Thread: I'm an atheist, but....

Mystic7, two great athiests I can think of off the top of my head are John Lennon and Albert Einstein. How are they failures?

Originally Posted by Grod

Mystic7, two great athiests I can think of off the top of my head are John Lennon and Albert Einstein. How are they failures?

They are only failures in comparison to the greatness of Mystic.

well lets see.
"god doesn't play dice"
"imagination is more important than knowledge"

Albert Einstein = not athiest. I can't believe people don't realize that he has nothing in common with athiest.

I find John Lennon useless. So he probally is one.

Originally Posted by Mystic7

well lets see.
"god doesn't play dice"

Metaphor.

Originally Posted by Mystic7

"imagination is more important than knowledge"

What does that prove? He believed in imagining God?

Originally Posted by Mystic7

Albert Einstein = not athiest. I can't believe people don't realize that he has nothing in common with athiest.

Nothing in common with atheists? You should do more research.

http://skeptically.org/thinkersonreligion/id8.html

Originally Posted by Mystic7

I find John Lennon useless. So he probally is one.

The Beatles are the biggest selling musical act in history. They are also the most influential. John Lennon (with the other Beatles, especially Paul McCartney) did a great deal to create enjoyment in the world. His megasales also did a lot for the economies of many countries, especially considering what resulted from his influence. The Beatles' influence also had a major impact on social customs and values, resulting in a major amount of social liberalization in areas where it was needed. Tell us about how your accomplishments are better.

I think Mystic lost the argument.

I am more agnostic than athiest. I don't believe in a god or higher being, but I believe in points that many religions make. They lay guidelines for basic societies. Without them society and structured civilizations would be impossible. For example, "Thou shall not kill" and simple stuff like that.

I personally think that god is a way for humans to put a cap on anything we can't understand or comprehend. Human nature generally causes us to find limits and ends to things. If I told you that a room had infinite space while you were in it I'd garentee(sp?) that you search of a wall or corner.

Most religion is based on blind faith. I won't "bow down" to anything you can't prove without some evidence.

That was probably a bit off-topic, but who really cares.

Einstein was a Buddhist

Originally Posted by Universal Mind

The Beatles' influence also had a major impact on social customs and values, resulting in a major amount of social liberalization in areas where it was needed.

Can you give an example?
(Lol you seem to worship the Beatles just a tad too much)

Oh yeah and UM, skimming over your link and here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_...eligious_views Einstein was an agnostic, not an atheist.

Originally Posted by M-Cat

Can you give an example?
(Lol you seem to worship the Beatles just a tad too much)

Yes, The Beatles' social influence pulled the Western world out of the Ozzie and Harriet era. They relaxed social attitudes about marijuana and LSD, they broke the ice for the male trend of long hair and ended the severity of the taboo against it, they encouraged and broke ground for artistic expression against the government, and all of that paved the way for the sexual revolution, the civil rights movement, women's liberation, gay rights, and the rest of the social revolution that happened in the late 1960's and early 1970's. That is a fact, not worship. Even people who hate The Beatles say that. In fact, a lot of people hate The Beatles because of exactly that.

http://www.cyber-beatles.com/revolution.htm

http://userpages.umbc.edu/~morin/handlist.htm

Originally Posted by M-Cat

Oh yeah and UM, skimming over your link and here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_...eligious_views Einstein was an agnostic, not an atheist.

He did not believe in a personal God, and he said it was the system of scientific structure he believed in instead. He lived in Ozzie and Harriet times (It was before the big influence of The Beatles. ), so he was careful with his wording. I posted the article for facts, but I do not agree with the writer's final assessment of the facts. Einstein did not believe in a dude in the sky who consciously controls the universe. He was an atheist.

Famous atheists;
- Richard Dawkins
- Sam Harris
- Christopher Hitchins
- Just about every philosopher in the past 100 years

Furthermore, consider what beliefs are predominant and that, the very definition of an atheist to be the contrary to theism whereas athesits, like myself, actually believe in something that can allow for a God to exist. Howeve,r we simply have not found a reason to believe in God yet.

Also, do not be so quick to cast off an entire belief system entirely based on its popularity. Otherwise, I suggest you be a homophobic, war-mongering theist. (Note; I am not making an implication that all theists are this, just that I find them to be the most predominant).

~

I get the impression Einstein avoided siding with any religious camp, atheist, theist, agnostic, or otherwise. It's kind of fun to watch people fight over him, tho.

Let us found a Church of Albert Einstein and then splinter over variant interpretations for the next 2000 years

Originally Posted by Taosaur

I get the impression Einstein avoided siding with any religious camp, atheist, theist, agnostic, or otherwise. It's kind of fun to watch people fight over him, tho.

Let us found a Church of Albert Einstein and then splinter over variant interpretations for the next 2000 years

Einstein is God. That is the secret of the universe. However, God is an atheist.

Originally Posted by Universal Mind

Einstein is God. That is the secret of the universe. However, God is an atheist.

I disagree, Lord Albert is an agnosto-mysticist!

Civilizations shall rise and fall!

(for lulz)

Originally Posted by Taosaur

I disagree, Lord Albert is an agnosto-mysticist!

Civilizations shall rise and fall!

(for lulz)

Okay, now I've had it! Round up your men and meet me on the battle field.

Originally Posted by Universal Mind

Okay, now I've had it! Round up your men and meet me on the battle field.

My strawmen shall vanquish your feces-bucket grenadiers!

Originally Posted by Carôusoul

I don't need it.

Richard Dawkins doesn't need it.

O'nus doesn't need it.



Why should anyone else?

A very ignorant and "the world revolves around me" response.

I'm not an atheist, agnostic, christian, muslim, or whatever religious denomination... I am not English, or White, or anything related to Patriotism and Race...

I am however, a Human Being. And that is the only distinction I try to live my life by. People have become obsessed with different forms of separatism in order to distinguish themselves, but in reality, we aren't so different from each other. We are all human beings, and yet we are all individuals. All of our lives have value and all that matters is the connections we make with each other, not the separations we apply. Atheism is merely an enterprise, along with Religion... I accept neither, as I have my own beliefs and thoughts, and nobody has any right to tell me that they are wrong, just as I don't have any right to say anybody else's belief is wrong. If they want to be religious, fine. However, if people focus solely on the separations in our societies, and remain divided over trivial topics like religion or race, then we will get nowhere in improving the world.


That is my two cents...

Originally Posted by bluefinger

That is my two cents...

Yeah but your two cents are worth more than some other peoples two cents.

Originally Posted by bluefinger

I have my own beliefs and thoughts, and nobody has any right to tell me that they are wrong, just as I don't have any right to say anybody else's belief is wrong.

Wrong: Everyone has that right.

Disagree with the separatism thingie.

I don't see any similarities between atheism and religion, apart from a few (though not that few) cases of blind faith on both sides.

People have the right to disagree. Religion is not trivial, since it involves opinions on morals, (possible) meaning for life, and so many other things. It's not like discussing ice-cream flavours, if you ask me. That doesn't justify not working for greater good (I guess that's what you mean), but some things are simply not easy to be consented.

Actually I agree with mark75, but you also have the full right to completely ignore them. Freedom of speech, remember? Human rights, if you're interested

Originally Posted by Kromoh

Disagree with the separatism thingie.

Do you understand what is meant by the separatism thingie? I disagree with your use of spelling.

Originally Posted by Mystic7

Do you understand what is meant by the separatism thingie? I disagree with your use of spelling.

I disagree with you not dying in a fire.

Originally Posted by mark75

Wrong: Everyone has that right.

Wrong again: He has a right to make his own rights. And so do you.

Originally Posted by mark75

I disagree with you not dying in a fire.

That's good because if you wished otherwise, it would be a bad indication of my state of mind.

Originally Posted by Mystic7

Wrong again: He has a right to make his own rights. And so do you.

Then Mark has a right to make is own right to inhibit bluefinger's rights. But you do not, because I had a right to take that right away from you.