Is Atheism (et al) a Worldview?

[Eddi]

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.

Any worldview that does not feature any kind of God or Gods is an atheistic world view

But atheism itself is not a world view

If that makes any sense??????

That's what I think anyway

 

[LuisDantas]

I wish I understood the question.

Me too! I couldn't get my head around the phrase "atheism (et al)" - I assume it means "and the other things mentioned in the OP" - namely,

To the best of my understanding, those who think that atheism is either a worldview or some sort of decisive component of some worldview hold unrealistic, inflated conceptions of what atheism is and which consequences it entails.

Something along the lines of atheism being an impediment for perceiving "The Truth (TM)" are thereby starting a chain of presumed mistakes that somehow would structure a whole worldview of evil.

It is very ironic really.

 

[LuisDantas]

Any worldview that does not feature any kind of God or Gods is an atheistic world view

But atheism itself is not a world view

If that makes any sense??????

That's what I think anyway

Secularism and laicism are not atheistic, though. They respect atheism, but then again they respect theism as well.

 

[Valjean]

A

Isn't a worldview a set of beliefs and/or assumptions through which people see the world around them?

Atheist don't have a belief in a god. They lack belief.
Atheists don't have a belief or assume in science. They accept/follow the evidence.

But it depends on your search. Some say no, some say yes.

"Atheism is not a worldview. It is an answer to the question of whether a person believes in a god or not. Atheists rarely claim certainty. Typically, rather than arguing that the existence of a god or gods is impossible, it is their view that it is highly improbable. They see no good or persuasive reason to believe.

What is and isn’t a non-religious worldview?

‘The English word ‘worldview’ is a translation of the German weltanschauung, which literally means a view of the world. A worldview is a person’s way of understanding, experiencing and responding to the world. It can be described as a philosophy of life or an approach to life. This includes how...

understandinghumanism.org.uk

"That’s why atheism is a worldview. Atheists make choices based on the view that God does not exist"

Atheism is a Worldview

Atheism, whether a belief in no god or a non-belief in god, has the same consequential influence on moral decision-making. Atheism, whether a belief in god or a non-belief in god, has the same influence on worldview—it keeps the choices to a local level. And that’s the problem. That’s why atheism is

wisedisciple.org

What do choices have to do with worldview?

 

[Valjean]

Atheism is simply the absence of belief in God, Gods, etc. but to have such an absence of such beliefs requires a cause, which means some type of worldview, which rarely means a religion. 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.

No, no cause is needed to Lack belief. Lack of belief is the epistemic default. A potted begonia lacks belief, but it doesn't have a worldview.

It's the various, acquired beliefs that require causes, and may be part of a worldview.

 

[Mock Turtle]

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.

No, atheism for me isn't a worldview. If I have any particular worldview, whatever I believe or not as to atheism or agnosticism, this is just a part of such, although no doubt this does inform my reasoning as to any such worldview. My reasoning, as for any who are not so indoctrinated beforehand with any particular religious belief perhaps, has to be based on the best evidence available - as to which science seems to be the best test - and hence why, in my life so far, there has been nothing to indicate otherwise than what views have formed - given that I perhaps am rather strict as to passing or accepting 'evidence'. But I am still open to evidence that science might not find - just not the sort that relies on my own perceptions or those of other individuals.

 

[PureX]

If you think atheism is a label for an empty mind, then you will think it is not a world view. And most atheists around here these days fight tooth and nail to maintain the empty mind label of atheism because they don't want to be called on to defend anything they actually think or believe.

But atheism is either something or it's nothing. And if it's something, that something is part of a world view. If it's nothing, than who cares, anyway. The label has negated it's own validity and should just be ignored as empty gibberish.

 

[TagliatelliMonster]

Wouldn't a world with no gods be a presupposition?

I think that's a common misunderstanding.

Atheism is not "no gods". Atheism is rather "no reason to think their are gods". That's not the same thing.
At best, it is for "no gods" for practical intents and purposes. As an atheist, I live as if there are no gods, merely because I don't believe the claim that there are gods.

People, theists specifically, consider such to be mega-impactful somehow. But it really isn't.
There's literally an INFINITE amount of things that you could believe, that you don't. You live your life as if all those things aren't true / don't exist. And none of them keep you awake at night. None of them really impact you one way or the other.

Consider how much of your day, for example, is impacted by the disbelief that an undetectable dragon follows you everywhere you go.
I'ld say that it has no impact whatsoever. Positive beliefs impact your decisions and actions. Disbeliefs don't. Or at least not to any extent that is mentionworthy.

So if you want to say that "no gods" is a presupposition I hold.... owkay.
In the same sense we all have an INFINITE amount of "presupposition" of "no undetectable dragons following us" and "no undetectable aliens keep track of us" and "no teapots orbitting jupiter" and "no leprechauns hiding pots of gold" and...... pretty much whatever your imagination can come up with.

What really is the value of such "presuppositions"? What is their impact on our worldview?

Not much, I'ld say.

 

[TagliatelliMonster]

As far as theistic religions that don't have doctrines, rules, or claims about the world, I would say that Buddhism

I'm not that knowledgeable about buddhism, but I hear that they don't even really have a god concept?
Nevertheless, buddhism surely comes with a "way of life", does it not?

, much of Hinduism, and some Contemporary Pagan religions might qualify as such.

Same with these religions. Surely these all come with some type of "way of life" and do's and don'ts which are directly related to those religious, are they not?

Like, of the top of my head, aren't there for example dietry rules in hinduism? Aren't you supposed to not eat cow for example?
And surely there's a reason for why that is? And that's just one rule.
I'm sure there are others.

What is a religion, if not something that comes with a set of beliefs which involves some type of rules of how to live or not to live and / or things you are supposed to do or not do, as a direct result of the religious doctrines etc?

I'm not aware of any theistic religion which consists of "there are gods and you should live your life as we those gods don't exist".

 

[SalixIncendium]

What really is the value of such "presuppositions"? What is their impact on our worldview?

You'd probably spend much less time hiding from dragons, looking through telescopes for teapots, and searching for pots of gold...

 

[TagliatelliMonster]

And most atheists around here these days fight tooth and nail to maintain the empty mind label of atheism because they don't want to be called on to defend anything they actually think or believe.

Nonsense. I will happily defend that which I think and believe.
The thing is just that what I think and believe, isn't defined by my disbelief of specific things (= atheism)

But atheism is either something or it's nothing.

It is the position of not believing the claims of theism.
That's what it is. Don't try to make it more then it actually is.

Atheism doesn't tell you what I do believe. It tells you what I don't believe.

And if it's something, that something is part of a world view.

That's short sighted.
My disbelief in god is as much part of my "world view" as your disbelief of pretty much anything you disbelieve is part of your worldview.
This is literally an infinite number of things. Like undetectable dragons following you everywhere you go, leprechauns hiding pots of gold, tooth fairies, santa claus, godzilla, big foot, alien abduction, tarrot card readings, voodoo, magic, reptilians from planet x in the white house, time travelers, extra-dimensional unicorns, etc etc etc. It in fact is only limited by your and other people's imagination.

There's an infinite number of things you don't believe in that you COULD believe in.
So if you wish to say that that infinite number of things you don't believe are all part of your worldview, go right ahead. But surely you see the rather meaninglessness of such an exercise. It seems to me to be a lot easier and more helpfull to simply only include those things that you actually DO believe when discussion / defining your worldview.

If it's nothing, than who cares, anyway.

Well, theists seem to care.

The label has negated it's own validity and should just be ignored as empty gibberish.

I'm in full agreement there.
The word is useless when it comes to describing a person.
It is far more usefull to use words that actually DO tell you what someone believes or does as opposed to words that do not.

 

[TagliatelliMonster]

You'd probably spend much less time hiding from dragons, looking through telescopes for teapots, and searching for pots of gold...

Exactly: not, not, not.

IOW, you do things / organize your life according to the stuff you DO believe. Not according to the stuff you don't believe. They don't even cross your mind. Because they are.....not..... part of your worldview.

My point exactly.

 

[Twilight Hue]

Since you are presenting this as a definitive fact, I would like to see the sources behind this conclusion.

All sources comes from human beings. That is the only source here.

Tell me otherwise if there is anything aside from humans pushing this.

I would genuinely love to see it.

 

[SalixIncendium]

I'm not that knowledgeable about buddhism, but I hear that they don't even really have a god concept?
Nevertheless, buddhism surely comes with a "way of life", does it not?


Same with these religions. Surely these all come with some type of "way of life" and do's and don'ts which are directly related to those religious, are they not?

Like, of the top of my head, aren't there for example dietry rules in hinduism? Aren't you supposed to not eat cow for example?
And surely there's a reason for why that is? And that's just one rule.
I'm sure there are others.

What is a religion, if not something that comes with a set of beliefs which involves some type of rules of how to live or not to live and / or things you are supposed to do or not do, as a direct result of the religious doctrines etc?

I'm not aware of any theistic religion which consists of "there are gods and you should live your life as we those gods don't exist".

In most dharmic religions, there is dharma, which really has no direct translation to English. It's essentially a living in according with moral virtues/duties according to cosmic law.

However, there is no set a "rules" when it comes to dharma, at least to the extent that there is no set of rules when it comes to living a secular life save living according secular law. One has the choice to live a dharmic life or an adharmic life, and either of these have a positive or negative impact respectively on one's karma, just as in secular life having the choice to be a law abiding citizen or a criminal and having a positive or negative impact on one's freedom.

Certainly there are dietary guidelines, and cows are considered sacred because they are representative of divinity. But then again, a Hindu can walk a dharmic path of nonviolence (ahimsa) and not kill cows or other animals for food, or walk an adharmic path and kill and eat animals. And as with other actions, this will either have a positive or negative impact on one's karma. But again, no hard and fast rules any more than there are hard and fast rules for leading a secular life. If I eat a hamburger, I'll probably be sick, but I won't burn in Hell.

 

[We Never Know]

What do choices have to do with worldview?

I shared what someone else wrote. The link is there. Contact the person who wrote it and ask them.

 

[Nakosis]

Either God is everything, or He is nothing. Either perspective must surely inform every aspect of a person’s view, of the world.

God is simply unimportant in my worldview. It doesn't matter to me if God is everything, nothing or something in-between.

My life is what it is. I don't see where the existence or the non-existence of God is going to change anything.

 

[We Never Know]

Atheism is a position held regarding the reality of God based on a materialist world view.

Theism is a position held regarding the reality of God based on a spiritualist world view.

I would say that because the respective positions are 'part-n-parcel' with the world view that upholds them, that they should be considered as one and the same as that world view.

Theism -belief in a god
Atheism -lack of belief in a god

As I have seen said here several times. Its not that Atheist don't believe in a god, its they lack belief in a god.
Is lacking something a position?

 

[SalixIncendium]

Is lacking something a position?

It is when there is an awareness of and a point of view regarding what one is lacking.

 

[George-ananda]

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.

I see the atheist viewpoint as usually atheistic-materialism. I would call that a worldview, yes.

 

[We Never Know]

It is when there is an awareness of and a point of view regarding what one is lacking.

I don't know. Atheist don't disbelieve in a god, which would be a position of disbelief. They lack belief.
Tell them their belief is a god doesnt exist and they will say "I don't have a belief. I lack a belief".