Atheist Activism

[Thermos aquaticus]

they either know there is no god, or believe there is no god, or believe there is no need to know/believe. still a belief.

Or they don't believe in deities, but don't know if they exist or not. That is my position, and I am an atheist.

What people are reacting to is your misrepresentations of their position. I happen to have the belief that people shouldn't misrepresent others in a public forum, so that is the belief I am reacting to in this thread.

all humans have a belief system. all humans don't identify as theists, nor atheists. they choose to portray, identify, themselves from their beliefs. a person doesn't identify themselves as conservative/liberal when discussing their moral values; unless it's in respect to political views.

What you seem to be missing is that there are beliefs outside of whether you do or do not believe in deities. For example, I believe that acquiring knowledge is a worthwhile goal. I believe in loving my family and friends. I believe that a secular government is the most just government that human society has thus far created. I believe that leaving the world a better place than the way you found it is a something worth pursuing. I have lots of beliefs, but deities just don't happen to be one of them.

 

[LuisDantas]

process of elimination doesn't result in the abscence of everything. just results in an absence of deity, not an absence in beliefs.

Sorry, I am still not seeing any motivation in atheism. I think you are confused here.

 

[Thermos aquaticus]

process of elimination doesn't result in the abscence of everything. just results in an absence of deity, not an absence in beliefs.

That is why I am asking what beliefs you think are the basis for these reactions. Obviously, not believing in something is not a belief, so which beliefs do you think are in effect?

 

[Fool]

Sorry, I am still not seeing any motivation in atheism. I think you are confused here.

i think again is a belief.

you're defending your belief, your position, with another belief

 

[Fool]

That is why I am asking what beliefs you think are the basis for these reactions. Obviously, not believing in something is not a belief, so which beliefs do you think are in effect?

the ones you're using in your actual responses in this thread. you're ignoring the obivous actions real time

 

[Thermos aquaticus]

the ones you're using in your actual responses in this thread. you're ignoring the obivous actions real time

So you misrepresent the atheist position, and then act stunned when atheists react to it? Really? That seems rather childish.

 

[Twilight Hue]

i think is also a belief

I don't see how. Theism is an introduced concept. The term atheist came afterwards.

 

[Fool]

I don't see how. Theism is an introduced concept. The term atheist came afterwards.

doesn't matter the order. a belief is being used to act/react and defend/support a belief.

 

[Fool]

So you misrepresent the atheist position, and then act stunned when atheists react to it? Really? That seems rather childish.

i'm not stunned. this is what i stated. you're acting as if you're not responding for or against something; when it's obvious you are and using belief to do it.

 

[Thermos aquaticus]

i'm not stunned. this is what i stated. you're acting as if you're not responding for or against something; when it's obvious you are and using belief to do it.

I have the belief that others should represent my positions accurately, and it is that belief I am using.

 

[Fool]

I have the belief that others should represent my positions accurately, and it is that belief I am using.

"I have the belief" - thermos aquaticus

you're using that as a defense of your system


again self-evident.

 

[sealchan]

For me, it was about resisting having their belief systems imposed upon us.
I remember when Christian prayer was required in public school.

Yes, a belief system complete with stories, beliefs, rules and judgments...it creates it's own weather...all it takes is a simple negation of one of its beliefs...for example: making the statement "there is no God" to cause all kinds of storminess.

Atheism may be a belief system for some but most I think take it as a simple rule which can be applied to any number of aspects of our world where belief reaches out beyond itself to secular matters.

So I think the op is easily shown to be incorrect. This isolated bit of logic won't stand the test of reality. The equal opposite force metaphor is clarified by the simple notion of anyone who stands against the prevailing order of a belief system and does against it's current. If the whole is unjust and built upon feet of clay a David can take down a Goliath.

 

[QuestioningMind]

If atheism isn't a belief system, why do atheists act from it and theist react to it? Can we have our cake and eat it too?

"The lady doth protest too much, methinks" - Queen Gertrude - Hamlet - Williamshakespeare


Freedom From Religion Foundation - Freedom From Religion Foundation

Atheists do no 'act from it'. And I suspect that theists react to it because it challenges beliefs that they hold, even though they lack any verifiable evidence.

 

[sealchan]

I think that atheists hold a belief, a simple rule or principle with multiple applications to secular society. But it is not so much a belief system. Again to challenge one precept in a belief system does not at all require one to utilize a belief system.

 

[A Vestigial Mote]

i don't believe in a god apart from self.

How does holding this opinion of yourself work while also disqualifying yourself from falling under the term "vain?" Or do you fully acknowledge that "vain" describes you, but only find it deserves pointed-at or ridiculed in others? *speaking here of your inclusion of the Carly Simon video in the OP, with the implication being that you attribute vanity to atheism - while, one would assume, holding BOTH in contempt*

 

[Thermos aquaticus]

"I have the belief" - thermos aquaticus

you're using that as a defense of your system


again self-evident.

So now you have stooped to quote mining. Go figure.

 

[Estro Felino]

If atheism isn't a belief system, why do atheists act from it and theist react to it? Can we have our cake and eat it too?

"The lady doth protest too much, methinks" - Queen Gertrude - Hamlet - Williamshakespeare


Freedom From Religion Foundation - Freedom From Religion Foundation

Here we have the UAAR, Unione Atei Agnostici Razionalisti, which is very useful because it is the only association that fights for a radical secularism , and targets all religions indiscriminately.

 

[Milton Platt]

If atheism isn't a belief system, why do atheists act from it and theist react to it? Can we have our cake and eat it too?

"The lady doth protest too much, methinks" - Queen Gertrude - Hamlet - Williamshakespeare


Freedom From Religion Foundation - Freedom From Religion Foundation

Other than refuting claims of a god that are pushed at them, what "acts" do atheists do that are predicated upon atheism alone?

 

[ChristineM]

Is everything people react to a belief system? If what you’re thinking of people reacting to actually atheism, alone and in itself, or deeper and more constructed concepts which may grow from it? If atheism is a religion, why wouldn’t it’s opposite, theism, also be a religion?

Maybe you’re the one protesting too much.

When someone abuses you, you react, if you think its too much to react to abuse then you need to take a long hard think at your belief system

 

[HonestJoe]

i act from belief. i answered your question. i don't believe in a god apart from self. i don't believe in a consciousness apart from my self.

You didn't answer any of my questions so again;

Is everything people react to a belief system?
Is what you’re thinking of people reacting to actually atheism, alone and in itself, or deeper and more constructed concepts which may grow from it?
If atheism is a religion, why wouldn’t it’s opposite, theism, also be a religion?