Atheism being accepted as “Today’s Religion” over all religions?

AfterInfinity

Jarring

AfterInfinity
reply to post by Jarring

 

let me rephrase, you've denied any claims in the existence of God given to you thus far.

Have you tried giving me a plausible description of the nature, origin, and intentions of such an entity? I know you've tried giving me a description, but it fell short of what I would call "plausible". And even if it were plausible, I would find myself averse to complete dependence on such a being. Such a relationship is comparable to a drug addiction. Which accounts for my other definition of atheism: living without or regardless of the assistance or approval of a god, should it be conclusively proven there is one.

edit on 5-2-2014 by AfterInfinity because: (no reason given)

no, i told you that I would never try to prove God exists to you, and that I don't think I am capable of such. I was arguing the point of futility in it's argument, and we got into testing.

I stand by my previous statement that anything which is true is capable of being tested. You may not enjoy the test, and it may have a price, but it can be tested.

i didn't argue that point. let's try to keep this on topic though

reply to post by strongfp

Because I hate when people try to label me as being in a religion. When I'm not ... once you start putting labels on things it gets all distorted into something that's completely different to begin with.

Atheist is a label however. It presupposes that one adheres to a certain "distinctive practice or system" (an 'ism').

How am I supposed to describe myself as someone who doesn't meet weekly or pray, or do everything else that a religious person does? You can easily call someone who hits the gym every day in the religion of the gym if you really wanted to get that picky with labels and such.

Simply say you don't meet weekly or pray. Buddhists are considered atheists, even if they confine themselves to a monastery and chant mantras day in day out. Christians were once deemed atheists.

reply to post by Aphorism


Once again I still stand by my point that putting labels on everything leads to confusion. And in today's world when I try to describe myself to people who can't seem to grasp the idea of me not believing in anything I just simply say 'atheist'. It's a lot easier than trying to explain how i have a lack of feeling towards being in an organized religion, if anything I believe in community and social gatherings that bring people together to socialize and have a good time, not an excuse to get together, which pretty much all religions seem to push on people.

reply to post by strongfp


That is a reasonable conclusion. I myself find that it is difficult to not call myself an atheist when questioned about my beliefs in regards to deities. So I understand what you're saying.

reply to post by Aphorism


Seems like atheist is a much less definitive term than some would make it out to be. A more...relatively label, I guess you could say.

reply to post by strongfp


people need labels to communicate.. i understand how it can be confusing, but the intention is to, in fact, relieve confusion.

just because it doesn't have any specific rituals, etc. doesn't make it any less a religion.

nvm, it does have specific rituals, as most things do, but i don't feel inclined to point them out.

You are about to make a character for a computer game and you get to the attributes page.
There is an option for religion if you need your character to have one. Each religion changes the value of your character +1 regardless which one.
The default option before you choose a religion is "none". It also has a value of 0 and this is also the same value as atheism.
So what really does atheism bring to the world of religion. it is valueless.

Jarring
nvm, it does have specific rituals, as most things do, but i don't feel inclined to point them out.

I would like to know what my rituals are, BEYOND my daily activities as a human being.

Think of it this way, some 200,000 years ago did man have religions? Did the hunter gathering type of people believe if they did this, MAYBE this might happen, or is that just experimenting or habit? Repeating something on a weekly basis is not religious, it can be labeled as such, but it doesn't have a supernatural driving force behind it, an enlightenment, or a god. Religions generally have a higher state that for some reason 'us' humans have no control over.
I don't think that, I feel if it doesn't rain and crops don't grow it's because there is a drought, if a meteor falls from space it's because it got stuck in a gravity war. See what I am getting at?

reply to post by AfterInfinity

Seems like atheist is a much less definitive term than some would make it out to be. A more...relatively label, I guess you could say.

My problem with the label is its history. It was a rhetorical insult and condemnation invented by a theocratic bourgeoisie. It implies much more than it defines.

In it's greek etymology, as you know, it literally means "without God", but without God, there can be no "without God". It's a meaningless term.

reply to post by Parksie


Those values were determined according to your limited comprehension.

reply to post by strongfp


i see rituals as more of an inclination or instinct. like the set of beliefs you "follow" is a ritual, anything you are inclined to do is by ritual of inclination.

People can get together and perform rituals in reverence and dedication, but not everyone goes every day, especially if they aren't inclined.

Jarring
reply to post by strongfp

 

i see rituals as more of an inclination or instinct. like the set of beliefs you "follow" is a ritual, anything you are inclined to do is by ritual of inclination.

People can get together and perform rituals in reverence and dedication, but not everyone goes every day, especially if they aren't inclined.

You are putting the word ritual out of context here.
Yes, me brushing my teeth everyday two times a day is a ritual, but if I don't brush my teeth one night it doesn't make me feel guilty inside.

Rituals such as going to church every Sunday, or when you go to church and eat the body of Christ or entering prayer in unison at the appropriate times are the rituals I am getting at. When a catholic or christian goes to church and they start saying a prayer, you feel somewhat obligated to join in because you'd feel guilty of something, or left out and awkward, but what are you feeling guilty of? Being left out? But how did you get yourself into that mess in the first place? By going to church. Atheists don't have rituals like that at all... err or in my case the 'type' of atheist I am.

strongfp

Jarring
reply to post by strongfp

 

i see rituals as more of an inclination or instinct. like the set of beliefs you "follow" is a ritual, anything you are inclined to do is by ritual of inclination.

People can get together and perform rituals in reverence and dedication, but not everyone goes every day, especially if they aren't inclined.

You are putting the word ritual out of context here.
Yes, me brushing my teeth everyday two times a day is a ritual, but if I don't brush my teeth one night it doesn't make me feel guilty inside.

Rituals such as going to church every Sunday, or when you go to church and eat the body of Christ or entering prayer in unison at the appropriate times are the rituals I am getting at. When a catholic or christian goes to church and they start saying a prayer, you feel somewhat obligated to join in because you'd feel guilty of something, or left out and awkward, but what are you feeling guilty of? Being left out? But how did you get yourself into that mess in the first place? By going to church. Atheists don't have rituals like that at all... err or in my case the 'type' of atheist I am.

i understand, but that's not what solely defines religion.

religion such as Christianity is typically more dedicated to a form of morality.

reply to post by Jarring



Another point I must bring up is that religions tend to have an afterlife. Or a meaning to being, via a deity.
Ask any true atheist, and he or she will tell you they do not believe in an afterlife. When we die, we die.

reply to post by Jarring


Why is religion necessary to establish morals?

reply to post by strongfp


lol

if you don't believe in God, or are ignorant to God, what have you, that's what you have, and that's what you are, so be it. Whatever your terms and conditions may be, you personally don't have to call it a religion, but i'll tell ya what, you're gonna have a time trying to get it to be universally accepted as anything but.

AfterInfinity
reply to post by Jarring

 

Why is religion necessary to establish morals?

it's typically the opposite, morals are necessary to establish a religion.

AfterInfinity
reply to post by Jarring

 

Why is religion necessary to establish morals?

however, i understand where you're coming from and the idea is something a lot of atheists/agnostics are born from. It's something I had to fight with within my mind in the church when I was young. It is contradictory for Christians to follow their religion to save their own face.

Nothing I find more displeasing within Christians is for them to try and avoid their own judgment. Many religious practitioners are cowards, especially those who put their beliefs on a pedestal.