Thread: God's Name

I don't think anyone in Europe is fanatical about religion these days.. Excessive materialism and general stupidity is much more of a problem. I agree with some things that you are saying but not all.

An atheistic world doesn't appeal to me. What is there to aspire to other than materialism and physical gratification? Who is to say what's right or wrong if there is no religion? Then it's all subjective! Not to mention that your life and how you live it is meaningless. Another thing you'd miss out on is Christian love (I assume there is something equivalent in Islam and Judaism).

I choose to believe that there is something more, and a power wiser than man; plus that the world is designed and not a spectacular but ultimately meaningless and random chance.

I can't understand people who aggressively campaign for atheism.

Originally Posted by Hanna

An atheistic world doesn't appeal to me. What is there to aspire to other than materialism and physical gratification? Who is to say what's right or wrong if there is no religion? Then it's all subjective!

Well, as there is nothing all religions agree upon, it's subjective in religions as well. And as I said, I see no religion which does not produce hate towards others. You can easily come to ethical conclusions by philosophy alone, you don't have to fear any higher presence to be able to do that. Human rights are certainly no religious achievement but a humanist one. Our high general moral standards today, which allow for general human rights, freedom of religion, freedom of movement and so on were brought about because of the work of humanist thinkers but in spite of religion.

Not to mention that your life and how you live it is meaningless.

No, I can assure you, it's not. I see a lot of meaning in my life. A lot more than when religion tried to make me believe I was a worthless sinner capable only of sin and reduced to hoping fervently for absolvement after death.

Another thing you'd miss out on is Christian love (I assume there is something equivalent in Islam and Judaism).

No idea what "Christian love" is supposed to be.

I choose to believe that there is something more, and a power wiser than man; plus that the world is designed and not a spectacular but ultimately meaningless and random chance.

That's your right.

I can't understand people who aggressively campaign for atheism.

Well, there are people campaining for their religion to govern human life. I certainly don't want any religion to govern my life and cut down my freedom, so I am vocally (though not, I think, aggressively) against that. In my opinion, the world would be a much better place if we got rid of religion. I might be wrong on that count, but it would mean that man is even more worthless than religions make him out to be. I'm optimistic that education and a sound grounding in ethical thought without having hate groups like other nationalities or faiths to direct the aggression against would ultimately improve humanity.