I understand that images of 'the sky-father' have roots in an earlier age of mankind - actually the name 'Jupiter' is derived from the Indo-European root 'Sky Father'. But such images are couched in terms which were meaningful to peasant farmers and herdsmen in pagan agrarian societies. They simpy don't translate to modern post-industrial culture. — Wayfarer
Maybe atheists would benefit from taking up Buddhism or some other religion, seeing that according to Pew many of them do covertly harbor religious and other beliefs. They certainly should seriously consider it. Nothing to lose in any case, aside maybe their unfounded pride. — Apollodorus
how are we to explain the advance of Islam in sprawling Pakistani or Indonesian cities and even in Western cities like Berlin, Paris, Amsterdam and London? — Apollodorus
I don't think anyone here is on team Spinoza. — praxis
the chapter after the Sick Soul called The Divided Self, talks about Buddhist philosophy /discipline relative to purging anger and worry. — 3017amen
I must concur.
"First, Admit You Are Angry
This may sound silly, but how many times have you met someone who clearly was angry, but who insisted he was not? For some reason, some people resist admitting to themselves that they are angry. This is not skillful. You can’t very well deal with something that you won’t admit is there. — Apollodorus
Buddhism teaches mindfulness. Being mindful of ourselves is part of that. When an unpleasant emotion or thought arises, do not suppress it, run away from it, or deny it. Instead, observe it and fully acknowledge it. Being deeply honest with yourself about yourself is essential to Buddhism. — Apollodorus
Maybe atheists would benefit from taking up Buddhism or some other religion, seeing that according to Pew many of them do covertly harbor religious and other beliefs. They certainly should seriously consider it. Nothing to lose in any case, aside maybe their unfounded pride — Apollodorus
You need to consider the broader picture outside of, for example, the bubble of online forums. For the vast majority of the world's atheists, religion isn't an issue, and there is no connecting psychological thread between atheists. I mean, consider the one billion Chinese. Almost, everyone is an atheist. Do you think there's anything at all significant in that? — Baden
Being an atheist is not like supporting one football team over another (like being religious is). It's more like not giving a shit about football. So, generalizing about atheists' in this way is laughably silly. — Baden
"Another SK irony to this thread relates to emotion itself. The atheist, who is agitated or angry and defensive [...] Are they angry and resentful about something?" — 3017amen
1. Would you like to live there? If not, why not? — 3017amen
It's all about religion for the Einsteinian fanatical atheist, like yourself — 3017amen
BTW, I'll be happy to debate you one-on-one about atheism. — 3017amen
Well, I do agree that this is the case in some atheists. But according to the OP this is not so in all cases: — Apollodorus
But I don't think it applies to most people outside online forums and I don't think it lasts for most people to whom it applies temporarily. It's an exaggerated phenomenon based on a small biased sample size in my view. — Baden
I also agree that 3017amen assumes a slightly "provocative" tone on occasion. — Apollodorus
Cognitive science 101 says you can't fix the problem unless recognize you have one. Once again, it manifests in things like ad hominem, trolling... — 3017amen
I think there may be some connection, or as Einstein suggested, a "grudge" against religion which in turn somehow does not allow them to accept those virtuous things that are associated with Christian philosophy. Again they seem to throw the baby out with the bathwater. What do you think? — 3017amen
It doesn't normally happen in face-to-face situations because people know who you are or it may result in altercations that you may come to regret. — Apollodorus
I’m not scared of you. — praxis
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