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The difference between an Atheist and Theist

Starlight

Spiritual but not religious, new age and omnist
The only difference between a theist and atheist is this:

It doesn't matter if you believe in creationism or evolution for this thought experiment lets go to the source of all things. I am going to call this SOURCE. For theists this SOURCE can be God and for atheists it can be the energy that made up the original big bang it really doesn't matter.

A atheist believe the energy that made the universe is not concious. And theists believe the energy that made the universe is concious.

How did this SOURCE of everything come into existence?

It is 2 possible ways SOURCE came into existence:

1. It has always existed with no beginning and no end.
2. Magically popped into existence from nothingness.

(it was Focusedintent who wrote this, in this tread: Proving logic can't explain existence | Religious Forums)

A atheist believe the energy that made the universe is not concious. And theists believe the energy that made the universe is concious. Thats the only difference between us. very little difference really:)
 
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lewisnotmiller

Grand Hat
Staff member
Premium Member
A atheist believe the energy that made the universe is not concious. And I believe the energy that made the universe is concious. Thats the only difference between us. no big deal :)

I tend to agree with this.
But both theists and atheists have beliefs which go beyond whether they see the source as conscious. That's not to suggest they are in opposition. But it's possible for them to be in opposition. It's also possible for the beliefs of theists to be in opposition to other theists, or for the belief of atheists to be in opposition to other atheists.

TLDR : People are people, and we'll have accord with some and not others. Theism, or the lack thereof, is not sufficient to cause discord.
 

Starlight

Spiritual but not religious, new age and omnist
I tend to agree with this.
But both theists and atheists have beliefs which go beyond whether they see the source as conscious. That's not to suggest they are in opposition. But it's possible for them to be in opposition. It's also possible for the beliefs of theists to be in opposition to other theists, or for the belief of atheists to be in opposition to other atheists.

TLDR : People are people, and we'll have accord with some and not others. Theism, or the lack thereof, is not sufficient to cause discord.
Thats true yes. I agree with you.
 

Samael_Khan

Goosebender
The only difference between a theist and atheist is this:

It doesn't matter if you believe in creationism or evolution for this thought experiment lets go to the source of all things. I am going to call this SOURCE. For theists this SOURCE can be God and for atheists it can be the energy that made up the original big bang it really doesn't matter.

A atheist believe the energy that made the universe is not concious. And I believe the energy that made the universe is concious.

How did this SOURCE of everything come into existence?

It is 2 possible ways SOURCE came into existence:

1. It has always existed with no beginning and no end.
2. Magically popped into existence from nothingness.

(it was Focusedintent who wrote this, in this tread: Proving logic can't explain existence | Religious Forums)

A atheist believe the energy that made the universe is not concious. And I believe the energy that made the universe is concious. Thats the only difference between us. very little difference really:)

Wait wait wait...

You are actually wrong on this. There are atheists that say that there definitely is no God. This is the atheists that you are addressing.

On the other hand there are atheists who do not make assumptions about that which we cannot examine and is unfalsifiable, and in response to the question of how the universe came to be, will just say "I don't know :shrug:". Your OP will not be addressing those atheists.
 

Revoltingest

Pragmatic Libertarian
Premium Member
More simply....
Atheists don't believe in gods.
Theists do.
Some might argue with that last one, but it's close enuf.

The origin of the universe....the number of universes....the
nature of existence....& the ultimate answer to life, the universe
& everything....
I don't know those things, & really don't care.
They can be interesting to consider.
But there's a downside to needing to know.
That leads to recklessly leaping to belief.
 

Starlight

Spiritual but not religious, new age and omnist
Wait wait wait...

You are actually wrong on this. There are atheists that say that there definitely is no God. This is the atheists that you are addressing.

On the other hand there are atheists who do not make assumptions about that which we cannot examine and is unfalsifiable, and in response to the question of how the universe came to be, will just say "I don't know :shrug:". Your OP will not be addressing those atheists.
Agnotics you mean?
 

Unveiled Artist

Veteran Member
The only difference between a theist and atheist is this:

It doesn't matter if you believe in creationism or evolution for this thought experiment lets go to the source of all things. I am going to call this SOURCE. For theists this SOURCE can be God and for atheists it can be the energy that made up the original big bang it really doesn't matter.

A atheist believe the energy that made the universe is not concious. And I believe the energy that made the universe is concious.

How did this SOURCE of everything come into existence?

It is 2 possible ways SOURCE came into existence:

1. It has always existed with no beginning and no end.
2. Magically popped into existence from nothingness.

(it was Focusedintent who wrote this, in this tread: Proving logic can't explain existence | Religious Forums)

A atheist believe the energy that made the universe is not concious. And I believe the energy that made the universe is concious. Thats the only difference between us. very little difference really:)

I thought atheist don't believe the source exists and theist does?
Thereby, atheist wouldn't attribute consciousness to the universe because consciousness isn't part of the and made up of the science and physics of the physical universe.

What does consciousness mean when you relate it to the physical universe? (I'm not sure many Western atheists know what that means, if I'm not mistaken)
 

Starlight

Spiritual but not religious, new age and omnist
More simply....
Atheists don't believe in gods.
Theists do.
Some might argue with that last one, but it's close enuf.

The origin of the universe....the number of universes....the
nature of existence....& the ultimate answer to life, the universe
& everything....
I don't know those things, & really don't care.
They can be interesting to consider.
But there's a downside to needing to know.
That leads to recklessly leaping to belief.

No human being know for sure :) therefore we have beliefs. Humans can only believe about the source of the universe/universes, not knowing it for certainly.
 

Starlight

Spiritual but not religious, new age and omnist
I thought atheist don't believe the source exists and theist does?
Thereby, atheist wouldn't attribute consciousness to the universe because consciousness isn't part of the and made up of the science and physics of the physical universe.

What does consciousness mean when you relate it to the physical universe? (I'm not sure many Western atheists know what that means, if I'm not mistaken)
Yes many atheists do believe the universe/universes have a source. But they believe the source is an energy with no conciousness. Just like the the wind, gravity or electricity
 

Samael_Khan

Goosebender
Agnotics you mean?

To be an atheist is to lack belief in God, which could just meaning that they haven't found proof that a god exists but that doesn't preclude them from saying that a Gods actually exist. So an atheist could still say that with enough evidence we can prove that God exists.

Agnostics on the other hand say that it is impossible to know anything about God. That is a truth position from the outset.

So atheism addresses belief.
Agnosticism addresses truth.
That is why someone can identify as an Agnostic Atheist.
 

SalixIncendium

अग्निविलोवनन्दः
Staff member
Premium Member
A atheist believe the energy that made the universe is not concious. And I believe the energy that made the universe is concious. Thats the only difference between us. very little difference really:)

Are you sure about that? I'm not a theist, and I think the universe and the energy that composes it is a product of (or more accurately, an appearance in) pure consciousness.
 

Audie

Veteran Member
The only difference between a theist and atheist is this:

It doesn't matter if you believe in creationism or evolution for this thought experiment lets go to the source of all things. I am going to call this SOURCE. For theists this SOURCE can be God and for atheists it can be the energy that made up the original big bang it really doesn't matter.

A atheist believe the energy that made the universe is not concious. And I believe the energy that made the universe is concious.

How did this SOURCE of everything come into existence?

It is 2 possible ways SOURCE came into existence:

1. It has always existed with no beginning and no end.
2. Magically popped into existence from nothingness.

(it was Focusedintent who wrote this, in this tread: Proving logic can't explain existence | Religious Forums)

A atheist believe the energy that made the universe is not concious. And I believe the energy that made the universe is concious. Thats the only difference between us. very little difference really:)

Ridiculous choices. Wrong on so many levels .

Just two choices?

And neither of those offered is any good.
 

Starlight

Spiritual but not religious, new age and omnist
Ridiculous choices. Wrong on so many levels .

Just two choices?

And neither of those offered is any good.

Maybe it is more than two choices but thats beyond the human mind to understand
 

Starlight

Spiritual but not religious, new age and omnist
How are you defining "theist?"

A atheist believe the energy that made the universe is not concious. And theists believe the energy that made the universe is concious. Thats the only difference between us.


Since you believe the universe is concious you sound like theist. Since you wrote: "I think the universe and the energy that composes it is a product of (or more accurately, an appearance in) pure consciousness".
 
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