Thread: Nice books for atheists

" There is a candle called the rules of religion. You need that candle to find the way, and you must follow the way to reach the truth. If truth were obvious, no one would need the candle or the path. As it is said, When copper becomes gold, it doesnt need an alchemist's laboratory any longer. Don't look for a guide after you reach the destination."

- Rumi

Originally Posted by NonDualistic

" There is a candle called the rules of religion. You need that candle to find the way, and you must follow the way to reach the truth. If truth were obvious, no one would need the candle or the path. As it is said, When copper becomes gold, it doesnt need an alchemist's laboratory any longer. Don't look for a guide after you reach the destination."

- Rumi

Many candles, many ways, only one truth.

Conclusion? Most, if not all candles lead to false truths.

(Oh, and if you argue that there are more ways to the truth than one, then who needs a f**king candle?)

May I inquire as to how anyone could possibly ever know the "great truth", why it exists, why there is no evidence of it, and why so many religious folk believe this, or take it out of context from their holy books?

Originally Posted by NonDualistic

" There is a candle called the rules of religion. You need that candle to find the way, and you must follow the way to reach the truth. If truth were obvious, no one would need the candle or the path. As it is said, When copper becomes gold, it doesnt need an alchemist's laboratory any longer. Don't look for a guide after you reach the destination."

- Rumi

That is the biggest load of bullshit I've read (today). Let's see a possible dialog of the god of the candles, shall we?

The Lowly Man: God, I'm looking for you, but I can't find enough evidence for your existence.

god: Well look harder! If you seek enough you will find me.

Man: But I have and all the evidence is pointing towards you not existing.

god: That's because you're using your brain and intellect. Think only with your heart.

Man: Okay. Now since I'm only using wishful thinking, I need to figure out which religion. Do all of them eventually lead to you?

god: Certainly not!

Man: Okay, well I was raised a Mormon originally. Since that was my faith as a child, then I should reconvert, right?

god: Mormonism, are you insane?

Man: Well then I should choose Islam because 72 virgins sounds great.

god: Wrong again. BURN!! BURN!!!!!!

Point being: If god loved everyone like he supposedly does then he wouldn't play such a cheap cat and mouse game where it is almost impossible to conclude as an intelligent person that Christianity is the religion to get to him and everyone else goes to hell.

You can't believe in a loving god and believe at the same time that Jesus is the only way to heaven, they're not compatible.

Not to mention you have to be pretty ignorant and arrogant to claim that you found the "right" religion anyway. "I am enlightened enough that I know the RIGHT truth more then the billions of others who don't! I'M SPECIAL DAMN IT!!!!"

17.. I think.

Originally Posted by Rakjavik

Not to mention you have to be pretty ignorant and arrogant to claim that you found the "right" religion anyway. "I am enlightened enough that I know the RIGHT truth more then the billions of others who don't! I'M SPECIAL DAMN IT!!!!"

Letting go of ego, is the only way to become.

"The God Delusion" and "The Root of All Evil" by Richard Dawkins.

"Letting Go of God" by Julie Sweeney

There's some good books for atheists that don't encourage them to become theists......
~

Originally Posted by ClouD

Letting go of ego, is the only way to become.

To become what.

Originally Posted by Carôusoul

To become what.

Insane.
~

Originally Posted by O'nus

Insane.
~

Well that's not very good at all now is it.

Originally Posted by Carôusoul

Well that's not very good at all now is it.

Not always for the ego of the 'ignorant' witnessing.

My insanity seems more sane than your reality.

Originally Posted by ClouD

Not always for the ego of the 'ignorant' witnessing.

My insanity seems more sane than your reality.

I didn't say you were insane.


And your not. Your a white teenage boy with sexual frustrations.



This isn't uncommon.

Sorry.





Anyway, you still didn't answer my earlier question.

ENLIGHTENED.

Shall i placebo it now. Or is that your turn.

Or should i take the, it don't really matter no more, approach.

I don't have sexual frustrations.

I have suicidal frustrations.
I have frustrations with acting through this intrepid world, because no-one could give a shit.
I have frustrations with everything.

BECAUSE THERE IS NO PURPOSE. THERE IS NO MEANING.

Not even GREAT OLD SCIENCE can determine THAT one.

My mind frolicks endlessly in this maze of nothingness.
Even bliss cannot attribute the comfort in pain.

Do you think i'm insane now?

That maybe i have hallucinations?
That almost every night i become more aware of this false existence and the intrepid reason i act.

Ignorance doesn't begin to describe. It doesn't even EXIST in non-duality.

Yet here i am being ignorant, in such a dualistic way you won't comprehend, because of your unawareness.

And you are part of me!?

The mind to frolick forever. With no purpose.

Originally Posted by ClouD

ENLIGHTENED.

Shall i placebo it now. Or is that your turn.

Or should i take the, it don't really matter no more, approach.

I don't have sexual frustrations.

I have suicidal frustrations.
I have frustrations with acting through this intrepid world, because no-one could give a shit.
I have frustrations with everything.

BECAUSE THERE IS NO PURPOSE. THERE IS NO MEANING.

Not even GREAT OLD SCIENCE can determine THAT one.

My mind frolicks endlessly in this maze of nothingness.
Even bliss cannot attribute the comfort in pain.

Do you think i'm insane now?

That maybe i have hallucinations?
That almost every night i become more aware of this false existence and the intrepid reason i act.

Ignorance doesn't begin to describe. It doesn't even EXIST in non-duality.

Yet here i am being ignorant, in such a dualistic way you won't comprehend, because of your unawareness.

And you are part of me!?

The mind to frolick forever. With no purpose.

Exactly. Why do we exist instead of not existing? I suggest you go read Heidegger.

On that note, there is no reason to exist. The only reason to exist is to learn how to cope and handle the fact that you have no reason to exist. Cowards give up.
~

Originally Posted by O'nus

Exactly. Why do we exist instead of not existing? I suggest you go read Heidegger.

On that note, there is no reason to exist. The only reason to exist is to learn how to cope and handle the fact that you have no reason to exist. Cowards give up.
~

I'm not sure, if cowards even have that option.

I am more aware since i blindly posted just previously.

Sorry, for my outburst.

Originally Posted by ClouD

I'm not sure, if cowards even have that option.

I am more aware since i blindly posted just previously.

Sorry, for my outburst.

You always have an option no matter where you are.

You enter this life without your approval, you leave without your consent, and everything else that happens in between is either an accident or a contingent. The decision is whether or not you want to make it an accident or contingent. (In other words, you are going to die one day - choose to do so deliberately or accidentally.)

*Wreaks existentialism*
~

*giggles*


If you truly believe what you say, Cloud, you should have no difficulty commiting suicide.

So..

go on.

Originally Posted by thegnome54

Many candles, many ways, only one truth.

Conclusion? Most, if not all candles lead to false truths.

(Oh, and if you argue that there are more ways to the truth than one, then who needs a f**king candle?)

Either you have abandoned all logic and reasoning or you simply do not know how to read....

Originally Posted by Needcatscan

That is the biggest load of bullshit I've read (today). Let's see a possible dialog of the god of the candles, shall we?

The Lowly Man: God, I'm looking for you, but I can't find enough evidence for your existence.

god: Well look harder! If you seek enough you will find me.

Man: But I have and all the evidence is pointing towards you not existing.

god: That's because you're using your brain and intellect. Think only with your heart.

Man: Okay. Now since I'm only using wishful thinking, I need to figure out which religion. Do all of them eventually lead to you?

god: Certainly not!

Man: Okay, well I was raised a Mormon originally. Since that was my faith as a child, then I should reconvert, right?

god: Mormonism, are you insane?

Man: Well then I should choose Islam because 72 virgins sounds great.

god: Wrong again. BURN!! BURN!!!!!!

Point being: If god loved everyone like he supposedly does then he wouldn't play such a cheap cat and mouse game where it is almost impossible to conclude as an intelligent person that Christianity is the religion to get to him and everyone else goes to hell.

You can't believe in a loving god and believe at the same time that Jesus is the only way to heaven, they're not compatible.

You seem to have had the same trouble as Gnome did on this one.....

Originally Posted by NonDualistic

Either you have abandoned all logic and reasoning or you simply do not know how to read....

Pray, enlighten me.

Originally Posted by thegnome54

Pray, enlighten me.

If you cant read, why should I go to any length at all to type?

This isnt a religious or philisophical exercise here.

Just go re-read the quote and then look at what you wrote in your first and thrid sentences. The errors are there staring you in the face.....Whether its an error in your reading or your logic and reasoning only you can answer.

Originally Posted by NonDualistic

If you cant read, why should I go to any length at all to type?

I took my time to read it the first time, and I'm not getting anything more out of reading it again now. I am obviously not alone in this alleged glaring misinterpretation, so I suggest you get off your high horses and explain it to us.

It's not our fault you chose such a vague and esoteric quote, and then proceeded to post it without a word of explanation. You should be glad we even tried to respond, honestly.

Originally Posted by Seismosaur

May I inquire as to how anyone could possibly ever know the "great truth", why it exists, why there is no evidence of it, and why so many religious folk believe this, or take it out of context from their holy books?

As Rumi points out, religion has its use and beyond that it is usless

The path also has its use, and beyond that it also is usless

Truth is the destination and the destination is You

How many people with their holy books in hand are really looking within themselves? Most are still lost in the religions dedicated to a individualistic egocentric idea of God. They are miles away from finding anything substantial ,still search externally for something that is only found internally.

I kid you not, religion can become so controlling that the only real way to find the truth could indeed be to become an atheist. Besides as I see it most atheists only deny the existance of a external seperate "pay homage to" god. They dont seem to deny the possibilty of a universal organizing power having a hand in the workings of the universe. All is merely a play with labels and ideas.