[maskedmelon]

Originally Posted by Saludeen [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

But consistency, structure, logic, and functionality in the universe proves otherwise so the Atheist belief is delusional.

The absence of a creator does not preclude the possibility of an ordered nature, but I would question strongly your proposition that it is. All atheism does is make for a more inspiring universe. But from a position of profound ignorance, there is nothing at all impressive about it if it is the product of a single omnipotent being.

If you're saying that religious people only believe to make themselves feel better because they can't bear a meaningless existence, then that's true for some, but not all, and the same can be said for Atheists. It feels great to tell yourself that you can do whatever you want if you don't get caught because nothing matters in the end and you'll cease to exist anyway. Its a criminal mentality even if some Atheists claim to have morals.

Certainly, there are a variety of reasons that may be at play in any individual's belief.

A state doesn't fix that. It usually makes it worse because it creates a guise they can hide behind. So "the state" can take the blame, like how we blame the "government" instead individuals who actually run it who have different beliefs and morals.

You're right it doesn't, but that is not what I was talking about. That would be more like contemporary Chinese society where people ignore babies who have been run over. I was talking about culture, which persists in the absence of government. Take a look at Japanese behavior in he aftermath of Fukushima and you will see what I am talking about.

I see nothing wrong with individualism though. Why do you call it a scourge?

Because not all ideas are equally valid and not all ambitions are equally praiseworthy. It is more the US perversion of individualism that I take issue with. People should be free to express themselves as they see fit, but if there are no standards by which individuals abide and are able to discriminate, there is no order and can be no progress. Tempering individualism is a strength of religion.