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"As an atheist, I truly believe Africa needs God"

2

Comments

  • #32
    Helix
    Closed Accounts Posts: 17,661 ✭✭✭✭Helix


    TheZenWithin wrote: »
    without religion there would be alot more wars etc.

    i disagree with that tbh

    i think thered be pretty much the exact same amount of wars, except instead of religion theyd be fighting about something else instead. the non religious wars would continue as is, leaving a parity

    our species seem to like a good oul war


  • #33
    TheZenWithin
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 115 ✭✭TheZenWithin


    Helix wrote: »
    i disagree with that tbh

    i think thered be pretty much the exact same amount of wars, except instead of religion theyd be fighting about something else instead. the non religious wars would continue as is, leaving a parity

    our species seem to like a good oul war

    You know now that I think about it you are right. If anything wars are brought on by religious differences.
    I didn't think that one through enough


  • #34
    KamiKazi
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 6,195 ✭✭✭KamiKazi


    Africa doesn't need g0d, it needs more pimps, to put the bizatches to work

    pimp-c-715217.jpg


  • #35
    TheZenWithin
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 115 ✭✭TheZenWithin


    but nobody gots no cream to fo the hoes?!

    god will do for now


  • #36
    KamiKazi
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 6,195 ✭✭✭KamiKazi


    damn fool, dont you know that pimpz got enough to go around?


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  • #37
    TheZenWithin
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 115 ✭✭TheZenWithin


    so they do but alls the patrons of such a fine establishment would be broke ass muthas that cant even afford no amenities let alone a fine ass trick.

    holla


  • #38
    Goduznt Xzst
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,353 ✭✭✭Goduznt Xzst


    I guarantee if you had a charity organization that handed out weed with its food that you'd see the same distinction between secular NGO's.

    I will agree, Atheism will not work for these people. People who's lot in life will never greatly increase for their generation and most likely that of their childrens need some sort of quantifiable Raison d'être. Christianity gives them tasks and goals that are achieveable without means and that promises them that they will get a reward post humously, a chance at a better existence, something food and shelter and education will never give them.

    Much like the way parents get their children to behave before Christmas by saying Santa doesn't give presents to naughty children. It works the same way, you promise a person something to stroke their selfish desires and they will act altruistically to attain it.


  • #39
    A Primal Nut
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,949 ✭✭✭A Primal Nut


    Rev Hellfire wrote: »
    As atheists are so fond of saying been an atheist requires only one article of faith the disbelief in god(s). Beyond that no requirements are placed on the individual.

    Most religions on the other hand require their adherents to actively participate in the betterment of their fellow humans, ie. the requirement of Muslims to provide charity. An atheist has no such stick which religion provides. True there are humanist societies, but these are voluntary while in religion good works are a necessity.

    But any non-catholic christians I know say good works have nothing to do with getting into heaven; that belief in god is all that matters.


  • #40
    philologos
    Closed Accounts Posts: 22,479 ✭✭✭✭philologos


    A Primal Nut wrote: »
    But any non-catholic christians I know say good works have nothing to do with getting into heaven; that belief in god is all that matters.

    Good works are how we tell true faith from not.

    Jesus continually puts the image across, you shall know them by their fruit.

    John the Baptist before receiving the repentant to be baptized commands them to "bear fruit worthy of repentance".


  • #41
    Helix
    Closed Accounts Posts: 17,661 ✭✭✭✭Helix


    but non religious people do good works too

    its not an exclusive club or anything. if someone who doesnt believe in god leads a good life thats hardly true faith


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  • #42
    PDN
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,686 ✭✭✭✭PDN


    Helix wrote: »
    but non religious people do good works too

    That's true, but statistically (at least when it comes to giving to charities or engaging in volunteerism) they do less of them.


  • #43
    Helix
    Closed Accounts Posts: 17,661 ✭✭✭✭Helix


    PDN wrote: »
    That's true, but statistically (at least when it comes to giving to charities or engaging in volunteerism) they do less of them.

    its hard to say accurately tho, as there are many people who may not believe in a god, but dont declare it for societal reasons


  • #44
    PDN
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,686 ✭✭✭✭PDN


    Helix wrote: »
    its hard to say accurately tho, as there are many people who may not believe in a god, but dont declare it for societal reasons

    The link is apparently with church-going rather than making any declaration. A number of surveys from different countries have shown that frequency of giving to non-religious charities (ie not counting people giving money to their church) and volunteerism in non-religious causes increases in direct proportion to the frequency of church attendance.


  • #45
    Helix
    Closed Accounts Posts: 17,661 ✭✭✭✭Helix


    again tho, as we can see in ireland, church attendance isnt necessarily indicative of reilgiosity


  • #46
    PDN
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,686 ✭✭✭✭PDN


    Helix wrote: »
    again tho, as we can see in ireland, church attendance isnt necessarily indicative of reilgiosity

    In what way? I don't get your point. Could you unpack that statement?


  • #47
    Helix
    Closed Accounts Posts: 17,661 ✭✭✭✭Helix


    well there are a huge amount of non religious people who go to mass purely because its something that was drummed into them while growing up. or they go to keep their family happy. or they go because its expected of them.

    in my own personal life i can think of a huge amount of people who fit into each category, as well as people who go to church because theyre religious. i dont think that church attendance, in this day and age, has a huge amount to do with being religious or not. in a lot of cases it seems only to be a measure of how voiciferous one is about their non belief, or lack of faith


  • #48
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 4,630 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Africans do not need religion. They need an education. And that applies to every single person on earth.


  • #49
    Rev Hellfire
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,346 ✭✭✭Rev Hellfire


    -JammyDodger- wrote: »
    Africans do not need religion. They need an education. And that applies to every single person on earth.

    Alas the both nutritional and educational value of catchy sound bites seems rather poor.
    A Primal Nut wrote: »
    But any non-catholic christians I know say good works have nothing to do with getting into heaven; that belief in god is all that matters.
    The validity of the belief is irrelevant, rather its the end result that's important.
    Religions (both Christian and non-Christian) proactively encourage chariable good works, typically with a nice supernatural reward as a sweetener for the giver. Atheistism naturally offers no such thing.


  • #50
    Helix
    Closed Accounts Posts: 17,661 ✭✭✭✭Helix


    Rev Hellfire wrote: »
    Atheistism naturally offers no such thing.

    society does tho


  • #51
    Rev Hellfire
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,346 ✭✭✭Rev Hellfire


    Helix wrote: »
    society does tho

    It lacks the motivation factor which religion provides, nor is it a requirement in 'society' to give charity.


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  • #52
    mewso
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 9,089 Mod ✭✭✭✭mewso


    If in theory there was an Atheist charity group (heck I might donate to it even though I would have misgivings with Atheism almost becoming a religion by going down that road) they could demonstrate how human beings can find strength within themselves, find love for their fellow man without needing an instruction book or manual for life.

    Why this image that we would all be running around stealing, murdering and raping if we had never discovered God? That we refrain from some kind of natural state of constant violence due to our wish to get the golden ticket into Heaven?

    In any case I though what Africa needed in large supply was condoms. I hope you get one free with faith.


  • #53
    Rev Hellfire
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,346 ✭✭✭Rev Hellfire


    musician wrote: »
    In any case I though what Africa needed in large supply was condoms. I hope you get one free with faith.
    If all Africa needs is less people perhaps we should encourage more wars :)


  • #54
    mewso
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 9,089 Mod ✭✭✭✭mewso


    Rev Hellfire wrote: »
    If all Africa needs is less people perhaps we should encourage more wars :)

    I was thinking less AIDS and therefore less death. I'm an evil Atheist but I'm not advocating culling Humanity yet :)


  • #55
    robindch
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 24,458 Mod ✭✭✭✭robindch


    PDN wrote: »
    The Bible does not advocate wife beating in any shape or form. For you to slyly state that it does is trolling [...]
    1 Corinthians 11 does make it clear that woman is subordinate to man, and it seems that quite a few women seem to think, even today, that wife-beating is actually a good thing, to judge from some of the many sites out there in the ethersphere which are devoted to godly spanking -- see here for example.
    PDN wrote: »
    Consider yourself yellow-carded.
    Duly considered.


  • #56
    Helix
    Closed Accounts Posts: 17,661 ✭✭✭✭Helix


    Rev Hellfire wrote: »
    It lacks the motivation factor which religion provides

    society is made up of many different religions and non religious beliefs, each of which come together to create a societys collective moral compass. without the society, would religion have any motivation factor?

    wasnt it society which gradually phased out certain biblical sins? while i dont want to make assumptions on your opinions personally, i think its statistically safe enough to assume that the majority of christians on this forum dont think one should be put to death for working on a sunday.

    it was society which brought about this change, not religion

    to say society lacks the motivation to keep people on the straight and narrow is quite obscene so far as i can see
    Rev Hellfire wrote: »
    nor is it a requirement in 'society' to give charity.

    i wasnt aware it was a requirement in any religion to give to charity? only to act in a way to others that you would like to be treated?


  • #57
    PDN
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,686 ✭✭✭✭PDN


    robindch wrote: »
    1 Corinthians 11 does make it clear that woman is subordinate to man, and it seems that quite a few women seem to think, even today, that wife-beating is actually a good thing, to judge from some of the bizarre websites devoted to godly spanking -- see here for example.

    Leaving aside for now your interpretation of 1 Corinthians 11 (lest we go down another rabbit trail) how in the world does subordination = a mandate for beating? Members of the Garda are subordinate to their sergeants, commissioners etc. Does this mean that those officers have a right to beat ordinary Garda?

    Also, in what parallel universe does 'quite a few women seem to think that wife-beating is a good thing' equate to wife-beating being 'a biblical duty'?


  • #58
    Dades
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 25,588 Mod ✭✭✭✭Dades


    Helix wrote: »
    society does tho
    To kickstart a society it requires a community, and there's a fair case that Christianity offers a sense of community.


  • #59
    PDN
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,686 ✭✭✭✭PDN


    Helix wrote: »
    i wasnt aware it was a requirement in any religion to give to charity? only to act in a way to others that you would like to be treated?

    I understand it is a requirement in Islam. It is also strongly advised in Judaism and Christianity. "He who gives to the poor lends to God" (Proverbs) "If you give someone a cup of water in my name you have done it unto me" (Jesus).


  • #60
    studiorat
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,408 ✭✭✭studiorat


    Rev Hellfire wrote: »
    The validity of the belief is irrelevant, rather its the end result that's important.

    While pragmatic that statement is not entirely correct either. Primarily because we will not accept an outlook which is ultimately pessimistic nor one in which we have no role to play in.


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  • #61
    Helix
    Closed Accounts Posts: 17,661 ✭✭✭✭Helix


    PDN wrote: »
    I understand it is a requirement in Islam.

    now that i did not know! i know very little of islam i have to say, tho i intend on reading the qur’an at some stage in the near future which will hopefully help with that


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