Is there such a thing as an atheist?

[Percepi]

To the original post, no there is no such thing as an atheist. We are given two choices. God or Satan, there is no in between, you are for Him or against Him.

This is a false dichotomy. Let's look at some other possibilities:

1. You can be for God and against Satan.
2. You can be for God and not believe in Satan.
3. You can be against God and for Satan.
4. You can be against God and not believe in Satan.
5. You can be against God and Satan.
6. You can be somewhat for God but not support him entirely while believing in Satan.
7. Same as 6, but also not believe in Satan
8. You can not believe in God or Satan.

To be an atheist as it is defined is to serve Satan.

I'm sorry, but that's NOT the definition of atheism.

An atheist is a person who doesn't believe in any higher entities. If you believe in God, you're a theist, NOT an atheist. If you worship Satan, you're NOT an atheist - you're a theist.

I care too much to lie. To be a Buddhist is to serve Satan. To be a an Islamist is to serve Satan. But, even some so called Christians serve Satan and don't even realize it.

Even if this is true, and anything but worshiping God in a very particular way is to serve Satan (including lacking belief in God), this doesn't change the fact that atheism has nothing to do with whether or not a person serves Satan. It defines whether a person believes in a higher entity or not.

The same is for atheist, they think they are serving themselves, but spiritually and in reality they are serving their father Satan.

What do you mean by "father"? Atheists don't believe in Satan, therefore Satan isn't their "father" or their "master". To suggest he's either one would also suggest atheists believe in Satan - which is literally impossible because such a belief, by definition, would make them theists. You can argue that atheists serve Satan without realizing it, without believing in him, but be careful not to turn around and act as if atheists believe in Satan and serve him.

Lets keep our definitions as clear and concise as possible. If being an atheist leads to serving Satan unintentionally, keep in mind that serving Satan is still not a part of the definition of atheism. To be an atheist, you also need to be alive, but atheism isn't "A lack of belief in god and living".

 

[Dustoffmyfeet]

We can thank our banking system for that. I agree with you. Fiat money is a bond and a chain. Our economy is set to strip the working man and make the rich richer. Religion is becoming narrow.

But the light's free if anyone looks hard enough for it. I still have to find it in spades but I think I see a little bit.

Getting a birth certificate is something most people take for granted.
For Jade Jacobs-Brooks and her parents, it was a mammoth task that resulted in a relentless battle spanning two decades.
Miss Jacobs-Brooks, 20, from Harlow, Essex, was born in Alicante, in Spain, in September 1991.
But she had no paperwork to prove it because of a bureaucratic mix-up between British and Spanish authorities.
It meant she was unable to get a passport, vote or move out of the family home.
Even nights out with her friends were difficult because she had no identification to prove her age.

BBC News - Jade Jacobs-Brooks' 20-year birth certificate battle

Our slavery now starts with our birth certificates. This lady was told that she DID NOT EXIST because she could not be recognized LAWFULLY. The rights that we think we have, she was denied of because of it, and we think we're free?

But this is also our key out! Because she could not be recognized as a LEGAL PERSON under the law, she has no duties, responsibilities, taxes or fines by the law!

For the dead is freed from the law! We simply need to give back what belongs to Caesar and tell him (worldly governments) we no longer comply!

 

[Kerry]

Just because someone say's " I do not believe in that" does not change the truth or in your terms fact. I can say that I do not believe that if I turn this switch the light will come on.

As for your Dichotomy, Hog wash.

God said " I would rather you be hot or cold, but if you are luke warm, I will spew you out of my mouth". He is pretty blunt and to the point. No sitting the fence. You do or you don't.

 

[Kerry]

If you don't. then eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we die. Jesus loves you and wants you to have more than that. It's up to you.

 

[Cycel]

I watched another Neil Tyson video: Neil DeGrasse Tyson - Greatest Sermon Ever - YouTube

Messages that I heard included:

We have iron in our blood like meteorites have iron in them. We are part of the universe.

It sounded a bit like Joni Mitchell's song, Woodstock, that was also recorded by Crosby, Still, Nash, Young. Lyrics in the song include: We are Stardust (we are golden).

The message sounded to me to be not atheism but pantheism. Under pantheism, we are part of God. Pantheism is not a humble religion. You might reason under pantheism that if God is to be worshiped, then we are to be worshiped also.

I can see how you got that message, though it had never occurred to me until you mentioned it, but I don't believe pantheism was what Tyson intended anyone to take away with them. He was simply explaining where his sense of wonder was coming from. Elsewhere he has explained that the five most common elements in the universe are also the same five most common elements the make up our bodies, where they are found in roughly the same proportions that they are found in interstellar gas clouds. Astrophysicists say that those elements were produced in massive stars that at the end of their existence "spewed their enriched guts" and ceded space with the raw materials that the solar system and ourselves are made from. It's not a religious claim that he was offering, but a scientific understanding.

 

[JesusLives]

I can see how you got that message, though it had never occurred to me until you mentioned it, but I don't believe pantheism was what Tyson intended anyone to take away with them. He was simply explaining where his sense of wonder was coming from. Elsewhere he has explained that the five most common elements in the universe are also the same five most common elements the make up our bodies, where they are found in roughly the same proportions that they are found in interstellar gas clouds. Astrophysicists say that those elements were produced in massive stars that at the end of their existence "spewed their enriched guts" and ceded space with the raw materials that the solar system and ourselves are made from. It's not a religious claim that he was offering, but a scientific understanding.

Off topic Cycel but please don't forget to respond to my blog as I really am interested in how you came to your belief. Thanks

 

[Jhana]

Just because someone say's " I do not believe in that" does not change the truth or in your terms fact. I can say that I do not believe that if I turn this switch the light will come on.

As for your Dichotomy, Hog wash.

God said " I would rather you be hot or cold, but if you are luke warm, I will spew you out of my mouth". He is pretty blunt and to the point. No sitting the fence. You do or you don't.

I always find that people who know the truth in its entire, complete, blunt form, also have a way of reading the bible that quotes things without anything else around it.

Being neither hot or cold is nothing to do with being impartial. God is impartial. It's to do with being irreverent.

There is a different between being impartial and being irreverent.

The scripture you posted talks about the Leodiceans who have gold and silver and all the treasures of the world and all the comforts and have become irreverent to their faiths, stagnant. They are quickly reminded that true riches come from somewhere else.

The church here were lukewarm because they thought they had it all; the whole truth and everything they needed. No need to search or ever look for anything else, spiritually. But they were wrong.

Leodicea was famous for its gold and eye salve, and Jesus' uses the analogy when he writes (I'm paraphrasing) 'buy from me gold that you may be truly rich, and garments that you may be truly clothed, and eye-salve that you may cure your blidness'.

 

[Kerry]

Laodicea refers somewhat to the present day church, not all of it as the church of Philadelphia is also present as well as some remnants of the other churches. However, the church of laocidea is the only one where Jesus is not in the midst but on the outside knocking(and appealing to the individual). As you see the mega churches that no longer preach the cross but psychology.

I do not claim to know it all. I do know that there is no void, no in between. You cannot serve two masters, you will either love the one and hate the other or you will hate the one and love the other. It is God or Satan and no fence riding.

 

[Percepi]

Just because someone say's " I do not believe in that" does not change the truth or in your terms fact.

I never said believing or not believing changes the truth. Why even bring it up? It's completely irrelevant.

I said an atheist is a person who does not believe in any gods. I never said an atheist is a person who believes God isn't real because they choose not to believe in him.

As for your Dichotomy, Hog wash.

Those are a number of possible outcomes. How likely they are is debatable - but they're all possible.

I do not claim to know it all. I do know that there is no void, no in between. You cannot serve two masters, you will either love the one and hate the other or you will hate the one and love the other. It is God or Satan and no fence riding.

Atheists don't ride the fence. They don't believe either one exists!

Let me ask you a question. Do you support He Man? Or do you support Skeletor? You can't support them both, which is it? If you respond, "Neither, I don't believe either of the two characters to exist," then congratulations, that's what it feels like to be an atheist.

 

[Dustoffmyfeet]

Laodicea refers somewhat to the present day church, not all of it as the church of Philadelphia is also present as well as some remnants of the other churches. However, the church of laocidea is the only one where Jesus is not in the midst but on the outside knocking(and appealing to the individual). As you see the mega churches that no longer preach the cross but psychology.

I do not claim to know it all. I do know that there is no void, no in between. You cannot serve two masters, you will either love the one and hate the other or you will hate the one and love the other. It is God or Satan and no fence riding.

You are correct. No man can serve two masters. You are either a slave to Christ or to sin. But Laodicea is the present state of the world. All of the major religions of this world is rich. Technology and agriculture flourishes abundantly. We have enough housing, food and clothing for 12 billion people and yet 30,000 children alone die every day due to starvation.

Jesus is definitely on the outside knocking! When will we let Him in???

 

[Cycel]

But to answer the question, no there are no such thing as an atheist. That is simply a name given to people who do not see God as the religious types do.

I don't see that God exists at all. So it is not a matter of interpreting God differently, it is a plain fact that for me God is a myth, like Zeus. I stress this, not to insult anyone's belief, but to convey to a doubter, yourself, that I do exist.

I have a question? Do you believe in the existence of the Aztec god Quetzalcoatl?

 

[Kerry]

I never said believing or not believing changes the truth. Why even bring it up? It's completely irrelevant.

I said an atheist is a person who does not believe in any gods. I never said an atheist is a person who believes God isn't real because they choose not to believe in him.



Those are a number of possible outcomes. How likely they are is debatable - but they're all possible.



Atheists don't ride the fence. They don't believe either one exists!

Let me ask you a question. Do you support He Man? Or do you support Skeletor? You can't support them both, which is it? If you respond, "Neither, I don't believe either of the two characters to exist," then congratulations, that's what it feels like to be an atheist.

I would support Heman, because he has that awesome sword that gets power from somewhere and Sheera is his girl (gggrrr). Just like I would support Luke for the force is with him.

Fantasy aside, It like voting, if I don't vote because I do not trust the candidates, I have voted by not voting. We see the choices we are given in erry day life. Aristotle saw it as did Home and Socrates and they concluded we know that there is good and evil. But, we do not know how to get from the evil to the good, there is a gulf between the two and how to cross we do not know.

Jesus crossed that gulf and said whosoever will. If we choose to ignore it or say I do not believe, Satan say's thank you you are my army and I will reward with the things of this world.

Even in fantasy the two are portrayed.

 

[Dustoffmyfeet]

I don't see that God exists at all. So it is not a matter of interpreting God differently, it is a plain fact that for me God is a myth, like Zeus. I stress this, not to insult anyone's belief, but to convey to a doubter, yourself, that I do exist.

I have a question? Do you believe in the existence of the Aztec god Quetzalcoatl?

Do you see yourself? Now again you may not see it how the world defines God, but look in the mirror! You do what you want and all that pleases you, JUST LIKE YOUR FATHER. As far as the Aztec god, again these things hold no power over me. It is only people trying to define things they do not fully understand, but it that name gets people to do good, then so be it. I know that love covers all.

 

[phil112]

................I have a question? Do you believe in the existence of the Aztec god Quetzalcoatl?

Sure! But I know by his real name: satan.

 

[Cycel]

Off topic Cycel but please don't forget to respond to my blog as I really am interested in how you came to your belief. Thanks

I've hesitated because of the length of time it may take. I did write an explanation earlier but the post seems to have disappeared. I can't explain it. I will put something together for you.

 

[Jhana]

I would support Heman, because he has that awesome sword that gets power from somewhere and Sheera is his girl (gggrrr). Just like I would support Luke for the force is with him.

Fantasy aside, It like voting, if I don't vote because I do not trust the candidates, I have voted by not voting. We see the choices we are given in erry day life. Aristotle saw it as did Home and Socrates and they concluded we know that there is good and evil. But, we do not know how to get from the evil to the good, there is a gulf between the two and how to cross we do not know.

Jesus crossed that gulf and said whosoever will. If we choose to ignore it or say I do not believe, Satan say's thank you you are my army and I will reward with the things of this world.

Even in fantasy the two are portrayed.

I don't vote by not voting. How can I cast a vote, by not casting a vote? I don't cast a vote and so no vote is recorded and thus I never voted.

Same thing. I don't call things 'good' and 'evil' as a moral divide between what 'to do' and 'not do'. Motive is more important than anything else in this respect. So I call them beneficial and not beneficial.

Beneficial things are done out of compassion or empathy, out of the belief that they are kind things to do, and the non-beneficial things out of the rest.

It's the only morality there really is; empathy and compassion.

 

[Cycel]

Sure! But I know by his real name: satan.

Not surprising. I've seen this approach before. Others, simply reject the existence of the Aztec deity altogether. How about Tlaloc, god of the thunder, rain and earthquakes. You do understand that ancient people anthropomorphized the forces of nature. You think this god is also real?

I believe that neither Quetzalcoatl or Tlaloc ever existed. You may not be able to understand how primitive people created gods out of the forces of nature, but to my mind the explanation is quite obvious. I am waiting for a reply from Dustoffmyfeet.

 

[Percepi]

I don't vote by not voting. How can I cast a vote, by not casting a vote? I don't cast a vote and so no vote is recorded and thus I never voted.

I believe, what he's getting at, is that by not voting, you're still making a choice. When it comes to voting, by not casting a vote, you choose to leave the ballots in the hands of those who do vote (and, in that regard, you make a choice). I believe the book Economics In One Lesson sort of explained this (though, I could be thinking of the book Human Action, a book I somehow lost and barely touched).

Anyway, all of that aside, I have to disagree with the voting analogy. I find it to be weak. If you choose not to vote, you don't support either candidate. But being an atheist is more like believing there isn't an election, or not believing there ever was an election (due to believing there wasn't an election, or not knowing about it).

 

[Kerry]

I don't vote by not voting. How can I cast a vote, by not casting a vote? I don't cast a vote and so no vote is recorded and thus I never voted.

Same thing. I don't call things 'good' and 'evil' as a moral divide between what 'to do' and 'not do'. Motive is more important than anything else in this respect. So I call them beneficial and not beneficial.

Beneficial things are done out of compassion or empathy, out of the belief that they are kind things to do, and the non-beneficial things out of the rest.

It's the only morality there really is; empathy and compassion.

For an non biblical quote. Miaggi say's " you karate yes or you karate no, if karate I don't know, squash just like grape".
what would think of your congressman or senator that abstained from every vote so that he could be neutral ( fence riding)?

 

[Jhana]

Not surprising. I've seen this approach before. Others, simply reject the existence of the Aztec deity altogether. How about Tlaloc, god of the thunder, rain and earthquakes. You do understand that ancient people anthropomorphized the forces of nature. You think this god is also real?

I believe that neither Quetzalcoatl or Tlaloc ever existed. You may not be able to understand how primitive people created gods out of the forces of nature, but to my mind the explanation is quite obvious. I am waiting for a reply from Dustoffmyfeet.

DustOffMyfeet did say he felt these were ways that people made sense of things they don't understand, and that if it creates some form of compassion in people, then that would be a good representation of the God who created all people, not just christians.

What he's saying is that, in his eyes, god goes beyond solely the fundamentalist christian view on god.