Conversations with a sceptic (6): What is an atheist?

 Q:

Different answers for different hypotheticals and cover most bases. Don't have a clue what Spirit means and don't recall a sufficient explanation, but I'll indulge you and play loosely along.

I don't know what that evidence could possibly be, but if hypothetical "force" is a conscious entity then IT should surely know and provide it.

 A consensus in the science community around the globe would be intriguing and interesting and possibly something in which to look further IF there were truly worthwhile benefits which could be demonstrated with a success rate much greater than chance. 

Personal experience, while surely powerful to the one involved, is not credible IMO. The brain is an amazing organ and capable of all sorts of fascinating feats, as well as delusions and hallucinations, feelings, etc and humans have selective and unreliable memories. My own personal experience would be insufficient and immaterial unless it could be channeled and repeated for some obvious benefit and good to show the world at will. Otherwise it's just a crazy claim by a wooster.

REMEMBER...indulging your little thought experiment to see where you're going with this. There is no credible evidence of anything supernatural ever and I firmly stand by that. Just because I played along doesn't mean I'm on board or even considering, so please don't go there. 

A:

Ok, to make it perfectly clear: I have no hidden agenda to "convert" anyone, I'm not part of any religious organization and couldn't care less. What I care about is an honest exchange of opinions. We all have different theories about life, and yes, even your science based belief systems are only theories. What makes it interesting is to confront the different theories, by probing and poking at other mental constructs and at the same time evaluating one's own.

If for some reason a new bit of information comes along that I consider to be true, it can be integrated into my theory. If that bit of information completely challenges the bases of my theory, I would not think twice to drop my old one and build a new theory around it. I don't identify with my belief system. I keep it as long as it makes sense to me.

When I asked these questions, it was not to sneakily introduce you to theism, "forcing it down your throat". Like I said, I don't care about that and knowing you, it wouldn't work anyway.

What I wanted was to understand the position of an atheist.

You were given 2 hypothetical choices:

1) Accept that there is a conscious force in the universe, because scientists have discovered irrefutable proof.

2) Accept that there is a conscious force in the universe, because you had a personal, subjective revelation.

To 1) you responded with "interesting maybe, but what are my benefits?"

To 2) you answered "If I had it, I wouldn't believe myself because I couldn't prove it to others. And what are my benefits anyway?"

 What I see from your answer is a narcissistic stance, from where you evaluate everything based on the benefit you can get from it. "Alright then, God exists....but what can he do for me?"...or something like that. 😄 Like I said in a previous comment: self-centered.

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Ultimately, I think the main differences between an atheist and a non-atheist are 2 fundamental points:

- That there's only this physical life to live and then the oblivion

- That you are only biological entities and separated from the world around you

In my opinion, these 2 points produce a very skewed view of life, and generate all sorts of other misconceptions. But that's for another time.