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Are atheists inevitably pessimists?

Scorpion

Illuminator
Scorpion
Joined
Feb 28, 2013
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Having no underlying spiritual beliefs to mitigate suffering, are atheists inevitably seeing the world through a glass darkly?


"For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known." 1 Corinthians 13:12
 
Scorpion said:
Having no underlying spiritual beliefs to mitigate suffering, are atheists inevitably seeing the world through a glass darkly?


"For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known." 1 Corinthians 13:12
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Facts not in evidence.

I'm pretty upbeat for a man of my age.
 
Scorpion said:
Having no underlying spiritual beliefs to mitigate suffering, are atheists inevitably seeing the world through a glass darkly?
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I don't see why they would. Spiritual beliefs can be optimistic or bleak. Atheists can be humanists or anarchists, same as everyone else. One finds meaning in stuff real or not.
 
Scorpion said:
Having no underlying spiritual beliefs to mitigate suffering, are atheists inevitably seeing the world through a glass darkly?


"For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known." 1 Corinthians 13:12
Click to expand...

What is the prognosis for those going to Hell for eternity? Optimism?

What about those who end up in Heaven for eternity but whose son or daughter or father or mother goes to Hell? Are they going to enjoy their eternity in paradise knowing their loved ones are suffering for eternity?
 
angrysoba said:
What is the prognosis for those going to Hell for eternity? Optimism?

What about those who end up in Heaven for eternity but whose son or daughter or father or mother goes to Hell? Are they going to enjoy their eternity in paradise knowing their loved ones are suffering for eternity?
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Whenever I think of the Christian heaven I see it as having some sort of happiness field: you're happy, but have no reason to be. You're happy because you're in the presence of God. What does that mean? Sounds more like hell to me; one of those sci-fi/fantasy places where people's wills have been removed for the greater good*. Hell, several video games I've played recently have exactly this idea in their core story.


*The greater good!
 
Scorpion said:
Having no underlying spiritual beliefs to mitigate suffering, are atheists inevitably seeing the world through a glass darkly?


"For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known." 1 Corinthians 13:12
Click to expand...

It's questions like this that remind me of how arrogant and smug the religious can be.
 
Let's see, "The (human) heart is deceitful and desperately wicked," so we need to get God to come over and put some restraints on it. How pessimistic!
 
Scorpion said:
Having no underlying spiritual beliefs to mitigate suffering, are atheists inevitably seeing the world through a glass darkly?
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Are such "underlying spiritual beliefs" the only way to mitigate suffering? No? Then that's your answer.
 
In a way I would say yes. In moments when I realise I'll never see the people I loved and lost again. When I accept I'll never see what my grandchildren do or achieve etc, yes it does get me down a little
 
rayheno said:
In a way I would say yes. In moments when I realise I'll never see the people I loved and lost again. When I accept I'll never see what my grandchildren do or achieve etc, yes it does get me down a little
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You're not going to be there then, so be here now.
 
'Trough a glass darkly' doesn't mean pessimistic, it's a comment on the limits of human perception.

Also, not believing in god's isn't more or less pessimistic than believing in them.
Case in point: puritans, doomsday cults, and so on.
 
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