Dear GL and other 'seekers of the Truth', In your query below, you have touched on a fundamental difference between what I consider 'mature' and 'immature' atheism. The 'bebdo' falls into the latter category together with the many others who see no need for an overseeing supernatural deity out of convenience. These so-called atheists will scurry back to the 'fold' at the first sign of distress or coindidental improvement in their situation via submission to the lord and will become 're-converted, born again evangelists' who are put on a pedestal by the rest of their sycophants. http://www.holyspiritinteractive.net/columns/aneelaranha/returnoftheprodigal /
The former category of atheism is arrived at through personal investigation and study with a reliance on the power of the human brain to comprehend certain evolutionary facts of life and the natural and acquired history of mankind. There is absolutely no doubt about non-existence of ANY supernatural deity the at the end of this 'soul' searching expedition (using the term 'soul' to denote the sum total of neuronal activity pertaining to a single individual and the impression that makes on others). Many agnostics have not yet reached the end of that journey, some never do. Most atheist groups (skeptics, freethinkers, etc.) are content to debate the meaning of life but the Secular Humanists are really the only organization that feels that our duty in this life is to care about others outside our immediate influence and share our resources with the less fortunate. It is that empathy that drives our 'moral compass' towards the 'True North' and not some imaginary pole that has been devised by theologians and inscribed on stone tablets. Kevin Saldanha Mississauga, ON. Message: 11 Date: Sat, 1 Jul 2006 3:07:29 -0700 From: Gilbert Lawrence <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [Goanet] The rock solid Christian moral code To: goanet@goanet.org Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8 In the on-going discussion between the two groups, can one or more from the two parties respond to the following perspectives and query? I cannot understand why atheists cannot proclaim their virtues without condemning / denigrating religion. And the reverse is also true! Thus all can show some degree of sensitivity and good judgement. The question I have is: How does one distinguish between a "true atheist" who does not believe in the God but does believe and act for the humanity of mankind; compared to the "bebdo" who uses the excuse of no God so that they can continue his/her nefarious ways. In fact even "sensible atheists" of today may have a "cop-out attitude" that their contribution do not count. Perhaps we need an atheist Mother Theresa. This is not so silly. India did have an Annie Bessant who came to India. She had no religion, but she had a philosophy and a large following in India. Kind Regards, GL -------------------------------------------------------------------- mail2web - Check your email from the web at http://mail2web.com/ . _______________________________________________ Goanet mailing list Goanet@lists.goanet.org http://lists.goanet.org/listinfo.cgi/goanet-goanet.org