Why do Atheists Debate Religion?

[outhouse]

You are arguing metaphysics and philosophy.

Have you done research? have you ever been involved in grant proposals? Have you conducted field research? Do you have a graduate level degree in science?

How about one in religion? a college class on religion?

 

[NewGuyOnTheBlock]

Atheism is a philosophical position, nothing more nothing less.

And yes I have to 3 of the 4 questions you have asked.

I prefer "philosophical position" over being accused of it being a "religion", so thank you.


Congratulations on your apparent academic success.

In terms of consciousness:
You two are looking at this from two different perspectives: One is looking at this from a philosophical point of view, the other scientific.

They need not be exclusive to one another.

That's my personal opinion, anyway.

 

[outhouse]

Have you done research?
.

20 years. Hobby has now turned into profit.

Have you worked in a lab?

Yes own a small one now thank you.

 

[s2a]

Go away little man and play with someone else, I'd rather not waste any more time on you.

You may be peeing in the wrong sandbox.

Just a thought...

...good kitty.

When you are ready, capable, and willing...come on back.

Only a BS. degree in wildlife bio...and your bona fides are?

Good thing "theists" have all knowledge that surpass the ages...

..."Thor" help me.

*snore*

 

[NewGuyOnTheBlock]

How about one in religion? a college class on religion?

Can't say that I have. I have years personal experience in many Christian doctrines as well as personal research/dabbling in several other religions along my long path. I have an interest in science. Life situations and many issues impeded my academic success and career.

I do feel that any factual claim made from those lacking that formal education (myself included) does need to be heard with increased skepticism, but I don't believe lack of formal education should serve to offhandedly dismiss a claim made.

In the last 3 years, I have taken it upon myself to study ToE and I find that in this personal endeavor, I know more than most of the general American public; I know less than what a High School graduate should know (sadly); and I know less than a Junior High Schooler from Europe would know. (That's quite a statement on our educational system, 'eh?)

My next goal is to look hard into Einstein's Theory of Relativity. It's a personal challenge, not only for pursuit of knowledge, but because the idea that spacetime is not constant; it expands and contracts, accelerates and decelerates; is an uncomfortable confrontation on my view of reality. I think it's healthy to challenge not only one's knowledge, but one's beliefs as well.

Thanks for asking!

 

[steeltoes]

Atheism is a philosophical position, nothing more nothing less.

Atheism is a non-philosophical position.

 

[LuisDantas]

Atheism is a non-philosophical position.

As opposed to a philosophical position? I don't think I agree. Why would it be non-philosophical?

 

[outhouse]

Can't say that I have. I have years personal experience in many Christian doctrines as well as personal research/dabbling in several other religions along my long path. I have an interest in science. Life situations and many issues impeded my academic success and career.

I do feel that any factual claim made from those lacking that formal education (myself included) does need to be heard with increased skepticism, but I don't believe lack of formal education should serve to offhandedly dismiss a claim made.

In the last 3 years, I have taken it upon myself to study ToE and I find that in this personal endeavor, I know more than most of the general American public; I know less than what a High School graduate should know (sadly); and I know less than a Junior High Schooler from Europe would know. (That's quite a statement on our educational system, 'eh?)

. It's a personal challenge, not only for pursuit of knowledge, but because the idea that spacetime is not constant; it expands and contracts, accelerates and decelerates; is an uncomfortable confrontation on my view of reality. I think it's healthy to challenge not only one's knowledge, but one's beliefs as well.

Thanks for asking!

I don't have much of a education, other then the school of hard knocks. Everything ive learned has been in the field.

My question was more directed at Shaz then you.


I have taken a class on Paul, and that has taught me more then anything I watched or learned debating. Studies some professors though at Yale on the NT and that was also aye opening. I only have half "at best" an education in religion, but it often covers 99.9% of the theist I run across.

My next goal is to look hard into Einstein's Theory of Relativity

I picked up his book, and thumbed through it. Way over my head.

But I do get the gist of it and how it changed math for orbits over Newton's models.


My hats off to you

 

[outhouse]

As opposed to a philosophical position? I don't think I agree. Why would it be non-philosophical?

That's my problem with philosophy.

Do we call living a philosophical position?


Deep down it does apply, but is it over use as a description of ones lack of belief?

 

[LuisDantas]

That's my problem with philosophy.

Do we call living a philosophical position?


Deep down it does apply, but is it over use as a description of ones lack of belief?

Living is an activity, albeit a very broadly and ill defined one. It does not quality as a philosophical position, because it lacks a clear statement.

 

[LuisDantas]

I don't agree either. It does tend to be philosophical belief, and argued as such, imo.

Just 'non-belief' with no opinion is usually agnostics or something else.

While that is true, it does not address the matter of whether atheism is a philosophical position in any way. Does it?

 

[LuisDantas]

Pretty much any belief that makes definite statements qualifies as a philosophy, I think. Whether it relates to theism at all is immaterial.

 

[Sir Doom]

-ism - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Sir Doom]

"At times one remains faithful to a cause only because its opponents do not cease to be insipid."

-Nietzsche

 

[s2a]

Living is an activity, albeit a very broadly and ill defined one. It does not quality as a philosophical position, because it lacks a clear statement.

Agreed.

"Existence" is not, in and of itself, a "philosophy". It's just not.

That as a given, "theism" of any sort presupposes an existent "god", "entity", or "force" that reigns supreme as some controlling influence amongst all "things" that exist in this moment.

"Atheism" (a lacking "belief" in any manifestly controlling/observant/omniscient "entity") may perhaps been seen as a separate "philosophy", but only when that sense/perspective is measured by other contextual comparisons of "belief". What is "anti-belief"? If religion (of any kind) is a measure of piety (by any method), then how is "unbelief" "measured by any comparison or standard?

If I don't accept "Thor" as a "god", how is my lacking "faith" in such a mythological entity to be measured? Please don't argue that common popularity is the best measure of piety. So far, in the entire history of our species...every popularized mythological "god(s)" have eventually been disposed of, excoriated, or plain forgotten over time.

Chances are good, that in time, your "god(s)" will be dismissed too...as just another happy wish.

Not to fear...another series of "god(s)" always seem to follow...*sigh*.

Lonely "atheists" just keep waiting...

 

[s2a]

Non-reality(you made it up) + baseless insult =0


True, because you created a strawman, then drew a conclusion from it.

I'm gonna guess that an unintended misquote attribution is kinda/sorta the worst straw man argumentation available.

You may pull your pants up and run away now...

https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/659/03/

...good basic reading, I promise

 

[outhouse]

"Existence" is not, in and of itself, a "philosophy". It's just not.

Agreed.


But living is a condition that requires thinking and study just to survive.


Does it apply? yes, but only using a broad brush.

"Atheism" (a lacking "belief" in any manifestly controlling/observant/omniscient "entity") may perhaps been seen as a separate "philosophy", but only when that sense/perspective is measured by other contextual comparisons of "belief". What is "anti-belief"? If religion (of any kind) is a measure of piety (by any method), then how is "unbelief" "measured by any comparison or standard?



...

Agreed, and sort of my point.

 

[Sir Doom]

What is the difference between existentialism and existencism?

The difference is very simple. Existentialism is a philosophy, and existencism is not a word.

Atheism is one of these. Guess which one I think it is? The first. It IS a word. People often say the literal form of the word is a-theism, or a lack of theism. That's not really the literal form. The literal form would be "philosophy without gods". Because -ism literal means philosophy. Being that this is EXACTLY how atheism manifests itself in atheists, I think this is probably a bit closer to what the word means.

I offer the example of Socrates. It isn't really that clear whether or not Socrates believed in the Gods in a literal sense. I believe this is a reasonable inference, so please note I will concede the fact that Socrates was a literal atheist in the modern sense as well as the way I will now describe.

Socrates is an atheist because he refused to honor the city gods of Athens. To my understanding this really had nothing to do with existence of Gods so much as giving not one harry turd about what the city gods of Athens (or more properly their friends in Athens) thought. His search for truth would be conducted atheistically. Without the input of gods or their buddies. That is how I define atheism. It isn't simply falling on one side of a single question. It is the consideration of all questions absent the input of magical things and the things they magic as well. That, my friends is a philosophy because you are beset on all sides with the opposite opinion. It is an active process and really we are just playing with word usage when we say it is a 'lack of belief' as opposed to a belief. Watch:

I do not believe in God. = (statement of disbelief)
I believe Gods are fictional. = (statement of belief)

Why is one more proper than the other to describe atheism? It isn't. They're both fine. Because atheism (or even 'an atheism' meaning something an atheist would say) is the answer to more than one question. Just as theism is. Or any other -ism for that matter. That's why we call them philosophies. Its an overall way of thinking as opposed to the specific answer to a specific question.

I hope that made sense.

 

[Quintessence]

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[Sir Doom]

izzatso...

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