Are you a believer?

[realityhack]

Andyw is my saviour.

AndyW option added.

[BA to the Stars]

Yep, we really need an 'Andyw is the messiah' option here.

No he's not, he's a very naughty boy

[Ignis Fatuus]

I don't believe in atheism either. Atheism is not about believing in something, even in science; at its best it's about constructive disbelief.

I agree wholeheartedly. I decline to go along with having the fact that I don't believe in god categorised as just another religious belief.

My only difference with Dawkins is that he feels that it is a moral duty to speak out against superstition and mumbo-jumbo masquerading as philosophy, not to mention as Truth. I would just let the morons, medieval mumblers, primitive peddlers of superstition, and benighted born-to-be-a-slave worshippers-on-their-knees stumble in their own darkness. It's their life, at least until they decide that it's mine for heresy or crimes against god. Maybe Dawkins is right after all: the price of freedom is eternal vigilance, and there are always those who would see the Inquisition as a Good Thing.

[sasguru]

In reply to the thread starter:

Feck off, Threaded. You're too stupid to start this sort of argument.

[lukemg]

I don't even see it as a choice, it's hilarious that people cling to such beliefs while marvelling at the stupidity of ancient civilisations worshipping the sun and nature etc (a far more credible god !).
Does it provide comfort, support and hope for desperate people (there are no atheists in a foxhole) - yes.
Does it often provide discipline and a code of conduct for people to follow - yes.
Useful as a valium for the masses then.
So all good ? Unfortunately it also provides justification for prejudice, hatred and violence for those seeking it.
Each to their own and we all pick and choose stuff as a tradition for weddings, wintermas etc but when I see supposedly intelligent people declaring themselves believers, they go down in my estimation - e.g.Tony Blair (although it was hard to downgrade from existing low standing)

[Saddo]

I'm not a believer in the sense of this mystical person being a bearded bloke wearing a white frock who wandered around doing miracles, as we were taught at school in divinity lessons. And having read some parts of the bible I'm not very inclined to be a great believer in some of the reported events either, though I might be persuaded that the stories were inclined towards a generalistic example nature. For example, in the early old testicles they go on about elders who lived to a ripe old age spanning several centuries, and I can't quite get my head around that idea.

On the other hand, I am cool with the idea that just maybe there is some sort of spiritual force which plays a part in our lives.

[Saddo]

Does it provide comfort, support and hope ....

You could have stopped there.

Does it really matter? Some people live their life by the bible. Others turn up once a week on Sunday morning hoping that they will have their trespasses forgiven. And plenty more just keep their head down pretending that they don't really have any idea worth pursuing.

Whichever way it plays into your own life, if it provides comfort for those who believe then that's good enough for me. I have no issue with it at all.

Where I DO have an issue is where the great almighty is apparently telling his troops that it is okay to pick up a machine gun or wrap explosives around their body to wipe out the non-believers. Now if any God figure is that nasty then I really don't want to preach in his temple.

[gricerboy]

Interesting that I am the only agnostic so far as this negates my original premise that I was in the majority. Nice to see there are a few believers though.

[HairyArsedBloke]

I don't even see it as a choice, it's hilarious that people cling to such beliefs while marvelling at the stupidity of ancient civilisations worshipping the sun and nature etc (a far more credible god !).

The traditional Pagan beliefs of Europe have always seemed more sensible to me. Better than all that mono-theist rubbish that comes out of gobs of gentlemen from the western orient.

[shaunbhoy]

as this negates my original premise

You ought to be used to that scenario by now surely?