From atheism to idolatry?

[Piculet]

I came by this blog post.

Idolatry and Atheism

If God exists and you worship anything in his place, then that thing is a false god and you are an idolater. But if God does not exist, and you worship anything at all, then you are also an idolater. For idolatry entails worshipping something unworthy of worship, and if God does not exist, then nothing is worthy of worship. (...)

From what I understand, the writer is saying one cannot be an atheist consistently — that one lapses to either idolatry or nihilism.

But I think it is interesting they write also that an atheist should worship nothing — to be an atheist — because I don't think that's possible for man.

Do atheists worship nothing or do they admit to worshipping something, but consider that an unimportant point?

 

[Altfish]

I came by this blog post.

Idolatry and Atheism


From what I understand, the writer is saying one cannot be an atheist consistently — that one lapses to either idolatry or nihilism.

But I think it is interesting they write also that an atheist should worship nothing — to be an atheist — because I don't think that's possible for man.

Do atheists worship nothing or do they admit to worshipping something, but consider that an unimportant point?

I'm an atheist, I worship nothing.
Why would I? Why do I need to worship?

 

[Left Coast]

I came by this blog post.

Idolatry and Atheism


From what I understand, the writer is saying one cannot be an atheist consistently — that one lapses to either idolatry or nihilism.

But I think it is interesting they write also that an atheist should worship nothing — to be an atheist — because I don't think that's possible for man.

Do atheists worship nothing or do they admit to worshipping something, but consider that an unimportant point?

What does "worship" mean, to you?

 

[QuestioningMind]

I came by this blog post.

Idolatry and Atheism


From what I understand, the writer is saying one cannot be an atheist consistently — that one lapses to either idolatry or nihilism.

But I think it is interesting they write also that an atheist should worship nothing — to be an atheist — because I don't think that's possible for man.

Do atheists worship nothing or do they admit to worshipping something, but consider that an unimportant point?

I am an atheist. What is it that you imagine that I worship?

 

[Orbit]

Atheists have no need to worship anything.

 

[icehorse]

I think that the definition of "worship" is critical here. By some definitions, "worship" strongly implies worshipping a diety. But by other definitions it could be appreciating something.

I happen to be an atheist. I hold a STRONG appreciation and wonder for the planet, nature, the universe, my sentience*, and so on.

(*I know that my claim of sentience is shaky )

 

[Piculet]

I'm an atheist, I worship nothing.
Why would I? Why do I need to worship?

Then are you a nihilist?

What does "worship" mean, to you?

I think, in the context the question is, what does the writer mean by it. They don't say, but they do say:

(...)
The atheist will be sorely tempted to fall into idolatry, making a god of nature, for example, as some environmentalists do, or of science, or of the enlightenment project, or of the 'crusade' against Christianity or religion generally.
(...)
The atheist must find meaning in a world in which nothing is absolute, nothing holy, nothing worthy of total commitment.
(...)
Can one live a meaningful life without God and without idols? Without an Absolute and without illicitly absolutizing anything relative?
(...)

He also quotes a book "The Moral Philosopher and the Moral
Life":

The capacity of the strenuous mood lies so deep down among our natural human possibilities that even if there were no metaphysical or traditional grounds for believing in a God, men would postulate one simply as a pretext for living hard, and getting out of the game of existence its keenest possibilities of zest.

I hope that helps. If I put my own definition, it would kind of ruin the question as my premise is the blog post.

 

[Piculet]

I am an atheist. What is it that you imagine that I worship?

I would like to know whether you worship anything and if you do not, what is your opinion about the blog post or the point I made in the OP (if you don't want to read the blog post)?

Atheists have no need to worship anything.

Are they nihilists? What do you think about what the writer implies about an atheist who worships nothing?

 

[icehorse]

I came by this blog post.

I read the first paragraphs of the blog post. It is filled with logical fallacies.

 

[Secret Chief]

If

 

[Altfish]

Then are you a nihilist?

How do you work that out?
Worship is specific and involves adoration.

I like/love many things ... sports teams, music bands, books, my family, etc. ... but I do not worship any of them

 

[wandering peacefully]

I came by this blog post.

Idolatry and Atheism


From what I understand, the writer is saying one cannot be an atheist consistently — that one lapses to either idolatry or nihilism.

But I think it is interesting they write also that an atheist should worship nothing — to be an atheist — because I don't think that's possible for man.

Do atheists worship nothing or do they admit to worshipping something, but consider that an unimportant point?

Atheists don't worship in the sense you understand worship. Holding up your choice of gods as something real to be admired and praised. We certainly can have great appreciation for things such as nature and our families, etc. Is that what you mean?

 

[epronovost]

Do atheists worship nothing or do they admit to worshipping something, but consider that an unimportant point?

I don't think think I worship anything, at least not to the extand or in a way where the usage of the term worship could be comparable.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

I came by this blog post.

Idolatry and Atheism


From what I understand, the writer is saying one cannot be an atheist consistently — that one lapses to either idolatry or nihilism.

But I think it is interesting they write also that an atheist should worship nothing — to be an atheist — because I don't think that's possible for man.

Do atheists worship nothing or do they admit to worshipping something, but consider that an unimportant point?

Worship or honoring something or someone as more important than self through prayer, ritual, so have you can be something atheists can do. Gods in athiesm definition are about deities and entities that don't exist rather than the act and thing or person of ones worship.

 

[Tambourine]

Nope, sorry.

 

[1213]

...
Do atheists worship nothing or do they admit to worshipping something, but consider that an unimportant point?

I think everyone has somethings as god and that can be seen from what they serve with their words and actions, or what rules them ultimately. It seems to me that for many, fear is their god
and fear is leading world towards fascism and totalitarism. And it is sad. I think it would be better, if love would be God for all.

He who doesn't love doesn't know God, for God is love.
1 John 4:8

 

[Sunstone]

I'm an atheist on at least two days of the week, and I worship the ground upon which @ChristineM treads.

 

[Windwalker]

I think, in the context the question is, what does the writer mean by it. They don't say, but they do say:

He also quotes a book "The Moral Philosopher and the Moral
Life":

I hope that helps. If I put my own definition, it would kind of ruin the question as my premise is the blog post.

I'll take a stab directly to the blog quotes you posted:

(...)
The atheist will be sorely tempted to fall into idolatry, making a god of nature, for example, as some environmentalists do, or of science, or of the enlightenment project, or of the 'crusade' against Christianity or religion generally.

The issues I see here is he is assuming that these atheists he is imaging here, are ex-believers, doing what believers do, which is worship external authorities to tell them how to think about things, rather than dialoguing and using rationality to make informed decisions about complex matters. Yes, there are examples of atheists doing this, replacing God with science. But you'll generally find they are ex-religionists, and as they say, "You can take the boy out of the country, but you can't take the country out of the boy". It's a habit they bring with them, which at some point, hopefully they outgrow.

I don't think atheism in itself creates the need to replace religion in these regards; worship, absolutist thought, veneration of holy relics, etc. Not if they didn't grow up in a religious environment to begin with.

(...)
The atheist must find meaning in a world in which nothing is absolute, nothing holy, nothing worthy of total commitment.

As does everyone, even those in religion have to find meaning in life. But to say that they see nothing is worthy of total commitment or veneration, is absurdly inaccurate. Upon what basis does this author stake that claim? Atheists can and do commit themselves totally to things worthy of that in life, and will revere as "sacred" many things, such as family, community, the planet, etc.

(...)
Can one live a meaningful life without God and without idols? Without an Absolute and without illicitly absolutizing anything relative?

Yes. Just because he cannot imagine how from his perspective, does not change the reality that they do. In fact, most will claim it gives life more meaning, than when they were underneath the religious system of dogmatic proclamations of what is true and good. Humans can figure that out quite well on their own.

I hope that begins to address some of these questions.

 

[Evangelicalhumanist]

Then are you a nihilist?

I think, in the context the question is, what does the writer mean by it. They don't say, but they do say:

He also quotes a book "The Moral Philosopher and the Moral
Life":

I hope that helps. If I put my own definition, it would kind of ruin the question as my premise is the blog post.

There are many meanings for nihilism, but none of them is exclusively related to non-worship.

Atheists, like most people, value many things, appreciate many things. But valuing and appreciating are not equivalent to worshipping. Most atheists that I know of have quite strong moral sensibilities, but they base those on their respect for others, not on fear of some deity.

 

[Bear Wild]

I came by this blog post.

Idolatry and Atheism


From what I understand, the writer is saying one cannot be an atheist consistently — that one lapses to either idolatry or nihilism.

But I think it is interesting they write also that an atheist should worship nothing — to be an atheist — because I don't think that's possible for man.

Do atheists worship nothing or do they admit to worshipping something, but consider that an unimportant point?

I have reverence for nature. That which provides the oxygen I breath and the food and water I need to live. That is not idolatry, that is respect.