>Hmmm, this could argued quite well I'm sure. Of course,
>from an athiests perpective moral absolutism would quickly
>turn into... behaviors that one should adhear to in order to
>be in a position to reproduce and allow society to remain in
>a form that your DNA would continue in further generations.

i can see that. ok.


>
>I envy sometimes those who have found a deism. It would be
>very nice indeed to feel that I was going to heaven, or that
>my soul would be passed onto future generations or that I
>would become part of the oneness when I died.

bare with me... I'm just interjecting here where I have questions ok? But I'm interested to know where the idea of having a "soul" fits into atheism. I can't see how one could be an atheist and still refer to one's soul... er... I'm assuming you were saying it as "IF I had a soul it would be nice to know... etc.."?


It would also
>be nice to feel that there was some sense to life, rather
>than just instinctual drives and conscious thought.
>Unfortunately, I've never been able to feel any presence,
>nor meditate, nor communicate, with a power greater than
>myself.


to me this brings up a question I just posted somewhere else on here... i don't recall exactly where... possibly post #95. But the point was. I feel that as an atheist, you're required to view any and all of your most powerful emotions, as simple reactions to rules that society has set up for you... as going no deeper than some rules that have been set up in the specific locale of your birth...

the example of pain comes up.... of tears... of being "wronged". Does this go no deeper than just the violation of a rule set up by current and present society? or are our emotions honest reactions to a much deeper impulse than that?



I don't mean that in a egomaniacal way, just that
>I've never experienced anything... spiritual...
>otherworldly... I don't really have a good word for it.
>Athiesm makes the most sense, it feels right, and it is very
>difficult to maintain. These "feels right" kind of things I
>consistently hear about from believers. Besides, I figure
>that I get many, if not all, of the same rewards from
>praticing athiesm that christians get, excepting community
>in the form of churches and heaven of course.

as kindly as i can put this, I'd argue that an atheist is at a loss for any ultimate purpose for life whatsoever.

then I'd argue that as a theist, my peace comes from a complete answer/eradication of that question (why are we here?). no?