Comments on: Atheists are not the skeptics they think they are http://blog.sandipb.net/2008/05/27/atheists-are-not-the-skeptics-they-think-they-are/ > yours truly. Sun, 21 Mar 2010 06:10:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Ed Statue http://blog.sandipb.net/2008/05/27/atheists-are-not-the-skeptics-they-think-they-are/comment-page-1/#comment-587 Ed Statue Tue, 29 Jul 2008 19:52:45 +0000 http://sandipb.wordpress.com/?p=179#comment-587 I often thought of atheism as being as ridiculously absolute as theism...and though the author was right about that, I have to agree with Jeff that the article as a whole wasn't dense but insubstantial fluff. The author doesn't say anything of any consequence until the very end, though he does a good job of selecting some of the shakier Dawkins quotes. Bah humbug. I often thought of atheism as being as ridiculously absolute as theism…and though the author was right about that, I have to agree with Jeff that the article as a whole wasn’t dense but insubstantial fluff.

The author doesn’t say anything of any consequence until the very end, though he does a good job of selecting some of the shakier Dawkins quotes.

Bah humbug.

]]> By: Jeffrey Shallit http://blog.sandipb.net/2008/05/27/atheists-are-not-the-skeptics-they-think-they-are/comment-page-1/#comment-590 Jeffrey Shallit Tue, 03 Jun 2008 11:37:14 +0000 http://sandipb.wordpress.com/?p=179#comment-590 Actually, I found Tingley's article to be embarrassingly bad. You can read my response here: http://tinyurl.com/4l7xfl Actually, I found Tingley’s article to be embarrassingly bad. You can read my response here:

http://tinyurl.com/4l7xfl

]]> By: 抱朴 http://blog.sandipb.net/2008/05/27/atheists-are-not-the-skeptics-they-think-they-are/comment-page-1/#comment-589 抱朴 Wed, 28 May 2008 19:43:51 +0000 http://sandipb.wordpress.com/?p=179#comment-589 That is a very practical attitude to adopt toward humanity, and it is quite similiar to my own stance. I don't think it's contradictory at all---as you say, humans can act with great compassion and intelligence but we can also be destructive and ignorant. The potential for both is always present. That is a very practical attitude to adopt toward humanity, and it is quite similiar to my own stance. I don’t think it’s contradictory at all—as you say, humans can act with great compassion and intelligence but we can also be destructive and ignorant. The potential for both is always present.

]]> By: Sandip Bhattacharya http://blog.sandipb.net/2008/05/27/atheists-are-not-the-skeptics-they-think-they-are/comment-page-1/#comment-588 Sandip Bhattacharya Wed, 28 May 2008 19:19:03 +0000 http://sandipb.wordpress.com/?p=179#comment-588 I am not sure I can say I have faith in humanity. Yes, I am of the view that there are more good people than bad in this world. Yes, I know that man is capable of great things. And yes, in most circumstances, I would trust an unknown person before he/she gives me a reason not to. But saying "I have a faith in humanity" to me is saying that I trust the judgment of the human kind to do good or to inspire good in others. Sadly, I do not have this trust as much as I want to. Humanity has shown itself time and again to be capable of enormous bad as well as good. At the risk of sounding somewhat contradictory, I believe in being a humanitarian, and at the same time looking up to humanity and expecting it to break my heart from time to time. I am not sure I can say I have faith in humanity. Yes, I am of the view that there are more good people than bad in this world. Yes, I know that man is capable of great things. And yes, in most circumstances, I would trust an unknown person before he/she gives me a reason not to.

But saying “I have a faith in humanity” to me is saying that I trust the judgment of the human kind to do good or to inspire good in others. Sadly, I do not have this trust as much as I want to. Humanity has shown itself time and again to be capable of enormous bad as well as good.

At the risk of sounding somewhat contradictory, I believe in being a humanitarian, and at the same time looking up to humanity and expecting it to break my heart from time to time.

]]> By: Sandip Bhattacharya http://blog.sandipb.net/2008/05/27/atheists-are-not-the-skeptics-they-think-they-are/comment-page-1/#comment-582 Sandip Bhattacharya Wed, 28 May 2008 18:36:15 +0000 http://sandipb.wordpress.com/?p=179#comment-582 Thanks Baopu, for pointing that out. My mistaken assumption from the way the article was written. Thanks Baopu, for pointing that out. My mistaken assumption from the way the article was written.

]]> By: 抱朴 http://blog.sandipb.net/2008/05/27/atheists-are-not-the-skeptics-they-think-they-are/comment-page-1/#comment-581 抱朴 Wed, 28 May 2008 18:34:23 +0000 http://sandipb.wordpress.com/?p=179#comment-581 Forgot to add---if you feel you have to articulate a faith, I would suggest you describe yourself as a Humanist rather than an agnostic. You certainly sound like you have faith in humanity, and in humanity's ability to know truth. Forgot to add—if you feel you have to articulate a faith, I would suggest you describe yourself as a Humanist rather than an agnostic. You certainly sound like you have faith in humanity, and in humanity’s ability to know truth.

]]> By: 抱朴 http://blog.sandipb.net/2008/05/27/atheists-are-not-the-skeptics-they-think-they-are/comment-page-1/#comment-583 抱朴 Wed, 28 May 2008 18:32:04 +0000 http://sandipb.wordpress.com/?p=179#comment-583 Nice article and nice review. However I noticed you said: "<i>He points out the mindset from where <b>Pascal and other atheists</b> begin their attempts at discovery</i>" Pascal was not an atheist; he was actually an unabashed theist at a time when it was becoming increasingly popular to become atheist in intellectual circles. Nice article and nice review. However I noticed you said:

“He points out the mindset from where Pascal and other atheists begin their attempts at discovery”

Pascal was not an atheist; he was actually an unabashed theist at a time when it was becoming increasingly popular to become atheist in intellectual circles.

]]> By: Rishi http://blog.sandipb.net/2008/05/27/atheists-are-not-the-skeptics-they-think-they-are/comment-page-1/#comment-586 Rishi Wed, 28 May 2008 16:22:42 +0000 http://sandipb.wordpress.com/?p=179#comment-586 Sandeep sir, you should read this: http://arts.cuhk.edu.hk/humftp/E-text/Russell/agnostic.htm Wonderful essay written by Bertrand Russell Sandeep sir, you should read this:
http://arts.cuhk.edu.hk/humftp/E-text/Russell/agnostic.htm

Wonderful essay written by Bertrand Russell

]]> By: Sandip Bhattacharya http://blog.sandipb.net/2008/05/27/atheists-are-not-the-skeptics-they-think-they-are/comment-page-1/#comment-584 Sandip Bhattacharya Tue, 27 May 2008 17:06:39 +0000 http://sandipb.wordpress.com/?p=179#comment-584 There might be some atheists who feel the need to "enlighten" the misguided faith loyals. In this regard they are not too different from the religious advocates. But for most part, the atheists that I know, generally keep their views to themselves. Some like me, believe that faith is an important strength in the lives of the devout. Why take that away as long as it doesn't take them "astray"?(In our cases, astray means performing harmful acts out of blind superstition). Some, partly me, don't mention our views so that we don't offend our otherwise devout family. And most of us, have chosen our position solely so that we do not need to be obsessed with faith. So, based on my, perhaps limited, experience of atheist people that I know, I do not thing we are obsessed or find the need to repeatedly talk about religion. Of course, introspection is a part of everybody's life. And many like to write aloud their otherwise private introspection of this part of their life. Maybe that might lead you to believe that we are obsessed with religion. There might be some atheists who feel the need to “enlighten” the misguided faith loyals. In this regard they are not too different from the religious advocates.

But for most part, the atheists that I know, generally keep their views to themselves. Some like me, believe that faith is an important strength in the lives of the devout. Why take that away as long as it doesn’t take them “astray”?(In our cases, astray means performing harmful acts out of blind superstition). Some, partly me, don’t mention our views so that we don’t offend our otherwise devout family. And most of us, have chosen our position solely so that we do not need to be obsessed with faith. So, based on my, perhaps limited, experience of atheist people that I know, I do not thing we are obsessed or find the need to repeatedly talk about religion.

Of course, introspection is a part of everybody’s life. And many like to write aloud their otherwise private introspection of this part of their life. Maybe that might lead you to believe that we are obsessed with religion.

]]> By: Zacharias http://blog.sandipb.net/2008/05/27/atheists-are-not-the-skeptics-they-think-they-are/comment-page-1/#comment-585 Zacharias Tue, 27 May 2008 16:14:35 +0000 http://sandipb.wordpress.com/?p=179#comment-585 Good article, I too have marveled sometimes at how some atheists use almost the same arguments to defend their disbelief as theists do to defend theirs! I do have a serious question for you though, something that I have found curious for a long time: I might be just seeing a small side of it, but why do so many atheists seem to be obsessed with religion? If they don't believe in it at all, then why spend so much time and energy talking about it? Good article, I too have marveled sometimes at how some atheists use almost the same arguments to defend their disbelief as theists do to defend theirs!

I do have a serious question for you though, something that I have found curious for a long time: I might be just seeing a small side of it, but why do so many atheists seem to be obsessed with religion? If they don’t believe in it at all, then why spend so much time and energy talking about it?

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