Today is National Ask an Atheist Day

[AtheistPreacher]

Have your views evolved in the past year? I remember you were a sort of pandeist? Our main disagreement was over whether an atheistic universe is the paradigm with the fewest assumptions.

Eh, broad strokes are basically the same. Mostly I've been diving into other areas to broaden my perspective and add some new ideas/concepts to me repertoire, making connections to other philosophical and religious fields.

For instance, I've been digging into postmodernism and post-structuralism despite being a little intimidated. I really like Judith Butler's notion of identity as "performance." I also like Derrida's différance. There are some definite parallels between these concepts and Whitehead's notion of creativity. Then there's Deleuze -- but honestly, I really don't understand that guy half the time. I have a feeling if I did I might like him.

I've also been diving in more to the dharma traditions. Most recently I've been investigating the Jain principle of anekāntavāda, which is a fairly robust way of understanding religious pluralism. I've also continued my study of the Buddhist notions of śūnyatā, anattā, and pratītyasamutpāda. This last concept again fits with Whitehead's theories on relativity, and the former two interest me because they concern personal identity, which is what I'll be writing my dissertation on.

But yeah, as to what we were talking about a year ago, my position is pretty much the same. I still think it makes more sense to assume that some elementary form of consciousness or life is latent in all creation (everything, including atom or even electrons, has some level of indeterminacy/freedom/creativity), rather than that there is some kind of rigid dividing line between the living and non-living.

 

[Scat]

I thought you were a conservative Christian?

Nope. I tend to agree with them on many issues so may come across that way, but it has nothing to do with their religious beliefs or my lack thereof.

 

[Nate505]

I have a serious question: Why do atheists always seem to have an underdeveloped sense of humor. I've never met a self-proclaimed atheist that is funny, laughs a lot or would be any fun to hang out with.

I bet many (not me) would say that they never met a Mormon that fits that bill either.

 

[scootsy]

Sorry, but you are delusional if you think you would even have 1% chance vs cougar one on one. Rhino, elephant and bear? Man, who are you kidding? You think you can choke elephant or rhino? Chimp would make an easy kill out of you by the way.

maybe you have nothing to live for. You obviously don't choke out the rhino and elephant... But if you get on their back you have a serious advantage. I'd tear the outer layers of flesh with my teeth and then claw in their neck as deep as I could, then ride it out til they bleed out. The cougar is literally 50/50. You just have to get a wrap on it. Legs around the waist arms around the neck. His hind legs claw the backs of my legs, but my important arteries are protected by my tight grip with my legs. Same with arms. All wounds after latching on will be deep flesh wounds, but survivable.

 

[One Brow]

I have a serious question: Why do atheists always seem to have an underdeveloped sense of humor. I've never met a self-proclaimed atheist that is funny, laughs a lot or would be any fun to hang out with.

Trust me, I've read plenty of atheists that share your sense of humor. However, not all senses of humor translate well over the internet.

 

[Hartsock]

I have a serious question: Why do atheists always seem to have an underdeveloped sense of humor. I've never met a self-proclaimed atheist that is funny, laughs a lot or would be any fun to hang out with.

Hugh Hefner, Norm Mcdonald, Jack Nicholson, Joaquin Phoenix, Howard Stern ,Frank Zappa, John Malkovich, Gene Wilder, Artie Lange, Patton Oswalt, Ray Romano, Joe Rogan, Richard Branson, Mark Twain, William Shatner ......... All Athiests who are either funny, or are worthy of a night of hanging out.