Atheists: Are you thankful for things which come naturally? - Page 4

Tiberius · #31 07-10-2008, 06:37 AM

If I see a beautiful view, am I thankful? yes. When my daughter smiles at me, am I thankful? yes. Do I ascribe these thanks to God? No. Why should I?

Halcyon · #32 07-10-2008, 06:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tiberius

If I see a beautiful view, am I thankful? yes. When my daughter smiles at me, am I thankful? yes. Do I ascribe these thanks to God? No. Why should I?

So who do you thank?

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomspug

If something comes to you in life apparently by chance or circumstance, by seemingly no will of anyone's, are you thankful for it? CAN you be thankful for it? If so, to what do you attribute thanks?

I think perhaps it might just be something that's worked its way into American culture, to the point that it's just become a turn of phrase that everybody uses regardless of belief, I rarely hear people over here say they are "thankful" for things. And when I hear it from Americans on shows like Pop Idol or whatever, it makes me cringe.

tomspug · #33 07-10-2008, 06:47 AM

What is your thanks directed towards? Thanks is something that is "given" therefore there must be something to receive it, otherwise what is the point of being thankful? Rather, I would simply say "how fortunate to get to see a beautiful view" or "I am happy that my daughter smiled at me because it gives me joy".

tomspug · #34 07-10-2008, 06:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Halcyon

And when I hear it from Americans on shows like Pop Idol or whatever, it makes me cringe.

Hehe...

"I want to thank God for allowing me to whore my life away to a record company that will produce crappy, non-influential music that I will have little-to-no creative control over."

Halcyon · #35 07-10-2008, 06:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomspug

Hehe...

"I want to thank God for allowing me to whore my life away to a record company that will produce crappy, non-influential music that I will have little-to-no creative control over."

Lol, what makes me laugh is that they all claim God has "gifted" them with a good singing voice.
So then what? God sticks them all in a contest to fight it out over who has the best "gift", is that like rooster-fighting for God or what?
(wouldn't let me say ****-fighting)

Tiberius · #36 07-20-2008, 04:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Halcyon

So who do you thank?

Why must there be a who? I'm just glad that I have these things.

UnTheist · #37 07-20-2008, 04:32 AM

I'm thinking of what or who I could possibly thank, and I got nothing

I'm more glad or fortunate than thankful

tomspug · #38 07-20-2008, 10:46 AM

I still don't get it. To "thank" REQUIRES a recipient. A child is never thankful because he has no awareness that he is given anything. He is happy, yes, but not thankful.

oldcajun · #39 07-20-2008, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomspug

If something comes to you in life apparently by chance or circumstance, by seemingly no will of anyone's, are you thankful for it? CAN you be thankful for it? If so, to what do you attribute thanks?

How can an atheist be thankful in this situation when they have NO ONE to be thankful to.