Atheists: what do you worship?
Nooooooo! They only side with their backside!
I agree with you. Atheists hold on just as hard to their beliefs as someone in any religion
Balderdash! Not believing in the sky fairy is not a religion.
Just a bunch of people with common sense.
It's not a new concept that he is portraying here, and many theologians have raised the point, usually because their theism clouds what a non-belief in god actually means. Atheists may or may not follow certain ethical principals, but where atheism differs is that they are choosing whether or not they should follow an ethical choice, rather than doing so, at least in part, because God commands. Atheism is the denial of god, not the denial of ethical principles.
When it comes to Buddhism, talk to Hokey about that one, he is the one to talk to about that, my understanding is though, that yet again it is the following of a path that people believe is right, they look at the works of Buddhism and choose to follow it based on their personal ethical concepts, there is nothing much otherworldly in Buddhism, which is why it would be the closest thing to a religion I would ever consider.
Atheism is simply the denial of Deities. People can argue over the semantics as much as they want, but when you get right down to it, anyone who calls themselves Christian should believe in God, not his principles, because it is through the belief in God that they know the principles to be right, their ethical choice comes second to God. Failure to believe in god is of course one of the worst sins, and therefor leaves these people as closet agnostics, or sinners.
Theists and Theologians like to blur the lines on this to strengthen their arguments, but it does boil down to a rather simple choice, are you Atheist, agnostic, or religious?
As to what I worship?
The closest thing would probably be my fiancée, she is an amazing womanNice explanation but there is a benchmark for morality and judgement. If that benchmark approves adultery and goes from there then you have to question how moral is this really. Basing your morals on your own thought opens the door for some pretty wild interpretations. It's dishonest to say you have your morality without acknowledging what it's based on. That makes a huge difference.
As far as Christianity is concerned it's important to love your self but not worship yourself which would indicate a selfish motivation. A true Christian tries to be selfless and thats why we lend ourselves to the guidence of Heavenly Father. Even if you hate religion it is dishonest to say the Ten Comandments aren't the benchmark for morality.Why would you assume that Christians only do good to go to Heaven? Is it possible for Christians to be charitable just because it's the right thing to do?
- Justine76posted 14 years ago
0A belief is known to be true.
Describe "faith". Faith is an unquestioned belief.
A belief is formed based on factual evidence available. To form the belief, because you have "faith" in yourself to discern truth and lie.
The mystical "faith" proposed by religion does not exist. Faith is only to be placed in yourself or other people, because you and they, are the only ones who can produce factual evidence for their(your) belief.
That's my take again.
Sure, why not!
You have to start spreading the word about how wonderful I am. Then you need to send me gifts...then you must make the ultimate sacrifice, yes you have to sacrifice yourself to me.
Well, I'm not an atheist, but I found the beginning of the article to be an assumption and too generalized, not to mention, not possible.
Everyone worships something? Simply subjective conjecture at minimum. It is encompassing every person on the planet, just not atheists. Which, this single individual couldn't possibly know.
Prime example: I do not worship anything at all.
There are plenty of things in my life that I love and adore more than anything else, but I do not worship them or the ground they walk on.
I really do wish people would not separate Atheism from religion. Atheism is a religion, it's bound by morality and evidential proof, a.k.a. facts known to humanity.
It has a code of ethics and a higher cause other than self.
Atheism has no belief in a god or a disbelief of god. It doesn't recognize the "GOD" concept's existence at all.
That's my take on it. What do they believe in? Ask each individual and most likely get a different answer.They worship science books.
Death to the imagination.Don't play with words. That's nonsense. And we are not a God to think 'nothing' is 'something'
Pleaassee !!Someone did say I am nothing, I am no one.
Yes, I think this is along the lines of what David Foster Wallace said, in slightly different terms.
Don't know if I agree with it or not, which is why I opened it up for discussion.
Hiya sneak! Ready to do battle?
What are we playing for?
TiVo picked up UFC 89
Haven't seen it yet. I love having a TV friend who takes care of these things for me
I didn't even notice it was on.I promise to tie one arm behind my back...
He should be OK. A four year old just beat me up again.
I have to be more careful what I say to her twin sister!Dreaming! I have more scars from the twins than from motorcycle racing!
They are dangerous people these little ones.
I usually just do as I am told. I went to their older sisters 13th birthday on Sunday, and as I hugged the birthday girl, Asha grabbed both my little fingers to drag me off to see her latest interests.
I wish I could learn how to avoid the dreaded 2 pinky hold she has invented, but alas, she has taught the other twin how to do it as well, so I often get dragged around by both of them!Yep! That sounds like a workable strategy to me!
I live more or less in the middle of the city - a short walk to both the Castro & Cole Valley.
The original post has a link to the entire commencement address that Foster Wallace gave.
I did read the excerpt.
"Worship" means reverence or glorification.
I don't glorify any of these things.
I do not worship anything.
It's presumptuous to make the claim that everybody worships.Fair enough.
Do you believe that life has any particular meaning, or, more specifically, that any one of us has a responsibility to anything beyond ourselves?I like to think that I gain a lot when I help out a stranger.
Good for my self worth.Simply because it feels good to help others. I would have thought that would be obvious.
You can build self-worth, by being self-interest first and foremost, which builds self-growth, which leads to self-esteem and self-worth.
When you commit the action of helping another, it is a selfless act, which build human spirituality and love within oneself, providing you already love yourself first. 
I can only guess from my own experience why atheists or any non believers care about such things. For me it is the love of life, the future of the planet for my loved ones and that every time I help out it makes me feel good. Especially if it is those random encounters where people need a hand, and I am able to provide it.
You seem to be assuming that atheists are sociopaths. I don't mean that in a stereotypical or mean way.
People who fit into the category you describe here are sociopaths, with no social morality, ethics or conscious. It's not a nice group to be lumped in with.
The "Meaning of Life" is exactly what you think it is.
There is no universal answer, I mean. Each individual has his or her own interpretation.
My personal faith is in people. I'm a humanist. So to the question of responsibility: Be responsible for yourself first and foremost. Be responsible for your family, then your friends. The purpose of life is to be happy and healthy, and to help others do the same.I'm going to give my take on this question, just because I feel the need to express myself and the understanding I have of myself, so as to clearly convey my message.
Meaning for a person's life, is to be determined by the individual. If you want your meaning to be solely beneficial to you only, it leads to selfishness and destructive actions, which will harm others and show a lack of understanding about life, as well, show others that the person has no integrity.
The understanding I have, is to make your life have a purpose, specifically by you, you then strive to fulfill that purpose, by being self-interest(meanings you love yourself and want to learn more), this leads to self-growth and spiritual being. Thus, creates meaning.
As long as the actions are honest, filled with integrity and love, then there will be no harmful effects that can derive from the action set forth.
It is in each person's ability to create, transform and adapt their entire life, so as to command a respectful way of life and achieve happiness.
Just my thought.
- ralwusposted 14 years ago0
i holi worship tantrum, my only goddess, er, other than Aphrodite, but then I think she is Aphrodite!
We all have an inner Aphrodite.
I love Tantrum! She is in ya face straight. A very smart and beautiful woman. We have so many smart women on hubpages, us guys pull a poor second!
Whats your benchmark for morality? That would be important to know.
To make sure that I live my life, not only for myself. I remain honest in my actions and I provide help whenever I am able. I've learned to love myself, therefore, I have no problem loving the rest of humanity, and accepting them. We are all human beings and we should all be working together to strive for a better future.
When actions are honest, it show integrity of a person. When it helps someone else then it is morally right.
thisisoli: Sadly, you've misinterpreted my point of view. You're not the first in this thread.
I have not argued that atheists lack ethics. I have said this over and over and over again in this thread. How typical of your average Hubpages user to not read something and instead react to what they think you said.
I've said again and again (and again) that I have known plenty of ethical atheists, who do selfless things. What I don't understand is the rationale. What compels atheists to act ethically when there isn't a religious ethos that incorporates ethical behavior?
Yes, I understand completely that people have free will to do good things as they please, whether they're a believer or not. That much is obvious. Buying a pint for a friend has an easily-explainable rationale: your friend will reciprocate, or do something as generous or as friendly on your behalf at some point in the future.
This was the reason for my example about combating global warming. There is no direct personal benefit unless your religious or personal ethos demands respect for/protection of the planet.
What I surmise from your answer and those of others is that atheists can believe and worship something, it's just not God. (It can be humanity, Earth, etc.)The simplest benchmark for human morality is based on the expressed definitions of True Integrity.
Integrity dictates morality.
Just a thought.I was not aware that Atheists practiced the act of worshiping.
Are you kidding me? This is so silly. Atheists do not need to worship. Seriously, what were you thinking?
The two differences between Atheism and Christianity is one is reality based and the latter is mystic based, in beliefs.
And, Atheism is unorganized, as to Christianity which is organized.
Otherwise, they are both classified as a religion.I agree Susana, what you say comes from logic, not hard to fathom, no gods required.
- Lecieposted 14 years ago0
Love just oozes out of the quoran.
Qur’an 8:12 cp. 8:60 “Instill terror into the hearts of the unbelievers”; “smite above their necks and smite all their finger-tips off them”
Qur’an 2:191 “...kill the disbelievers wherever we find them”
Ah! Love at it's best!
Would this be why the lunatic taliban like to cut peoples limbs off?You are not my friend, Usmanali.
I do not believe in having sex with 12 year old girls like your prophet does.
Peaceful Atheism Makes Sense.
No God - Nothing to Kill for.
RAmen
Is this the same muslim that is hiding from some boogy man, and keeps getting outed cos he can't change his writing style enough to fool anyone?
)
This is serious Business! 
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