Curiosity is not quite what motivates me.  I actually have more of an analytical interest.  I suppose the most motivating part is trying to learn how and what atheists "think".  How they resolve the incentive traps without God or religion?  Or do they just respond to short term stimiuli?  Why would an atheist woman dedicate her life to bear and raise a child?  Why would an atheist man sacrifice for his family when there are so many younger & firmer skirts to chase?  How do atheists find meaning in life?  How do they deal with the loneliness?  Atheists are very helpful in illustrating spiritual lessons.  This Sunday I'd like to develope an idea on hysteria and of course atheists or near atheists provide the example I'll use.  It's not clear where the lesson will go as the class has some world famous thinkers and it shall be interesting hopefully where the discussion goes.  But the utility of this forum has been seriously comprimised.  But the inability of atheists to discuss topics tells me something too.  Also, a limiting utility factor is the hyperskeptic attitude of many atheists.  There is so much in my world that had been resolved.   I've kind of lost interest in the endless debate about trivia.

Sep 8, 2011 -- 5:06PM, Godman wrote:

  Why would an atheist woman dedicate her life to bear and raise a child?

Why would anyone? Because they love their partner and wish to have a family. Easy. Next.

Why would an atheist man sacrifice for his family

This is rather sexist. In Australia most married men AND women work and make sacrifices for their families.

when there are so many younger & firmer skirts to chase?

I would have thought that many more Christian men stray than atheists? Particularly in the USA.

How do atheists find meaning in life?

Easy. Life has no meaning. However, we wish to lead life in a way that is meaningful to us. I love the Arts. I like to be able to make enough money to be able to buy books, music and movies. I also have friends who mean a lot to me. Is there more to life than that? I doubt it.

How do they deal with the loneliness?

I call up a friend and arrange to meet in a café or bar.

Atheists are very helpful in illustrating spiritual lessons.

I can't speak for other atheists, but I see no spiritual dimension in life.

This Sunday I'd like to develope an idea on hysteria and of course atheists or near atheists provide the example I'll use.

Atheists are remarkably calm compared with theists. Religions are based on mass hysteria and brainwashing.

It's not clear where the lesson will go as the class has some world famous thinkers and it shall be interesting hopefully where the discussion goes.

Look at famous atheists - Stephen Hawking, Bertrand Russell, Ricky Gervaise, Brian Eno, Isaac Asimov, Arthur C. Clarke, Stanley Kubrick, Katherine Hepburn, Mikhail Gorbachev, Julia Gillard, Ghandi - you could hardly associate hysteria with these people.

But the utility of this forum has been seriously comprimised.  Censoring is problematic.

When people say stupid insulting things or make bigoted statements, well, it is to be expected.

But the inability of atheists to discuss topics tells me something too.

I think you have a problem with the answers we give. You seem to have an idea of what atheists are and aren't in your mind and you seem to think that we're uncooperative when we don't give you the answers you want us to give to you.

Also, a limiting utility factor is the hyperskeptic attitude of many atheists.

One is either skeptical or one is not - it is not a matter of degree. Theists like yourself provide no reason or evidence to back up your assertions, so you're hardly in a position to call us "hyperskeptical", especially when you don't provide any satisfactory evidence or reason for your beliefs.

There is so much in my world that had been resolved.

You should look at your own beliefs in the light of skepticism and reason.

I've kind of lost interest in the endless debate about trivia.

It is frequently hard to do anything else. Some theists here post a lot and say virtually nothing or merely repeat themselves. Give us something worthy of discussion and we can talk about it.

Ah.... Sir Steven, King of the Hot Threads.

My wife believes the answer is "To come see the freak show."  I know this as her parents are nutsos like we see here and generally avoid us but every once in a while they show up and start a bunch of trouble. 

And I have yet to see any "curiosity" from any christians here, including those on this thread.  If your mind were open (requirement of curiosity), I really doubt you'd still hold such an outdated belief christians.

You have asked this before but I don't mind answering again.  I like to talk with intelligent people who see the world differently than I do.  I like intellectual novelty.  But after the responses here (I believe I've just been characterized as part of a "freak show" and have been called intellectually dishonest) I wonder if this is the right place.  

A VERY interesting Book -- Leslie Fiedler, "Freaks: Myths and Images of the Secret Self." (1978, Doubleday) ...

The fascinating Thing about "Freaks" (supply your own Definition, I suppose) is that "they" are in Fact just exactly like everybody ELSE, except that they're noticeably -- sometimes REMARKABLY -- "different" in some obvious Ways ...

E.g., Google: "The Hensel Twins" ... VERY interesting People ...

Sep 8, 2011 -- 8:58PM, amcolph wrote:

Sep 8, 2011 -- 7:19PM, Bob_the_Lunatic wrote:

 

 

My wife believes the answer is "To come see the freak show." 

She's right.

In this case, the 'freaks' are the weird theists who come here all full of themselves and their lame arguments.