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Bringing you atheist articles and building active godless communities takes hundreds of hours and resources each month. If you find any joy or stimulation at Atheist Republic, please consider becoming a Supporting Member with a recurring monthly donation of your choosing, between a cup of tea and a good dinner.
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Prey tell indeed.
rmfr
@arakish
Ummm ok.
So 9 pages after asking atheists why (human) life exists, and being told repeatedly we dont even know there is a why, as no one can demonstrate any objective evidence there is, what have learned?
Well, quip seems to think he can both not believe something, and not not believe it, bizarre. He thinks specious irrational questions asking why something exists, even though he admits he hasn't any evidence there is a reason, represents rational inquiry.
He thinks it's logical to claim something is possible, after he's admitted he's agnostic about it, and can therefore know nothing about it by definition.
He also thinks agnosticism is some sort of "3rd choice" between belief and not believing.
He also doesn't seem to know what a common logical fallacy is, or what it means when they're used.
He thinks it's rational to ask atheists why they exist, but irrational to ask why mermaids are shy, because "most people don't believe mermaids are real". So argumentum ad populum then.
Have I missed anything?
Anyway quip it's my turn to ask a question. Why do you think (human) life exists, and what evidence can you demonstrate to support your claim belief?
Yeah, he's a fucking pudding.
@Sheldon
"Have I missed anything?"
Yep.
"Well, quip seems to think he can both not believe something, and not not believe it, bizarre. He thinks specious irrational questions asking why something exists, even though he admits he hasn't any evidence there is a reason, represents rational inquiry."
Perhaps, the only rational conclusion is to concede that logic can't meet the inquiry. Yes?
Beating your head against its wall ...produces nothing but a headache.
"Perhaps, the only rational conclusion is to concede that logic can't meet the inquiry. Yes?"
No, the problem doesn't lie with logic, but with the fallacious specious nature of the question. Just as science's inability to find unicorns doesn't suggest science is flawed, but rather that unicorns don't exist.
"Beating your head against its wall ...produces nothing but a headache."
Your posts are headache inducing, that is something on which we can concur. You might try using an open mind, and being a little less intransigent. One cannot both invoke the strict principles of logic, and simultaneously deny them by posing specious questions with inherently fallacious assumptions in them.
Before demanding atheist tell you "why we (humans) exists?" You might first show some evidence that there is any "why" for (human) existence. Otherwise how is your question any more rational than asking why mermaids are so shy? There are humans who believe mermaids are real, and claim it have seen them after all.
Sheldon: "Your post are headache inducing."
THEN WHY ARE YOU RESPONDING TO THEM?
Why is anybody responding to him? He throws out his fishing line, and catches whoever is biting. Trolls are to be ignored. That's how you limit them.
So don't respond.
Please don't tell me who to respond to, that's my choice. My responses are as much for my edification as his, and there may be others who might be interested in the rebuttals. I am minded to offer rebuttals to some of his claims, and I think it can be useful to challenge ideas, even if they are offered by someone who is trolling.
Sheldon, I was trying to help you so you don't get more headaches. I can tell you what to do; you don't have to do it, and maybe you'll learn like you expect him to "be useful to challenge ideas". You don't know when you're being played, Sheldon. It's hard to watch. You bite at every nibble he puts out.
You think you are edifying to him? That's what I disagree with. He's not; he's playing you.
I don't need help to spot trolling, I called it pages ago, and I will respond as and when I am inclined to do so. He's not playing me as I have a choice, and it is my choice to challenge some aspects of his religious verbiage, his motives are irrelevant to this.
" It's hard to watch."
Then don't watch, I am getting something from this, and you quite clearly can't handle that, so it is pretty obvious who should leave this thread alone.
"You think you are edifying to him? That's what I disagree with. He's not; he's playing you."
I never said I was edifying HIM, your frustration is impeding your ability to read. Just because you have let his antics annoy you please don't take this out on the rest of us. If this thread bothers you then there are plenty of others.
Sheldon, check your PM.
@MB Re: Troll headaches
(Hey, Sheldon, hope you don't mind.)
MB, please take a moment and step back and see what Sheldon is saying. Yes, as you say, it is obvious that our beloved quip and others like him are not here for any true debates/discussions. We all know that, because we have seen it on here hundreds of times. And I'll be the first to admit there was a time during my earlier days on this site that I would allow these trolls to get under my skin and "rattle my cage". Then one day, with the assistance and advice from one of our very wise mods (Thank you, Cyber.), I realized how foolish I was being by allowing those individuals to afffect me so negatively. And at the same time I decided to start learning how to turn their own little games against them. Ya see, it took me awhile to realize and consider the fact there are untold numbers of people who read through these threads but never respond/interact. Therefore, what we say and how we respond to others on here may be the only views of atheists that some people will ever see. Because of that, when I now deal with guys like quip, I try to use their own nonsense as a springboard to launch useful information and point out some of the more obvious absurdities of their "rationality". And, basically, that is pretty much the same thing Sheldon is doing. He isn't trying to "win an argument" or "score points". That is not what it is about. He is simply pointing out factors for the benefit of others who may read these threads and not be able to readily see those factors for themselves. It's not a contest. It is trying to give others different views they may otherwise have never considered. Plus, it can really be a lot of fun sometimes. *Big Grin*
@ Tin-Man
I so completely agree with that little treatise. I just wish I could be as funny and light-hearted as you are. Of course, my problem is having to live with and near family members who do nothing more than come by to discriminate and persecute my lack of belief in any gods.
As I have said, if it had not been for my brother's ten year old son, I would never have agreed to take over the title of his house so his son would have a home to live in, instead of out on the streets. If it had been just my brother, I'd've told me mom, "Tough shit. He's on his own." and stayed up in Gardiner, Montana, a much closer commute.
However, with being near so many other family members who are Religious Absolutists, it is enough to drive a person to either suicide or homicidal mania. However, thanks to my "lack of beliefs" and, critical and rational thinking, I just ignore them by locking off my part of the house whenever those sorry shits come visit my brother and his son.
And even I have been here long enough to see those like "our beloved quip and others like him are not here for any true debates/discussions". However, I do like having fun with them. And then there are those that do get under my skin, especially when they speak of their religion being a peaceful and loving and harmless religion. My problem is such brings up those suppressed memories and I go off on an angry tangent.
Since I use HTML-Kit as a text editor, I am able to copy and paste their posts into it and take my time in responding so I can cool off somewhat. Although in responding those memories come back, I have cooled down enough to only be pissed off instead of angry.
You won't like me when I am angry. Although not literally, but yeah.
rmfr
TY Tin-Can. I do see what he is saying. I really do. And I appreciate your support of him. You ARE our tinman peacemaker.
I PM'd him, and know that you guys PM each other, so I'm glad he's getting support.
At the same time, had he not said that he was getting headaches, I would've left him on his own. But I could not stand by and let it pass, knowing he was frustrated. You do the same, too. So does Arafat. You guys get very emotional and angry, I don't think it's in your best interest, which I care about.
But I've learned today not to care about others on this forum because it's a wasted effort. Peace out.
Sheldon knows what he is doing. He does not need a nursemaid.
There is a difference between caring and supporting, and being the hall monitor.
@Sheldon
I hope everyone's got that off their chest. But we digress....
"Just as science's inability to find unicorns doesn't suggest science is flawed, but rather that unicorns don't exist."
This is not about flaws in science nor unicorn existence. This is about the self. Unlike unicorns the existence of the self is undeniable. The self is the locus of human experience and throughout this experience we continually inquire into the nature of things i.e. we ask "why?".
Therefore, as self-aware individuals it's quite rational, natural and meaningful to wonder the 'whys' of our life's experience.....all the more so regarding the abstruse nature of personal experience itself.
Quite the opposite from running from it by way of mere apathetic pedantry... wouldn't you say?
@quip Re: "I hope everyone's got that off their chest. But we digress...."
Hey, please pardon the interruption, but I have to give some credit where credit is due. That remark was beautifully done, man. Actually gave me a good chortle. Very well played, sir. Thank you for the laugh. *chuckle*
@Everybody else: Hey, I can't help it if I have a warped sense of humor.
Nice straw man, again, but your claim is not that the self exists, nor has anyone denied it.
"Therefore, as self-aware individuals it's quite rational, natural and meaningful to wonder the 'whys' of our life's experience"
Indeed it is, for 9 pages we have all been wondering **WHY** you think repeating the same specious nonsense, while ignoring the innate fallacies in your specious nonsensical question, will go unnoticed?
Now how long are you going to keep running away from my question? Fair is fair after all, as I have answered yours repeatedly.
****Now what evidence can you demonstrate that "the self" was designed / created for a reason, by a deity from a bronze age superstition? ***
Tic toc, go on, be the first of our drive by theist apologists to show some integrity.
@Sheldon
"Now how long are you going to keep running away from my question? Fair is fair after all, as I have answered yours repeatedly.
****Now what evidence can you demonstrate that "the self" was designed / created for a reason, by a deity from a bronze age superstition? ***"
I can't answer that for YOU.....to each it's a personal endeavor.
"I can't answer that for YOU.....to each it's a personal endeavor."
I never expected you to answer for me. Indeed that's not what I asked.
I asked you what evidence can you demonstrate that "the self" was designed / created for any reason?
You demanded a reason from atheists in your OP, now after pages of your condescending arrogant point scoring when the answers didn't support your beliefs, you hilariously refuse to even consider the question.
I shan't even feign surprise at this breathtaking hypocrisy, as it is pretty standard fare in most of the exchanges from religious apologists on here.
However and for the record your question has been answered by many atheists, and now it is clear that as a theist (non atheist) you haven't an answer yourself.
Hilarious irony.
Woah, We need an admin in the vicinity immediately!
Could they please suspend Sheldon's account with immediate effect, this level of spanking he dished out it too much!
Tin-Man may have some ointment to repair the buttocks of the poor lamb.
Did somebody call for some ointment?!?...*holding up jar of Preparation H saturated with Carolina Reaper powder*....
That Carolina Reaper powder should make him forget all about the pain from the spanking.
rmfr
@Sheldon
"You demanded a reason from atheists in your OP"
Not in the least. I asked atheist to gift themselves some introspection. It's your dismissive hubris which assumes otherwise.
"I never expected you to answer for me. Indeed that's not what I asked."
That's good because (once again) "what you asked for" takes a personal effort. Seems you're as thick as you are insecure.
Sheldon "You demanded a reason from atheists in your OP"
quip "Not in the least."
Liar...
quip Tue, 09/04/2018 - 00:25
" I've a "why" to ask of the resident atheists on this forum: WHY do you exist?"
-------------------------------------
quip " Seems you're as thick as you are insecure."
Ad hominem fallacy, look it up, I'm done explaining the basics to you, but when you've finished your little tantrum perhaps you can show some introspection and address my question, as I along with many others did you the courtesy of answering yours.
What evidence can you demonstrate that "the self" was designed / created for any reason?
@ quip
"I asked atheist to gift themselves some introspection."
The majority of atheists came from religious backgrounds, and only after a lot of hard introspection and diligent inquiries did they finally come to be atheists.
You are making as if I needed introspection, when I spent forty years doing just that?
When he says introspection he means wild speculation based on vapid superstition, that is then irrationally used to justify belief in archaic religious myths.
What color was that dog again Sheldon?
What evidence can you demonstrate that (human) life was designed for any purpose?
Come on try showing some intellectual introspection, for a change.
@David
No, that's still extroversion, you've only replaced one external doctrine for another. Religion still has an unconscious affect upon you. You're still grappling against the (projected) EXTERNAL god your culture has conditioned you toward. Go inward and dispense with the idea completely.
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