Want to start your own thread? In the space below, just tell me the Title of your new thread and write the opening message of the thread. Then I’ll move it to the main page so we can all comment. It’s that easy! :)
Why don’t I just let people start their own threads on the main page? I sincerely wish that I could! But WordPress, the engine that runs this blog, doesn’t allow that. This is Start-a-New-Thread page is a way to let visitors to this blog start their own threads.




I am in a hurry to type this, but I wanted to get it done before I left my computer. If you need to tweak something, that is cool.
Title: Can Atheist believe in an afterlife?
There are many ways to debate this. Most new atheist explain or argue that if you don’t believe in god, then it is impossible to believe in anything supernatural or an afterlife.
I personally believe that 99% of what people claim to be a supernatural or religious experience is just the mind creating delusions. And I find myself rolling my eyes when I listen to someone explaining they had some type of “experience”. But I do find myself believing in something more. I feel that the mind is very powerful and 99% of the time it is just my brain creating a delusional world for me to live in because I can’t find the scientific explanation. But there is still that feeling. The feeling is that I am connected to something bigger then myself and that there is a purpose to everything.
I still live my life as an atheist. I use logic and reason to live my life. And I don’t live my life by any dogmatic point of view. I also live my life in the here and now, not waiting for some “next life” to happen. I just want to see other atheist feel about this subject.
Thanks for the thoughtful question, tea. You can find your new discussion here.
why are nt you an christian
How can an atheist deny the mark of the beast?
In the Bible it states that no one ,small or great, rich or poor, free or bound can buy or sell unless he receive the mark of the beast. The word “mark” is translated as etching. The technology of the microchip is an implantable chip.We are heading toward a cashless society. Just watch the news. World government, one world currency has been an issue world leaders have talked about.In that microchip will be your medical records , your bank account. If you do not have that chip you will not be able to buy or sell. How was this known over 2 thousand years ago.The technology is here.It has not been enforced yet. But you can not deny the technology.
Hello, Doug and thanks for the question. You can seed your new post and the related discussions here.
Why do atheists target Christians?
I am curious why Christianity seems to be the most targeted religion for atheists to attack. While I recognize that Christianity is the religion with the most followers worldwide, it really seems less like a strictly scientific numbers issue, and more like emotional personal vendetta most of the time. I see so much effort from the atheist community to debunk Christian beliefs, but very little going toward Jewish, Muslim or Buddhist fallacy for instance (also very popular religions).
With so much emphasis on Christianity, I would think atheists would realize how much it weakens their “reason”. First, it suggests that Christianity is the only religion worth attacking, which may just be insulting to other religions as well. Second, it gives the appearance of a hidden (anti-Christian or even satanic) agenda to most Christians. Third, it makes these atheists just look like angry kids rebelling against their Christian parents or the Christian society they were raised in. None of these things are very compelling to a Christian to abandon the faith they work very hard to keep. Just sayin’.
Hi, Christian and welcome to the blog. That’s a great question! Your new post and the related discussions are here.
My wife and I deconverted from christianity about two years ago. Ever since then I have been an atheist. When we were christians, we would attribute good events in our life to god having favor on us. I know that’s not true now but some recent events have me perplexed. In the last two weeks, the following great things have happened: I landed a job without an in-person interview, I was able to get out of my rental agreement in order to move to my hometown and the house beside my parents became available to rent during the week I moved. When I was a christian, I would’ve attributed this to god. I know that’s not the reason. However, how can these things be explained? I’m having a difficult time thinking of this windfall as a bunch of good coincidences.
(Amanda’s comment moved to the discussion page)
Hi, David and thanks for the question! You can find your new thread here.
Love this site, I put a link to this on my blog on wordpress. Im new to bloging and your blog also. Keep up the great work. I look forward to reading more of your stuff soon.
Thanks, dmoney and welcome to the blog!
what do we mean when we say the new testament is inspired?
explain how son of god can be said to have come in the fullness of time?
explain why we call the gospels pattraits of jesus and not his biographies
why is the gospel of john d|f from others?
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Hi, saron. Thanks for the questions! I hope they will generate some interesting discussion. You can see your posts here:
Is love eternal? I have heard the promise all the time: “I will love you forever. This life and on the afterlife”. This is assuming the loving person will move to a new plane where loving is allowed (heaven?).
Since there is no afterlife. Love ends with death.
Hi, Walter – thanks for the discussion! See your post and any comments here.
Mv3NUr Thank you for the material. Do you mind if I posted it in her blog, of course, with reference to your site?
A set of ideas occurred to me a few years ago, but I’m not sure what to make of them. I would be interested in reading some comments on them.
First idea: The physical universe is all that exists.
The matter and energy that our universe consists of is all that there is. No gods, no devils, no afterlife or any state of being, other than the one we now experience.
Second idea: The universe has an end. At some point, the universe comes to an end via heat death, absolute entropy, universal recompression to a single point or whatever. I’ve heard many opposing theories on the subject, but they all seem to agree that it will end somehow. I suppose it’s not unreasonable to think this. Everything in the universe has a birth and then a death, so perhaps the universe itself will also die.
When I combined these two ideas it occurred to me that if both ideas are true, one might conclude existence is meaningless.
If the universe is all there is, and if it comes to an end (whenever or however), then everything that has ever happened, or will happen, will be completely and utterly wiped out. No history, no memories, no artifacts to examine, no ruins to dig up. Like it never happened.
And, if that is true, nothing anyone has every done (or will do) matters in the slightest.
Become the biggest mass-murderer in history or find the cure for cancer. In the end it won’t make any difference because in a sense, none of it ever happened.
I don’t know if any of this makes sense or is nonsense. I would appreciate some feedback.
Reply moved to the discussion post
Hi, Smokes. Thanks for the thoughtful question! Here’s your new
thread.
Want to know more? http://myrealcamera.com – Watch my live camera
I am fifteen years old. I live in the heart of the bible belt with two parents who are not that religious but extremely hypocritical, judgmental, and intolerant. I am an Agnostic-Atheist. I will probably never be able to speak the four words to my family that I want to say most of all:
I Am An Atheist.
I really have three questions.
1.) What would most likely result from telling hypocritical hateful Southern Baptists? Is it worth it? Especially what would happen from my family.
2.) I plan to move to Massachusetts immediately after high school. Will it be better there?
3.) Living in the South, would it be worth it to allow myself to be brainwashed back into Christianity?
Hello, Brittany and thanks for the questions. You can see your new discussion here along with any responses.
If God is real,and He created you,and you believe this without a shadow of a doubt, then you would be like “us”. Tell me, how would you feel if were constantly told that you’re beliefs are but mere petty childish dreams. Would you appreciate it? I understand you lack of evidence to persuade you, but are you that alone that you can’t believe in this “God” I so aware serve? Is it that you have no evidence that you can’t believe or were you taught not to believe, or maybe even are you just not believe because you can? Evidence is but a small reaction to atheist. If you are an atheist then you made that choice not to believe,so stick to your disbelief…But if your ready to believe (I doubt you will be) then come to Him yourself. But, until then, it be wise of you to continue your disbelief. You say what you have to say, and we have to say what you do as well. This battle of He is/He isn’t will go on forever…So express yourself.
Thank You… WDC
Reply moved to the discussion post
Hi William and thanks for the questions! I hope you get some good answers. You can find the discussion here.
Goodday
I’m new here and just wanted to drop by with a little “hello” message (sorry if I have posted in the wrong section!)
My name is Courtney, mom to two lovely boys, and a parttime soccer coach!
I’m here to sniff around and gather some information, so please welcome me :O)
Have a nice day!
Welcome, what information are you looking to gather.
Just wanted to take a moment and say hi to all the members. Looking forward to the forum and what everyone has to talk about.
I am possibly an atheist in the making, but I have been through so many “isms” on my journey, discarding this and that part of religion on my way. I always thought that I was right, but then had to change my mind. I’m a little bit afraid that this is just another in a series, and I really don’t want to keep doing this. I went to skepticon 3 and it helped, as I now understand that for most atheists it’s not a dogma of no god, it’s just a lack of evidence FOR god. I am, however, a little bit intimidated by the sheer intellect in the atheist community. I have let my brain lie fallow for a really long time, and while I started out with a fairly high intellect, the atheist seem to contain some of the greatest brains around.
ok, enough rambling…….my son is an atheist, but he cannot let it be known because there is a real risk of him losing his job. His workplace is full of Mormons, and they have consistently promoted Mormons ahead of him, but never criticize his job performance. He simply avoids the issue, finds a distraction when asked, but would love to ‘come out’ and speak his mind. The law says that what his employer does is illegal, but that would be of little comfort should he lose his job and be unable to support his family. Any suggestions?
arrgh…..I meant the atheist community seems to contain some of the greatest brains around. (Not too proficient with the editing)
Thanks for the thoughtful post and question. Here is your new thread!
Dear Atheist, once while working with a Hindu Surgeon we were about to put a late middle aged sort of red necked women under for a procedure when she said “Dr before I will let you operate on me I must know if you believe in God?”. And he said “Yes, Yes Mam I do”. Well I am an atheist and I still wonder what I would of said if she would of asked me? If you were in this situation what would you have said, being an atheist?
That’s a very interesting dilemma, G-G! Thanks for the question. You can see your new thread here.
Is the Bible consistent on the subject of death? Does the O.T. say the same thing as the N.T. Reading my Bible it Jesus seems to imply that if you believe in Him you may die physically but spiritually you live on. What are the facts.
Thanks for your question, elynna. You can see your post and the discussion here!
Title- Owner of our company is very religious.
At times it makes me a little uncomfortable, for instance if we have a lunch meeting, he says “grace” before we eat. Not that I’m not offended by his beliefs, rather I’m perplexed by him. He is a very intelligent, well educated person. In my own life, I have found that most of the very intelligent, well educated people I have met are atheist, or at least non-religious.
I don’t understand how seemingly intelligent people can become so brainwashed that they believe the Christian dogma.
Hi, Brian. Thanks for your reflections. You can find your discussion here.
Who created God?
Obviously the origin of the universe is one of the oldest philisophical questions and debates.
The theist insists that someone had to create the universe and that someone must be God.
The atheist responds: “If the universe needs a cause, then why doesn’t God need a cause? And if God doesn’t need a cause, why should the universe need a cause?”
But I recently came across a “Christian Answers” link on this topic suggesting that Christians should respond using the the following reasoning:
1. Everything which has a beginning has a cause.
2. The universe has a beginning.
3. Therefore the universe has a cause.
http://christiananswers.net/q-aig/aig-c039.html
Please review the information presented at the above web link and give your thoughts.
Thanks in advance.
Hi, Curious George. Thanks for the question! You can find the discussion here.
I am an atheist and I have come out to my family as such but my mother, raised COGIC refuses to even acknowledge that I have told her that I do not beleive. I never expected her support, but as time goes on she is gettting more vocal about me praying and seeking the lord, she talks to me as if I’m a Christian and it’s putting a real strain on our relationship. we don’t talk often, maybe once a week, but our conversation is now filled with references to god. I don’t want to step on her right to speak her mind, but I want to ask her not to mention god to me.
Is is wrong to just want to talk to my mother without her brining up her god every other sentence?
Hi, s. Thanks for sharing this tough dilemma. You can find your new discussion topic here.
Hi, I was wondering if there is an atheistic explanation for the phenomenon of free will?
To try and put the question into specific terms so that there is no confusion:
1. We have the experience of being able to choose. This may be manifested in a course of action or merely a belief to be held.
2. If our choices are merely a reflection of the particular brain chemistry involved, or of any other physical process, we cannot be said to have a true choice in any sense, as there is nothing outside the physical realm to be influencing the action of the brain and body, which are physical things. Therefore, it seems that any physical explanation for free will is by definition faulty, including any potential future knowledge we may uncover.
3. The standard way out of this, and the way that I took as an atheist, is that there really is no such thing as free will and we merely experience the illusion of choice. This begs the question of who is experiencing this illusion, but apart from that, if we have no choices that are not determined by physical law, then how did we arrive at that conclusion? In order to exercise rational thought, you must be able to make a free will choice between two alternatives according to which you believe is more weighty. If there is no free will, on some level you have no choice but to believe this and it is not rational in any sense.
A1. Now of course, the argument made in point 3 does not mean that the hard determinism theory is false, merely that if it were true we would have no way of knowing that, since the belief itself invalidates the process which led to the belief.
A2. Randomness is not the same as choice. Demonstrating that not everything can be predicted in its behavior, even with a hypothetical infinite body of knowledge about the original state, does not mean that this randomness is an explanation for choice, any more than a roulette wheel chooses the number the ball falls into.
Hi, PhoenixGray. Thanks for the question! Please find your discussion here!
I was raised to beleive that the purpose of life was to be a good christian and convert others to christ in order to spend an eternity praising god in heaven. it never really apealed to me, but at least it was something to aim for. now i struggle with meaning and purpose in life, as an atheist how have you overcome this? How do you find meaning and purpose in an uncaring universe, where our very exitence was by chance and our lives end at death?
Hi, SnowballInHell. Thanks for the question. Here is your new post!
PROOF OF GOD
1. There is an enormous amount of energy locked up in matter in the universe (E=mC2) – an unfathomable amount.
2. Scientists insist energy can neither be created nor destroyed.
Q: Where did this energy come from initially?
A1: The Big Bang. No. An explosion requires energy to initiate it. Whether potential or kinetic.
A2: It was always there. No. The Second Law of Thermodynamics kicks in and the energy must be uniformly distributed throughout the Universe which it is not.
A3: I dont know. Then neither do you know if there is a God or not.
QED. Have a nice day.
Hi, david. Thanks for your comment. You can see your new thread here.
You all have a wonderful show!
At the end of the 2-20-11 show I called with a question about people simply using the Bible to curtail any discussion about many important matters, and in the course of the conversation, I noted that the Koch Brothers and other corporations are using religious people to achieve their ends, including not addressing issues related to environmental problems, etc.
The person I was speaking to said (after I left the line) something like “we shouldn’t think that business makes use of the religious extremism” and then he went on to say that it would hurt business to discriminate against gays, etc., and that’s why you have companies supporting gay rights, etc., and he said that he thought that business and religious groups may have a falling out in the future. He also suggested that Liberals also misuse the bible for their ends.
Seems to me that this is a false equivalence – the “Tea Party” (with its religious base) is almost entirely driven by Republican big business, including big energy companies. Kevin Phillips has noted the relationship between Republicans, Religion and Oil in several of his books, as have other respectable authors. There is nothing like this amalgam on the Left side of the spectrum.
Also, the joining of big cynical business (not all big businesses are equally responsible) with religion has led to ripping away environmental concerns, is also leading to stripping away women’s rights, etc.
Again, there is nothing, nothing like this coming from the Left.
And trusting big business to do the right thing without much tighter regulations is hopelessly naïve. (Again, regulations is a concern of the Left and not of the Right.)
The Right Wing Republicans are the ones trying to strip away the church-state separation, not Liberals. It is the Right Wing that is willing to impose a litmus test for office, one clearly rejected by the “No religious test” portion of the constitution: “The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.”
Republicans are far more willing to believe the world started 6000 years ago, that God created man in his essential present state at that time, etc.
Yours,
Mark from Portland
Hi, Mark. Good comments! Wrong Atheists – we don’t have a show.
I have a question concerning the theory of evolution – the natural selection of random mutations. My question is specifically concerning the belief that natural selection is
not a consious process and the apparent lack of intent in the conventional theory of evolution.
From everything I’ve read natural selection is not a conscious process. Certainly certain scenarios exist where the process of natural selection does a great job of explaining
how that works. For example, natural selection tends to favor the survival of blond haired mice over dark haried mice on white beaches. Easy enough to understand that.
It has been scientifically demonstrated that bird prey can more easily see the contrast of dark colored mice as opposed to blond colored mice against the background of whote sand.
So over time more and more dark colored mice fall prey to the birds seeking food until eventually there are fewer and fewer of them remaining to contribute to the gene pool and
over time are virtaully eliminated from the gene pool – in that environment anyway- altogether.
Evolutionists have done a great job of dunking the irreducible complexity argument with regard to the “complex” eye, showoing that it evolved over time from something far less
complex. But what they don’t explain is how at every turn there just happen to be just the right random mutations available to be selected from and how natural selection goes
about making the selection of useful mutation or the analysis/assessment of which mutations to keep or discard. It seems to me that such analysis would need to be a conscious
process. I’m not suggesting a “God” per say, just a consiousness or intelligence at some level directing the natural selection process.
Furthermore, human reproduction requires two sexes, each with their own distinct reproductive system.
How does evolution explain the existence of two different but mutually dependant and complementary reproductive systems?
The two different systems would have had to evolve in tandem from a particular point, separately and yet maintaining their complementary structure.
How does chance mutation and natural selection explain these two very different but complementary systems?
And you can’t use the “it look millions of years” explanation because with sexual reproduction if you get it wrong for even one generation – you lose.
So how could natural selection work without the right-hand knowing what the left had was doing? Or how with natural selection can you explain that the right hand knew what
the left hand was doing?
Thanks for your question! You can find your discussion here.
I’m looking for Tete or Wrenna, two old friends from the old MSN “Ask an Atheist” website. Are they here?
Unknown message
what would you do if the would hade just ended after 2012 the movie ?
prersuade the grader that your philosophy and structure make your socirty the one to live in !
Title – are the any TRUE christians?
I recall a conversation I had with a christian about my thinking religion is often duplicitous, & I was using the example of my grandmother. She was a southern baptist & was forever trying, giving me bibles for xmas, inviting me to “grandparents day” at church, which always happened to coincide with my visit. Yet she was totally racist (nigger jokes), lied, was manipulative & cruel to children, was judgmental. I pointed out these traits as being in contradiction with christian values. The other person said it wasn’t christianity that was the problem, it was that my grandmother wasn’t a good christian.
But doesn’t that raise quite a question? The basis of christianity is the bible. Of which there are several versions, all of which have been translated thru several iterations, from what is clearly a collection of parables & fables used as teaching tools for herders & farmers, & it’s about as clear as a horoscope. The fact that there are so many factions using the same bible, who are quite different from each other…Doesn’t the wiggle room provided by the bible mean you can always forgive the bible, then just insist the user isn’t doing it right? Isn’t humble enough? Isn’t hearing god’s message clearly because or pride or something? Apologists always back into “that’s not being a good christian,” but that’s hardly a worthwhile defense when there really is no “one good christian” definition.
Thanks for your comments and questions, Susan. You can see the discussion here!
as an atheist, what is the motivation to care about existing?
Hi, Ted. Thanks for your question! Here is your post where you can see some answers and post your followups.
Hey.Hopefully this is the right place to post this.
I need some help. As part of assigment for my sociology class I have to provide a survey about religion and it’s influence on abortion.
Please help by answering some questions about the topic.
Questionere is located at http://free-survey.in//index.php?sid=88714
Hi, Emily. I’m not sure where the right place to post a survey link would be so I’ll just leave it posted here. I hope you get some responses.
Hey, I was a Christian for 10 years, pursuing Jesus with all my might during my devotions. The thing is, however, that I never grew in my faith. I also had some mood problems that prayer and Bible study never helped. However, since I started doing yoga and meditating, these moods are greatly reduced. I’m fascinated by this yogi philosophy and yogis are some of the most kind and compassionate people. But how do I get out of these church commitments where people need me and how do I explain to them what I’m doing? Especially when I know no one will understand?
Hi, Brian. Thanks for the question – check out the discussion here.
Hi Brian,
All religions have cult like tenancies. You are brainwashed from your formative years to comply with their dogma and rituals. If you break free from that you will be ostracized by the group, and in fact made to feel guilty and wrong for objecting. Free thought is not welcome, only adherence to their propaganda is accepted. I applaud you for questioning and in the end you will be truly free. Free of the nonsense, free of the silly 2000 year old attempts to understand the universe and the majestic laws that describe it. The day you decide to think for yourself is the day you will be free. And if there is a benevolent god up there, he will rejoice in you and not punish you.
Michael
Hi, im doing a research paper for my senior year about the misuse of religion in society in the past and currently. I’m having trouble finding facts instead of opinions . Do you have any reccomended websites for research? I plan on covering Hitlers hushed Christian beliefs and the obvious influence of religion on the 911 attacks, but i need a little something extra ! Honestly, Anything would be appreciated. I have been an Atheist for around five years now and i feel very strongly about this topic . Thank you :D
Hi, Natalie. Thanks for the question – you can see your discussion here. Good luck with your paper!
I am a new atheist, but I am having a hard time feeling isolated because all my family and friends are fundamental christians. My partner was “concerned” about my belief in Jesus and told me that if I don’t believe in Jesus I will be going to hell. I don’t want to have my children keep being indocrinated but I know I don’t have any support to stop that. I feel enlighted in my understanding about life now but so alone otherwise.
Hi, Anonymous. Welcome to the blog! Find your discussion (and hopefully some answers) Here
Question for discussion: If morality is exclusively human in origin and relevance, why do we judge the God of the Bible with it?
Explained:
On the premise that human moral values and obligations are a product of human evolution, they would necessarily only apply to human beings and useful in governing and judging human behavior, and would be subject to change and further “evolve” over time.
Many atheists object to what they conclude are “immoral” acts committed by God described in the Bible, i.e. murder, commanding genocide, incest, slavery, etc.
How can morality that only applies to contemporary humans be used to make moral judgments against a hypothetical Creator God, who, if He existed, would not be bound to moral laws from human conceptualization, based on descriptions of immoral acts that the Bible portrays as occurring thousands of years ago? Doesn’t this show that even the atheist who would make such objections holds that morality is universal and absolute regardless of time, place or person, thereby placing the origin of moral values and obligations somewhere outside the scope of human convention?
Hi Mike. Thanks for the thoughtful questions! See your new post and hopefully some interesting discussions here.
The incomprehensible and Atheist thought.
For many of us, the definition of an Atheist is one who does not believe in the existence of a God. To discuss this further then one must agree to a benchmark Atheist definition of what does the word God mean? Is God a higher power, a supernatural force, or as described by the two main western religions; Christianity & Judaism.
NASA’s Kepler Mission is searching for planetary systems throughout our Galaxy. Based upon all of the Initial research of the Kepler Mission scientists now believe our Galaxy contains more planets than it does stars! That means there should be no less than one trillion stars and five trillion planets. Of all those five trillion planets most scientists believe that no less than 5% will be in a Goldy Lox Zone! That would equal 250 Billion Planets. Of those 250 Billion conservatively 5% would harbor life. Of the 12.5 Billion which harbor life it is estimated that no less than 1% (125 Million) will have intelligent life forms and of these 125 million planets it is now believed that at least 1% or 1.25 million planets within our galaxy harbor intelligent life which is vastly more evolved than our comprehension. In other words life or entities with incomprehensible higher powers.
Hi, Kurt. Thanks for the comment. You can find your discussion here.
The “Evangelical” Atheist, Tolerance, and the differences we share.
How many of you, having denounced religion, or at least upon accepting Atheism as your belief, found it difficult to accept the fact that religion permeates every aspect of our environment including our families, our work, and our schools?
I am having difficulty accepting how much religion influences every aspect of our lives from centuries of dogmatic abuse. I laugh at my own ignorance when I occasionally use expressions such as, “Oh my God” or “Jesus Christ!”. It serves to remind me just how much religion in my own immediate environment has influenced me.
I want to be tolerant of others beliefs. I don’t want to be just as offensive an evangelical christian by forcing my beliefs upon others, but I find myself doing just that at times with Atheism.
I realize now that I should have been born much farther into the future when our species has evolved a bit more.
Hi, Frank. Thanks for the reflection and the questions! Here is your blog post
Hello, my name is Casey. I am an Evangelical Christian. I believe in the Bible, and it’s reason for why all living things die. I am not looking for a debate, but I would like to know what an atheist believes is the reason for the death. Why do all organisms have life spans?
Hi, Casay. Thanks for your question! You can find your question, and hopefully some answers here.
I’ve been a christian all my life. I now want to be reasoned out of it. Please help
Hi, mark. Interesting situation. Here is a link to your discussion.
(note – I’ve moved the comments on this page to the discussion post)