Comments on: The Agony Of Intelligence http://www.atheista.net/2008/05/04/the-agony-of-intelligence/ Atheism, Debate, Medicine, Music and Sports Thu, 20 Nov 2008 16:11:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: anonymous http://www.atheista.net/2008/05/04/the-agony-of-intelligence/#comment-8128 anonymous Thu, 30 Oct 2008 01:53:18 +0000 http://www.atheista.net/2008/05/04/the-agony-of-intelligence/#comment-8128 Hi there. I’m also a filipino atheist and never knew there are active atheists in Luzon (I’m from Visayas). I originated from digg.com and was pointed to your blogg. There are lots of atheist resources on digg and I am thankful :) In contrast to most readers here, I don’t usually tell people that I’m an atheist. I don’t want to explain why I don’t believe in god. I’m even anonymous so that no one can trace me on the net as an atheist :). Like you I was depressed at first when I realized I don’t believe in a personal God. I even tried to go back to my old religion but I can’t do it. It just seems to be irrational. People should read their “Holy Book” (Bible/Koran/etc.) so that they will know how *good* is the foundation of their religion. P.S. Please try to use plain english. I have a hard time comprehending your statements so I can’t really comment. I know it is natural for you because you are a debater (I’m not actually sure but I sense so :)). However, you should realize that when blogging, even natural english speakers don’t use unfamiliar words and too much metaphors. How the heck do you think a high school/college atheist in visayas/mindanao will understand/comprehend your statements clearly? Or even most people in the Luzon. They might probably understand most of it but they will really have a hard time. Maybe it’s just me :). Try to visit http://www.lolcatbible.com. :) Hi there.

I’m also a filipino atheist and never knew there are active atheists in Luzon (I’m from Visayas). I originated from digg.com and was pointed to your blogg. There are lots of atheist resources on digg and I am thankful :) In contrast to most readers here, I don’t usually tell people that I’m an atheist. I don’t want to explain why I don’t believe in god. I’m even anonymous so that no one can trace me on the net as an atheist :).

Like you I was depressed at first when I realized I don’t believe in a personal God. I even tried to go back to my old religion but I can’t do it. It just seems to be irrational.

People should read their “Holy Book” (Bible/Koran/etc.) so that they will know how *good* is the foundation of their religion.

P.S.

Please try to use plain english. I have a hard time comprehending your statements so I can’t really comment. I know it is natural for you because you are a debater (I’m not actually sure but I sense so :)). However, you should realize that when blogging, even natural english speakers don’t use unfamiliar words and too much metaphors. How the heck do you think a high school/college atheist in visayas/mindanao will understand/comprehend your statements clearly? Or even most people in the Luzon. They might probably understand most of it but they will really have a hard time.

Maybe it’s just me :). Try to visit http://www.lolcatbible.com. :)

]]> By: anonymous http://www.atheista.net/2008/05/04/the-agony-of-intelligence/#comment-8127 anonymous Thu, 30 Oct 2008 01:52:03 +0000 http://www.atheista.net/2008/05/04/the-agony-of-intelligence/#comment-8127 Hi there. I'm also a filipino atheist and never knew there are active atheists in Luzon (I'm from Visayas). I originated from digg.com and was pointed to your blogg. There are lots of atheist resources on digg and I am thankful :) In contrast to most readers here, I don't usually tell people that I'm an atheist. I don't want to explain why I don't believe in god. I'm even anonymous so that no one can trace me on the net as an atheist :). Like you I was depressed at first when I realized I don't believe in a personal God. I even tried to go back to my old religion but I can't do it. It just seems to be irrational. People should read their "Holy Book" (Bible/Koran/etc.) so that they will know how *good* is the foundation of their religion. P.S. Please try to use plain english. I have a hard time comprehending your statements so I can't really comment. I know it is natural for you because you are a debater (I'm not actually sure but I sense so :)). However, you should realize that when blogging, even natural english speakers don't use unfamiliar words and too much metaphors. How the heck do you think a high school/college atheist in visayas/mindanao will understand/comprehend your statements clearly? Or even most people in the Luzon. They might probably understand most of it but they will really have a hard time. Maybe it's just me :). Try to visit www.lolcatbible.com. :) Hi there.

I’m also a filipino atheist and never knew there are active atheists in Luzon (I’m from Visayas). I originated from digg.com and was pointed to your blogg. There are lots of atheist resources on digg and I am thankful :)
In contrast to most readers here, I don’t usually tell people that I’m an atheist. I don’t want to explain why I don’t believe in god. I’m even anonymous so that no one can trace me on the net as an atheist :).

Like you I was depressed at first when I realized I don’t believe in a personal God. I even tried to go back to my old religion but I can’t do it. It just seems to be irrational.

People should read their “Holy Book” (Bible/Koran/etc.) so that they will know how *good* is the foundation of their religion.

P.S.

Please try to use plain english. I have a hard time comprehending your statements so I can’t really comment. I know it is natural for you because you are a debater (I’m not actually sure but I sense so :)). However, you should realize that when blogging, even natural english speakers don’t use unfamiliar words and too much metaphors. How the heck do you think a high school/college atheist in visayas/mindanao will understand/comprehend your statements clearly? Or even most people in the Luzon. They might probably understand most of it but they will really have a hard time.

Maybe it’s just me :). Try to visit http://www.lolcatbible.com. :)

]]> By: Euri http://www.atheista.net/2008/05/04/the-agony-of-intelligence/#comment-7336 Euri Sat, 10 May 2008 13:53:40 +0000 http://www.atheista.net/2008/05/04/the-agony-of-intelligence/#comment-7336 According to the Purpose Driven Life book, our reason for living is to serve and love God. But this, of course, only applies to theists. If we associate everything to God, then wouldn't it be like we're giving God the task to treat as like dolls in a huge doll house called world? That when he grew tired of us, he could just "dispose" us whenever we want. Anyway, he could always make another billion of puppets in a blink of an eye so disposing 2 or 3 billion of puppets doesn't really matter. IMHO, no matter how much we cracked our minds out, we can never give a definite reason on why we exist, and why we should live this life. It's all about how we should live it. According to the Purpose Driven Life book, our reason for living is to serve and love God. But this, of course, only applies to theists.

If we associate everything to God, then wouldn’t it be like we’re giving God the task to treat as like dolls in a huge doll house called world? That when he grew tired of us, he could just “dispose” us whenever we want. Anyway, he could always make another billion of puppets in a blink of an eye so disposing 2 or 3 billion of puppets doesn’t really matter.

IMHO, no matter how much we cracked our minds out, we can never give a definite reason on why we exist, and why we should live this life. It’s all about how we should live it.

]]> By: micketymoc http://www.atheista.net/2008/05/04/the-agony-of-intelligence/#comment-7328 micketymoc Thu, 08 May 2008 23:02:48 +0000 http://www.atheista.net/2008/05/04/the-agony-of-intelligence/#comment-7328 Grace: there really is point to <i>anything</i>, but that's no reason to stop doing something, right? No, science and philosophy can't <i>fully</i> explain our emotions and thoughts, but that's no reason to stop applying science and philosophy to emotions and thoughts anyway. Your reply suggests we should just stop thinking and leave it all to God. Sorry to break it to you, but there is no God to leave things to! :) Grace: there really is point to anything, but that’s no reason to stop doing something, right?

No, science and philosophy can’t fully explain our emotions and thoughts, but that’s no reason to stop applying science and philosophy to emotions and thoughts anyway.

Your reply suggests we should just stop thinking and leave it all to God. Sorry to break it to you, but there is no God to leave things to! :)

]]> By: Grace http://www.atheista.net/2008/05/04/the-agony-of-intelligence/#comment-7327 Grace Thu, 08 May 2008 20:08:14 +0000 http://www.atheista.net/2008/05/04/the-agony-of-intelligence/#comment-7327 i have always been a firm believer that there is a bigger and more powerful being. There is no point rationalizing everything. Your emotions and thoughts while making this blog is something that can't be explained by science or philosophy. I think it is true that man's intelligence is just the foolishness of God. i have always been a firm believer that there is a bigger and more powerful being. There is no point rationalizing everything. Your emotions and thoughts while making this blog is something that can’t be explained by science or philosophy. I think it is true that man’s intelligence is just the foolishness of God.

]]> By: Gian Paolo http://www.atheista.net/2008/05/04/the-agony-of-intelligence/#comment-7300 Gian Paolo Tue, 06 May 2008 05:23:44 +0000 http://www.atheista.net/2008/05/04/the-agony-of-intelligence/#comment-7300 When I was around six years old, I couldn't sleep alone because I was afraid of the dark. Not anymore. :) While I do not believe that we will go to heaven/hell/whatever when we die, I cannot bring myself to believe that we'll just rot and that's it. My ego is telling me that there's more to me than that. But that's just my ego. When I was around six years old, I couldn’t sleep alone because I was afraid of the dark. Not anymore. :)
While I do not believe that we will go to heaven/hell/whatever when we die, I cannot bring myself to believe that we’ll just rot and that’s it. My ego is telling me that there’s more to me than that. But that’s just my ego.

]]> By: margotocea http://www.atheista.net/2008/05/04/the-agony-of-intelligence/#comment-7277 margotocea Mon, 05 May 2008 12:35:36 +0000 http://www.atheista.net/2008/05/04/the-agony-of-intelligence/#comment-7277 Benj, would it be possible not to call the whole thing agonizing? :) It's the same romanticizing zone we spoke of before. It all comes off as burdening to you when you can actually find peace there. I think I'm beginning to go back to Jiddu Krishnamurti again. Now that was agonizing! with the same dilemna of limited language as we all do.hehe. Be well. Benj, would it be possible not to call the whole thing agonizing? :) It’s the same romanticizing zone we spoke of before. It all comes off as burdening to you when you can actually find peace there.
I think I’m beginning to go back to Jiddu Krishnamurti again. Now that was agonizing! with the same dilemna of limited language as we all do.hehe. Be well.

]]> By: joyfulchicken http://www.atheista.net/2008/05/04/the-agony-of-intelligence/#comment-7276 joyfulchicken Mon, 05 May 2008 11:50:34 +0000 http://www.atheista.net/2008/05/04/the-agony-of-intelligence/#comment-7276 Oh yay, a comment subscription plug-in. The nature of human intelligence and rationality is something that I've been thinking about a lot lately, and I would love to discuss that stuff in person with you people someday. But for now, I'll just subscribe to this thread and see if it turns into a flamewar. I like flamewars. Oh yay, a comment subscription plug-in.

The nature of human intelligence and rationality is something that I’ve been thinking about a lot lately, and I would love to discuss that stuff in person with you people someday. But for now, I’ll just subscribe to this thread and see if it turns into a flamewar. I like flamewars.

]]> By: benj http://www.atheista.net/2008/05/04/the-agony-of-intelligence/#comment-7274 benj Mon, 05 May 2008 07:12:33 +0000 http://www.atheista.net/2008/05/04/the-agony-of-intelligence/#comment-7274 Nice to have you here, Blogie. Anytime. hehe Nice to have you here, Blogie. Anytime. hehe

]]> By: Blogie http://www.atheista.net/2008/05/04/the-agony-of-intelligence/#comment-7273 Blogie Mon, 05 May 2008 07:05:21 +0000 http://www.atheista.net/2008/05/04/the-agony-of-intelligence/#comment-7273 Thanks for installing the plugin, Benj! However, I'm not going to subscribe to this post. It used to be a discussion on intelligence and faith... now it's turned into an argument between atheists and theists. So this will be my last comment on this post. Look, people, stop trying to convince the other side. This post was about something focused, now it's become too broad and unclear. We had a good run, though, in the beginning, didn't we, Benj? Till next time! Thanks for installing the plugin, Benj! However, I’m not going to subscribe to this post. It used to be a discussion on intelligence and faith… now it’s turned into an argument between atheists and theists. So this will be my last comment on this post.

Look, people, stop trying to convince the other side. This post was about something focused, now it’s become too broad and unclear.

We had a good run, though, in the beginning, didn’t we, Benj? Till next time!

]]> By: Renz http://www.atheista.net/2008/05/04/the-agony-of-intelligence/#comment-7269 Renz Mon, 05 May 2008 03:59:04 +0000 http://www.atheista.net/2008/05/04/the-agony-of-intelligence/#comment-7269 "We were also conditioned to think that there is such a thing as faith, and that faith is unquestionable." Exactly. IMO, every person is born atheist until they are indoctrinated, basically tabula rasa, a blank slate. At an early age, we are "labeled" into a religion just because our parents are in it. This thought experiment is somewhat related to the thought experiment done by Scott Adams, the writer of dilbert, (Turns out, he could be a serious person, whenever he wants to.) , in his book The God Debris (which you can download freely, btw). But this blog is better, methinks. Good Job Benj. Will be waiting for more ... “We were also conditioned to think that there is such a thing as faith, and that faith is unquestionable.”

Exactly. IMO, every person is born atheist until they are indoctrinated, basically tabula rasa, a blank slate. At an early age, we are “labeled” into a religion just because our parents are in it.

This thought experiment is somewhat related to the thought experiment done by Scott Adams, the writer of dilbert, (Turns out, he could be a serious person, whenever he wants to.) , in his book The God Debris (which you can download freely, btw). But this blog is better, methinks.

Good Job Benj. Will be waiting for more …

]]> By: benj http://www.atheista.net/2008/05/04/the-agony-of-intelligence/#comment-7268 benj Mon, 05 May 2008 03:08:15 +0000 http://www.atheista.net/2008/05/04/the-agony-of-intelligence/#comment-7268 @Blogie - I second what micketymoc says. A belief in a god is nothing but a romanticized set of assumptions. Yes, it's clique-ish - and it's a group of people who choose to not use their intelligence in certain areas for the sake of convenience. ;) @Blogie - I second what micketymoc says. A belief in a god is nothing but a romanticized set of assumptions. Yes, it’s clique-ish - and it’s a group of people who choose to not use their intelligence in certain areas for the sake of convenience. ;)

]]> By: micketymoc http://www.atheista.net/2008/05/04/the-agony-of-intelligence/#comment-7267 micketymoc Mon, 05 May 2008 02:56:25 +0000 http://www.atheista.net/2008/05/04/the-agony-of-intelligence/#comment-7267 "Maybe (just maybe) one is an atheist because he/she perceives religion as something that is clique-ish?" Let me propose this: one becomes an atheist when one perceives religion to be at odds with truth. That's how it happened to me, anyway. I mean, transubstantiation? Papal infallibility? Creationism? The overarching belief that a divine sentient being created the world and <i>cares</i> if I worship him? I don't think any of these are true, and I've discovered that the parts of religion that <i>are</i> true <i>aren't</i> dependent on religion to be true. “Maybe (just maybe) one is an atheist because he/she perceives religion as something that is clique-ish?”

Let me propose this: one becomes an atheist when one perceives religion to be at odds with truth.

That’s how it happened to me, anyway. I mean, transubstantiation? Papal infallibility? Creationism? The overarching belief that a divine sentient being created the world and cares if I worship him? I don’t think any of these are true, and I’ve discovered that the parts of religion that are true aren’t dependent on religion to be true.

]]> By: spliceanddice http://www.atheista.net/2008/05/04/the-agony-of-intelligence/#comment-7265 spliceanddice Sun, 04 May 2008 23:22:34 +0000 http://www.atheista.net/2008/05/04/the-agony-of-intelligence/#comment-7265 One cannot draw the lot of life without drawing the lot of death at the same time. We are here to die, apart from the 'other things' that go with life. One cannot draw the lot of life without drawing the lot of death at the same time. We are here to die, apart from the ‘other things’ that go with life.

]]> By: Joe http://www.atheista.net/2008/05/04/the-agony-of-intelligence/#comment-7257 Joe Sun, 04 May 2008 06:55:03 +0000 http://www.atheista.net/2008/05/04/the-agony-of-intelligence/#comment-7257 We were also conditioned to think that there is such a thing as faith, and that faith is unquestionable. We were made to believe that there is a "prime mover", there is this 'greater force' behind all existence. No more questions. There simply is. Peace! We were also conditioned to think that there is such a thing as faith, and that faith is unquestionable. We were made to believe that there is a “prime mover”, there is this ‘greater force’ behind all existence. No more questions. There simply is.

Peace!

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