Why do Atheists care about religion?

[bindeweede]

I came across this interesting video.

http://www.milkandcookies.com/link/51635/detail/

I'd not seen it before. Apologies if other readers here have.

[bobdezon]

Now that is a well considered and well researched argument. I cannot fault it. Great find.

[brianp]

http://www.milkandcookies.com/link/51635/detail/


Fantastic. Thank you for that.

[Matt]

Q Why do Atheist care about religion.

A Compassion:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/11/05/nblood105.xml



A 22-year-old woman who gave birth to healthy twins died hours later after refusing to receive a blood transfusion due to religious reasons.

[Lord Muck oGentry]

And then we see pious bigotry, special pleading, privileged access...

http://www.secularism.org.uk/governmentconspireswithcatholicc1.html

[DrS]

That's a great video. I'd like to see a similar one about the UK, but of course there's no constitution to undermine or secretly adapt ... they can make it up as they go along.

[Janot]

That's a great video. I'd like to see a similar one about the UK, but of course there's no constitution to undermine or secretly adapt ... they can make it up as they go along.Well, there is a lot to complain about - Queen being head of the church, bishops having seats in the House of Lords. All symbolic stuff with no consequence, but annoying all the same.

[darktil]

That was awesome!

[bindeweede]

Atheists.

http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/8161/1196469156109xq1.th.jpg (http://img525.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1196469156109xq1.jpg)

[Fiona]

I cannot read the text in this Bindeweede. Can you transcribe it please?

[bindeweede]

I cannot read the text in this Bindeweede. Can you transcribe it please?

Fiona

It is a sort of large thumbnail. If you click on it, you will eventually see a full-size Imageshack picture. I should have put that underneath the pic:sad:.

[bindeweede]

Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able?


Then he is not omnipotent.


Is he able, but not willing?


Then he is malevolent.


Is he both able and willing?


Then whence cometh evil?


Is he neither able nor willing?


Then why call him God?


[Epicurus]


Atheists. Winning since 33 A.D.

[Fiona]

Thank you Bindweede :)

He puts it very nicely indeed !

[bindeweede]

Thank you Bindweede :)

He puts it very nicely indeed !

Yeah! Me an Eppi is just like that!:bossy:

[bindeweede]

http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/2523/sciencevsreligionii1.jpg

[Janot]

[Epicurus]


Atheists. Winning since 33 A.D.Sorry to be picky here, but Epicurus was not an atheist in the modern sense. He believed the gods were indifferent to the doings of mankind, but that they should still be honoured.

I can't find a reference for the above quotation. Does anybody know?

[bindeweede]

Sorry to be picky here, but Epicurus was not an atheist in the modern sense. He believed the gods were indifferent to the doings of mankind, but that they should still be honoured.

I can't find a reference for the above quotation. Does anybody know?

I found this in Wikipedia.




The Riddle of Epicurus or Epicurean paradox (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Problem_of_evil) is the earliest known description of the Problem of evil (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Problem_of_evil), and is a famous argument against the existence of an all-powerful and providential God or gods. As translated by David Hume (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Hume) in the Dialogues concerning Natural Religion (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dialogues_concerning_Natural_Religion):
If God is willing to prevent evil, but is not able to
Then He is not omnipotent.
If He is able, but not willing
Then He is malevolent.
If He is both able and willing
Then whence cometh evil?
If He is neither able nor willing
Then why call Him God?Fully aware of the fate of Socrates (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socrates) when brought up on a charge of impiety, Epicurus avoided expressing an overt atheism (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atheism). Epicurus did not, however, deny the existence of gods. Rather, he conceived the gods as blissful and immortal yet material beings made of atoms inhabiting the metakosmia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metakosmia): empty spaces between worlds in the vastness of infinite space. In spite of his nominal recognition of the gods, the practical effect of this materialistic explanation of the gods' existence and their complete non-intervention in human affairs renders his philosophy atheistic on a practical level, but avoids the charge of atheism on the theoretical level.


[Here is the link

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epicureanism ]