In an ideal world atheists would be apatheiststs (?)

[Caligula]

Is there a god? ...I don't care! Is there a particular kind of god? ...I don't care!

No matter the authority (if any):
I can not love those I hate or I don't care for. I can not hate those I love or I don't care for. I can not find to be moral things I find immoral and vice versa. I can not fear those I trust or I know nothing about. I can not trust those I fear or I know nothing about etc.

...I just want to enjoy my apparent freedom.

Tamper with that freedom and you get people that react to that which caused the conflict. I wish all theists would understand that (many already do).

 

[FunctionalAtheist]

Is there a god? ...I don't care! Is there a particular kind of god? ...I don't care!

No matter the authority (if any):
I can not love those I hate or I don't care for. I can not hate those I love or I don't care for. I can not find to be moral things I find immoral and vice versa. I can not fear those I trust or I know nothing about. I can not trust those I fear or I know nothing about etc.

...I just want to enjoy my apparent freedom.

Tamper with that freedom and you get people that react to that which caused the conflict. I wish all theists would understand that (many already do).

That is correct! And it describes my logical conclusion. Even if there is a god, no matter what kind of god, even if a person believes in any one of a million god concepts, THE ONLY RATIONAL BEHAVIOR is to base actions, behaviors, and decision on here and now. By definition, so called knowledge of a supernatural entity, his wants, desires, requirements, IS IGNORANCE. Even the theists best argument is that you cannot disprove god.

Decisions based on ignorance trends negatively.

The only ethical position is to base actions, behavior, and decisions, on the here and now, rather that postulates regarding even our best attempts to understand that which cannot be known. If there is a benevolent god, how could he want you to base your actions on ignorance regarding his nature.

NOW GIVEN ALL THIS APATHEISM it would be immoral to ignore the ignorant belief that actions, behaviors, decisions should maybe, sometimes, even once in awhile be based on an ignorant understanding of a postulated hereafter.

Apatheists must be anti theist,
God fearing believers must be anti theists
Any rational individual must be anti theist

If not in belief, then in behavior, action, and decision; or they are immoral.

 

[LuisDantas]

It seems to me that an ideal world would be just fine with atheists being atheists.

 

[columbus]

Is there a god? ...I don't care! Is there a particular kind of god? ...I don't care!

No matter the authority (if any):
I can not love those I hate or I don't care for. I can not hate those I love or I don't care for. I can not find to be moral things I find immoral and vice versa. I can not fear those I trust or I know nothing about. I can not trust those I fear or I know nothing about etc.

...I just want to enjoy my apparent freedom.

Tamper with that freedom and you get people that react to that which caused the conflict. I wish all theists would understand that (many already do).

There is a corollary though.
Since there is no God who gives a whit about us we must do that for ourselves or it just won't happen. Since there is nobody listening to prayers or making things right we have to do it. That means learning and teaching about the behavior most likely to result in a good life. We can't just follow the instincts we are born with and let God handle the problems.

Tom

 

[FunctionalAtheist]

There is a corollary though.
Since there is no God who gives a whit about us we must do that for ourselves or it just won't happen. Since there is nobody listening to prayers or making things right we have to do it. That means learning and teaching about the behavior most likely to result in a good life. We can't just follow the instincts we are born with and let God handle the problems.

Tom

Nicely put. Of course from my soapbox I'd say 'even if there is a god' he isn't making things right or showing us how to best result in a good life...

 

[Willamena]

Is there a god? ...I don't care! Is there a particular kind of god? ...I don't care!

No matter the authority (if any):
I can not love those I hate or I don't care for. I can not hate those I love or I don't care for. I can not find to be moral things I find immoral and vice versa. I can not fear those I trust or I know nothing about. I can not trust those I fear or I know nothing about etc.

...I just want to enjoy my apparent freedom.

Tamper with that freedom and you get people that react to that which caused the conflict. I wish all theists would understand that (many already do).

Amen.

I agree that a totally secular attitude is the best atheism. It's those who have to get a high horse to see how theists are doing harm to us all that sadden me.

 

[outhouse]

It's those who have to get a high horse to see how theists are doing harm to us all that sadden me.

So we should let fanaticism and fundamentalism go unchecked ????

 

[LuisDantas]

I wish it took a high horse...

 

[Iti oj]

In an ideal world people would be naturalist and the term atheist would not exist because there would be no theistic claim to reject.

 

[icehorse]

In an ideal world people would be naturalist and the term atheist would not exist because there would be no theistic claim to reject.

naturalist or secularist or "reasonist", or... but BINGO!

 

[Brinne]

While I do agree that sometimes atheists can be a little much, just as theists can, I do think they bring up valuable criticisms which should be reviewed. Not to mention, once one answers these criticisms it can bring about even more faith in one's tradition. As long as they're moderate in their practice (or lack thereof) and not going around bashing everyone just for believing, then they're fine in my book.

 

[Iti oj]

While I do agree that sometimes atheists can be a little much, just as theists can, I do think they bring up valuable criticisms which should be reviewed. Not to mention, once one answers these criticisms it can bring about even more faith in one's tradition. As long as they're moderate in their practice (or lack thereof) and not going around bashing everyone just for believing, then they're fine in my book.

While I agree respect is important, not all beliefs are respectable, or should I respect IS?

 

[idav]

In an ideal world people would be naturalist and the term atheist would not exist because there would be no theistic claim to reject.

I agree with this. Ideally important truths should just be self evident. Nobody should have to guess whether they are part off the cure or disease.

 

[Iti oj]

I agree with this. Ideally important truths should just be self evident. Nobody should have to guess whether they are part off the cure or disease.

I.need to spread my frubals around more.

 

[Brinne]

While I agree respect is important, not all beliefs are respectable, or should I respect IS?

Extremes should always be criticized; but in away that makes sense and is constructive. Simply saying you hate them and they're bad will just cause more wasted energy on your part.

 

[Iti oj]

Extremes should always be criticized; but in away that makes sense and is constructive. Simply saying you hate them and they're bad will just cause more wasted energy on your part.

The question is what is the line. I think anti science needs to be attacked as bad as is.

 

[Brinne]

The question is what is the line. I think anti science needs to be attacked as bad as is.

Good question; and I agree. Our pure reliance on science has definitely made us cold, especially in spiritual affairs. I'm not saying we should live without science and deny logic, but if you're skeptical towards spirituality and religion it's only fair for that person to be just as skeptical towards science.

 

[Iti oj]

Good question; and I agree. Our pure reliance on science has definitely made us cold, especially in spiritual affairs. I'm not saying we should live without science and deny logic, but if you're skeptical towards spirituality and religion it's only fair for that person to be just as skeptical towards science.

Sciences has reliable predictive and explanatory powers. Religion does not. Don't compare the two its dishonest.

 

[Apple Sugar]

Apatheist = You don't care about any idea or reference to god?

Then commit and be atheist. That's indifference. Unless they join religious forums and argue the point, then it's not.

Or don't label yourself at all. Easy. But making up a word no one knows is going to have you explaining yourself should the need arise. And that makes it necessary to explain why god isn't important. Sort of defeats the point doesn't it?

Is there a god? ...I don't care! Is there a particular kind of god? ...I don't care!

No matter the authority (if any):
I can not love those I hate or I don't care for. I can not hate those I love or I don't care for. I can not find to be moral things I find immoral and vice versa. I can not fear those I trust or I know nothing about. I can not trust those I fear or I know nothing about etc.

...I just want to enjoy my apparent freedom.

Tamper with that freedom and you get people that react to that which caused the conflict. I wish all theists would understand that (many already do).

 

[Brinne]

Sciences has reliable predictive and explanatory powers. Religion does not. Don't compare the two its dishonest.

Why can't I be allowed to compare the two? I'm saying blind reliance and complete submission either way is bad. If I see something in a science textbook that seems wrong to me I'm going to search out my own answers. Are you saying I should have blind adherence to established theories and not try and see for myself if they're actually true or not? Free thinking is a good thing, challenging theories and established science is how we've made it this far in the scientific community mind you.