Is atheism a bona fide religion ?

reply to post by melatonin


yep, we reject the dragon in the garage, the celestial teapot, the invisible pink unicorn, the flying spaghetti monster, and all of these things

OK, define an "atheist" for me. I've checked the dictionary but I'd like to get it from the horses mouth so to speak.

There is no proof that God exists, therefore I don't believe. It's as easy as that for me as an atheist. Until someone shows proof that there is a God there is no reason for me to believe someone else's word that there is a God.

Originally posted by intrepid
OK, define an "atheist" for me. I've checked the dictionary but I'd like to get it from the horses mouth so to speak.

A person who has no belief in deities. This could embrace both the strong (denies the existence of god) and weak (has no belief in god) forms.

There are a range between this two types though. Thus, I am a strong atheist for the YEC form, more weak on the Oom type.

Originally posted by madnessinmysoul
i don't know if someone has said it here yet, but i've said it dozens of times before on ATS

if atheism is a religion, bald is now a haircolor.

in fact, this was brought up in the ATS mix that i did with MM.

can't be a religion, there's only 1 thing involved. it's a LACK of belief, a LACK of faith.

not collecting stamps isn't a hobby
not going to work isn't a job
not believing in god isn't a religion

madnessinmysoul, do you really believe that there is no God?

Originally posted by Dazed

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ok i was raised Christain,believed that jesus died for my sins, read the bible, went to church, fell asleep,could not wait to be dismissed .
And then i was in a horrible accident ,now at the time of the accident being burned alive ,actually cooked alive ,i realized im gonno die, no thought of God or jesus.I said this sucks. I got Mad ,tearing the ligaments in both feet ,ripping the tendons in my knees and hurting my back .i got out more dead than alive im here to tell u God jesus was not in my thoughts now im losing my religeon.

There are three laws (at least to Christians and other spiritual types).

1. Events are the result of the action of God

2. Events are the result of the action of Satan

3. Events are the result of the laws of nature


Being at the wrong place at the wrong time is unfortunate. I just had a Christian friend who got sucked into a woodchopper and was mulched to death, but I don't blame God for it. He just decided one day to push that log a little bit harder into the machine and he was killed. It happens. Not everything is God's fault or Satan's. Sometimes it just happens because we live in a physical world bound by the laws of nature.

reply to post by Fromabove


Good god no! Agreed, it's a faith - in rationality perhaps. A strong self belief too. A religion? No, I don't thinks so.


J.

Originally posted by madnessinmysoul
reply to post by melatonin

 

yep, we reject the dragon in the garage, the celestial teapot, the invisible pink unicorn, the flying spaghetti monster, and all of these things

Are you saying there's no Santa Claus either??? Hmmm...I'm a bit shocked. I'd better take those darn stockings down now... sniff.

Yep - that's a hell of a list: I got bored after 'B' though...


J.

[edit on 18-12-2007 by jimbo999]

Originally posted by MajorMalfunction

Except atheists are right.

We have to be very vehement in our stances, because otherwise we would be overwhelmed by the Xians intent on taking over our country.

Paranoid delusion. Also, a little pompous! I hear this logic from ALOT of atheists. "We are right and christians are crazy and are going to kill us all." Christianity is not a threat to atheists. It's the other way around, actually.

Originally posted by 1Angrylightbulb
There is no proof that God exists, therefore I don't believe. It's as easy as that for me as an atheist. Until someone shows proof that there is a God there is no reason for me to believe someone else's word that there is a God.

The Universe exists.

The Universe = God.

Ultimately, the human conception of God is flawed and can be manipulated : hence, Religion. Atheists hate religion. They do not understand the concept of God enough to disprove or accept proof of 'his existence'.

The Universe exists. The Universe = God. This is never going to be 'proof' for Atheists though, as the Universe is empty material matter to them. So... it's that easy as you for atheists to deny God.

reply to post by NewWorldOver


No I agree. Religious orthodoxy is a danger to everyone, everywhere. It promotes irrationality, fear, intolerance and hatred. Christian extremist on one side - Muslim extremists on the other. The blind leading the naked into oblivion.

J.

reply to post by NewWorldOver


Sorry - the Universe is categorically NOT god. That's one misleading, irrational statement.

J.

Actually when I give some thought to how atheists act, they are very zealous, and they do hold strongly to the belief that there is no God. Isn't religion a set of codes or statements of belief that one follows excluding all other possiblities not in agreement with it's statement of belief? I am beginning to wonder if atheism is more like a humanist cult where the self is the center of all things.

1. Belief
2. Statements of faith
3. Mission
4. Exclusion of dissent

If you read my earlier posts in this thread it will demonstrate why your assumption is incorrect.

And, for Intrepid (and anyone else who REALLY wants to know and isn't busy trying to insult atheists by making them into just another religion that can therefore be dismissed out of hand as not being the "one true religion"), if you want to know what an atheist IS and why we think the way we do, there is a very good book I can recommend. it isn't "militant" for lack of a better word like some people complain about Dawkins and Hitchens, but it does explain very well why atheism is not a religion, not a faith, and why we demand evidence before we'll accept a story as truth.

It also goes through all the logical fallacies that are used to support faith and why they are fallacies.

It is available on Amazon.com (which is where I got my copy).

Natural Atheism by David Eller.

Originally posted by intrepid
reply to post by marg6043

 

Yes marg but you are equating this with a "religious" bent. You have to get outside of that to see that there is no difference between those that believe God exists and those that believe that he doesn't. "Believe" being the main term.

Sorry if I'm missing the point.

Good point -- but if I can play Devil's Advocate here - I can 'believe' that my pet mouse Bruno is a reincarnation of Zeus if I want to, but I would have great difficulty convincing other sane people it was so. Still, there may be some who'd bite.

An atheist uses his intellect, rational thought processes and comprehension of science and logic to come to the simple conclusion that 'No' - it's highly unlikely that Bruno is a reincarnation of Zeus.

If you get my drift...

J.

reply to post by MajorMalfunction


Interesting - I'll check that out. I'd also highly recommend 'Pagans & Christians' by Robin Lane Fox; as it's one of the most honest assessments of the realities behind the early christian church I've ever read.

J.

reply to post by MajorMalfunction


1. Belief
2. Statements of faith
3. Mission
4. Exclusion of dissent

Your advisement to read a book about the definition of atheism fall under item number 2. Atheism, it would seem is not merely the lack of belief in God, but the active belief there is no God and seems to promote teachings to that effect. Am I wrong, and if so why? What is the difference from me taking confidence in Biblical teachings which are from books written down by men, and Atheist teaching from books written down by men. Religions have codes, beliefs and teachings.

reply to post by NewWorldOver


Can you show some kind of proof that the universe=god?? Cause if you got some I would love to see that since it would be a first.

Jeez, lots of antagonism on this topic. Merriam Webster defines "atheists". Is this a fair assessment?

atheist

Main Entry:
athe·ist Listen to the pronunciation of atheist
Pronunciation:
\ˈā-thē-ist\
Function:
noun
Date:
1551

: one who believes that there is no deity

reply to post by Skyfloating

QUOTE:''Am I the only one who is offended by the belief that all life is a pointless coincidence, arisen from dead matter? ''


But life isn't pointless - even to an atheist Like all organisms on the planet - our point is to mate and re-create. Simple. And enjoy the good times, learn from the bad ones. It's a anthropocentric delusion to expect more, to look for 'higher meaning' when really - there is none.

J.