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Atheists are happy and honest

• Skeptics & Atheists

Interviews with a species that the godly don't want to admit exists: ethical, happy atheists.

According to The New York Times 2003 Almanac, 15 percent of the world's population professes no religion or falls under the category of atheism.

In most organized religions, people use sacred texts to help determine right from wrong. Atheists prefer critical judgment and common sense. All three said people don't need religion to determine right from wrong.

Andy Goldblatt and Alicia Strong, Indiana Star: Atheists say they're all right without religion

Richard Evans Lee
November 09, 2003 •
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Critical judgement based on what? Common sense is something that I think most "Brights" would frown upon. Common sense would argue against the notion of Darwinian evolution. Gould and Dawkins aren't appealing to common sense, they feel like they are above the idea. Dawkins can't understand why the majority of the population doesn't believe in macroevolution as a means of creating life. The truth of the matter is that there is always an a priori position that dictates how one views things.

Posted by: Kannibal | November 13, 2003 11:20 PM

Common sense is one of those terms that is so elastic to be meaningless. I try to remember to not use it myself. I don’t really want to defend the extract of the kids’ article. Although an atheist myself I don’t think that atheists in general are better thinkers than Christians. Mostly I cited it as counter-propaganda to the idea that many have that an atheist is necessarily unhappy or more inclined to be dishonest. Dawkins does indeed reside in an elite, isolated sphere. In principle I wish the Brights Movement the best of luck but suspect it’ll end up as an embarrassing footnote. I’m pretty much in agreement with your last sentence.

Posted by: Richard Evans Lee | November 14, 2003 2:39 PM

I would agree with you that Atheists can be happy and honest. The sad reality is that those who term themselves "Religious" tend to be dishonest and unhappy. I hate to brand my fellow cattle, but sometimes the heat of truth leaves a mark. I think there is a common wisdom among people. The experiences that most teens get warned about are apart of the common wisdom. I believe common sense tells us that being drunk isn't a wise decision. It is common sense not to dig up your yard knowing there are wires and gas lines buried there. There is a common wisdom and you are right it can be very loose if not defined. Have you totally given up on the idea that God exists? Is there any one reason why that is so? I still want to continue the discussion from the CD postings.

Posted by: Kannibal | November 18, 2003 1:28 AM

I don’t connect atheism with reasonableness (example: the awful Objectivists) anymore than I do faith with humaneness. I think both qualities are mostly products of upbringing. The simplest answer I can give is that I don’t find a God a necessary condition. And I can’t see any reason for being more interested in Christianity than Buddhism or Islam. I have good friends, a fair amount of control over my daily life and the pleasures of music and books. Theism is something that I don’t feel much interest in.

Posted by: Richard Evans Lee | November 18, 2003 6:51 AM

I'm not gay or anything. I am an atheist though and being one of a 15% population isn't what a non atheist would think. For instance, there are no people whom I know who are more honnest or more intelligent than any of the atheists that I know. 3 of my closest friends are also atheist and although I am not talking philosiphical or anything the point is the same although it doesn't require as many levels of thinking. Another trait of being atheist. We don't have to be confussed with another previous set of beleifs before we have to consider somthing. Commensense (or what is proper personal responsibility) and realism make things a lot easier to understand. Hell all the other functions of the brain that don't require the processing of pure thought (emotions) are just side effects of evolution inorder to preserve our species. Those combined with our desire for an easier life lead to all other crap that doesn't fall under emotions.

Posted by: THE_ALMIGHTY | March 31, 2004 2:22 AM

How do you feel?

Feel free to share your feelings about Atheists are happy and honest. Please stick to the theme of the entry. Disagreement is fine. Homophobia, racism, and kindred expressions of hatred will be deleted. This site is one of my hobbies. I genuinely enjoy hearing from people and hate moderating or killing comments. Forthright disagreement is fine as long as it is civil.
My thanks,
Richard

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