register for atheists?

[Thorne]

Still, prayer can be comforting, especially when praying over something that is completely beyond our control. And sometimes you get an answer.

I've never denied that prayer can be comforting. Just as meditation can be comforting. Or a good night's sleep. Or taking a good afternoon nap. It's a way to focus your mind, allow some introspection, and let yourself think things out clearly. Adding in religious gobbledygook would tend to cost you more focus than simple meditation, I would think.

And you don't GET an answer, as in some being providing you with one. You MAY find one within yourself, if you can relax enough, but ultimately it comes from you, not from some god.

I don't think people in general would live long with hope. The alternative is suicide.

Depends on the person. Some people can get through by taking things one day at a time, not allowing hope OR despair to control their lives.

Without love, babies fail to thrive and they literally can die.

I've never heard of this. There are a LOT of babies who manage to grow up in horrific conditions, certainly not in any king of loving family as most people would recognize it. I don't say they would grow up mentally healthy, again as we understand it, but they do survive.

Without trust there is no banding together against adversity.

Again, there are many people who live relatively solitary lives, not trusting others, not depending upon others. They may not be living the kinds of lives that WE would want, but they are living, and some are even happy that way.

These things necessary to our survival as humans.

I think necessary is too strong a word. Desirable, yes, in most cases. Important in a highly integrated social environment? Yes. But not necessary.

[ksst]

Without love, babies fail to thrive and they literally can die.
I've never heard of this. There are a LOT of babies who manage to grow up in horrific conditions, certainly not in any king of loving family as most people would recognize it. I don't say they would grow up mentally healthy, again as we understand it, but they do survive.

It happens in some very poor orphanages. I'm thinking more of a society level than an individual level for those other examples.

[Thorne]

It happens in some very poor orphanages.

You sure it's a lack of love, and not a lack of actual CARE?

I'm thinking more of a society level than an individual level for those other examples.

Not sure I understand what you mean by this.

[DuncanONeil]

"First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out --
Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out --
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out --
Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me -- and there was no one left to speak for me."

Religion
Atheist "National Registry" Proposed by Florida Pastor Discovered by the Internet a Year Later

"Now, many (especially the atheists), may ask "Why do this, what's the purpose?" Duhhh, Mr. Atheist for the same purpose many States put the names and photos of convicted sex offenders and other ex-felons on the I-Net - to INFORM the public! I mean, in the City of Miramar, Florida, where I live, the population is approx. 109,000. My family and I would sure like to know how many of those 109,000 are ADMITTED atheists! Perhaps we may actually know some. In which case we could begin to witness to them and warn them of the dangers of atheism. Or perhaps they are radical atheists, whose hearts are as hard as Pharaoh's, in that case, if they are business owners, we would encourage all our Christian friends, as well as the various churches and their congregations NOT to patronize them as we would only be "feeding" Satan.

Frankly, I don't see why anyone would oppose this idea - including the atheists themselves (unless of course, they're actually ashamed of their atheist religion, and would prefer to stay in the 'closet.')."

That's the bad news. The good news is, it was booed off the net.


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