http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_atheism

 

Although the term atheism originated in the 16th century, based on Ancient Greek godless, denying the gods, ungodly"^[1] and open admission to positive atheism in modern times was not made earlier than in the late 18th century, atheistic ideas and beliefs, as well as their political influence, have a more expansive history.

The spontaneous proposition that there may be no gods after all is likely as old as theism itself (and the proposition that there may be no God as old as the beginnings of monotheism or henotheism). Philosophical atheist thought appears from the 6th or 5th century BCE, both in Europe and in Asia.

 

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 20th century

Atheism in the 20th century found recognition in a wide variety of other, broader philosophies, such as existentialism, objectivism, secular humanism, nihilism, logical positivism, Marxism, feminism,^[19] and the general scientific and rationalist movement. Neopositivism and analytical philosophy discarded classical rationalism and metaphysics in favor of strict empiricism and epistemological nominalism. Proponents such as Bertrand Russell emphatically rejected belief in God. In his early work, Ludwig Wittgenstein attempted to separate metaphysical and supernatural language from rational discourse.

 

A. J. Ayer asserted the unverifiability and meaninglessness of religious statements, citing his adherence to the empirical sciences. The structuralism of Lévi-Strauss sourced religious language to the human subconscious, denying its transcendental meaning. J. N. Findlay and J. J. C. Smart argued that the existence of God is not logically necessary. Naturalists and materialists such as John Dewey considered the natural world to be the basis of everything, denying the existence of God or immortality.^[20][21]

 

The 20th century also saw the political advancement of atheism, spurred on by interpretation of the works of Marx and Engels. State support of atheism and opposition to organized religion was made policy in all communist states, including the People's Republic of China^[22] and the former Soviet Union. In theory and in practice these states were secular. The justifications given for the social and political sidelining of religious organizations addressed, on one hand, the "irrationality" of religious belief, and on the other the "parasitical" nature of the relationship between the church and the population. Churches were sometimes tolerated, but subject to strict control - church officials had to be vetted by the state, while attendance of church functions could endanger one's career. Very often, the state's opposition to religion took more violent forms; Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn documents widespread persecution, imprisonments and torture of believers, in his seminal work The Gulag Archipelago. Consequently, religious organizations, such as the Catholic Church, were among the most stringent opponents of communist regimes. In some cases, the initial strict measures of control and opposition to religious activity were gradually relaxed in communist states. On the other hand, Albania under Enver Hoxha became, in 1967, the first (and to date only) formally declared atheist state.^[23] Hoxha went far beyond what most other countries had attempted and completely prohibited religious observance, systematically repressing and persecuting adherents. The right to religious practice was restored in 1991.

 

In India, E. V. Ramasami Naicker (Periyar), a prominent atheist leader, fought against Hinduism and the Brahmins for discriminating and dividing people in the name of caste and religion.^[24] This was highlighted in 1956 when he made the Hindu god Rama wear a garland made of slippers and made antitheistic statements.^[25]

During the Cold War, the United States often characterized its opponents as "Godless Communists,"^[26] which tended to reinforce the view that  atheists were unreliable and unpatriotic. Against this background, the words "under God" were inserted into the pledge of allegiance in 1954,^[27] and the national motto was changed from E Pluribus Unum to In God We Trust in 1956.

21st Century

The early 21st century has continued to see secularism and atheism promoted in the Western world. This has been assisted by the Brights movement, as well as a plethora of accessible antitheist and secularist literature.^[28] Authors of such books have included: Sam Harris, David Mills, Daniel Dennett, Ibn Warraq, Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, Victor J. Stenger, and Anthony C. Grayling. Currently among 16-29 year olds in the USA, atheism is rising at higher levels than ever before recorded

Originally posted by Omnia:

I agree that believers would not be able to prove in any 'scientific' or definitive way that God exists. What then can we conclude ? God may or may not exist, not that God does not exist.

So if we cannot ascertain whether God exists from a 'scientific' perspective, is it fair to ridicule those who believe in God ? No. They are no worse than non-believers because we can't be scientifically certain one way or another, right ?

alright, i will try to assess your reason.

 

If you mother say that you cannot marry a certain girl because your horoscope clashes, but you do not believe what she says because you dun believe in horoscope affecting your love for her.

 

We cannot prove in any definitive way that your mother belief is wrong right? So, we cannot ridicule your mother right? This is the kind of reasoning you are saying.

 

For logics, we look at statistics, if the number shows that there is no relationship and there is good reasons, then we will accept certain things as fact until it is uoverturned by new evidence.

 

For god, the statistics and evidence are so little and weak that they conclusion that we atheist get is that God is fake.

Such conclusion will stay this way as fact until new evidence is available. However, atheists do not see that we will ever see new evidences surfacing based on all the reasons and knowledge we know what about the so called "god".

Originally posted by Omnia:

A senseless experiment that still does not prove or disprove the existence of God. Sadly, you'll have to try much harder .

Well, its not a very good experiment i admit. Ironically, when evidence of miracle suggestting god appear, everybody goes "woah!! the god has shown his power!!"

 

But when evidence suggesting god is bullshit theory comes, people will dismiss it instead of saying "woah! there is no god" These people are really bias in their belief system. haha.

 

SO you mean the reasons or evidence provided by god believers are sensible? Finally, the rule of proving actually lies with believers. If they cannot show any good reasons, then it means god does not exist. If they can show good reasons, people will then accept it as a fact.

Originally posted by Lee012lee:

HP scan, copy and print printer is good. Its quality of print is good but the original ink can be expensive.

But there are compatible ink sold in those small stalls ouside the Sim Lim Square shops that are very cheap.

 

My main concern is ink price/ page . How cheap is can printer ink be?? mine current lexmark is about 30 for small size, which is quite expensive for me, given that i feel that it uses fast quite finish.

 

Is it true that newer printer and ink catridges, uses ink more efficiently than older ones, cos mine is 5 years old liao. I would not change if they are still the same..

 

also, which brand has cheaper ink. Or do you all recommend the refill method which i saw at sim lim but i do not really noe how it works.

I am interested in psychology and got buy some textbook to study. general and social psycho. Its very useful subject.

 

Without the 3P , as one of the forummer says it has fucked the world up.. the world will be filled with cavemens now. Its the 3Ps that liberated us.

My printer is old and its ink is expensive.

 

I would like to plan for a new printer but is afforadable, reliable and cheap on ink. No need to high tech or mutli feature.. budget will be low maybe 150 at most.

 

any recommendations? Mainly used for printing texts.. or using black inks stuff... Thanks.

Originally posted by methanol:

all religion operate on the basis of faith. science on fact. it's completely different.

science= real change in the world

religion= imaginary change in the world which sometimes can still translate to real change in the world

 

I know some religious people that really help alot of poor and educate many people in the name of whatever religion they carry.

Too bad their assumption is wrong, though their work is real and really help people.

Originally posted by youyayu:

i christian but then again.. science is here for a reason okay..

ya. science is here to destroy faith. that is its purpose..

but many scientists have religions though.

haha, this man receive a successful arm transplant operation. Now who is the real god - Science.

 

I wonder all the miracle healers and gods can do the same or not. So much of all these mystical people and supertitious people.

simple lah... then buy 2 plates loh if u find the increase price shrink food method irritating... sure full one

 

or ask seller.. uncle one plate everything more...rice more, food more... 

yesterday kanna glitch and has to waste time stopping at hougang mrt and taking sbs bus(which is free) to sengkang.

 

I want refund of money.... come on... SMRT, dun be a stinge, refund us our trip money. If you dun refund me $1, then I shall look down on the company for having such poor refunding system where you all fail to refund money for not being to provide smooth rides....

 

wah kao...

I would like to increase monthly repayment of housing loan of my father so as to quickly clear the debt of our family. How do i go about doing it?

 

I would like to increase the repayment amount from current 500 dollars to maybe 900. Tks. Where do i go and is there any convenient method to arrange for this change.

 

 

is this advertisment really so good. ANyone have information about this.

 

Generally, i am a skeptic about these instant and fast income generation scheme which promise instant money with a payment of 50 to 500 dollars to get the secret.

 

I believe these advertisment are 99% false. But that is the problem. How do i know which one is the 1 %, or 0.1%???

KATHMANDU (AFP) - The three-year-old daughter of a Nepalese watch repairer became a "living goddess" on Tuesday after being approved by the country's new atheist government. (atheist govt???)

 

Despite Nepal being a Maoist republic after the monarchy was unseated in May, the centuries-old tradition of worshipping a young virgin as the living embodiment of a powerful Hindu goddess has survived.

 

Matina Shakya was chosen after consultation with Buddhist priests, community leaders and officials who will look after her," said Achyut Pokharel, a member of the government-run trust that maintains the tradition.

 

"She became Royal Kumari after a series of pujas (religious ceremonies) on Tuesday at the auspicious time of 11:39 am," Pokharel said, referring to the moment chosen by astrologers as the luckiest for the Kumari succession.

 

Dozens of people in Kathmandu's medieval quarter joined in the procession as the young girl was carried by family members from her home to the ornate palace where she will be confined for several years.

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To all detractors who wishes LKY speedy death, I can only say that you people are childish and narrow-minded people. Thus, your life will be bad, really bad because of this.

Stupid TS, even sleep also need to be gracious. Money already not enuff liao, life so stressful still need to make sure i look nice when i fall asleep. Have you gotten your priorities right or not? Of course, sleep that time put out your leg is wrong because it will block the walking space, that one i can accept it is wrong.

To all pathetic detractors and oppositions,

 

   you all can hide behind the computer screen and criticise and bend his words all you can, but the truth is that he has sincerely contribute dearly to singapore progress. You can mock at his old age and how soon he is going to die while you are all still young, but i guess some of you will probably die first, maybe one of you all, due to accident, going by pure chance. For the rest of you, it will be faster than you think when its time to contemplate your own mortality.

   Lee kwan yew has, in net terms, given his best to singapore. Even in his old age, he continues to serve singapore, but people still insist that he is power crazy. These people are so ungrateful. If LKY does not continue working, I am so sure that opposition still has negative comments on it. This shows how ungrateful and hypocritical they are.

 Lastly, death is universal, LKY will die, our PM will die, Geroge bush will die, ben bernake, alan greenspan, everyone young and old will die someday, including you and me.. so there is nothing surprising that LKY is going to die someday, sooner and later.  

  

Originally posted by tobias_:

http://opentrolley.com.sg

Thanks.. but they are still too expensive for me.

i need cheaper prices.. which i think will come from 2nd hand books.

Originally posted by Huiling1983:

Hi January,

 

I'm selling away the following encyclopedia,
1) The new book of knowledge - 21 books
2) The grolier children's encyclopedia - 10 books
3) Medical and health encyclopedia - 1 book
I bought it at $2000 and would like to sell off at $800-$850, all the books are wrapped in PVC wrapper and are in good conditions. If you are interested,can email me at huiling1983@hotmail.com.
Thanks alot!

Cheers
Huiling

wah....... so expensive.

I will buy new book of knowledge and medical encycolpedia at $40 dollars altogether.

Originally posted by Beautiful951:

uh huh. But there has many athiests like yourself. The name is unexplained. But its a skeptic predominated site.

hello beautiful.. today i surf the site and saw a very great video by famous scientists...

 

thanks for recommending this site.. Muaks... thanks again.

Originally posted by Beautiful951:

See you. However, if you wish to really have an in depth talk about ghosts and such, I recommend a visit to www.unexplained-mysteries.com, there are many people who talk about such things in depth. And I think it would be suitable for you.

Not alot about ghost dicussion after i see the website.

ANyway.. unexplained mysteries = unexplained.. the best is not to jump conclusion into ghost, UFO and god.

It is normal and expected to discover unexplainable stuff in the universe becos we earthlings and earth has only such a short period of existence compared to universe. What do you expect? we know everything? that would be amazing if i say humans has no more mystery that they have not solve in the universe and our planet.

Originally posted by Beautiful951:

See you. However, if you wish to really have an in depth talk about ghosts and such, I recommend a visit to www.unexplained-mysteries.com, there are many people who talk about such things in depth. And I think it would be suitable for you.

Not alot about ghost dicussion after i see the website.

ANyway.. unexplained mysteries = unexplained.. the best is not to jump conclusion into ghost, UFO and god.

why not we ask singapore judge whether ghost exist.

We human, always form opinions, and make claims about what is true what is false. However, in crimes , normal people cannot be judge because to be a judge requires high level of education and training in forming correct reasoning and giving judgment, so that he can give a fair trial to the people involve and dig out the actualy truth.

 

IN the singapore ghost stories... those people state their stories and experiences and claim that these are the evidence of their ghost. People listen and also realize that it makes sense, it has to be ghost. Therefore, the conclusion is ghost exist.

However, these people are not judges, they are not expert in studying what causes what , and what constitutes as truth.

 

Thats all, i hope u will see the truth some day. nice talking to you . bye.

Originally posted by Beautiful951:

I would like to ask. Why are there no ghosts?

U are on the right track, my friend.. i can see ur mind beginning to open up unlike people dismissed me. Perhaps today is ur turning point of your life.

 

Because people or rather human beings tend to have some unexplained sightings or experience which seem  to be the work of ghost, which are not well defined in the first place, as in the meaning of ghost.

 

What people do, is to explain these situations without proper studying. They are jumping to conclusions. If you study systematically, you will realize all these are just hocus pocus.

Originally posted by Beautiful951:

The why did you say you did?

"

went to outfield recently in lim chu kang forest... saw many cemetery on the way to my camp. during outfield training... was hoping to see some ghost.. but alas... i can feel only the stupid weight of the machine gun shagging me out.

 

looks like i will never get to see any ghost liao...."

I did go for camp training. But my forest training in the pitch dark(terrible experience) , i did not come into any graveyard... graveyard is i see when i take bus to my ulu camp.