Are atheists liars, deniers or..?

[paarsurrey]

Many atheists are critical thinkers, who view have carefully thought about religious beliefs and view them as being illogical. The existence of a deity is genuinely difficult for them to believe in. Some (a small minority) of self-declared atheists (particularly among the youth) may be declaring themselves to be "atheists" out of insecurity because they subconsciously believe that calling themselves an "atheist" somehow makes them smarter than theists, although of course it does not.

Critical thinking is not an exclusive peculiarity of Atheism, many people belonging to religion also think critically. Right? Please
Regards

 

[Willamena]

Critical thinking is not an exclusive peculiarity of Atheism, many people belonging to religion also think critically. Right? Please
Regards

What you've done, there, is called taking what was said out of context. In the context of the rest of the line, the highlighted part isn't a reference exclusive of atheists.

 

[IndigoStorm]

The mere concept that some sort of all powerful/all seeing
"god" created the entire universe and everything in it is so totally ludicrous. David Copperfield the magician is more believable than Jesus of Nazareth.

 

[Quintessence]

Like you said, it's not obvious. I couldn't understand you the first time I encountered your posts and unfortunately I dont encounter many people like you. Many have a classical monotheistic concept box, regardless of being theist or atheist.

But do you think if someone had a similar level of understanding to yours or better would still possibly identify as an atheist?

Absolutely. At the end of the day, I find the "distinction" between atheism and theism to be... well... not. I could stop calling my gods "gods" today and it would mean nothing. It's just a label. A word. It's the substance behind the words that matter. While I aim to respect how people self-identify, I also like to look past it to what they are actually doing. It wouldn't be hard at all for someone to do the same sorts of religious activities I do and call themselves an atheist, and I see it on a fairly regular basis. I don't agree with their self-identifier because to me what they are doing is transparently theistic in orientation, but... like I said, at the end of the day, it's just labels.

An interesting thing - early on in my path I definitely struggled with that word "god." At some point, I guess I decided that I was sick of letting the mainstream monotheists of my culture own that word. In the past, it meant some very different things, and as a contemporary Pagan, it made sense for me to reclaim ownership of that word "god" instead of ignore it and not use it. But there was definitely a time I used other words instead of "gods" to describe things - there was some personal baggage going on there. But then I went "why the blazes am I letting outsiders control how I use words within my own religion? That's dumb - Christians don't define what gods are for Pagans!" I put my foot down about it. I did the same thing on the word "religion." Guess I just refuse to let the majorities define the terms for all the minorities, or for myself.

 

[interminable]

It is my experience that without a certain degree of variation and redundance in my writing people will often fail to read what I write and instead pick and choose sparse elements to confirm what they want to read instead. I decided to block that if I could help it.

In any case, since you ask, I will try a simpler wording now.

1. Fear of punishment in hell is not helpful in encouraging people not to lie.

2. Nor is that fear useful in making people more moral in other ways, either. Fear and morality are not friends to each other.

3. Atheism is not at all caused by "lying" about the matter of existence of God. We, quite simply, do not believe in the existence of a god. It is really that simple.

4. Calling an atheist a "denier" is just strange. What would there be to be denied?

Actually I think atheists say god doesn't exist not that they don't believe in him right?

 

[David T]

Many atheists are critical thinkers, who view have carefully thought about religious beliefs and view them as being illogical. The existence of a deity is genuinely difficult for them to believe in. Some (a small minority) of self-declared atheists (particularly among the youth) may be declaring themselves to be "atheists" out of insecurity because they subconsciously believe that calling themselves an "atheist" somehow makes them smarter than theists, although of course it does not.

Critical thinkers except for themselves. I have spent time on religion and indeed it can be massively flawed reasoning. But in religion there are at least some who understand that. In context to atheism I never ever get the impression that atheists consider atheism as flawed reasoning at all, but rather profoundly brilliant and atheism always always relies on flawed reasoning in religion as justification to prop that fantasy up. Atheism does not exist except as a mental disorder if religious believers did not exist. And as far as I have been able to understand all atheists believe there are atheists, religious believers and agnostics and that's it!!!! That is False.

 

[LuisDantas]

Actually I think atheists say god doesn't exist not that they don't believe in him right?

There are two kinds of atheists. Some of us are "weak atheists", who do not necessarily state that there is no god.

 

[Willamena]

Actually I think atheists say god doesn't exist not that they don't believe in him right?

(Edited) In this context, it means the same thing.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

It means the same thing.

No, it doesn't.

 

[Willamena]

No, it doesn't.

See? Some atheists really are in denial...

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

See? Some atheists really are in denial...

Do you understand the difference between making a claim about your own state of mind ("I don't believe in any gods") and a claim about the external world ("gods don't exist")?

 

[Willamena]

Do you understand the difference between making a claim about your own state of mind ("I don't believe in any gods") and a claim about the external world ("gods don't exist")?

Yes, actually, I do.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Yes, actually, I do.

Then you should know better.

 

[lewisnotmiller]

Actually I think atheists say god doesn't exist not that they don't believe in him right?

Kinda both, in my case.
So I see no reason to believe there is a God. No evidence. Therefore, I don't believe in God, and I'm an atheist.

The 'God doesn't exist' part goes a little further than I would, since there are different definitions of God, and there is no way to prove a lack of God.
But in a practical sense, I would say the Muslim God doesn't exist.

 

[lewisnotmiller]

Sorry, should have mentioned it was a joke from a friend. With my puerile sense of humour I found it pretty funny. Had a cute baby Jesus on the front and everything.

I would have laughed my arse off. Guess I also have a puerile sense of humour.

 

[lewisnotmiller]

Critical thinkers except for themselves. I have spent time on religion and indeed it can be massively flawed reasoning. But in religion there are at least some who understand that. In context to atheism I never ever get the impression that atheists consider atheism as flawed reasoning at all, but rather profoundly brilliant and atheism always always relies on flawed reasoning in religion as justification to prop that fantasy up. Atheism does not exist except as a mental disorder if religious believers did not exist. And as far as I have been able to understand all atheists believe there are atheists, religious believers and agnostics and that's it!!!! That is False.

Your brush is too broad.

 

[Soundwave99]

Critical thinkers except for themselves. I have spent time on religion and indeed it can be massively flawed reasoning. But in religion there are at least some who understand that. In context to atheism I never ever get the impression that atheists consider atheism as flawed reasoning at all, but rather profoundly brilliant and atheism always always relies on flawed reasoning in religion as justification to prop that fantasy up. Atheism does not exist except as a mental disorder if religious believers did not exist. And as far as I have been able to understand all atheists believe there are atheists, religious believers and agnostics and that's it!!!! That is False.

Look everyone, it's another hater up in their feelings screaming unintelligibly about something they don't understand

 

[interminable]

There are two kinds of atheists. Some of us are "weak atheists", who do not necessarily state that there is no god.

I just said that based on Oxford dictionary.

 

[interminable]

Kinda both, in my case.
So I see no reason to believe there is a God. No evidence. Therefore, I don't believe in God, and I'm an atheist.

The 'God doesn't exist' part goes a little further than I would, since there are different definitions of God, and there is no way to prove a lack of God.
But in a practical sense, I would say the Muslim God doesn't exist.

And u have found a way to prove the lack of Muslims' god???

 

[Shadow Wolf]

And u have found a way to prove the lack of Muslims' god???

The burden of proof lies in those who make a claim, not those who doubt it. As horses do not fly, Muslims have to provide evidence for the existence of Allah.