Zzyzx wrote:
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Replying to post 1 by WinePusher]
I've encountered many atheists who claim that atheism is not a belief system while others say it is. Since there is no official atheist organization, nailing down which description of atheism to use can be difficult. Nevertheless, the following are some definitions offered by atheists. Whichever definition you accept, atheism denies God.
I do not see any way it can be a belief
system.
There are two main categories of atheists: strong and weak with variations in between. Strong atheists actively believe and state that no God exists. They expressly denounce the Christian God along with any other god. Strong atheists are usually more aggressive in their conversations with theists and try to shoot holes in theistic beliefs. They like to use logic and anti-biblical evidences to denounce God's existence. They are active, often aggressive, and openly believe that there is no God.
I don't see this as a "strong" position at all. I see a strong position as having an apathy toward the subject. Those who need to defend atheism and debunk those beliefs they hate are fighting against their own disbelief. I see a lot of them here. I'm sorry, it is a defensive position, a need to assert their unbelief and a need to cultivate a following.
In short, I see an atheist as a person who has no spiritual receptivity--a basic reason for their atheism. How can you believe in something that you have never had any reason to believe in? By the same token, I don't see any who have that sense can be taken in by arguments against what they know to be true. All arguments fall short.
http://www.religioustolerance.org/atheist.htm
"Atheism" has many meanings, all of which are related to an absence of belief in the existence of a god, a goddess, gods, goddesses, or pantheons which are typically combinations of supernatural entities. (The word "pantheon" is related to the building with that name commissioned by Marcus Agrippa circa 30 BCE as a temple honoring all the deities of ancient Rome.)
The term "Atheism" is ambiguous by itself; it really requires a modifier -- as in "strong Atheist," "weak Atheist," "apathetic Atheist." etc. in order to accurately refer to a specific belief system.
Who would ever claim to be an apathetic anything?!
Among the general population, the most common meaning of the word "Atheist" describes what many would call "a strong Atheist:" a person who definitely asserts that all the thousands or tens of thousands of god(s), goddess(es), ghosts, demons, Satans, angels, etc. recognized by humans in the present and past do not exist in reality but were all created by humans.
See? There you go! No spiritual receptivity! A lot of us have had rather overt experiences of some of these things. I've lived in a couple of haunted houses and time and again weird things would happen, water would turn on in the bathroom, lights going on or off on their own, tables falling over for no reason. I saw a man walk out of the back bedroom and go into the bathroom at 3:00 AM one morning. And although I can't tell you what an angel is or that they appear as beings, I have had the experience of a light over my head for me to see in total darkness. I was regretting that I was there and had brought no light and then this light just appeared above my head. And once a CERTAIN accident that could not have been avoided that did not happen and the boy who witnessed it in the passenger seat--knew he would die--and the impossible red car passed in a two foot wide space in front of the van I was driving, my attempt to come to a stop quickly having not provided much room for avoidance. This was witnessed by four of us! These things were certainly very real! I don't know how anybody could avoid noticing such things. I could spend all day writing about what I have seen and experienced and even photographed. There is a supernatural. Is it the power of the mind? I dunno. But it has to have an explanation.
The most common meaning among Atheists themselves refers to a weak, negative, soft, or skeptical Atheist: one who simply lacks a belief in and knowledge of any supernatural entities whatsoever.
I don't know why they need to.
A common belief among conservative Christians is that a person chooses to be an Atheist for only one reason: if they were to believe in a God they would need to follow that God's moral code as he/she has revealed to humanity.
If that is what they think, they might be better off as atheists.
http://www.atheists.org/activism/resour ... is-atheism
Atheism is usually defined incorrectly as a belief system. Atheism is not a disbelief in gods or a denial of gods; it is a lack of belief in gods. Older dictionaries define atheism as "a belief that there is no God."
Note that it does not require hating gods. That is perhaps one cause of atheism, but it is not the fundamental lack of spiritual awareness necessarily. It is most likely well founded by observing the claims of some religious groups and their very wicked behaviors. A good example would be IS. On the other hand, there are atheists who have wreaked havoc in this world, so the claim it is due to religion is false, it is merely that humans are prone to atrocities and like to claim (blame) gods.
Some dictionaries even go so far as to define Atheism as "wickedness," "sinfulness," and other derogatory adjectives. Clearly, theistic influence taints dictionaries. People cannot trust these dictionaries to define atheism. The fact that dictionaries define Atheism as "there is no God" betrays the (mono)theistic influence. Without the (mono)theistic influence, the definition would at least read "there are no gods."
Among English speakers, this is probably indicated by usage which is what determines definitions. Unfortunately. When words are misused, their definition will change over time. I wonder if the definition of the word "bad" will soon change.
Why should atheists allow theists to define who atheists are? Do other minorities allow the majority to define their character, views, and opinions? No, they do not. So why does everyone expect atheists to lie down and accept the definition placed upon them by the world’s theists? Atheists will define themselves.
Hello?! Shall I pinch you to make you wake up? You do this too!
The only common thread that ties all atheists together is a lack of belief in gods and supernatural beings. Some of the best debates we have ever had have been with fellow atheists. This is because atheists do not have a common belief system, sacred scripture or atheist Pope. This means atheists often disagree on many issues and ideas. Atheists come in a variety of shapes, colors, beliefs, convictions, and backgrounds. We are as unique as our fingerprints.:
Ah, so! So do Christians, Jews, Muslims, Pagans, Wiccans . . . There may be many views among adherents to any form of belief or lack of it. And that is OKAY.
http://atheism.about.com/od/aboutatheis ... Basics.htm
Atheism is the Absence of Belief in Gods: The broad, simple definition of atheism is simply the absence of belief in gods; atheism is not the absence of beliefs generally. Normally called "weak atheism," this definition is attested to in most comprehensive, unabridged dictionaries, and specialized references. Disbelief in gods is not the not the same as a belief or as the denial of gods. The lack of a belief isn't the same as having a belief and not believing something is true isn't the same as believing it is not true.
This is mud. Unless, perhaps, there are people who claim to be atheists that ought to claim to be agnostic.
Atheism is Not a Religion or Ideology: You can tell when people are getting this wrong because they incorrectly capitalize atheism and atheist in the middle of sentences, as if it were a proper noun like Christianity or Muslim. It's not! Atheism isn't any sort of belief, which means that it can't be a belief system, which in turn means it can't possibly be a religion on its own.
I have to laugh! I might do this due to practices of others. Seriously, that is how I learn what is the common practice. I think that is the norm. Perhaps it is thought to give it value?
Many if not most atheists you encounter will also be agnostics; so are some theists. Atheism and agnosticism are about related by separate issues: belief and knowledge (specifically, the lack thereof).
To be gracious, there may be those who are attempting to move that foot out of the religious sector and haven't managed to remove it entirely. What amuses me are those atheists who argue subjects like the importance of church attendance like a Christian! I hope you know I am amused.
There Is No Fundamentalist Atheism: Since atheism is just disbelief in gods, there is nothing for atheists to be "fundamentalist" about. So why has the label become popular?
There may be need of a term that relates that "in your face, I am absolutely right" attitude that we have come to associate with Fundamentalists. They have no corner on that behavior. And I am sure they did not invent it. I have seen all sorts of people resort to it, however. And I am not alone in noting it. It is always emotionally abusive.
Atheism is Not a Choice or Act of Will: Christianity requires that beliefs be choices in order to treat disbelief as a sin and as deserving punishment, but voluntarism of beliefs makes little sense. It's more reasonable to view beliefs as forced conclusions from the evidence before us.
Ahem! You are referring to the empty belief system of some Christians who err in thinking that faith is belief ABOUT God.
Atheism is Not the Cause of Millions of Deaths: The extreme death and destruction caused by theistic religion has led some believers to try to argue that atheism is worse, but while some atheistic philosophies can inspire violence, atheism itself has never done so.
This is not true! Vladimir Lenin and his successors, for example. We may argue that Hitler was baptised, but in later life he professed no religion. I'd say the greater suffering of the 20th century was caused by atheists. In the history of the world, religion was so much the default position that many who caused suffering were not deeply religious even if they were members of a religion. In fact, Christianity was spread through Europe that way in the early years--as a tool of war used by the leadership. It is no wonder that Christianity still bears the stamp of it now. Charlemagne, for example.
Many who attempt to defend Theism in debate attempt to define Atheism as "Denial of gods" as a straw man "argument" in lieu of actually attempting to defend their claims of knowledge about "gods."
I would have to see that. I wonder if it is a response to something you have said?
"The word God is for me nothing more than the expression and product of human weaknesses, the Bible a collection of honorable, but still primitive legends which are nevertheless pretty childish. No interpretation no matter how subtle can (for me) change this." -- Albert Einstein -- Written in 1954 to Jewish philosopher Erik Gutkind.
