"I want to see the world through an atheist lens"

[splashscuba]

although I would guess that like me most atheists are very skeptical by nature and are pretty adept at critical thinking.

I think that's a bit of a generalization. As has been said already, atheists come in all shapes and sizes and the only thing in common, for sure, is a lack of belief in gods.

[Walter]

I think that's a bit of a generalization. As has been said already, atheists come in all shapes and sizes and the only thing in common, for sure, is a lack of belief in gods.

Yes, like I say, its a guess

[Gonnagle]

Dear Jeremyp,

For the most part you do see the World through an atheist lens (if a flat piece of glass that does not distort reality can be described as a lens). We both disbelieve in almost all the gods that are allegedly out there. Neither of us see the world through the Islamic lens or the Buddhist lens of the Hindu lens. I just also don't see the world through the Christian lens.

This is why I enjoy this forum, I want to see the world through Islamic, Hindu, Buddhist eyes, it is why I enjoy a Gabriella, Sriram and Wigganhall Post ( the Wigs likes to chunter on about Buddhist stuff ).

To others who have voiced a concern about Sunday opening times, once again you bring in the religious element, forget about us versus them, as one of Sanes wonderful links suggests ( Julian Baggini ) debate the merits of a day free from commercialism, or, a day when we tell the major players they must shut shop, the only place you can shop is at the little shop on the corner or even! The local fair.

The major players don't give a jot about community all they care about is profit, the way I see it, Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury's, Morrisons don't care about the granny who can't make it to their big stores, they don't care if your little shop is going to close, in fact they want it to close.

In this mad world of "I am alright Jack" we need a day of contemplation, a day to think about the less fortunate, a day to be human, well unless you think that being human is the freedom to nip down to Tesco's anytime you want, freedom is a wonderful thing unless your type of freedom impinges on some one else's freedom.

Gonnagle.

[Sebastian Toe]

To others who have voiced a concern about Sunday opening times, once again you bring in the religious element, forget about us versus them, as one of Sanes wonderful links suggests ( Julian Baggini ) debate the merits of a day free from commercialism, or, a day when we tell the major players they must shut shop, the only place you can shop is at the little shop on the corner or even! The local fair.

I'm all for it but I'd like it to be on Tuesdays please. I always thought that Tuesday was a waste of space.

[Gonnagle]

Dear Seb,

Sounds good to me, but I am more a half day Friday man

Gonnagle.

[Nearly Sane]

Dear Seb,

Sounds good to me, but I am more a half day Friday man

Gonnagle.

I will follow the church of Gonnagle and later today visit my place of worship, the holy Bar Gandolfi, therein to partake of the sacramental St Mungo

[Gonnagle]

Dear Sane,

Damn!! I would join you but I have a boring course to complete, my own fault! procrastination is one of my finer qualities

Gonnagle.

[Walter]

Dear Sane,

Damn!! I would join you but I have a boring course to complete, my own fault! procrastination is one of my finer qualities

Gonnagle.

if its a theology course , don't waste tour time. Go out and have fun in the real world.

[Gonnagle]

Dear Waltzing,

I said boring, theology is not boring, after all, it is why we are all here!

Gonnagle.

[SusanDoris]

..theology is not boring, after all, it is why we are all here!

Gonnagle.

Theology is the study of nothing; a 'nothing' imagined and invented entirely by humans.

[Gonnagle]

Dear Gordon,

Thank you for your very honest reply

Those of us lucky enough to live in Scotland aren't constrained: there are no Sunday trading restrictions here, and there seem to be no frightened horses roaming the streets. I'm for giving people the freedom to do stuff on a Sunday that they could do without constraint on any other day and that some regard Sunday as 'special', according to their own definition of 'special' of course, isn't binding on the rest of us. Nor do I like the idea of an enforced 'quiet day' for society at large.

You talk about freedom but freedom for who ( or is that whom ) your local baker, butcher, candlestick maker closing down, I think this is curtailing peoples freedom, be it the actual purveyor or the wee granny/granda who enjoys his daily walk to his local.

We did exactly that by insisting that our kids, especially in primary school (non-denominational) when they are very impressionable and tend to believe what they are taught while they are too young to think critically about abstract matters, didn't participate in any acts of religious observance or be exposed to any proselytising by visiting clerical-types - it transpired that we weren't the only ones, and the school was very accommodating. For example when there were Christian services in the local church to which the school was involved, such as the likes of Easter, they made provision for any children not attending the service, which was fine.

Thank you, your atheism affects your life.

I'd just get rid of the HoL: it is anachronistic and undemocratic, and I'd bin the monarchy at the same time. We should be able to implement political governance arrangements that are democratic and where those involved are elected and are subject to routine re-election.

I am not a fan of the HoL but those fat Bishops are in charge of the biggest run charity in England, without the good deeds of the CoE the English NHS would be in more of a crisis.

As for the Monarchy, well I am a loyal servant, I think her Madge is the greatest Ambassador this little island has although I could see her hangers on far enough.

No: so called 'intelligent design' isn't science.

Not asking if it is science, has it benefited science, it is a rare book on evolution that does not beat intelligent design over the head, would we have made the enormous strides in understanding evolution if they had not been around.

No: I think that religious affiliation should be a personal matter, and to be fair I've yet to see any local politician I could vote for make an issue of either their religion or religion in a broader sense. My local MP is John Nicolson, whom I voted for, and I have no idea of his religious outlook.     

A hypothetical question, two politicians, one is an atheist the other is a born again, they both have similar views, who would you vote for?

Gonnagle.

 

[Gonnagle]

Dear Susan,

Theology is the study of nothing; a 'nothing' imagined and invented entirely by humans.

Really!! It has affected human history since day dot, not a day goes past that some philosopher discusses, greed, hatred, violence, love, compassion, all things that are fundamental questions of theology.

Religion/spirituality is part of being human, it is what we are, theology has shaped who we are.

Gonnagle.

[Gordon]

Dear Gordon,

Thank you for your very honest reply

You talk about freedom but freedom for who ( or is that whom ) your local baker, butcher, candlestick maker closing down, I think this is curtailing peoples freedom, be it the actual purveyor or the wee granny/granda who enjoys his daily walk to his local.

Where we both live we don't have Sunday trading restrictions and that shops are open all day and it isn't an issue: it is just routine, and on that basis no different to shopping on a Monday. No doubt it provides employment too - but for me the primary issue is in having constraints applied to reasonable activities on the basis that some think it would be good for me whether I like it or not - I just don't see Sunday as 'special'. 

A hypothetical question, two politicians, one is an atheist the other is a born again, they both have similar views, who would you vote for?

Depends on their policies.

[john]

I would like to think my politician would be able to; access and absorb  facts and intelligently evaluate them to form coherent and sensible real world policies.

Give me the atheist every time.

[Gonnagle]

Dear Gordon,

But it is an issue, a unspoken issue, Tesco cares not a jot for wee Mrs Smith, but if she is not seen in her local shop for a few days, questions are asked, but this is just the tip of of the iceberg, artic lorries thundering through our towns and villages, most people I know use their car for shopping, most people I know use the weekend to go shopping, is that actually a day off, no, they are using their precious time to restock, why can't they restock Mon-Fri, they work long hours, long hours for what, so they can restock on a weekend, madness, and we all fall for that madness, why? Because we are conned into thinking that this is the way it is supposed to be.

Commercialism and capitalism, a steady downward spiral, ask yourself, where does it all stop, we already have 24/7 shopping, one day a week to say no to capitalism, is that a big ask?

Gonnagle.

[Gonnagle]

Dear John, ( rum ti te tum tum )

Thank you for an honest answer atheism is just a non belief in gods my arse!!

Gonnagle.

[Nearly Sane]

Dear John, ( rum ti te tum tum )

Thank you for an honest answer atheism is just a non belief in gods my arse!!

Gonnagle.

Except that is exactly what it is.

[Nearly Sane]

I would like to think my politician would be able to; access and absorb  facts and intelligently evaluate them to form coherent and sensible real world policies.

Give me the atheist every time.

No reason to think that tells you anything about a person's ability to make any form of decisions.

[SusanDoris]

Dear Susan,

Really!! It has affected human history since day dot, not a day goes past that some philosopher discusses, greed, hatred, violence, love, compassion, all things that are fundamental questions of theology.

Religion/spirituality is part of being human, it is what we are, theology has shaped who we are.

Gonnagle.

Quite right, but there's still an empty space, a vacuum, a total lack of any god anywhere, any time.

[Walter]

No reason to think that tells you anything about a person's ability to make any form of decisions.

YES IT DOES

[Gordon]

Dear Gordon,

But it is an issue, a unspoken issue, Tesco cares not a jot for wee Mrs Smith, but if she is not seen in her local shop for a few days, questions are asked, but this is just the tip of of the iceberg, artic lorries thundering through our towns and villages, most people I know use their car for shopping, most people I know use the weekend to go shopping, is that actually a day off, no, they are using their precious time to restock, why can't they restock Mon-Fri, they work long hours, long hours for what, so they can restock on a weekend, madness, and we all fall for that madness, why? Because we are conned into thinking that this is the way it is supposed to be.

Commercialism and capitalism, a steady downward spiral, ask yourself, where does it all stop, we already have 24/7 shopping, one day a week to say no to capitalism, is that a big ask?

Gonnagle.

I think perhaps it is too big an ask.

It involves a constraint on choice on the basis, it seems to me, that some feel an enforced 'quiet Sunday' would benefit everyone: they are of course free to spend Sunday quietly if they wish but I don't feel their preferences should limit my options. All they need do is stay at home if that is their preferred use of Sunday: being 'out and about' isn't compulsory.

Where there is no demand shops won't open but Mrs G regularly does our weekly shop on a Sunday evening at the local biggish Tesco (I'm the designated trolley pusher) and it is usually busy and I can't see why this option is unreasonable.   

[Maeght]

YES IT DOES

No you can't generalise like that. Having believes does not mean you make poor decisions.

[Gonnagle]

Dear Gordon,

But we are not free to spend our Sundays quietly, how could I spend my Sunday quietly when you and the wonderful Mrs G ( the lady must be wonderful to put up with you racing around the countryside with your beard on fire ) and all the rest of the Sunday shoppers are firing up their petrol guzzling environment unfriendly little tin boxes to go and worship and Tesco's.

This is not rocket science, it is about handing over a world to our children and their children a better cleaner more compassionate world, the alternative, our kids will ask, how did we get it so wrong, we can't let the scientists come up with all the answers, we all have to play our part.

Gonnagle.

[Gordon]

Dear Gordon,

But we are not free to spend our Sundays quietly, how could I spend my Sunday quietly when you and the wonderful Mrs G ( the lady must be wonderful to put up with you racing around the countryside with your beard on fire ) and all the rest of the Sunday shoppers are firing up their petrol guzzling environment unfriendly little tin boxes to go and worship and Tesco's.

This is not rocket science, it is about handing over a world to our children and their children a better cleaner more compassionate world, the alternative, our kids will ask, how did we get it so wrong, we can't let the scientists come up with all the answers, we all have to play our part.y

Gonnagle.

An example - for years now I've taken my grandkids swimming every Sunday morning: I taught the older two to swim this way and now the eldest is too cool to go swimming so the 3 year old comes with his older sister - it has been a good use of Sunday mornings.

Sunday afternoon I'n normally amble over to the bookies for a couple of hours (Sunday racing has been the norm for years now), then we tend to do the weekly shop on Sunday evenings. I'd say my Sundays are fine by my standards.

I don't want to stop people doing their thing as I do mine: I don't care if they go to church, go shopping or do nothing at all - so why should they care about how I choose to spend my Sundays?

[Walter]

No you can't generalise like that. Having believes does not mean you make poor decisions.

  firstly, yes I can. and secondly it might