glad that we live in a time that atheism is socially acceptable. It comes up rarely but I love the looks on people's faces when I tell them that I do not believe in God.

Modern religion was designed by very smart people. Any questioning of its validity is a sin, and you will suffer eternal punishment for it. And don't think you can get away with anything, God knows your thoughts. It keeps the masses from evaluating contrary evidence.