The Religion of Atheism

[tumbleweed41]

athiesm is a religon cuz it like sayin we cum frum a big bang that made earth n stuff n apes made humans like gods maked us n it make no sinse cuz they think we see blackness when we die wich is stupid cuz we really go to underworld

ya cuz apes dont made nuttn like humanz, they jus throw crap n stuf

 

[Valjean]

Atheism a religion? That's absurd. A religion's a set of beliefs. Atheism is a lack of beliefs.

Atheism's the intellectual default position. Until you write some religious doctrine on it, it's a blank slate.

 

[Tristesse]

Atheism is a religion like bald is a hair style.

 

[Acim]

So, lemme ask y'all...is theism a religion?

If not, then I can agree that atheism is not.
If yes, then let the debate continue.

 

[Tristesse]

So, lemme ask y'all...is theism a religion?

If not, then I can agree that atheism is not.
If yes, then let the debate continue.

Theism in and of it'self is not a religion, but if you define yourself as a theist, and you adopt christianity as your belief system, then that would be a religion. But just having a belief in a god and no other beliefs attahed to that belief, then I would say, no, thats not a religion.

 

[Acim]

So, not all theists are religious?

Is it possible that an atheist could adopt a belief system whereby they would be religious? (And of course be atheist)

 

[Tristesse]

So, not all theists are religious?

Is it possible that an atheist could adopt a belief system whereby they would be religious? (And of course be atheist)

Sure. A lot of buddhists have. There are also sects of atheists called raliens and they are a religion, for the most part.

 

[Acim]

Cool. That answers that. Much appreciated.

I am curious, if atheism itself could evolve into a belief system? Like if atheist believes that science (particularly scientific realism) is how atheist decides evidence must be presented in framework of 'theism,' if that would be belief system at work, masking itself, perhaps, as atheism?

 

[Valjean]

You still seem to think atheism is an actual thing; some sort of belief.

Atheism is nothing, it's a lack of belief, at least your basic, weak atheism is nothing, and nothing can't "evolve" into anything.

Do you think your lack of belief in a teapot orbiting the Sun or Jabba the Hut is likely to evolve into some sort of belief system?

 

[Acim]

You still seem to think atheism is an actual thing; some sort of belief.

Atheism is nothing, it's a lack of belief, at least your basic, weak atheism is nothing,

I believe I'm referring to strong atheism.
Weak atheism strikes me as agnostic.

and nothing can't "evolve" into anything.

In an illusionary way it can. From the no-thing came every thing.

Do you think your lack of belief in a teapot orbiting the Sun or Jabba the Hut is likely to evolve into some sort of belief system?

Well if I think about it...
Think about it....
Think....

Then, yes, I believe it plausibly could evolve from void to something (of value)

Moreover, if there were thousands like me, and we all thought about these things, going as far as claiming our thoughts are the rational ones, then absolutely, I assert that a belief system is likely

 

[Valjean]

Isn't strong atheism a certainty that no deity exists; a positive denial of deity?

I thought weak atheism was simply a lack of belief; belief held in abeyance till some evidence presents itself.

 

[Acim]

Isn't strong atheism a certainty that no deity exists; a positive denial of deity?

I thought weak atheism was simply a lack of belief; belief held in abeyance till some evidence presents itself.

I think we agree on weak atheism. To me, it seems agnostic, but why quibble among friends.

I'm sure there is sound bite version for strong atheism that amounts to "certainty no deity exists." I've seen enough 'add-ons' in past few days that would lead reasonable person to think the sound bite version is inadequate, perhaps even in vein of 'one variation of strong atheism.'

So, my question a few posts back stands: I am curious, if (strong) atheism itself could evolve into a belief system?

 

[Valjean]

Strong atheism consists of a single, basic doctrine. I suppose it could be embellished into an ethical doctrine.

 

[Acim]

I'm this/close to starting thread on "what is atheism?" with idea of collecting the umpteen things I've seen on this site regarding something many claim is simple. I would say it is as ambiguous as theism.

 

[Willamena]

Anyway, the "Religion" of Atheism...

...would require congregation, preaching, a sharing of worldview, and an unprecedented amount of symbolism about ...nothing.

Sort of like this:
2012 Global Atheist Convention | A Celebration of Reason

 

[Willamena]

I thought weak atheism was simply a lack of belief; belief held in abeyance till some evidence presents itself.

The problem with that is that, though some people might deny it, beliefs are fundamental. Essentially there's no such thing as a "lack of belief" that doesn't equate to "I believe something else."

Edit: See eliminativism as an example.

 

[Valjean]

I don't believe there is a mounted bronze statue of Churchill on Uranus. I have no concomitant alternate belief.

 

[Acim]

I don't believe there is a mounted bronze statue of Churchill on Uranus. I have no concomitant alternate belief.

Wouldn't that, 'naturally' be, I believe there is not a mounted bronze statue of Churchill on Uranus?

 

[Sunstone]

Wouldn't that, 'naturally' be, I believe there is not a mounted bronze statue of Churchill on Uranus?

Nope. But nice try.

 

[FlyingTeaPot]

Anyway, the "Religion" of Atheism. I posed a challenge in a dying thread that I decided ought to be repeated here, and that is this: I don't believe any atheist on this forum can come up with one piece of evidence for Atheism that I can not disprove (I'm talking facts).

There is no evidence for atheism. It is a lack of belief in a higher power. That is it. In other words, I don't believe that a higher power exists, the same way I don't believe leprechauns exist. There is nothing to prove here.