Threads about Atheism and what it is.

[Cacotopia]

Why, why can't you people just read the dictionary before asking questions that only expose your ignorance of a subject.

Atheism is not a belief system, Atheism is a position on belief, the lack of belief in a deity.

Atheism is not a world view, although atheists hold world views that are similar, atheism is still just a position of lack of belief.

Is atheism a science?

wut?

Atheism claims there are no gods,

wrong again, anti theism claims this, and those that identify as Anti theist are also classified as Atheists. Which I can remotely see how it might be confusing.

Atheism is a position on belief or the lack of beliefs.

How can so many people get it wrong so consistently.

just a quick search negates the need of all of these arguments/

 

[Augustus]

just a quick search negates the need of all of these arguments/

There is no clear, academic consensus as to how exactly the term should be used. For example, consider the following definitions of ‘atheism’ or ‘atheist’, all taken from serious scholarly writings published in the last ten years

1. ‘Atheism […] is the belief that there is no God or gods’ (Baggini 2003: 3)
2. ‘At its core, atheism […] designates a position (not a “belief”) that includes or asserts no god(s)’ (Eller 2010: 1)
3. ‘[A]n atheist is someone without a belief in God; he or she need not be someone who believes that God does not exist’ (Martin 2007: 1)
4. ‘[A]n atheist does not believe in the god that theism favours’ (Cliteur 2009: 1)
5. ‘By “atheist,” I mean precisely what the word has always been understood to mean—a principled and informed decision to reject belief in God’ (McGrath 2004: 175)

The Oxford Handbook of Atheism

 

[Twilight Hue]

Why, why can't you people just read the dictionary before asking questions that only expose your ignorance of a subject.

Atheism is not a belief system, Atheism is a position on belief, the lack of belief in a deity.

Atheism is not a world view, although atheists hold world views that are similar, atheism is still just a position of lack of belief.

Is atheism a science?

wut?

Atheism claims there are no gods,

wrong again, anti theism claims this, and those that identify as Anti theist are also classified as Atheists. Which I can remotely see how it might be confusing.

Atheism is a position on belief or the lack of beliefs.

How can so many people get it wrong so consistently.

just a quick search negates the need of all of these arguments/

All it takes is a simple look at it's etymology.

Essentially, it's one without gods.

Pretty straightforward and direct.

 

[Jumi]

Atheism claims there are no gods,

wrong again, anti theism claims this, and those that identify as Anti theist are also classified as Atheists. Which I can remotely see how it might be confusing.

Antitheism doesn't claim gods don't exist. They claim to know that theism or religion are harmful. In my experience antitheists are more often against religions(especially theistic ones) than claiming that gods don't exist. I believe what you're looking for are gnostic or strong atheists, who are the opposite of gnostic theists.

Atheism is a position on belief or the lack of beliefs.

At it's most basic yes, but then it is weak or agnostic atheism.

How can so many people get it wrong so consistently.

I think the idea is mostly to annoy atheists or promote some religion. At least that's what I thought when I was still atheist. But then again in debates, it's the same deal quite often with atheists and antitheists who get it wrong about theists or theism with their generalizations and how they repeat the same even if corrected previously. So there's a lot of that going on, anyone on any side of the fence that listens carefully will avoid the basic mistakes...

 

[Augustus]

All it takes is a simple look at it's etymology.

Essentially, it's one without gods.

Pretty straightforward and direct.

It's etymology would show numerous different historical usages which is why there is a debate over its meaning

 

[Apologes]

Why, why can't you people just read the dictionary before asking questions that only expose your ignorance of a subject.

Because dictionaries are not a be all end all when it comes to philosophical positions. Even if they were, there is no single definition for atheism. There are multiple views that fall under that term.

Atheism is not a belief system, Atheism is a position on belief, the lack of belief in a deity.

What you're describing is a kind of atheism - negative/weak atheism. There is another kind which is known as positive/strong atheism and it is the latter that has been more prominent throughout history and is still very much advocated today.

Atheism is not a world view, although atheists hold world views that are similar, atheism is still just a position of lack of belief.

Positive atheism isn't just "similar to atheism". It is a kind of atheism, just as negative atheism is a kind of atheism.

Atheism claims there are no gods,

wrong again, anti theism claims this, and those that identify as Anti theist are also classified as Atheists. Which I can remotely see how it might be confusing.

Atheism does claim there are no gods when presented in the positive context (the historically predominant one).

Anti-theism has nothing to do with this as it is simply a hostility towards theism rather than a mere rejection of it.

Atheism is a position on belief or the lack of beliefs.

Yes it is both a position on belief or a lack of belief, depending on the type we're talking about.

How can so many people get it wrong so consistently.

You should ask yourself that.

just a quick search negates the need of all of these arguments/

The way in which to understand atheism is still a very contentious issue in the academia so it's hardly as simple as that. If anything is an ignorant claim, then surely this is it.

There is, however, a simple solution to all of this confusion. Instead of trying to hide behind a general label (or perhaps trying to hijack it all for yourself) why not just state your view a bit more precisely by specifying the kind of atheism you endorse and discuss that?

 

[Augustus]

Why, why can't you people just read the dictionary before asking questions that only expose your ignorance of a subject.

What would you suggest for someone who took the definition from the Oxford English Dictionary: 'the definitive record of the English language'? (via www.oed.com)

atheism, n.

Forms: Also 15 athisme.
Frequency (in current use):
Etymology: < French athéisme (16th cent. in Littré), < Greek ἄθεος : see
atheal adj. and -ism suffix. Compare Italian atheismo and the earlier atheonism n.(Show Less)

Thesaurus »

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Disbelief in, or denial of, the existence of a God. Also, Disregard of duty to God, godlessness (practical atheism).

1587 Sir P. Sidney & A. Golding tr. P. de Mornay Trewnesse Christian Relig. xx. 355 Athisme, that is to say, vtter Godlesnes.
1605 Bacon Of Aduancem. Learning i. sig. B3v A little or superficiall knowledge of Philosophie may encline the minde of Man to Atheisme .
1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 119. ¶5 Hypocrisy in one Age is generally succeeded by Atheism in another.
1859 C. Kingsley Lett. (1878) II. 75 Whatever doubt or doctrinal Atheism you and your friends may have, don't fall into moral Atheism.

 

[stvdv]

Why, why can't you people just read the dictionary before asking questions that only expose your ignorance of a subject.
Atheism is not a belief system, Atheism is a position on belief, the lack of belief in a deity.
Atheism is not a world view, although atheists hold world views that are similar, atheism is still just a position of lack of belief.
Is atheism a science?
wut?
Atheism claims there are no gods,
wrong again, anti theism claims this, and those that identify as Anti theist are also classified as Atheists. Which I can remotely see how it might be confusing.
Atheism is a position on belief or the lack of beliefs.
How can so many people get it wrong so consistently.
just a quick search negates the need of all of these arguments/

There is no clear, academic consensus as to how exactly the term should be used. For example, consider the following definitions of ‘atheism’ or ‘atheist’, all taken from serious scholarly writings published in the last ten years

1. ‘Atheism […] is the belief that there is no God or gods’ (Baggini 2003: 3)
2. ‘At its core, atheism […] designates a position (not a “belief”) that includes or asserts no god(s)’ (Eller 2010: 1)
3. ‘[A]n atheist is someone without a belief in God; he or she need not be someone who believes that God does not exist’ (Martin 2007: 1)
4. ‘[A]n atheist does not believe in the god that theism favours’ (Cliteur 2009: 1)
5. ‘By “atheist,” I mean precisely what the word has always been understood to mean—a principled and informed decision to reject belief in God’ (McGrath 2004: 175)

One thing is getting clear to me
Atheism begins to look like religions.
So many different denominations already.
So many different definitions
[Understandable; we are all humans after all]

I just pile all systems up under: "Belief System"
Atheists believe at least in themselves [and they change everyday, so "belief" is accurate here.]
And they believe in science. Science change everyday and even some of their facts sometimes
And from advaita I remember ""You only have to believe in Your Self to realise Your Self"

And I am free to do so because of "Freedom of Religion".
I think it is best Atheism also call themselves a Religion
Thereby they get the same right "Freedom of Religion"
Just a thought I had now.

Note: Okay I really should update my Memory I just googled and saw that sometime back this was done
Obama just signed a law protecting atheists from religious persecution

 

[`mud]

I'm confused again,
why would theists care whether or not athiests believe in any or all `Gods` ?
The cap is for the theists !

 

[`mud]

hey Stvdv,
In regards to:
"And I am free to do so because of "Freedom of Religion".
I think it is best Atheism also call themselves a Religion
Thereby they get the same right "Freedom of Religion"
Just a thought I had now."

Are you really kidding ??
Does your religion include a `God` ?
Then it is a religion is it ?
Do you see me worshipping ?
Do you have a clue ?
Am I going to get a citation for that also ?
Do I care anymore ?
mon amie

 

[stvdv]

hey Stvdv,
In regards to:
"And I am free to do so because of "Freedom of Religion".
I think it is best Atheism also call themselves a Religion
Thereby they get the same right "Freedom of Religion"
Just a thought I had now."

Are you really kidding ??
Does your religion include a `God` ?
Then it is a religion is it ?
Do you see me worshipping ?
Do you have a clue ?
Am I going to get a citation for that also ?
Do I care anymore ?
mon amie

My friend,

Thank you for alerting me

I googled and see this is already implemented
I should read more the news maybe
But as you said:"Do I care anymore?"
[I do care for atheists, but not for knowing everything]
Obama just signed a law protecting atheists from religious persecution

 

[Shushersbedamned]

Positive atheism does claim god does not exist.

 

[stvdv]

I'm confused again,
why would theists care whether or not athiests believe in any or all `Gods` ?
The cap is for the theists !

Hello brother,

I saw your rating stood at 999
I just wanted to make it 1000
Hope all confusion is gone now

Many theists care that all believe in God. My mother told me once that she always believed it was impossible to be happy for a person when not believing in Jesus. They were told over and over in church and finally believed this to be true.

Personally I don't care if someone believes in "God" or not. I care that someone is happy. That is enough for me.

 

[`mud]

Obama ??....OK that `law` doesn't apply to atheists does it !
It primarily protects theists doesn't it ?
I really don't know, clue me in.
mon ami

 

[Shushersbedamned]

I think the idea is mostly to annoy atheists or promote some religion....

It is a bad sign that in general atheists are easily annoyed.

 

[ChristineM]

Why, why can't you people just read the dictionary before asking questions that only expose your ignorance of a subject.

Atheism is not a belief system, Atheism is a position on belief, the lack of belief in a deity.

Atheism is not a world view, although atheists hold world views that are similar, atheism is still just a position of lack of belief.

Is atheism a science?

wut?

Atheism claims there are no gods,

wrong again, anti theism claims this, and those that identify as Anti theist are also classified as Atheists. Which I can remotely see how it might be confusing.

Atheism is a position on belief or the lack of beliefs.

How can so many people get it wrong so consistently.

just a quick search negates the need of all of these arguments/

I was about to start a thread on the same subject then i spotted this. Thanks.

 

[`mud]

If Obama created it, Trump will find a way to kill it.

 

[David T]

Why, why can't you people just read the dictionary before asking questions that only expose your ignorance of a subject.

Atheism is not a belief system, Atheism is a position on belief, the lack of belief in a deity.

Atheism is not a world view, although atheists hold world views that are similar, atheism is still just a position of lack of belief.

Is atheism a science?

wut?

Atheism claims there are no gods,

wrong again, anti theism claims this, and those that identify as Anti theist are also classified as Atheists. Which I can remotely see how it might be confusing.

Atheism is a position on belief or the lack of beliefs.

How can so many people get it wrong so consistently.

just a quick search negates the need of all of these arguments/

It only exists in context to believers this its a part of religion or that way we look at the world .Atheism is insane without believers.. Only an idiot references the dictionary in context to many topics including nature cosmos or God. These are sounds and that is all. The dictionary is not the great reality no matter what you reductuvely believe. Eimeim exposed language for what it is as have others.

some atheists are a reaction to dysfunction in religion I understand that. but as a reality that's reasoned oh please southern baptists without jesus big deal they too believe they are reasoned as well. No have music the whole lot of ya.

 

[Desert Snake]

Why, why can't you people just read the dictionary before asking questions that only expose your ignorance of a subject.

Atheism is not a belief system, Atheism is a position on belief, the lack of belief in a deity.

Atheism is not a world view, although atheists hold world views that are similar, atheism is still just a position of lack of belief.

Is atheism a science?

wut?

Atheism claims there are no gods,

wrong again, anti theism claims this, and those that identify as Anti theist are also classified as Atheists. Which I can remotely see how it might be confusing.

Atheism is a position on belief or the lack of beliefs.

How can so many people get it wrong so consistently.

just a quick search negates the need of all of these arguments/

The definition of atheist changed, from not having a god, greek, to not believing in a god or gods.
C.
The fault lies directly with atheists who changed the meaning into a nonsensical inference, that assumes that god belief, isn't inherent, thereby making your own definition problematic, because it makes the atheist position, one of belief.

 

[ChristineM]

And it's amazing that people are even claiming dictionaries are wrong then putting their own religious misrepresentation of atheism.