Curious George
Veteran Member
No, no point. Just what you are saying entails that atheism cannot be just a lack of belief.
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Is there a benefit to atheism?
- Thread starter Jeremiahcp
- Start date
Opens the way for more, as does anything. But it is not more than that.
Curious George
Veteran Member
That wouldn't be a benefit of atheism then, it would be a benefit of anything. Are you back peddling?
All I've said is that atheists aren't theists. Exactly how do you jump from there to your conclusion?
Curious George
Veteran Member
Because now you are suggesting atheism is not just a lack of belief. It is a lack of belief and not occurring the costs of theism.
The implications of being a theist only happen to theists. Atheists aren't theists. What's the problem?
Curious George
Veteran Member
No problem. I gladly admit that atheism entails more than being just atheist. It is others that try to avoid such sentiments.
Altfish
Veteran Member
Do you believe in Zeus?
Augustus
…
So atheism can't be very consequential, yet opens the way for some things?
Are you saying it only opens the way for things of little consequence? Otherwise aren't these contradictory beliefs?
Erebus
Well-Known Member
I view atheism as a neutral stance with neither intrinsic benefits nor drawbacks. Now the things a person believes or practices alongside being an atheist can certainly have pros and cons, but atheism itself is a "blank" for want of a better word.
That can certainly be preferable to theism. Theism does have positives and negatives depending on the particular type of god belief. So if somebody comes from a background where the local theism has a lot of negatives attached to it (the various extremely fundamentalist parts of the world for example) then atheism can certainly be seen as a step up simply by virtue of discarding those negatives.
It's also worth mentioning that I view positives and negatives as a very personal matter. With this in mind, I'm not going to argue anything along the lines of, "theism can be positive, therefore all atheists should become theists." I think that for some people, any kind of theism just isn't a good fit for them and so atheism is preferable by default.
That can certainly be preferable to theism. Theism does have positives and negatives depending on the particular type of god belief. So if somebody comes from a background where the local theism has a lot of negatives attached to it (the various extremely fundamentalist parts of the world for example) then atheism can certainly be seen as a step up simply by virtue of discarding those negatives.
It's also worth mentioning that I view positives and negatives as a very personal matter. With this in mind, I'm not going to argue anything along the lines of, "theism can be positive, therefore all atheists should become theists." I think that for some people, any kind of theism just isn't a good fit for them and so atheism is preferable by default.
Sounds like it's more that you're trying to shoehorn this view into what other people are saying, even if they're not.
Jumi
Well-Known Member
I'm curious as to what it might entail?
Yes, actually, it *is* irrational to believe in an imaginary being. Period. Believing in something that doesn't exist when there is no evidence of its existence is almost the *definition* of irrationality.
First of all, and this gets to the point of the thread, belief in an imaginary being, even if it gives you warm fuzzies and has a placebo effect, is damaging to the intellect and the understanding. Like drugs, you get a false feeling of well-being but you are replacing a fantasy with reality. And *that* is a harm.
Of course! They bring me green beer every weekend and we dance and have a jolly time! Well, that is what I tell everyone. It is actually ordinary beer and a placebo effect.
Curious George
Veteran Member
If there are benefits to atheism that means something follows atheism. It is just logic. If something follows athiesm atheism can no longer be just a belief that god does not exist or a lack of belief in god. I am not the one here trying to say something follows atheism, that was others making that claim.
Curious George
Veteran Member
Apparently people have a variety of beliefs about what it entails.
If one has a lack in belief in a deity, you also lack the consequences of having a belief in a deity.
Curious George
Veteran Member
And what are those consequences?
Well, for one, reduced amount of time devoted to figuring out what a deity wants. That is actually a HUGE benefit!
Curious George
Veteran Member
Then that is one thing you are claiming atheism entails "beyond just not believing in god" (if that is the definition you use) or beyond just believing god does not exist (if that is the definition you use).