Quote:
Originally Posted by pla_time
Well, we've gone a long way off-topic, but I don't think there is any support for the concept that atheists commit suicide at any higher rate than the general population. Saying that an atheist has "dread of existence" is just bizarre.
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ok - so allow me to re-position that.
if an athiest were to decide to comit sucide (and this no measure of per capita rates of such acts by various groups) such a suicide would be done in the face of the dread of existance. i say that because typically people don't commit suicide when the are happy. now that being said you are correct to claim the the dread of existance and happines are not mutually exclusive. i tihnk it is fair to say that depression, giving up all hope, no future worth living for, (classic suicidal motivators) are however inclusive of the dread of existance. hence my colorful inclusion of that as a fan of keirkegaard and Dostoevsky.
now, should a religous zealot on the other hand determine that their god has commanded them to wage war on the infidels and promised them eternal salvation by strapping a couple pounds of c-4 under their coat and achieve jhihad, well then they are motivated by something else all together.
(and additionaly you would be correct to add that there is another (add inf.) group that is spiritual yet comits sucide - but the point was directed at 2 groups - not all groups of peoples)
both people commited suicide in the technical sense - but they did it for totaly different reason. as such most "take everyone out" suicides are not athiestically motivated. and most "take everyone out" suicides are reliously (or psychotically) backed. however it is interesting to note that many psychotic killings that include sucide, the sucide is not an action of the killings - but in zealot killings, the suicide is a required part of the salvation, regardless of the effectiveness of the killings. (they could still achieve salvation by their acts if even no one else was killed in the process).
your right - off topic! but i doubt anybody really cares
not like we are discusing the accident damage on someones car for sale!