Many Atheists are not Rational

[Givemeareason]

Many Athiest are not rational.  Sure we like to pride ourselves about how rational we are, etc.  But we think with our new found wisdom we have reached some plateau of understanding.  We have not.  All we have gained is simply the realization there is no God.  But what we have not realized is that God is just a concept and the concept still EXISTS!  We cannot eradicate a concept that has existed for a hundreds of thousands of years fulfilling the needs of billions of people regardless of how they used or abused it.  So now we have a choice.  We can remembrance and recognize that religion still has value. And we understand it or go all the way down to hating it.  Understanding it should be the choice for the rational mind.  Hate is not a product of the rational mind.  By understanding it we take a more detached viewpoint.  We relinquish our egos, fears, doubts etc that are attached to us.  We look again and observe it deciding how this should be addressed.  We are the components of the collective mind of HUMANITY.  With regard all of human knowledge we then begin to the value of religion.  But unfortunately we generally only view things from the view one component viewing another component.  We miss the big picture because our point of view was so limited.  But the components can still expand their points of view.  All we need do is detach ourselves and try to assume a larger point of view.  We then strive for the OBJECTIVE point of view and become open minded.  We still have the foundation of human knowledge and we are now able to see and discard what is not relevant or simply wrong.  This is the foundation of SCIENCE.  Now all I am saying here i that this is a concept within my own mind and think this is a very rational viewpoint.  I decide within myself what I want to experience.  When I encounter something that does not fit in my rational view then I choose what action to take.  If it grabs my interest I generally pursue and confront it.  That is why I am here.  Now I am trying to say all this in very systematic yet elementary terms.  Religious people having been placed in combat mode love to say that atheism has no moral basis in which to exist.  But that is WRONG.  One of the very first concepts was when we realized that we worked best groups.  Therefore the logical observation was that it was better to get along with each other.  So we created the principle of the Golden Rule which is also called by many other names and was incorporated into all our religion.  But they cannot lay claim to that or many other morals.  They appear to me as being self evident.  But here we are having relinquished God and now asking "NOW WHAT?"  This is what needs to be addressed here.  Rather than running off people who don't conform or we don't understand we should confront them in a logical manner without attacking them.  Now some might be sociopaths and those are probably the trolls being referred to.  So we need to examine them closely and as rationally as possible.  Can I now become accepted in your group? :-)

[aitm]

Again, you suggest that the vast minority, being "us" should confront "them" with science instead of attacking them. Here is my suggestion, get the vast majority to confront us with science instead of attacking US. You should know by now that "they" do all the attacking while we do most of the fending. We have been attacked for 3000 years, they have just felt a mere poke on the side for the last 5. They can get over it.

[Aletheia]

I was very interested in reading the topic, but speaking for all atheists ("we") rendered the point moot.

You already are part of the group - happens by basis of not having a belief in a deity. What you do from there is entirely up to you as an individual. There are plenty of groups who have atheists as members, but these are not necessarily groups dedicated to atheism. Rationalists have a high number of atheists, but the core focus is on rational thinking. Many scientists are atheists, but the core focus is on science - not a lack of belief in a deity.

Be what you wish to be. If you want to talk about logic, then go for it. If you wish to promote rational thought, it's your decision. Should you choose to discuss philosophy then I'm sure you can find others who wish to do the same. However, if you wish to speak about atheism as though it had more than one characteristic through attributing numerous other features to this group, then be prepared to be corrected.

Rational thinkers may be pushing the agenda too hard against the religious and wilfully ignorant. The holistic and spiritual atheist would be more of an opponent to rational thinkers than a proponent, even though members on both sides are atheists.

Hell, we don't become atheists in the same way. Some do so for rational reasons, others do so because they were never religious, and still others may do so because their feelings of betrayal from their native religion seemed to "kill" the god concept for them. Others believe in a higher power but do not call it god, and therefore are "atheists."

You paint us with too broad of a brush and wonder why we're bristling. Yes, a lot of rationalists are atheists, but not all atheists are rationalists. The fact that you've noticed atheists who are irrational comes as no surprise. Logic was never the feature of atheism - only lack of belief. 

[Solitary]

Givemeareason, you have been accepted here or you wouldn't be here, and if you speak like this you are more than welcome, but even now you have to use a derogatory remark about many atheist not being rational, as if being rational is all we should be, and never be irrational about the Judeo-Christian-religion that is as irrational, bigoted, prejudice, and hateful as can be, and just overlook that and say it is on equal terms with atheism and be accepted because it is a Golden Calf. "Are we not human" because we are atheists as you keep implying? Are we not rational because we don't accept religion based on the concept of God, or gods and the supernatural? Solitary   

[Termin]

 Not Rational ??? I put my pants on 3 legs at a time just like everybody else ! ! !


  PS

    Microwave Popcorn analogue clock dessert spoon.

[Mike Cl]

Giveme, you take too many assumptions.  You use labels in a way that is native to you--foreign to me.  You lump atheists into one group who all have the same beliefs.  That is not what atheism is--it is simply a lack of a belief.  Period.  Your brand of atheism is different than mine.  I am willing to define mine for you--you refuse to define yours for me.  Religion is another term you misuse.  I don't think religion will ever go away.  But organized religion can be done away with, and it should be.  All organized religions are dangerous.  Religion itself isn't.  You seem to want to make the world two camps--religious and atheist.  It doesn't work that way.  We live in a world that features a huge rainbow of beliefs.  Because of that, when talking about religions, you must be much more specific than you are being--that is if you really want to actually communicate with anybody.  You are really good at running off at the mouth--horrid at listening--and nonexistent in replying to somebody's questions.

[SkyChief]

Many Athiest are not rational.  Sure we like to pride ourselves about how rational we are, etc.  But we think with our new found wisdom we have reached some plateau of understanding.  We have not.  All we have gained is simply the realization there is no God.   Can I now become accepted in your group? :-)

I think your confused as to what the term atheist really means. Don't feel bad... lots of people are.

To clear things up, here's the definition of atheist:
___________________________________________________________________________
a·the·ist
ˈāTHÄ"É™st/
noun
a person who disbelieves or lacks belief in the existence of God or gods.
___________________________________________________________________________

Notice the term makes no claims about the existence of gods.  It only describes a person who lacks belief in gods.

And your statement "Many Athiest are not rational."   is obviously a 'teaser' to stir up controversy.


ra·tion·al
ˈraSH(ə)n(ə)l/
adjective
1.
based on or in accordance with reason or logic.

By definition, if a person is atheist, they must be rational.  Its a prerequisite.

So I don't think many people would be fooled with your teaser statement.

[Deidre32]

I don't pride myself on being rational, for I don't consider atheism to be something to pride one's self on, as much as it is just a natural conclusion one comes to after realizing that reality, as tough as it can be sometimes, is better than making up fantasies.

[Sargon The Grape]

Many atheists humans are not rational.

Went ahead and fixed that for you.

[PickelledEggs]

No! YOU are not rational!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


[spoiler]This post is for the purpose of irony[/spoiler]

[Givemeareason]

No! YOU are not rational!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


[spoiler]This post is for the purpose of irony[/spoiler]

This forum has amazed me.  And I say that with all good intention.  From reading these responses I am now beginning to see this forum is a collective mind unto itself.  And upon my joining this mind the thoughts that I bring and interconnect with the greater mind here are being handled in a manner similar to how I might handle this in my own mind.  Such as examining, processing, accepting or discarding as needed.  Hahahaha... i have my own forum inside my mind.  My own mind and connected ego however drives me to bring attention to ideas that I feel need addressed and in a manner similar to how I might see within myself.  I often like to address things in a detached impersonal way within myself so I am trying to interract in a similar manner here.   I love this place.

[PickelledEggs]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GexIytBUtm4

[aitm]

   I love this place.

Well, if you had looked over the door when you entered you would have seen that that is our Motto.

[Givemeareason]

I don't pride myself on being rational, for I don't consider atheism to be something to pride one's self on, as much as it is just a natural conclusion one comes to after realizing that reality, as tough as it can be sometimes, is better than making up fantasies.

I identify with your thoughts so very much.  We are no longer anchored by belief.  We are adrift in a sea of thoughts.

[Givemeareason]

Well, if you had looked over the door when you entered you would have seen that that is our Motto.

I do not believe in signs.  Maybe that's why I keep going into the ladies room.