101 Atheist Quotes

I think humans are the only species with a conscience telling them it's wrong.

 

Humans have the privilege of advanced intelligence, thus we have created a very convenient lifestyle for ourselves. At least in the civilized parts of the world. There are many species of intelligent animals that have developed very cooperative social skills. Take meerkats as an example... they are highly social and they all have cooperative tasks, advanced relationships, etc and really take care of each other as a team. However, many of the world's species are in the game for true survival, so the need for moral conscience gets thrown out the window in exchange for living another day. I think that human morals come from a more advanced form of empathy for others and understanding that being treated horribly hurts emotionally as well as physically. Yet, we're one of the most destructive and cruel species on the planet to each other.

Either way you look at it, I believe a conscience is just a complex reaction of hormones and chemicals in the brain that give us this outcome called emotion. Somewhere along the evolutionary line, in conjunction with our intelligence, we became some of the most emotional beings on the planet but ironically some of the most immoral.

 

Do you have any pets? a dog, by chance do you or have you ever owned a dog??

I have had a dog as a pet, I can tell you that fucker knew damn when wrong from right....

He jacked that rack of lamb off the table when everyone was out of the house. He was then found hiding because he knew damn well what he did when everyone came home.

just saying.... one can easily make the connection there..

 

That's a great example, actually. But, he still did it out of instinct and conscience didn't stop him from grabbing that lamb. That's what differentiates humans from animals in cases like that. We'll leave the lamb alone, no matter how badly we want a sample before it hits the dinner table, and we can restrain ourselves.

 

well I gotta argue that point, How do we know that the dog was acting on instinct and not a conscience decision to say "fuck this I'm going for it"
And further more, you and I may have that ability of leaving that lamb alone, however other humans for sure do not. Lets trade the lamb for a 14 year old girl and the dog for a well over aged male... This is a terrible scenario for us humans, one that takes place too often in either way male and or female.

 

I think you are trying to make some kinda "gotcha" point.

Morals aren't tied to a religion or god, you didn't decide to comment on my post answering your previous vague questions.

Articulate what you are getting at.

Saying only humans have a conscience doesn't cut it.

 

Not being disrespectful to him but I doubt you'll get a articulated reply. One line sentences that have little coherence to them seem to be the norm.

 

This just shows that not all humans or other animals have the same LEVEL of conscience. Everyone/everything is different in how they make their decisions.

 

why? if there is no God why have morals? Why do we make laws? What is it in mankind that he makes laws.

 

I really hope that's a joke. I don't need "god" to tell me to be a good person. I know I don't like to hurt, I don't like to feel cheated, I don't like being lied to, etc. Why would I want to inflict that on someone else? It's called empathy and it has been around far longer than any religion or "god" has. I don't believe in any god and my morals are just fine.

 

I'm much more fearful of anyone who relies on some imaginary entity to tell them they shouldn't murder, rape, cheat or steal than someone who tells me they are an atheist.

 

How do you know for sure that God is an imaginary entity?

 

The same way you know he isn't?

Besides, that's not the point of what I said. Believing in a god isn't necessary to have morals or to know right from wrong. Religion works to deter bad behavior like the war on drugs works to deter drug use. It doesn't.

 

This is the same argument I see when discussing religion everywhere. Your questions earlier about morality were LITERALLY answered. Just because we don't believe in a God(s) doesn't mean we don't have morals, because we can sympathize with the victims of these. We understand how it would feel to be on the butt end and can't imagine others going through the same pain, so we don't do it.

How do we have God given free will when God knows and controls all? Why do you feel dejected upon the lose of a loved one when they're going to Heaven, and you will be with them eternally? What about all the inconsistencies in the Bible, and what gives you the right to nit pick information you agree and disagree with?

I'm not asking these expecting an answer. I'm making this post because there is an argument loop. Christians (narrowing it down, it's true for all religions, but Christianity is the most prevelant in our western society) will argue because it's how they were raised. If you put a Christian in a room with a Muslim and ask them to debate religion, it will be "well the Bible/Qur'an said this..."

There is NO proof either way. The argument is completely looped. There is no proof of a God. None. All of your "proof" is interpretation. However, I can't prove there ISNT a God. I can't. I'm a ME/Physics major and I disagree with the Big Bang Theory, so idk what happened.

The end of the day, there is no real argument here on the topic of God. Specifics? Yeah, I'll throw down. But there's no proof either way.

So either let's have a civil conversation (religious or not) without grilling each other on the origins of ones conscience or don't post.

 

@coffeesnob, say for the sake of argument that it was "proven" tomorrow that God does not exist. Would you then decide to rob a liquor store or cheat on your wife, or take someone else's property because you really wanted it?

No? Well there you go. You don't need religion to tell you right from wrong.

If you answered yes, then you might in fact be a sociopath

 

You really haven't given this much thought apparently.

 

This is my point of view when answering @coffeesnob. I respect that he is a believer and respect his beliefs but it seems as if he has no desire to actually "discuss" his point of view. We have all given very detailed responses to his vague comments but from his end there is no detailed response. So it seems he will keep on posting one line vague sentences rather than have a detailed discussion about why he believes the way he does. Again I think we all respect his belief but it would be nice to actually have a "discussion" about those beliefs. Just my take.

 

Which god ?

 

Enlightened self-interest

 

He demonstrated guilt.
"Guilt is a cognitive or an emotional experience that occurs when a person believes or realizes—accurately or not—that he or she has compromised his or her own standards of conduct or has violated a moral standard and bears significant responsibility for that violation."

So the question now becomes, did the dog feel that he violated the order of the pack in which he is not the alpha, or is he just Catholic?