Explain Atheism to Justinian2

[Justinian2]

You might put it the other way and say a lot of folklore comes from truth. Willow was used for medicine because it worked. Unfortunately a lot of folklore comes from nonsense too. Picking out the good bits is the real trick.

That's why I said that belief comes before proof. People believed that willow cured headaches. Then it was proved. Then the chemical agent was isolated. Then people made a great profit.

Profit is to be made from proving that beliefs are true and then finding a way to improve on them. The complete skeptic will never turn a profit.

 

[Mister Agenda]

People believed that willowbark cured headaches because willowbark cures headaches. We're talking about folk medicine here, not homeopathy. It's based on observation and evidence.

 

[Chris L]

Profit is to be made from proving that beliefs are true and then finding a way to improve on them. The complete skeptic will never turn a profit.

I think LRon proved beyond a doubt that convincing people something is true is a way to make a profit. Convincing is not the same as proving, as it requires no real world evidence when you have the right mark and the right salesman.

 

[Jack by the hedge]

That's why I said that belief comes before proof. People believed that willow cured headaches. Then it was proved.

Why did those people believe willow cured headaches?

Does it seem likely to you that the first person to chew willow bark or drink willow tea to cure a headache did so because they just spontaneously decided it would work?

Don't you think it's enormously more likely that people eventually noticed their aches and pains eased while they chewed that particular bark?

 

[Justinian2]

I think LRon proved beyond a doubt that convincing people something is true is a way to make a profit. Convincing is not the same as proving, as it requires no real world evidence when you have the right mark and the right salesman.

Because the Scientologists are repeat customers they are either bright or they are idiots because if you do the same thing over and over and expect a different result then you are an idiot.

However, most have a higher than average IQ and most are more successful than the norm (financially at least). Furthermore, they test high on the psychologist's personality and capacity tests

Yes, a fool and his money are easily parted.

Freedom doesn't dictate how someone spends his money. He is free to spend it on drugs, women, fast cars, bungee jumping and sky diving. Some of the obese in the world spend their money on too much food. They can gamble their money away or smoke themselves to death. It's called freedom.

 

[gnome]

Yes, a fool and his money are easily parted.

As the Church of Scientology is well aware...

 

[Complexity]

As the Church of Scientology is well aware...

It's like he's throwing you a very slow ball...

Oh, well, don't look a gift horse in the mouth.

 

[Mudcat]

As the Church of Scientology religion is well aware...

Fixed that for you.

 

[Unlike a Bull]

I can only speak for one atheist, but here goes:

What do atheists do for Christmas?

Get together with family, eat a huge dinner, drink and exchange gifts.

What are your mores?

I generally believe in being the happiest you can while doing the least amount of harm to others. I find morality to be a bit complicated, though. As an example, I was once asked "would you kill an innocent person to save three innocent people?" Logically, the answer is yes, but emotionally, the answer is no. Luckily I doubt I'll ever be in that situation. I don't steal or cheat or lie (maybe the occasional white lie. There's times when honesty is neither desirable orproductive) not because I fear any vengeful diety, but because these things hurt people, and I don't want to hurt people.

What is your profession?

Mechanical engineer

What is your charity?

It varies. I've worked with engineers without borders and habitat for humanity. I've also volunteered for the ronald mcdonald house. I donate blood regularly, but I don't think that counts as charity, more civic duty.

How do you vote?

Depends on the candidates. I usually go democrat, but not always. In the last presidential election, I voted for Obama, but wouldn't have been upset if Mccain was elected. I like Mitt Romney from the GOP side this time around, but don't think he'll take the primary. I'll vote for Obama over any of the other GOP contenders.

I assume all the answers are different. No implication. Just trying to get a feel for who you are.

Cheers.

 

[dafydd]

Because the Scientologists are repeat customers they are either bright or they are idiots.

Idiots.

 

[truethat]

You have 2,000 posts on this site and you just found out that there were large numbers of atheists?

GMAFB but don't worry you've got people here who just love snapping out witty snark about how dumb it is to believe, and to try to catch out a belief he just knows you've got in there somewhere, so you should have a bit of fun picking up completely sensationalized smack down comments.

It's fun.

 

[Chris L]

Because the Scientologists are repeat customers they are either bright or they are idiots because if you do the same thing over and over and expect a different result then you are an idiot.

There is a third option you have not considered. They are bright but very gullible. The key to any successful scam is to get the mark as emotionally invested in the scam as possible, as quickly as possible. That's why you make getting into the scheme as easy as possible. Once that investment is made though, you can raise the stakes and make the mark come back pretty much when ever you want.

That's the reason you don't hear about Xeno on day 1. No sane person would buy a piece of bad sci fi mythology like that without being heavily invested in the people trying to sell it first.

 

[Sun Countess]

Scientolgists don't hang people. David MisCaviage, the present head of the COS, is not the shining example of a Scientologist that most people would prefer. If there was a vote between Tom Cruise and David MisCaviage for the next leader of Scientology, I believe Tom would get all but one vote. But, unfortunately, David is a dictator and there can be no vote.

Would you vote for Tom Cruise? Do you know what his reputation is outside of scientology circles? (Hint: it rhymes with catspit lazy.)

Scientolgists don't hang people but they do ban them from auditing because they show "No case gain". And they expell them from the organization because they disrupt Scientology.

Ahh, so not like atheism where anybody is free to join, so long as they don't believe in any gods.

Also, what do the scientologists do with people who test lower on the IQ scale? Do they get kicked out of scientology too?

 

[joolz]

I agree, but . . .

Was a specific response to . . .

Please note that I did say: I think that if s/he is asking a genuine question then we should be courteous and give genuine replies.

And I also said: Plus, someone may come to this thread in future seeking genuine answers to the question and it would be a shame if the question is not answered.

I may have been proved wrong on my first point, we live and learn, but the second still stands.

cheerz

joolz

 

[Sledge]

What do atheists do for Christmas?

The same thing I do every night, Justinian: try to take over the world.

 

[Gord_in_Toronto]

As you have already demonstrated, your comprehension of evolution by natural selection is poor.

And, since homosexual activity is "practiced" by a whole host of species, it is obviously not selected against. Otherwise cows and bulls would long ago lost their same sex interest.

 

[Justinian2]

You have 2,000 posts on this site and you just found out that there were large numbers of atheists?

GMAFB but don't worry you've got people here who just love snapping out witty snark about how dumb it is to believe, and to try to catch out a belief he just knows you've got in there somewhere, so you should have a bit of fun picking up completely sensationalized smack down comments.

It's fun.

I was on the Amanda Knox thread for the first 1400 posts or so. We didn't discuss religion there. We just vigorously discussed the evidence with the same conclusions and ideas that the Appeals court had and has recently released. We knew she had to be found innocent even before she was officially told she was not guilty.

Just inductive reasoning...

 

[Gord_in_Toronto]

I've always known the definition for an atheist. I've just never met an atheist in person. I grew up in a neighborhood much like Beaver Cleaver. I led his life.

And never saw Liberace on TV?

Or Bertrand Russell interviewed on US TV? (The Merv Griffin Show for one instance).

 

[Justinian2]

And, since homosexual activity is "practiced" by a whole host of species, it is obviously not selected against. Otherwise cows and bulls would long ago lost their same sex interest.

The joke is that homosexual sex isn't going to produce offspring. I know some partners find a heterosexual way to reproduce. I have no idea what the statistics are, but I doubt if the average gay couple has the same number of children as the average heterosexual couple.

I would be interested in knowing what the numbers are, but not interested enough to research them myself. So enlighten me.

I like gay people, as long as they don't put their moves on me.

 

[slingblade]

I would be interested in knowing what the numbers are, but not interested enough to research them myself. So enlighten me.

Not interested. Stay in the dark for all anyone cares.

I like gay people, as long as they don't put their moves on me.

Don't worry. They universally have much better taste than that.