From: kmr4@po.CWRU.edu (Keith M. Ryan)
Newsgroups: alt.atheism
Subject: Re: Just how much smarter are atheists?
Date: Sat, 12 Dec 1992 19:52:25 GMT
Organization: Case Western Reserve University
NNTP-Posting-Host: b64635.student.cwru.edu

In article <910773f.30.724186770@ace.acadiau.ca> 910773f@ace.acadiau.ca (HEATHER LEE FYFFE) writes:
>Religion is not just a way of dealing with life.  Sure, that does come into 
>play.  But it is also a belief in a certain truth, and if you believe in 
>that truth, then what others believe to be true must be wrong, because there 
>can only be one Truth.  So EVERYBODY goes through life trying to convince 
>everybody else that they're wrong.  Christians by evangelizing, atheists by 
>arguing with Christians, even apathetics who say `whatever works'.  Some try 
>more forcibly, some don't really _try_, but just stating your own opinion 
>forces others to consider it.  But if you don't believe in your truth 
>strongly enough to consider it the big-T Truth, then why do you believe in 
>it at all?  
>
>Before you flame me on this point, I know that most of you atheists on this 
>group DO consider your truth to be the big-T Truth and you're not afraid to 
>say so.  These last paragraphs were aimed at those who say `you believe what 
>you believe and I'll believe what I believe and let's not get in other's 
>way, OK?'.  

	Would you please inform us on how we can evaluate a proposition as 
being The Truth (tm), as they are, and not as we experience them?
>  Everyone, whether they will admit it or not, knows that they have 
>a soul.  Noone can possibly believe that `I', what makes me `me', my 
>thoughts, my feelings, my personality, is merely a product of atoms jumping 
>around in the brain.  You all know that there is something intangible that 
>is `you'.  This is spirituality - not believing in ghosts, but believing in 
>people.

	I must object to the usage of "soul", as it contians much excess 
baggage. Yes, I am sentient. Yes, I am aware of my thoughts and feelings. 
And yet, I do not believe I have a "soul", as "soul" is commonly referred to.

	I would state: I have a mind. It is not a soul, or a spirit, but Me.


>  All people also wonder, at least a little bit, `why'.  This is the 
>God-shaped hole.  The longing for a purpose, the human condition.  The 
>reason that men go into space.  The reason people crave money, power, 
>attention.  The reason some become drug addicts, alcoholics, sexaholics.  
>They are searching for fulfillment, a reason for being.  Some just give up 
>and become apathetics.  That does not mean, though, that if a truth was 
>proven to them, they wouldn't be happy about it.  They'd still like to know, 
>they just gave up trying to find out.

	This "hole" is not god shaped for me. I have a purpose, and it is 
not needed to be filled by a "god".

>How else can you explain the intense happiness and joy that new Christians 
>experience?  We finally feel fulfilled, yes, this is what I've been waiting 
>for.  Now I have something to strive for.  How many ex-Christians can say 
>they felt that when they left the faith?  

	*raises hand*

	My excodus from christianity was and still is, one of my most 
spiritually fullfilling and wonderful experiences of my entire life. It was 
as if a great burden, a great evil was lifted from my mind. When I denied 
Lucifer his place in my world, I felt cleansed, and whole again.

>  But can those who left truly say that they have found happiness 
>since?  Sure, you may say it easily, and you probably will.  But I challenge 
>you to question whether you really, truly mean it, or is it just another 
>mask?

	My peace is perhaps greater than any christian's. I am content with 
myself, and content that I need no others or any god for my content. I am 
Me, and that is wonderful. I control my destiny, I control my life, I 
control Me. I do not need fulfillment from others. I am not lacking.


	And, I can indulge in some humor once in a while.
Newsgroups: alt.atheism