Is Atheism (et al) a Worldview?

[Echogem222]

I don't think that to believe in God there must necessarily be a religion.

From the point of view of the believer in the God of the Bible, religion begins in a direct relationship of the first human couple with their Father. That human relationship with the Creator took various forms during human history, according to the Bible.

From the atheist point of view, religion is just a human invention that responds to intellectual, emotional, psychological needs, etc. However, agnostics (who could be considered a sect derived from atheism) consider that it could be that God exists, regardless of whether any religion may have anything to do with the matter.

Some theists consider God to be a real being that is not related to religions, and that belief has become quite popular in recent days. Proof of this is that some religious people are abandoning religions and yet they are not abandoning their belief in the Creator... which shows IMHO that religion is not necessary to be a theist.

Of course, my post is very simplistic and the issue is very complex, but ... more or less.

This is what I said: "Theism is simply the belief in God, Gods, etc. but to have such beliefs requires a cause, which means some type of worldview, which [[[tends]]] to be a religion of some sort."

Do you not know what the word "tends" means?? It means not always, but often does.

 

[Eli G]

This is what I said: "Theism is simply the belief in God, Gods, etc. but to have such beliefs requires a cause, which means some type of worldview, which [[[tends]]] to be a religion of some sort."

Do you not know what the word "tends" means?? It means not always, but often does.

My bad

 

[vulcanlogician]

No, once you get to the point where you can no longer specify what a person's worldview is, then that would be their worldview. It's like all the ways an apple is an apple, once you've done everything, then you naturally have fully explained what the apple is. Though naturally, a worldview is generally summarized as much as possible as to not waste people's time, but it's important to not get a summarization of a worldview and an entire worldview mixed up, as they are two different things.

Can you give an example or two of the most basic kind of worldviews that you're speaking of? Like, what is the basic worldview that leads naturally to materialism? What is a worldview that would lead to theism or dualism?

 

[Eli G]

The origin of the universe is definitely a variable of any worldview.

 

[Eli G]

For example, an atheist does not believe in any god, so he considers the human being as the center of the world and the one who makes decisions about human aspects.

A person who believes in the God of the Bible cannot accept the idea that men are the ones who make all the decisions, but that there are authorities above the human beings who make the final decision in important aspects.

 

[Bear Wild]

It was suggested and refuted in another thread that atheism is a worldview. Is it? Is theism? Agnosticism? Apatheism? Ignoticism? Transtheism?

Or are they a part of what constitutes a worldview?

Explain your reasoning.

The presentation of world view in the thread by @IndigoChild5559 was excellent and helpful to understand a persons view and religion. After all the one common aspect of all religions is how it shapes your relationship to the world. Buy using this to represent what a religion is clarifies ones relationship with respect to many, one or no gods, where you derive you knowledge about the relationship and world, and how you behave with respect to the world. This also clarifies when one calls themselves atheist or spiritual which can have so many variations. It also may reveal how there are variations within a religion. This helps to understand the differences between people who consider themselves atheists. This also gets rid of the myth that religion only is for those who believe in the supernatural.

 

[Eli G]

There are also different kinds of atheists: those who believe that life originated from an inorganic soup on the planet, those who believe that life in its minimum expression came from outer space, those who believe that extraterrestrials handled matters related to the species on earth, etc.

They don't use the word "god" at all.

 

[Echogem222]

Can you give an example or two of the most basic kind of worldviews that you're speaking of? Like, what is the basic worldview that leads naturally to materialism? What is a worldview that would lead to theism or dualism?

Materialism, while not a complete worldview, often coexists with beliefs that emphasize the physical world and empirical evidence, such as a belief in science. Atheism, which is the absence of belief in gods, often aligns with materialism, as both are grounded in a worldview that prioritizes the physical realm and natural explanations. Thus, a person who embraces materialism in their worldview is likely to also value science and may tend towards atheism.

However, it may be that there exists a person who believes in a different type of worldview that doesn't rely on science at all, or even atheism, but belief that the Earth is actually a living being who speaks to them through their mind, in other words, they see the Earth as a God or Goddess.
There are individuals who view the Earth as a living being, a deity of sorts, and believe that it communicates with them. This worldview, sometimes referred to as Gaia hypothesis or Earth worship, is not based on scientific principles or atheism but rather on a spiritual or mystical connection to the Earth. In this worldview, the Earth is seen as a sacred entity deserving reverence and respect, and individuals may feel a deep sense of connection and responsibility towards the planet.
That religion might not be materialism exactly per se, but I believe it's close enough for you to get my point.

Theistic Worldview: This worldview asserts the existence of one or more specific gods or deities who created and govern the universe, which is believed in for certain reasons. Followers of monotheistic religions, such as Christianity, Islam, and Judaism, believe in a single, all-powerful God. Polytheistic religions, like Hinduism and ancient Greek religion, believe in multiple gods and goddesses. Theistic worldviews often include beliefs about divine purpose, morality, and the afterlife.

Dualistic Worldview: Dualism is the belief that reality is composed of two fundamentally different substances or principles. In a religious or philosophical context, this often refers to the belief in two opposing forces, such as good and evil or spirit and matter. For example, Zoroastrianism posits a dualistic worldview with Ahura Mazda as the force of good and Angra Mainyu as the force of evil. Some forms of Gnostic Christianity also espouse a dualistic worldview, viewing the material world as corrupt and the spiritual world as pure.

Platonic Dualism: This philosophical worldview, influenced by the teachings of Plato, posits a dualism between the physical world of appearances (the world of the senses) and the world of Forms or Ideas (the eternal, unchanging realm of perfect concepts). According to Plato, the physical world is a mere reflection or shadow of the higher reality of the Forms.

Cartesian Dualism: Proposed by René Descartes, Cartesian dualism posits a division between the mind (or soul) and the body. Descartes argued that the mind is a non-physical, thinking substance distinct from the physical body, which is extended and material.

Do you understand what I'm getting at now? Worldviews are very specific belief systems, so describing a worldview vaguely by saying it's atheist, materialistic, theist, etc. allows for possibilities of it being many things, which is why if you want to know what a worldview truly is, you need to go into more specific detail.

 

[John53]

For example, an atheist does not believe in any god, so he considers the human being as the center of the world and the one who makes decisions about human aspects.

I love it when people tell me how I live my life

 

[LuisDantas]

The origin of the universe is definitely a variable of any worldview.

Is it?

I would think that it is quite optional. It is not like it factors into our everyday lives.

 

[Eli G]

Science is not a characteristic of atheism. Science is a human instrument that anyone can use, regardless of their worldview.

 

[Eli G]

Is it?

I would think that it is quite optional. It is not like it factors into our everyday lives.

Those who believe that the origin of the universe has nothing to do with a Creator do not feel afraid when they make decisions that may have different consequences on other humans... and they can be very bad to others.

He who fears God, knows that if he harms his fellow man he will have a non-human Judge who will judge him.

 

[John53]

Those who believe that the origin of the universe has nothing to do with a Creator do not feel afraid when they make decisions that may have different consequences on other humans... and they can be very bad to others.

He who fears God, knows that if he harms his fellow man he will have a non-human Judge who will judge him.

What a load of nonsense. There are good and bad people no matter how you label them.

 

[vulcanlogician]

Theistic Worldview:

Dualistic Worldview:

Platonic Dualism: [actually sounds more like Neoplatonism than Plato, but okay.]

Cartesian Dualism:

Do you understand what I'm getting at now? Worldviews are very specific belief systems, so describing a worldview vaguely by saying it's atheist, materialistic, theist, etc. allows for possibilities of it being many things, which is why if you want to know what a worldview truly is, you need to go into more specific detail.

I don't understand what you're getting at, man, because you rejected theism as a basic worldview when you said THIS:

Similarly, theism, which is the belief in gods or deities, is not a worldview either.

Yet "theistic worldview" somehow made it onto your list of basic worldviews from which all other worldviews are founded. You might not have contradicted yourself there, but I think it's fair for me to inquire how you haven't contradicted yourself.

Like, I'm not "calling you out" or refuting what you've said or anything. But I do think an explanation is due.

 

[LuisDantas]

Those who believe that the origin of the universe has nothing to do with a Creator do not feel afraid when they make decisions that may have different consequences on other humans... and they can be very bad to others.

You are entirely wrong here. If anything, atheism is better conductive to ethical thought than belief in a creator god. That is easy to demonstrate, even.

He who fears God, knows that if he harms his fellow man he will have a non-human Judge who will judge him.

That just doesn't work at all well in practice. It is arguably worse than nothing.

 

[Eli G]

You are entirely wrong here. If anything, atheism is better conductive to ethical thought than belief in a creator god. That is easy to demonstrate, even.



That just doesn't work at all well in practice. It is arguably worse than nothing.

Thanks for your opinion.

Have a good one.

 

[Echogem222]

I don't understand what you're getting at, man, because you rejected theism as a basic worldview when you said THIS:



Yet "theistic worldview" somehow made it onto your list of basic worldviews from which all other worldviews are founded. You might not have contradicted yourself there, but I think it's fair for me to inquire how you haven't contradicted yourself.

Like, I'm not "calling you out" or refuting what you've said or anything. But I do think an explanation is due.

That's not what I'm saying at all, theistic worldviews mean worldviews that have theism in them, it does not mean that theism is a worldview by itself! How do you not understand this? I explained it very clearly if you read my entire comment.

You've claimed to me that you have a degree in philosophy in a previous comment on another thread, yet you overly focus on how things seem only if you skim read my responses as you clearly have, not only that, but I have noticed many times when you've clearly just skim read my responses on another thread, yet acted like you didn't skim read them initially. I think an explanation is due at this point or I can't keep taking your responses seriously because it just feels like you're trolling me.

 

[LuisDantas]

Thanks for your opinion.

Have a good one.

You're welcome. As a rule I try not to encourage serious misunderstandings when it is in my power to avoid that mistake.

 

[Echogem222]

You are entirely wrong here. If anything, atheism is better conductive to ethical thought than belief in a creator god. That is easy to demonstrate, even.



That just doesn't work at all well in practice. It is arguably worse than nothing.

You were debating with someone from Jehovah's Witness, if you've never debated with someone who believes in that religion before, I can tell you from experience that I have seen them debate with people many times, and every time, they always back out when someone makes a decent point which contradicts their own. My understanding of why they do this is because they want others to listen to their point, but they don't want to do the opposite because they believe they are 100% correct.

But I could be wrong since a bunch of people who believe in that religion that behave a certain way doesn't mean they automatically all do.

 

[LuisDantas]

You were debating with someone from Jehovah's Witness, if you've never debated with someone who believes in that religion before, I can tell you from experience that I have seen them debate with people many times, and every time, they always back out when someone makes a decent point which contradicts their own. My understanding of why they do this is because they want others to listen to their point, but they don't want to do the opposite because they believe they are 100% correct.

But I could be wrong since a bunch of people who believe in that religion that behave a certain way doesn't mean they automatically all do.

Nah, that is generally quite correct. I have learned from former JWs. Apostates, as they are called.