Are athiests hypocrites?

[punkdbass]

The following isn't indicative of what I believe, but the Christian metal band August Burns Red has a song called "rationalist" that had some interesting lyrics I thought I'd post for debate:

All that is real is blurred by your notion of reality.
Nothing is real. Color is black, is white, is color blind.
Tucking away what’s true, what’s tangible.

You skeptic, you. You believe in unbelief.
Now you’re the hypocrite.
You can’t hide from this.
Read more at SongMeanings | Lyrics | August Burns Red - Rationalist

I'm not 100% sure what the lyrics mean but Im guessing its something along the lines of: atheism, which is the assertion that God does not exist, often asks theism for evidence that it is true, or argues that theism has no evidence.. but what evidence is there that atheism is true? Are they not both simply "beliefs" ?

Aside from the fact that EVERYONE is hypocritical on some things.. do you guys think atheists are hypocritical in the manner that this band indicates?

 

[Revoltingest]

Atheists hypocrites?
Some are, & some aren't.
It has nothing to do with faith or its lack.

 

[Apex]

The following isn't indicative of what I believe, but the Christian metal band August Burns Red has a song called "rationalist" that had some interesting lyrics I thought I'd post for debate:



I'm not 100% sure what the lyrics mean but Im guessing its something along the lines of: atheism, which is the assertion that God does not exist, often asks theism for evidence that it is true, or argues that theism has no evidence.. but what evidence is there that atheism is true? Are they not both simply "beliefs" ?

Aside from the fact that EVERYONE is hypocritical on some things.. do you guys think atheists are hypocritical in the manner that this band indicates?

Atheists in general? No. Now if they directed this song towards a more specific group of atheists, then maybe.

 

[Sunstone]

Sounds like a cheap shot to me.

 

[idav]

Technically, faith in atheism can be. Unbelief isn't necessarily faith so the lyric is a bit overstated.

 

[839311]

but what evidence is there that atheism is true? Are they not both simply "beliefs" ?

Most atheists I know, myself included, are not hard atheists. We don't believe in God(s). Most, like me, are agnostic about God.

But, the evidence just isn't there. Until the evidence is there, theres really not much reason to think that God is real. God is certainly an interesting idea, though.

 

[Quagmire]

It's better if you listen to the video (because you can't understand what they're saying). :[youtube]fs0dc8MOAtM[/youtube]
August Burns Red - "Rationalist" - YouTube

 

[punkdbass]

Sounds like a cheap shot to me.

Yea I kinda agree. I already sorta regret making this thread lol. I agree with pretty much all the replies so far.

I do like the song though(I realize most people don't like metal). I guess I can relate to it quite a bit.. I often try to rationalize things in life, and sometimes when I get super analytical, rational, critical about things, I end up getting a slightly warped and unpractical view of reality; so sometimes I feel like I am ignoring the real, tangible, and obvious things that are staring me right in the face. I guess that's one of the prices you pay for having a mind that tends to overanalyze a lot.

 

[HerDotness]

Most atheists I know, myself included, are not hard atheists. We don't believe in God(s). Most, like me, are agnostic about God.

But, the evidence just isn't there. Until the evidence is there, theres really not much reason to think that God is real. God is certainly an interesting idea, though.

This represents my view precisely.

 

[Marco19]

You’re crashing faster and there won’t be
pieces to piece back together this time.
Can’t you see you’re ringing out?
This is dissonance.
It’s in the quiet of this place.
That all things come to life.

well, i don't know who is the singer or his religious background,
but from the lyrics i can see his unmasked face...

it's rude to call entire group as hypocrites,
Atheist as any group of people contains good/bad.

 

[darkendless]

Sounds like a cheap shot to me.

Thats the MO of organised religion. Look at the evolution debates.

 

[Tristesse]

The following isn't indicative of what I believe, but the Christian metal band August Burns Red has a song called "rationalist" that had some interesting lyrics I thought I'd post for debate:



I'm not 100% sure what the lyrics mean but Im guessing its something along the lines of: atheism, which is the assertion that God does not exist, often asks theism for evidence that it is true, or argues that theism has no evidence.. but what evidence is there that atheism is true? Are they not both simply "beliefs" ?

Aside from the fact that EVERYONE is hypocritical on some things.. do you guys think atheists are hypocritical in the manner that this band indicates?

First off, atheism isn't the assertion that a god does not exist, while that view could be consistent with atheism, it isn't necessary for atheism. More correctly would be a disbelief in a god or gods. Atheism doesn't doesn't require evidence to accept, atheism is the result of not having evidence to support theism. It's the default position. And no, it's not hypocritical at all, I don't believe in unbelief. I simply don't believe.

 

[Vultar]

Anyone, athiest or not can be a hypocrit, if you don't follow what you believe, or believe somethimg different then what you present of yourself.

 

[fantome profane]

Thats the MO of organised religion. Look at the evolution debates.

Are you trying to be ironic?

 

[darkendless]

Are you trying to be ironic?

It was a pretty poor attempt i'll admit

 

[gnomon]

Well that song was just god awful.

Oh, we miss Sam Kinison.

 

[Copernicus]

I'm not 100% sure what the lyrics mean but Im guessing its something along the lines of: atheism, which is the assertion that God does not exist, often asks theism for evidence that it is true, or argues that theism has no evidence.. but what evidence is there that atheism is true? Are they not both simply "beliefs"?

People hold beliefs for reasons. So it is legitimate to ask a believer for some justification. Why does one hold the belief to be true? As an atheist, I have no trouble explaining why I reject belief in gods. I believe that there needs to be some kind of physical brain t generate mental activity, but gods are thought to be brainless beings. Humans have invented many thousands of imaginary gods, so any particular god is unlikely to be anything but an invented being. Gods (or God) interact with physical reality, so it is reasonable to expect that there be some physical effect that would point to their existence, but no such verifiable physical trace has been verified. Beliefs in gods tend to radiate from a single physical geographical point, but, if one or more gods existed, one could reasonably expect that there would be parallel worship of the same (real) god in more than one location. It doesn't seem reasonable that gods would just fixate on one particular geographical location and human community, unless the gods were an invention of that community. I could go on, but there are good reasons to reject belief in gods. They appear to be imaginary beings.

 

[ChristineES]

The following isn't indicative of what I believe, but the Christian metal band August Burns Red has a song called "rationalist" that had some interesting lyrics I thought I'd post for debate:



I'm not 100% sure what the lyrics mean but Im guessing its something along the lines of: atheism, which is the assertion that God does not exist, often asks theism for evidence that it is true, or argues that theism has no evidence.. but what evidence is there that atheism is true? Are they not both simply "beliefs" ?

Aside from the fact that EVERYONE is hypocritical on some things.. do you guys think atheists are hypocritical in the manner that this band indicates?

I wouldn't worry too much about someone's opinion. Everyone has the capacity to be a hypocrite at one time or another- but I don't think it is because of their religion or lack of religion or anything else.

 

[Kerr]

The following isn't indicative of what I believe, but the Christian metal band August Burns Red has a song called "rationalist" that had some interesting lyrics I thought I'd post for debate:



I'm not 100% sure what the lyrics mean but Im guessing its something along the lines of: atheism, which is the assertion that God does not exist, often asks theism for evidence that it is true, or argues that theism has no evidence.. but what evidence is there that atheism is true? Are they not both simply "beliefs" ?

Aside from the fact that EVERYONE is hypocritical on some things.. do you guys think atheists are hypocritical in the manner that this band indicates?

I dont think so. Then again I am an atheist, maybe I am just in denial . Jokes aside, it is not a matter of having no beliefs, its a matter of what beliefs make sense. For some of us that is that there is no gods, because we dont see any evidence of their existence.

 

[The Neo Nerd]

Sounds like the same old "it takes as much faith to not believe in god as it does to believe" horse poo.

Yes everyone has moments of hypocrisy. The measure of a man/woman is to realise when they are being hypocritical and either change their actions or their beliefs and that has nothing to do with religion.