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Author | Topic: Are Atheists Mentally Ill | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Jon Inactive Member |
"The fact that a believer is happier than a sceptic is no more to the point than the fact that a drunken man is happier than a sober one. The happiness of credulity is a cheap and dangerous quality." What purpose is there to life besides being happy? If believing in a god makes me happier, shouldn't I believe in a god regardless of whether I think that god actually exists? Hell, at least 70% of the reason I believe in a god is because of how it makes me feel; and since I'm not dropping bombs on folks based on my beliefs, there's really no reason not to go the happy route.Love your enemies!
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Jon Inactive Member |
We are naturally superstitious critters prone to believing most anything we can manage to invent.
Forcing off this nature can only have a unbalancing effect on our simplistic minds. Life is better with a level scale.Love your enemies!
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Jon Inactive Member |
Jon writes: What purpose is there to life besides being happy? Life's purpose is to make more life. Obviously not an answer to the question I was asking. But that's okay; if being obtuse makes you happy, knock yourself out.Love your enemies!
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Jon Inactive Member |
Not all people share the same value hierarchy. "Happiness" is not always at the top - other people seek value fulfillment in the acquisition of knowledge, or the raising of children, or any number of other values that do not necessarily maximize "happiness." When does anyone do anything without contentment of some sort being the hoped-for outcome?
I'd rather know how much is actually in my bank account than believe that I have infinite money. Sure; because the small discomfort you feel today over the low balance and not being able to order pizza is nothing compared to the huge discomfort you will feel when you are bankrupt and living in an alley. Knowing how much is actually in your bank account is just another way for you to maximize happiness.
I value knowledge and truth over happiness. Nah; you're discontented believing in nonsense when you know there is some other truth out there. Finding that knowledge and truth assuages the discontent and thus brings greater happiness.
In some cases the fulfillment of those values may make a person "happy," but not always, and the definition of "happy" is in many cases fuzzy. We all seek happiness. The paths we take may differ. But no one desires misery. Edited by Jon, : Don't worry... be happy...Love your enemies!
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Jon Inactive Member |
Wow. I guess I am stunned that you actual presented Pascal's Wager as your reason to believe in a god. I did? Where?Love your enemies!
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Jon Inactive Member |
The quote is simply saying that your happiness due to your belief doesn't imply that God exists. I haven't taken anything in this thread to be an argument or implication for the existence of deities.
2. A whole bunch of people who are happy and say that they are happier because of God... doesn't make God exist. I don't see this addressed in the quote at all. The quote just says that it can be dangerous to believe in things just because they make you happy, and that this caution extends to religious beliefs.Love your enemies!
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Jon Inactive Member |
In many, many cases, the fulfillment of a value causes extreme discomfort and sometimes even misery. What floats the boat is what makes you happy.Love your enemies!
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Jon Inactive Member |
It's the right thing to do. And it makes you happy. Love your enemies!
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Jon Inactive Member |
Jon writes: The quote just says that it can be dangerous to believe in things just because they make you happy, and that this caution extends to religious beliefs. Yes, that's technically true. But just wrong.The context of the quote is that it is a rebuttal of an argument: Believer -> God exists. That's why Christians are happier than atheists... it's proof that God exists!George Bernard Shaw -> The fact that a believer is happier than a sceptic is no more to the point than the fact that a drunken man is happier than a sober one. The happiness of credulity is a cheap and dangerous quality. Notice how the quote says "...no more to the point...""The point" being discussed is whether or not God exists. Then what does the quote have to do with this thread? Love your enemies!
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Jon Inactive Member |
I think it's clear that Tangle was being an equivocating wise ass.
No need to dwell on his nonsense.Love your enemies!
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Jon Inactive Member |
Where does the article claim that happiness in the belief in a deity is evidence for that deity's existence?
Love your enemies!
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Jon Inactive Member |
If you mean that people can find things to do with their lives that they find worthwhile and satisfying then I agree. That, however, is not purpose. I think my case can be rested on this.Love your enemies!
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Jon Inactive Member |
And how exactly is the conservativeness of a religion determined?
Love your enemies!
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Jon Inactive Member |
It's clear the quote doesn't fit the context of this thread. I don't think there's any more point in discussing it.
Love your enemies!
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Jon Inactive Member
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... more conservative religious beliefs such as inerrancy and stricter adherence to Biblical and traditional rules and roles. How do you actually measure the strictness with which a religion adheres to its holy book(s)? What are 'traditional rules and roles'? Are Muslims really less conservative than Jehovah's Witnesses? Are secular folk more conservative than Hindus? Love your enemies!
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