atheists

[ClinkatyClank]

Do they do Christmas ?

[andy-hughes]

naomi24, I can't a gree that I 'claim' tbe an atheist - i state that i am one, and there is no hedging of bets i assure you. That is taken care of by the good life I have lived, and the loving forgiving God that may be waiting for me. If he is there, i will be forgiven, if not, i will be right.

The concept of uncertainty does not affect my absence of belief.

[naomi24]

andy-hughes, //loving forgiving God that may be waiting for me. If he is there, i will be forgiven, if not, i will be right.//

That doesn’t sound atheistic to me. More of a ’don’t know’ – and that surely is borne out by your use of the word ‘uncertainty’.

[LazyGun]

@Andy - Not sure I quite follow your most recent posts on this Andy - there seems to be some sort of dissonance there.

As a starting point, you say that you are an atheist, with no hedging of bets. OK, fair enough. But then you qualify that statement, and effectively rebut yourself by offering the "Pascals Wager" argument as a kind of backstop.

The point about Pascals Wager was essentially, a theistic apologistic stance - that the argument is that you were better off espousing a faith in god, just in case there actually was one, and that way you might avoid eternal damnation. Essentially, an argument for theism, and the epitome of "hedging your bets".

Do you not find this position at odds with your statement that you are an atheist with no "hedging of bets"?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pascal%27s_Wager

[andy-hughes]

naomi and LazyGun - if my stance on religion appears to waiver, it's simply because I cann;t find enough interest in it to even espouse a firm view on the subject.

To me personally, religion is a matter of supreme indifference. I have no urge whatever to defend my perceived position on the issue, so you will simply have to go with my occasional posts on the subect - random and unremembered as they are.

[naomi24]

andy-hughes, //unremembered as they are. //

I remember them - which is why I said:

//Not for the first time I get the impression that you claim to be an atheist but in reality you're hedging your bets. //

[andy-hughes]

If you say so. Does it really matter?

[naomi24]

andy-hughes, //Does it really matter? //

Splutter!! Would you ask the same of a person of religion? I think not. Of course it really matters. Someone who claims atheism, but who confesses to attending church regularly and, moreover, to allowing another man to bless him – and enjoying it! We Goodly Godless have an honest reputation to maintain you know! ;o)

[magsmay]

@beso If you are celebrating the Solstice then why not call your celebrations 'Yule' as pagans do. I am Pagan and we celebrate Yule which conveniently goes on for 12 days so includes Christmas too. I don't send 'Christmas' Cards -I send Yuletide Greetings.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/.../wintersolstice.shtml

[beso]

So even the "twelve days of Christmas" are really the Christians trying to usurp the "twelve days of Yule".

[andy-hughes]

Sorry naomi - I will try to do better.