Atheism as a Religion

[Wolke]

I find that people adopt a sceptical posture merely because it gives them a better footing in an argument, not because it reflects their true beliefs. For example, Holocaust deniers often say that they don't deny the Holocaust, but merely doubt the extermination story because in their mind there is no evidence for it. Like atheists, they claim that the burden of proof is on the "believers" to supply the evidence. But clearly, though they adopt a sceptical posture, their position is actually based on positive beliefs or attitudes (antisemitic conspiracy theories).

In the case of atheism, the positive belief system is usually some form of materialism, usually combined with a belief in positivism or scientism. There is often mingled with this an element of wishful thinking (attenuation of the sense of guilt, relinquishment of moral duties and responsibilities, the desire to be in control, fear of the afterlife, etc.). The materialist worldview is a kind of modern myth-image, and it is accepted as a matter of faith, which makes it similar to religion.

Thus, although atheism per se is not a religion (any more than theism in itself is a religion), it implies a religious worldview. Atheists in general are credulous materialists who take the whole materialist worldview for granted. They just assume the whole lot is true. It is on the basis of the materialist worldview that most atheists deny the existence of God.

 

[Sunstone]

Define what you mean by "atheist".

 

[Wolke]

Define what you mean by "atheist".

I define atheism as disbelief in the existence of God.

 

[Sunstone]

I define atheism as disbelief in the existence of God.

Does disbelief in the existence of god sound to you like an assertion that there cannot possibly be any gods?

 

[Twilight Hue]

I define atheism as disbelief in the existence of God.

Athiesm is simply the original natural default position at birth. Its creationism that's actually taught and introduced later on.

 

[Wolke]

I don't see what you are getting at. I guess I'll wait until someone addresses my actual argument (that atheism implies a materialist worldview, etc). The above comments seem unrelated to my argument.

 

[Shiranui117]

Athiesm is simply the original natural default position at birth. Its creationism that's actually taught and introduced later on.

More specifically, agnostic atheism. There's a difference between Agnostic Atheism (doesn't know if God/s exists and by default doesn't believe in Him) and Strong Atheism (the assertion that God/s do/es not exist)

 

[Twilight Hue]

How does atheism imply a materialistic world view?

 

[Wolke]

I didn't imply that materialism and atheism are logically or necessarily related to each other. I am talking about popular atheism as represented by Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens. These individuals disbelieve in the existence of God because they are true believers in conventional materialism. In their mind, materialism has done away with God. I am not suggesting that the connection between materialism and atheism is based on sound philosophical reasoning. One can certainly be an idealist and an atheist (John McTaggart), or a materialist and a theist (Peter van Inwagen, Lynne Rudder Baker). However, the materialist worldview is a kind of modern myth that exhibits all the hallmarks of religion, and insofar as atheism presupposes a materialist worldview, it implies a positive belief.

 

[Twilight Hue]

More specifically, agnostic atheism. There's a difference between Agnostic Atheism (doesn't know if God/s exists and by default doesn't believe in Him) and Strong Atheism (the assertion that God/s do/es not exist)

Ok I see how the latter can be construed as a religion on a basis it's firmly conclusive at the start. Same foundation as strong thiesm.

 

[Twilight Hue]

I didn't imply that materialism and atheism are logically or necessarily related to each other. I am talking about popular atheism as represented by Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens. These individuals disbelieve in the existence of God because they are true believers in conventional materialism. In their mind, materialism has done away with God. I am not suggesting that the connection between materialism and atheism is based on sound philosophical reasoning. One can certainly be an idealist and an atheist (John McTaggart), or a materialist and a theist (Peter van Inwagen, Lynne Rudder Baker). However, the materialist worldview is a kind of modern myth that exhibits all the hallmarks of religion, and insofar as atheism presupposes a materialist worldview, it implies a positive belief.

Tx for clarifying.

 

[Wolke]

Ok I see how the latter can be construed as a religion on a basis it's firmly conclusive at the start. Same foundation as strong thiesm.

Why do they doubt? Is it really because of a lack of evidence, as they claim? Should we take their word for it? Or is the existence of God something that is so obvious that everyone knows it in the back of his mind even if he will not admit it to himself? Is not the real reason for doubting the existence of God a positive belief in a materialist philosophy which is incompatible with theism? (To say nothing of unconscious and irrational reasons.)

 

[Sunstone]

I don't see what you are getting at. I guess I'll wait until someone addresses my actual argument (that atheism implies a materialist worldview, etc). The above comments seem unrelated to my argument.

Suite yourself.

 

[darkendless]

Athiesm is simply the original natural default position at birth. Its creationism that's actually taught and introduced later on.

Isn't non-theism the default position at birth?

 

[SkepticThinker]

Why do they doubt? Is it really because of a lack of evidence, as they claim?

Yes.

Should we take their word for it?

Why wouldn't you?

Or is the existence of God something that is so obvious that everyone knows it in the back of his mind even if he will not admit it to himself?

No. Or we would believe in it.

Is not the real reason for doubting the existence of God a positive belief in a materialist philosophy which is incompatible with theism? (To say nothing of unconscious and irrational reasons.)

No.

 

[Twilight Hue]

Isn't non-theism the default position at birth?

I probably should have gone that route as I was referring to what is not introduced via teaching. Non theism would be a better term.

 

[Wolke]

Isn't non-theism the default position at birth?

The infant is not yet conscious of itself as a separate entity. The "default position" at birth is a kind of oceanic awareness in which the self has not yet differentiated itself from the cosmos; there is no separation between the inside and outside, subject and object, body and environment. It's a state of primal paradise before the Fall into self-awareness. "Belief" in God is irrelevant because God and Self are not yet differentiated.

 

[darkendless]

I probably should have gone that route as I was referring to what is not introduced via teaching. Non theism would be a better term.

I have been caught out many times referring to atheism as non-theism

 

[darkendless]

The infant is not yet conscious of itself as a separate entity. The "default position" at birth is a kind of oceanic awareness in which the self has not yet differentiated itself from the cosmos; there is no separation between the inside and outside, subject and object, body and environment. It's a state of primal paradise before the Fall into self-awareness. "Belief" in God is irrelevant because God and Self are not yet differentiated.

I would very much like to see you provide some form of reasoning behind this other than your specific belief.

 

[McBell]

I define atheism as disbelief in the existence of God.

Since I define atheism as "a lack of belief or disbelief in a deity" I am unable to provide you with the answer you want to hear.