Comments on: Shit http://gods4suckers.net/archives/2006/01/26/shit/ Commentary, news, and rants on the evils and stupidity of belief in the big invisible daddy in the sky. Illuminating and watchdogging the widespread attempts to institutionalize the theocratic rule of the US. Making fun of believers everywhere. Fri, 08 Aug 2008 00:29:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Sean http://gods4suckers.net/archives/2006/01/26/shit/#comment-6166 Sean Mon, 30 Jan 2006 12:40:30 +0000 http://gods4suckers.net/?p=1525#comment-6166 godarefake asked: <i>Can you (or anyone) actually articulate the feeling of “disturbance” you feel when you contemplate non-existence?</i> All I can say is I like having a consciousness. It is all that defines who I am, and the only way I have gotten to experience the universe. As <a href="http://gods4suckers.net/archives/2005/11/21/a-this-i-believe-on-npr-from-one-of-us/" rel="nofollow">Penn Jillette</a> says, I have won the great genetic lottery and am lucky to be here, As <a href="http://gods4suckers.net/archives/2006/01/18/dawkins-the-virus-of-faith/" rel="nofollow">Richard Dawkins says</a>, "we are the very privileged owners of a brief spark of consciousness." In all of the vast history of time and space, my little old ego and id where given a chance to observe our wonderful universe, even if only for an infinitesimally small speck of time. I just wish it wasn't so brief, and wish I didn't have to give it up so relatively soon, when there is so much more to know and learn. I would have no problem being immortal. I would never stop looking for answers to yet greater questions. Yeah, it's scary. I won't feel it when it happens, but I don't want to be where the flame goes when the candle is snuffed out. That's the Abyss. And it lasts forever. I prefer it here on the living, breathing side. That's why I try to live every day to its fullest. godarefake asked: Can you (or anyone) actually articulate the feeling of “disturbance” you feel when you contemplate non-existence?

All I can say is I like having a consciousness. It is all that defines who I am, and the only way I have gotten to experience the universe. As Penn Jillette says, I have won the great genetic lottery and am lucky to be here, As Richard Dawkins says, “we are the very privileged owners of a brief spark of consciousness.”

In all of the vast history of time and space, my little old ego and id where given a chance to observe our wonderful universe, even if only for an infinitesimally small speck of time. I just wish it wasn’t so brief, and wish I didn’t have to give it up so relatively soon, when there is so much more to know and learn. I would have no problem being immortal. I would never stop looking for answers to yet greater questions.

Yeah, it’s scary. I won’t feel it when it happens, but I don’t want to be where the flame goes when the candle is snuffed out. That’s the Abyss. And it lasts forever. I prefer it here on the living, breathing side. That’s why I try to live every day to its fullest.

]]> By: God is for Suckers! » Gawd yet again calls his children home http://gods4suckers.net/archives/2006/01/26/shit/#comment-6150 God is for Suckers! » Gawd yet again calls his children home Sun, 29 Jan 2006 15:44:28 +0000 http://gods4suckers.net/?p=1525#comment-6150 [...] We all lamented the loss of seven adopted children (and their grandfather) in Florida this past week… Preparing to go to church, they died a fiery death, apparently because it was time for Merciful Gawd to call them home. [...] [...] We all lamented the loss of seven adopted children (and their grandfather) in Florida this past week… Preparing to go to church, they died a fiery death, apparently because it was time for Merciful Gawd to call them home. [...]

]]> By: godsarefake http://gods4suckers.net/archives/2006/01/26/shit/#comment-6129 godsarefake Sat, 28 Jan 2006 22:48:26 +0000 http://gods4suckers.net/?p=1525#comment-6129 Thanks Sean. I get that some people are disturbed by the idea non-existence, but I just don't share that sense, and, worse, I just don't understand what there is you (or anybody) find disturbing about it. Is it a fear of the eternal nature of it? Is it a fear of the incomprehendable nature of it (i.e. fear of the unknown)? Is it a fear that that non-existence actually means some form of negative sensory input? Is it simply completely irrational? Can you (or anyone) actually articulate the feeling of "disturbance" you feel when you contemplate non-existence? Thanks Sean. I get that some people are disturbed by the idea non-existence, but I just don’t share that sense, and, worse, I just don’t understand what there is you (or anybody) find disturbing about it. Is it a fear of the eternal nature of it? Is it a fear of the incomprehendable nature of it (i.e. fear of the unknown)? Is it a fear that that non-existence actually means some form of negative sensory input? Is it simply completely irrational? Can you (or anyone) actually articulate the feeling of “disturbance” you feel when you contemplate non-existence?

]]> By: Sean http://gods4suckers.net/archives/2006/01/26/shit/#comment-6110 Sean Sat, 28 Jan 2006 06:44:45 +0000 http://gods4suckers.net/?p=1525#comment-6110 godsarefake: I find non-existence a disturbing concept, since existence is all I have. Yet, having passed out in a hospital ward once and lost several minutes of my life -- instantly erased, as though no time had passed -- I have no illusions about non-consciousness. You will just click off, baby. Bye-bye for all eternity. I fear that, but I also fear living a life of absolute lies to help medicate that idea. Give me reality head on. I can take it. Go bravely into that good night, friends. After all, it can't really hurt. godsarefake:

I find non-existence a disturbing concept, since existence is all I have.

Yet, having passed out in a hospital ward once and lost several minutes of my life — instantly erased, as though no time had passed — I have no illusions about non-consciousness. You will just click off, baby. Bye-bye for all eternity. I fear that, but I also fear living a life of absolute lies to help medicate that idea.

Give me reality head on. I can take it.

Go bravely into that good night, friends. After all, it can’t really hurt.

]]> By: godsarefake http://gods4suckers.net/archives/2006/01/26/shit/#comment-6101 godsarefake Sat, 28 Jan 2006 04:42:58 +0000 http://gods4suckers.net/?p=1525#comment-6101 Ford, perhaps its too late and too off topic for this, but your last point about death being unsettling struck my interest. I just pissed off a good freind of mine in a discussion about that exact topic - I still don't get the unsettling thing in regards to "ceasing to exist." I mean, I don't look forward to it, but it doesn't bother me either. Doesn't a "disturbing" feeling about the idea of "non existence" kind of hint at a hidden belief in the afterlife in you -- like perhaps a sense that non-existence is rather a bleak, desert existence rather than being true non-existence? Perhaps I am being obtuse, but I can't muster concern about something that I believe firmly that I am not really part of. What's your take on that thought? Feel free to rip me a new one if I offended you. Ford, perhaps its too late and too off topic for this, but your last point about death being unsettling struck my interest. I just pissed off a good freind of mine in a discussion about that exact topic - I still don’t get the unsettling thing in regards to “ceasing to exist.” I mean, I don’t look forward to it, but it doesn’t bother me either. Doesn’t a “disturbing” feeling about the idea of “non existence” kind of hint at a hidden belief in the afterlife in you — like perhaps a sense that non-existence is rather a bleak, desert existence rather than being true non-existence? Perhaps I am being obtuse, but I can’t muster concern about something that I believe firmly that I am not really part of. What’s your take on that thought? Feel free to rip me a new one if I offended you.

]]> By: Ford http://gods4suckers.net/archives/2006/01/26/shit/#comment-6093 Ford Sat, 28 Jan 2006 02:45:32 +0000 http://gods4suckers.net/?p=1525#comment-6093 Yeah, again I apologize for that island. I just wasn't having a particularly wonderful day. Not your fault by any means. I do respect your opinion. My being harsh in that regard was merely a product of the aforementioned bad day. I did understand your opinion. I wasn't arguing so much for the dead as for the living (though the thought of ceasing to exist or experience the world or the self is really fucking unsettling, and I know we won't care when we're dead, but that's exactly what worries me NOW while I do care.) Yeah, again I apologize for that island. I just wasn’t having a particularly wonderful day. Not your fault by any means. I do respect your opinion. My being harsh in that regard was merely a product of the aforementioned bad day. I did understand your opinion. I wasn’t arguing so much for the dead as for the living (though the thought of ceasing to exist or experience the world or the self is really fucking unsettling, and I know we won’t care when we’re dead, but that’s exactly what worries me NOW while I do care.)

]]> By: King Retard http://gods4suckers.net/archives/2006/01/26/shit/#comment-6084 King Retard Fri, 27 Jan 2006 22:33:46 +0000 http://gods4suckers.net/?p=1525#comment-6084 I've always hated religious weddings or funerals when the priest/minister completely ignores why the audience is there (i.e. the deceased or the couple being wed) and instead uses the opportunity to try and win a few new converts. It has always seemed to me to be such a selfish practice and illustrates how insecure and fragile religious leaders really are. I’ve always hated religious weddings or funerals when the priest/minister completely ignores why the audience is there (i.e. the deceased or the couple being wed) and instead uses the opportunity to try and win a few new converts. It has always seemed to me to be such a selfish practice and illustrates how insecure and fragile religious leaders really are.

]]> By: Island57 http://gods4suckers.net/archives/2006/01/26/shit/#comment-6082 Island57 Fri, 27 Jan 2006 21:57:12 +0000 http://gods4suckers.net/?p=1525#comment-6082 Hey Ford, thanks for the explanation. Yup, you did come off a bit harsh. Maybe you have your reasons. The thing is, I was interested in your opinion. I don't have too many on-line discussions probably for this very reason. With out reading facial expressions and body language, I'm clueless about what points some of you may be trying to make. My point about 'shit' happening was that those kids are dead. Dead people don't care anymore. All our actions then, everything we do or say, is for the benifit of the living. It's just so over for the ones who are dead. Anyway, I'm not really an asshole. Probably just not as smart as you. But, I'm still an atheist and I am entitled to my opinion too. Hey Ford, thanks for the explanation. Yup, you did come off a bit harsh. Maybe you have your reasons. The thing is, I was interested in your opinion. I don’t have too many on-line discussions probably for this very reason. With out reading facial expressions and body language, I’m clueless about what points some of you may be trying to make. My point about ’shit’ happening was that those kids are dead. Dead people don’t care anymore. All our actions then, everything we do or say, is for the benifit of the living. It’s just so over for the ones who are dead. Anyway, I’m not really an asshole. Probably just not as smart as you. But, I’m still an atheist and I am entitled to my opinion too.

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