The Close-mindedness Of Atheism

[TheBossMan]

There is a basic principle about satan, his subjects and satanic atheism that true Christians should thoroughly understand and always keep in mind. The principle is this: Whatever way satan, his evil or his subjects speak evil of God or His righteousness, the same is invariably true of satan, his evil and his subjects. Since atheism is a product of satan, it follows that in whatever way atheism speaks evil of and condemns true Christianity, the same is invariably true of atheism.

Atheism accuses Christianity of being very closed-minded and prides itself in being open-minded. However, the reverse is true. Atheists are some of the most - if not the most - closed-minded subjects of satan there are on earth. The reason this is so is that they close their minds to the existence of the true God, who is omnipresent, omniscient, omnipotent, etc., and focus their depraved attention on the paltry works of totally depraved and cursed humanity and on their minute and everchanging appearance of "knowledge" about nature.

The totality of everything God's Elect (righteous mankind) should rightly reject and close their minds to is far less than that to which atheists wrongly close their minds. The God whom true Christians serve is infinitely greater than anything the minds of atheists are open to, and it is to this infinitely Greater One that the minds of atheists are closed. Since the Almighty God is greater than all of His creation, atheists are far more closed-minded by virtue of rejecting the Greater One, and true Christians are far more open-minded by accepting, being united to and placing their faith in the Greater One.

But the depraved minds of atheists go beyond being closed to the Almighty God, His glory and His righteousness. Their foolish and insane close-mindedness also extends itself to the existence of a great portion of God's creation, such as heaven, angels, hell, the lake of fire, demons, etc., because of their disbelief of their existence.

They also close their minds to the most important aspect of human existence, which is the human soul. They thereby close their minds to part of their own existence. Who but utterly insane people would admit that they have corporeal bodies while denying that they have heads? Atheists admit that their existence consists of corporeal bodies but deny or close their minds to the fact of the existence of their souls. It is their souls that gives life to their bodies!

This damnable hypocrisy and blindness of atheism are just two of the many ways human depravity is revealed (a fact that atheists also close their minds to). They are part of the overwhelming evidence of the fallen state of mankind. It is from their fallen state that Christ saves His elect of mankind. But alas, insane atheism also causes its subjects to close their minds to the only way of salvation from the eternal wrath of God.

[fivelza]

Perhaps you want to post some references as to where you get all this from?

[cyghost]

There is no Satan. You fail.

[MURH]

i think your posting is more about promoting Christianity than actually going against Satan.

[cyghost]

Since atheism is a product of satan

And here I thought it was simply based on logic and reason. You sure told me!



, it follows that in whatever way atheism speaks evil of and condemns true Christianity, the same is invariably true of atheism.

Since your premise is false your conclusion is false. QED.


Atheism accuses Christianity of being very closed-minded and prides itself in being open-minded.

While all atheists certainly are not open minded, xtians by the very nature thereof (xtianity) has to be closed minded to some things...


However, the reverse is true. Atheists are some of the most - if not the most - closed-minded subjects of satan there are on earth. The reason this is so is that they close their minds to the existence of the true God, who is omnipresent, omniscient, omnipotent, etc., and focus their depraved attention on the paltry works of totally depraved and cursed humanity and on their minute and everchanging appearance of "knowledge" about nature.

If I didn't not believe in satan, I would be offended for being called a satanist.


The totality of everything God's Elect (righteous mankind)

I thought we have this sin in our members??


should rightly reject and close their minds

Righto then. There you go. You said it. Can't be unsaid now. Sorry.


to is far less than that to which atheists wrongly close their minds. The God whom true Christians serve is infinitely greater than anything the minds of atheists are open to, and it is to this infinitely Greater One that the minds of atheists are closed. Since the Almighty God is greater than all of His creation, atheists are far more closed-minded by virtue of rejecting the Greater One, and true Christians are far more open-minded by accepting, being united to and placing their faith in the Greater One.


riiiiiight


But the depraved minds of atheists go beyond being closed to the Almighty God, His glory and His righteousness. Their foolish and insane close-mindedness also extends itself to the existence of a great portion of God's creation, such as heaven, angels, hell, the lake of fire, demons, etc., because of their disbelief of their existence.

ha ha ha ha ha


They also close their minds to the most important aspect of human existence, which is the human soul. They thereby close their minds to part of their own existence. Who but utterly insane people would admit that they have corporeal bodies while denying that they have heads? Atheists admit that their existence consists of corporeal bodies but deny or close their minds to the fact of the existence of their souls. It is their souls that gives life to their bodies!

I'll sell you my soul mate. Quite cheaply.


This damnable hypocrisy and blindness of atheism are just two of the many ways human depravity is revealed (a fact that atheists also close their minds to). They are part of the overwhelming evidence of the fallen state of mankind. It is from their fallen state that Christ saves His elect of mankind. But alas, insane atheism also causes its subjects to close their minds to the only way of salvation from the eternal wrath of God.

Insane eh? Insane enough to stay the hell away for your God-of-wrath - the dude's a nutter! He crated sin and now he is peed off when we do this sinning thing?? Madness!!

[Tux]

By asking for proof of it (which i'm still waiting for one of you to supply) atheists are being close-minded? I'd rather say they are open to other possibilities without being spoonfed what to believe

[Pr⊕phet]

another drop and go poster

[noxibox]

such as heaven, angels, hell, the lake of fire, demons
Don't forget Harvey, the Easter Bunny, Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy, gnomes and last, but certainly not least, leprachauns.

[Natas]

I cant wait for you to die and find out that there is no afterlife and that you have spent your life being an idiot, worshipping some guy that does not even exist!! hehehehehe what a turd

[The_Librarian]

I cant wait for you to die and find out that there is no afterlife and that you have spent your life being an idiot, worshipping some guy that does not even exist!! hehehehehe what a turd

But what would you say, should the Bible be true and everything set down in Revelation come to pass?

[rwenzori]

But what would you say, should the Bible be true and everything set down in Revelation come to pass?

"Oh ****!!!" :D

Just kidding. You could ask the same of any end-days work of fiction.

[kapovski]

What is the point / intention of this post?

[Nick333]

When I read the title of this thread I actually thought there might be some room for debate here. When you take a look at who the author of the OP is though you'll see that I was the victim of wishful thinking. You've really got to question what a post like that is doing in a sub-forum called philosophical debates or what its doing in any community that prides itself for debate of any sort.

Anyway the title at least is quite thought provoking, so I'm going to hijack this thread because ,frankly, is anyone going to care?

My question is: are Atheists becoming closed minded?

To most atheists and to anyone open minded towards the atheist view it seems ridiculous, but I've begun to notice a trend (although a slight one) towards a herd/group-think mentality amongst atheists. I'm not pointing fingers because I think I was headed in that direction not so long ago myself. And you can't really blame atheists either because the resurgence of dogmatic christian fundamentalism really is a threat to the values that we hold dear.

What got me thinking this way are things I've read by some rabid atheists about my sort of, kind of religion: Buddhism. The main arguments against Buddhism are that reincarnation and other supernatural beliefs are more than likely BS; the failed Buddhist theocracies and the general poverty of Buddhist countries. These are of course valid points. Just because Buddhism doesn't come close to most other religions for sheer nastiness doesn't mean it doesn't have its faults or that its not open to criticism. The problem is that these arguments are used to dismiss any belief or practice that can be labeled as Buddhist.
Often the same sort of arguments are used against other religions and I'm beginning to think that its wrong.

As atheists, we tend to forget that the only reason we should be criticising religion is for the wrong that is being done in the name of religion. The real reason atheists have become so vocal these days is because there is a war being waged against principles of freedom in parts of the world, but its not just a war against atheism - in fact its not a war against atheism at all. Its a war against science and civil liberties. Its not just an atheist against fundi-Christian war its fundi-Christian against everyone who values science and freedom war. You don't have to prove that Christianity is BS to prove that it has no place being taught in science classes or in public schools at all.

Lets not forget either that atheism isn't a religion, it really has nothing to offer the world on its own. Its a bit messed up to adopt an evangelistic approach to atheism when you have nothing to offer in return for destroying someones faith. If you're going to take away someones sense of security, it seems to me you are taking responsibility for their security.
I've always felt that people evangelize their beliefs out of their own insecurity. As if, if they got more people on their side it would somehow make them more right.

My opinion of religion is: people who feel secure are less likely to hurt others. If religion makes people feel secure then I'd rather have them believing rubbish than feeling insecure.

The fact is we are not going to get rid of organised religion over night. The only way we can get rid of it without starting a full fledged war is by debating with those religious people who are capable of debating in a reasonable manner. If they are too insecure to have a reasonable debate just leave them alone until they try messing with you or your rights in the real world, then you are obligated to protect yourself and your rights.

So do we have a real debate in this thread now? :D

[Natas]

But what would you say, should the Bible be true and everything set down in Revelation come to pass?

But what would YOU say if when you died you found out you have lived a life characterised by self denial of earthly pleasures. that you had like an idiot gone down on your knees every day and worshipped a figment of the imagination of some dude who lived a thousand years before you.

I live my life in a way which IMO is fine and not of necessity contrary to the bible. When it comes to matters such as these, I ALWAYS, and arrogantly, consider myself to be spiritually superior to MOST "christians" and I will openly admit that if heaven exists, I WILL go to heaven before a lot of people who call them selves christians. Christians, and as a matter of fact people from all religions, get caught up in the technicalities and dont ever get the message, like with the whole gay marriage thing, many christians get too bogged down in all the **** to ever even come close to knowing their god and how he would want them to behave!

At the very least I know I will be getting into heaven before all the catholics, especailly their priests, those boy****ers are all going to hell!!

[cyghost]

nick333, appreciate your post mate. Well thought out.

For myself, Dawkins mention in The God Delusion this taboo we have about debating religion and speaking out against it. This is the year 2007 and I think it is high time we stop lying to ourselves.

Sure, people can and will believe what they chose to and they certainly have the right. But if they are going to speak out about it, I'll take them on. If they want to indoctrinate their children in it, we should speak out as a society.

Atheism doesn't have to offer anything in religion's place except reason and logic. People find their own meaning in life. What's the point of a life if its spend paying homage to a non-existing God? In the hope for eternal happiness?

Its far better to be focused on this life and to take the absolute best out of it, realising that you have one shot at making it great and striving to be happy than to live under a delusion. That's my take at least.

I think the negative of religion outweighs the little positive of giving people faith and (false) hope.

[FlyingPika]

There is no Satan. You fail.
QFT:

2 Corinthians 4:4 (Amplified Bible)
4For the god of this world has blinded the unbelievers' minds [that they should not discern the truth], preventing them from seeing the illuminating light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ (the Messiah), Who is the Image and Likeness of God.



Romans 1:20-24 (Amplified Bible)
20For ever since the creation of the world His invisible nature and attributes, that is, His eternal power and divinity, have been made intelligible and clearly discernible in and through the things that have been made (His handiworks). So [men] are without excuse [altogether without any defense or justification],(A)

21Because when they knew and recognized Him as God, they did not honor and glorify Him as God or give Him thanks. But instead they became futile and [a]godless in their thinking [with vain imaginings, foolish reasoning, and stupid speculations] and their senseless minds were darkened.

22Claiming to be wise, they became fools [professing to be smart, they made simpletons of themselves].

23And by them the glory and majesty and excellence of the immortal God were exchanged for and represented by images, resembling mortal man and birds and beasts and reptiles.

24Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their [own] hearts to sexual impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves [abandoning them to the degrading power of sin],

[FlyingPika]

By asking for proof of it (which i'm still waiting for one of you to supply) atheists are being close-minded? I'd rather say they are open to other possibilities without being spoonfed what to believe
You are so open minded that you claim that there cannot be a God, or that there is no proof for such. I can understand being agnostic. But an atheist that says theres is no God, and maybe knows about 0.0000001% of the knowledge in the universe, is just being arrogant. Maybe in that other 99.9999999% there is ample evidence.

An example: You say there is no gold in china. You need to have searched the whole of china to be able to make such a claim. If I find a small spot of gold in china, you sir are then wrong. People have found gold in china, but others keep continue to tell them they didnt and are imagining it.

[FlyingPika]

Either you must acknowledge that you dont know everything, and that there could be ample evidence to prove that God exists, which makes you agnostic, or claim that there is no God by your own arrogance because you claim to know the outcome without knowing all the knowledge. Hence its seen as being close minded.

[cyghost]

I don't know everything but until I see any of this ample evidence that may or may not exist, I refuse to believe (in God).

That makes me an atheist.

[Pr⊕phet]

what does this make you:

not believing in a god as per any religion would put forward their god - ex
the christian god or the islam god

but, still believing there is a devine something, a god... ;)

[Xarog]

Since your premise is false your conclusion is false. QED.
Nitpick : WRONG

If the premise is false then the conclusion is only not proven through the premise.

If I say : "The sun is green. grass is green because the sun is green.", grass does not magically become yellow all of a sudden.

[cyghost]

Indeed Xarog. I committed a logical fallacy. An easy trap to fall into. Thanks for pointing it out.

I meant to say the conclusion certainly does not follow from the false premise AND that the conclusion itself was false as well.

but, still believing there is a devine something, a god

This is simply not true. Even if the universe is God as w1z4rd have it, I do not necessarily believe this. While I do not discount the possibility of God. I certainly do not believe in any form of God for lack of evidence to the contrary. Just like I do not believe in the tooth fairy (anymore) or Pink Unicorns. For all I know both may very well exist.

I do think that any rational God would not have a problem with my disbelieve in her and an all-powerful God simply wouldn't care either way.

[bdt]

Either you must acknowledge that you dont know everything, and that there could be ample evidence to prove that God exists, which makes you agnostic, or claim that there is no God by your own arrogance because you claim to know the outcome without knowing all the knowledge. Hence its seen as being close minded.While you're so busy being so open-minded and bandying definitions about, consider taking ignostic (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ignosticism) into your world view as an alternative for whom neither of your above options are worth a damn (mostly the silly sky-fairy one though)

/nails.colours.to.mast :cool:

[Xarog]

Indeed Xarog. I committed a logical fallacy. An easy trap to fall into. Thanks for pointing it out.
No prob. :D


I meant to say the conclusion certainly does not follow from the false premise AND that the conclusion itself was false as well.
I agree.


but, still believing there is a devine something, a god

This is simply not true. Even if the universe is God as w1z4rd have it, I do not necessarily believe this. While I do not discount the possibility of God. I certainly do not believe in any form of God for lack of evidence to the contrary. Just like I do not believe in the tooth fairy (anymore) or Pink Unicorns. For all I know both may very well exist.
Welcome to the land of agnosicism. :)


I do think that any rational God would not have a problem with my disbelieve in her and an all-powerful God simply wouldn't care either way.
I'm inclined to agree. Unless God had some personality issues and needed others to worship him to have any sense of self-worth, of course. :eek:

[Pr⊕phet]

Indeed Xarog. I committed a logical fallacy. An easy trap to fall into. Thanks for pointing it out.

I meant to say the conclusion certainly does not follow from the false premise AND that the conclusion itself was false as well.

but, still believing there is a devine something, a god

This is simply not true. Even if the universe is God as w1z4rd have it, I do not necessarily believe this. While I do not discount the possibility of God. I certainly do not believe in any form of God for lack of evidence to the contrary. Just like I do not believe in the tooth fairy (anymore) or Pink Unicorns. For all I know both may very well exist.

I do think that any rational God would not have a problem with my disbelieve in her and an all-powerful God simply wouldn't care either way.

and stuff like metaphysics ? [for interest sake]

[Xarog]

When I read the title of this thread I actually thought there might be some room for debate here. When you take a look at who the author of the OP is though you'll see that I was the victim of wishful thinking. You've really got to question what a post like that is doing in a sub-forum called philosophical debates or what its doing in any community that prides itself for debate of any sort.

Anyway the title at least is quite thought provoking, so I'm going to hijack this thread because ,frankly, is anyone going to care?

My question is: are Atheists becoming closed minded?

To most atheists and to anyone open minded towards the atheist view it seems ridiculous, but I've begun to notice a trend (although a slight one) towards a herd/group-think mentality amongst atheists. I'm not pointing fingers because I think I was headed in that direction not so long ago myself. And you can't really blame atheists either because the resurgence of dogmatic christian fundamentalism really is a threat to the values that we hold dear.

What got me thinking this way are things I've read by some rabid atheists about my sort of, kind of religion: Buddhism. The main arguments against Buddhism are that reincarnation and other supernatural beliefs are more than likely BS; the failed Buddhist theocracies and the general poverty of Buddhist countries. These are of course valid points. Just because Buddhism doesn't come close to most other religions for sheer nastiness doesn't mean it doesn't have its faults or that its not open to criticism. The problem is that these arguments are used to dismiss any belief or practice that can be labeled as Buddhist.
Often the same sort of arguments are used against other religions and I'm beginning to think that its wrong.

As atheists, we tend to forget that the only reason we should be criticising religion is for the wrong that is being done in the name of religion. The real reason atheists have become so vocal these days is because there is a war being waged against principles of freedom in parts of the world, but its not just a war against atheism - in fact its not a war against atheism at all. Its a war against science and civil liberties. Its not just an atheist against fundi-Christian war its fundi-Christian against everyone who values science and freedom war. You don't have to prove that Christianity is BS to prove that it has no place being taught in science classes or in public schools at all.

Lets not forget either that atheism isn't a religion, it really has nothing to offer the world on its own. Its a bit messed up to adopt an evangelistic approach to atheism when you have nothing to offer in return for destroying someones faith. If you're going to take away someones sense of security, it seems to me you are taking responsibility for their security.
I've always felt that people evangelize their beliefs out of their own insecurity. As if, if they got more people on their side it would somehow make them more right.

My opinion of religion is: people who feel secure are less likely to hurt others. If religion makes people feel secure then I'd rather have them believing rubbish than feeling insecure.

The fact is we are not going to get rid of organised religion over night. The only way we can get rid of it without starting a full fledged war is by debating with those religious people who are capable of debating in a reasonable manner. If they are too insecure to have a reasonable debate just leave them alone until they try messing with you or your rights in the real world, then you are obligated to protect yourself and your rights.

So do we have a real debate in this thread now? :D
I just saw this now. (Skimmed the thread previously). Easily one of the best posts I've seen in this section.

[cyghost]

and stuff like metaphysics ? [for interest sake]
I am not 100% sure what you mean by this but if you are saying that science doesn't have all the answers yet, then I'd agree. (my sig tells the story)

But every one of these fine days we learn more and then the metaphysical merely become science. As soon as we pin it down, its no longer super-natural or beyond physics or whatever.

And there still seems so much out there to learn. I am hoping it will never stop. Maybe it can't.

Sure some things might forever be unknowable but I am pretty sure we'll understand why its not possible to know it (ie Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle) and we'll keep on trying to know it anyway.

[Lycanthrope]

what does this make you:

not believing in a god as per any religion would put forward their god - ex
the christian god or the islam god

but, still believing there is a devine something, a god... ;)

I believe that makes you (us) Heathens ;) In which case you'll have to wait for a crusade of righteous judgement to be passed unto all Heathens that refuse to believe in **cough** "The one true and omnipotent, omniscient, omniwhatever God" because all other "gods" do not, in their eyes, exist, and if they do, they are "lessor" to the Christian one ;)

The reality is, bitch about atheists, prove that a deity exists, then convert all the deity-believing Heathens to praying to the Christian God, because that's just the way they like it ;) Baby steps ;)

[Mr TB]

I believe that makes you (us) Heathens ;) In which case you'll have to wait for a crusade of righteous judgement to be passed unto all Heathens that refuse to believe in **cough** "The one true and omnipotent, omniscient, omniwhatever God" because all other "gods" do not, in their eyes, exist, and if they do, they are "lessor" to the Christian one ;)

The reality is, bitch about atheists, prove that a deity exists, then convert all the deity-believing Heathens to praying to the Christian God, because that's just the way they like it ;) Baby steps ;)
*sigh*

[Lycanthrope]

I'm glad to see your respiratory system is still functioning, Mr_TB. But I'm still waiting for your response to the Laws of Leviticus in http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php?p=1061258#post1061258 ;) Don't tell me you're running away.

Sighing won't get you anywhere. I want to know why you'll follow some laws, but not others, enlighten me oh great hypocrite, betrayer of the Laws of God, unfaithful Heathen. I am waiting.

As you said a few times to me, "Do not are run!" Not that I ever have. I have even STATED and QUOTED your Bible for you. Tell me why you will follow some, and refuse to follow others.

I'm sure the other readers of this thread will find it interesting as well... Why do some Christians follow some laws, and not others? Why? Why is it that some laws are "nicer" than others to uphold? What is this selective thinking I keep mentioning?

Narrow-mindedness comes from one thing - your own, personal inability to see things neutrally, to pass judgement without bias. That, is what you lack Mr_TB. So stop running and explain your Bible, explain yourself and why you do not follow every last one of the Laws in Leviticus.

The anticipation is killing me ;) (and no, not literally)

[Mr TB]

I'm glad to see your respiratory system is still functioning, Mr_TB. But I'm still waiting for your response to the Laws of Leviticus in http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php?p=1061258#post1061258 ;) Don't tell me you're running away.

Sighing won't get you anywhere. I want to know why you'll follow some laws, but not others, enlighten me oh great hypocrite, betrayer of the Laws of God, unfaithful Heathen. I am waiting.

As you said a few times to me, "Do not are run!" Not that I ever have. I have even STATED and QUOTED your Bible for you. Tell me why you will follow some, and refuse to follow others.

I'm sure the other readers of this thread will find it interesting as well... Why do some Christians follow some laws, and not others? Why? Why is it that some laws are "nicer" than others to uphold? What is this selective thinking I keep mentioning?

Narrow-mindedness comes from one thing - your own, personal inability to see things neutrally, to pass judgement without bias. That, is what you lack Mr_TB. So stop running and explain your Bible, explain yourself and why you do not follow every last one of the Laws in Leviticus.

The anticipation is killing me ;) (and no, not literally)
Yes we have found the most broadmind sl*t on the internet...

[Lycanthrope]

http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php?p=1061295&posted=1#post1061295

Do not derail this thread Mr_TB. P.S. to anyone interested, my response is back where it belongs.