Essay talk:I'd Hate To Be An Atheist

From RationalWiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
See the main article on this topic: argument from adverse consequences

I have answers.

Essentially, I think it would be fair to say, that we are just animals whose instincts happened to develop better.

Yes, we are animals, we're nothing more than animals. By pure biological makeup alone, there is nothing particularly remarkable. It's humbling, yes, but I think it gives us a reason to feel like we belong to the natural world. We're part of it, and the other organisms around us are part of a giant family tree. And "instincts happened to develop better", that's not an accurate statement to make. Humans aren't "more evolved" or "developed better", we just have a more complex brain and we're good at that aspect of our species, but we're physically weak and need to rely on others to survive.

How would it feel to realize that you are simply lost in this big universe? No hope, no justice, no faith, no absolute morality. Just a brief time in a forgotten place and then it's all over.

That's humbling, but this reality places more emphasis on how you live and influence other people's lives rather than the afterlife. Most of us don't have a grand goal to achieve for humanity, just to focus on our lives and bettering those close to us and around us. This shows how insignificant we really are in the grand scheme of things and thinking that humans are the center of the universe and some creator wanted us specifically to thrive just reeks of humans thinking highly of themselves and creating a religion on that.

how can you go through your lives and have this in mind?

To be honest, sometimes, I have it in mind, but this makes my relationships with people the much more important. Sometimes, you also don't have to give a hoot about your "meaning" in life. I don't care if my life has a meaning or not. I don't think it does. It doesn't worry me. --It's-a me, Lgm sigpic.png LeftyGreenMario! 18:59, 26 May 2017 (UTC)


You are free to delude yourself that way if you wish... But you have just emphasized my point, THAT YOU DO NOT ACTUALLY THINK ABOUT what you are endorsing... The point is, you have no consciousness. Sure, you do have what, medically we would call consciousness... But all it is, is just billions of neurons interacting... Which is true, don't get me wrong... But being a cosmic after thought? How do you walk around knowing there is NO JUSTICE, and what you do or do not do has 0 meaning... NOTHING...

What does it mean to sacrifice your life for a friend... NOTHING... You are living on this small rock (if I may), lost in a VAST UNIVERSE... You have that in mind... How does that not bother you?


--Kingdamian1 (talk) 19:07, 26 May 2017 (UTC)

Because humans have evolved to not be bothered by it. Christopher (talk) 19:09, 26 May 2017 (UTC)
Again, that is insignificant... Do you, consciously (consciousness that does not exist) realize that you are a cosmic afterthought... NONE OF YOUR ACTIONS will have any consequences... Basically... the only difference between a rocks existence and your existence is the quantity and behavior of atoms... NOTHING ELSE... That is it... --Kingdamian1 (talk) 19:14, 26 May 2017 (UTC)
(Well done on indenting properly!) Yes I do realise this, what's your point? Christopher (talk) 19:16, 26 May 2017 (UTC)
Take your last sentence... Change the word "your" to "the"... "What's THE point?".... That is my point!--Kingdamian1 (talk) 19:19, 26 May 2017 (UTC)
There isn't one. Why does that matter though? Christopher (talk) 19:21, 26 May 2017 (UTC)
Exactly! It doesn't!!! NOTHING MATTERS!!! that is the whole point...!--Kingdamian1 (talk) 19:25, 26 May 2017 (UTC)
Nothing matters, including the fact that nothing matters. Christopher (talk) 19:26, 26 May 2017 (UTC)
Yes... You are the most honest atheist ever... you actually realize and get it... One last thing... would you be able to repeat that, with a straight face... to the victims' relatives https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_Tylenol_murders ...Kingdamian1 (talk) 19:29, 26 May 2017 (UTC)
I'm not entirely sure what that has to do with anything. Christopher (talk) 19:33, 26 May 2017 (UTC)
This person poisoned Tylenol bottles with cyanide... And innocent children and other people suffocated painfully... He got away with it... in your view... 1)what consequence await him? 2)why was this wrong? given that NOTHING matters, consciousness does not exist... By your own conscious (no pun intended) admission--Kingdamian1 (talk) 19:36, 26 May 2017 (UTC)
No consequences await him, I wish I was wrong. It's wrong because children were killed painfully, I don't care that this isn't written into the fabric of the universe.
On a sort of unrelated note, why is murder wrong if there's an afterlife? If you only kill True Christians™ who'll end up in heaven anyway why's it a bad thing? Christopher (talk) 19:44, 26 May 2017 (UTC)
That is based on a faulty reasoning... Christian is someone who accepts God's existence... if we do, then we value human life... If we kill, that means we do not value human life, hence we do not accept God... Hence we are not Christian... P.S I did not get your answer about 1 and 2--Kingdamian1 (talk) 19:48, 26 May 2017 (UTC)

────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────But why does being alive matter if there's an afterlife? Christopher (talk) 19:50, 26 May 2017 (UTC)

Kingdamian1 ends by asking: "I do not ask you to attack my beliefs... I ask you to elaborate, how can you go through your lives and have this in mind?"
As far as I am concerned, not believing in the existence of the multiple varieties of gods which have been hypothesized is about as intellectually worrisome as not believing in the Loch Ness Monster. And my reason for not believing in the existence of the gods or The Monster is the same. --Bob"Life is short and (insert adjective)" 19:56, 26 May 2017 (UTC)


NO IT IS NOT... Because you have your own perception of a God... God is not some supernatural myth... He is the intelligence behind life... So what you are saying is that the existence of intelligence (hence, meaning, purpose) in life is about as important as loch ness monster!--Kingdamian1 (talk) 20:17, 26 May 2017 (UTC)

God is a product of humans. Humans are the intelligence behind it. And no, we're not arguing that "the existence of intelligence is as important as Loch Ness". Try again. Also, I think atheists are the past the point to require a religion to guide what's right and what's wrong. Anyhow, humans like karma, and some of them wish consequences for those like Hitler and that person, but since they're dead, nothing further is going to happen them. --It's-a me, Lgm sigpic.png LeftyGreenMario! 22:19, 26 May 2017 (UTC)

One more thing, stop capitalizing every random word. It hinders legibility and makes you look insane (which people probably think you are, but the all-caps don't help at all). If you continue, I'm considering changing them to proper capitalization for the sake of everyone else here. --It's-a me, Lgm sigpic.png LeftyGreenMario! 22:22, 26 May 2017 (UTC)

Also, if you're going to beg us to not attack you for your beliefs, perhaps you should make an effort on your part and not accuse me of "deluding myself in my beliefs"? --It's-a me, Lgm sigpic.png LeftyGreenMario! 22:24, 26 May 2017 (UTC)


1st... I am not saying you are deluding yourself in your beliefs (you are correct in saying they are your beliefs)... I am saying do not delude yourself into thinking that atheism can be compatible with purpose, meaning or morality... 2nd)God being human creation is a statement of OPINION... you are welcome to have that belief, but treat it as such...Kingdamian1 (talk) 00:24, 27 May 2017 (UTC)

Hitler killed millions of people... Some of them in a crowded room who were suffocated internally (histotoxic hypoxia) by prussic acid... At the age of 56... Having fulfilled his dreams, he went and quietly and painlessly shot himself... In SHARP contrast to the agony others had to endure... How can you look at this fact and say "enjoy" your life!?--Kingdamian1 (talk) 00:27, 27 May 2017 (UTC)

How can you enjoy your life knowing this? What's the difference? Christopher (talk) 14:02, 27 May 2017 (UTC)
What's the difference... Tell that to those people whose lives have been destroyed!--Kingdamian1 (talk) 15:55, 27 May 2017 (UTC)
I mean what's the difference between a theist living their life normally knowing about Hitler and an atheist living their life normally knowing about Hitler. Could you actually read what people post in future? Christopher (talk) 16:18, 27 May 2017 (UTC)
Because there is justice and fairness... and a just judge--Kingdamian1 (talk) 16:25, 27 May 2017 (UTC)
You believe there's justice and fairness in the world? Tell that to a double amputee or a holocaust survivor, one who isn't a True Christian™ and who therefore will end up in Hell perhaps. Christopher (talk) 16:56, 27 May 2017 (UTC)
I think that he was asserting justice, fairness and a just judge in the next world. IE he has faith that AH is getting what he deserves.Daev (talk) 17:01, 27 May 2017 (UTC)
Adolf Hitler getting punished is all very well but you know what would be better? The holocaust and WW2 not happening in the first place. Christopher (talk) 17:04, 27 May 2017 (UTC)

This whole essay[edit]

Is one massive appeal to consequences. That is all. Christopher (talk) 17:29, 27 May 2017 (UTC)