Atheism vs. Anti-Theism

[Storm]

i guess i mean the conviction of said belief as the foundation

Well, that's even more individualistic.

Do I display and anti theist qualities in my posts?

By whose definition? LOL

 

[Iti oj]

Mine

Well, that's even more individualistic.


By whose definition? LOL

yours or mine I suppose lol good question. Damn labels

 

[Nobody]

Which raises another question for the self-labelled anti-theists among us:
By "theism," do you mean any belief in God, or proper theism a la Abrahamism?

Both to some extent, admittedly my biggest objection to a belief in a deity who starts the universe then takes a back seat is a lot weaker, and not especially significant alone IMO. I just don't see how if such a being existed there would be anything to gain by accepting or denying it, such a being seems irrelevant to our lives.
My main anti-theistic arguments are aimed directly at the Abrahamic religions, mostly because of their offer of absolute certainty and their current dominance.

 

[Iti oj]

Is anti theism (in its negative or agressive context) ever justified or acceptible? Especially. The more extrem or violent versions? And what makes religious beliefs so special they can't be attacked

 

[strikeviperMKII]

Is anti theism (in its negative or agressive context) ever justified or acceptible? Especially. The more extrem or violent versions? And what makes religious beliefs so special they can't be attacked

Oh you can attack them, sure. It won't get you anywhere. Any religious belief that is worth its salt is held by someone who has attacked it themselves. That's how it works. You fight it until you realize that it isn't worth fighting anymore, and will actually help you rather than hurt you.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

I'm starting to get confused about the nuance separating the two. I used to understand "anti-theist" as 'religious bigot who happens to be atheistic,' and I was always rather bemused when people went so far as to actually embrace the label.

However, in my time here, I've come to realize that many such atheists see the terms as virtually interchangeable, but that leaves me with the question of why we need the latter in the first place. After all, it only seems to breed confusion as many believers seem to share my original understanding.

So, what is the difference to you?
Which do you feel describes you better, and why?

There's one definition I've heard used elsewhere but I don't think has been given here: "anti-theist" can be used as a term to describe someone who doesn't merely reject theism but actually goes a step further:

- weak atheist: someone who doesn't accept the claim "god(s) exist."
- strong atheist: someone who rejects the claim "god(s) exist."
- anti-theist: someone who accepts the claim "no gods exist."

... although I've also heard the term "anti-theist" used fairly frequently as something like "someone who considers God/gods (or the idea of God/gods) to be a negative concept or influence."

 

[Iti oj]

Oh you can attack them, sure. It won't get you anywhere. Any religious belief that is worth its salt is held by someone who has attacked it themselves. That's how it works. You fight it until you realize that it isn't worth fighting anymore, and will actually help you rather than hurt you.

Ateism and theism two sides of the same coin, heh. Lol, do you still question now?

 

[strikeviperMKII]

Ateism and theism two sides of the same coin, heh. Lol, do you still question now?

They are. I always have questions, but I've learned that for most of them, I don't need to know the answer. Sometimes, just asking the question is enough. That is expanding beyond the coin, and doesn't exactly have a place here in atheism DIR.

 

[Iti oj]

They are. I always have questions, but I've learned that for most of them, I don't need to know the answer. Sometimes, just asking the question is enough. That is expanding beyond the coin, and doesn't exactly have a place here in atheism DIR.

Perhaps you feel like making a new thread? Though I wonder how much it really off topic or not. I mean how similiar are my questions as an atheist, im not sure if I would say the same for atheism it depends on what you mean..is their even a real answers? What is considered an answer?