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1 out of 5 Atheists in the U.S believe in a "higher power"

firedragon

Veteran Member
What does "Higher Power" mean in these two articles?

1. 10 facts about atheists
2. Americans' beliefs about the nature of God

I understand that Atheism is not believing in any theism or even anti-theism. Its pretty simple. But the atheists seem to grapple with the fact that some atheists yet believe in a "higher power". That goes against the definition atheism. But this is normal as anything can become an identity statement. But some atheists are fighting to redefine and reinterpret "Higher Power" to defend the tribe. I find it highly contradicting because atheists claim they are not a religion, while they also claim the religious people do just the same thing they are doing.

Thus. Let me ask again.

What does "Higher Power" mean in these two articles?

1. 10 facts about atheists
2. Americans' beliefs about the nature of God
 

darkskies

Active Member
That goes against the definition atheism.
Words like "deity" and "god" aren't too well defined.
If someone believes in a "higher" power and doesn't attribute the features that are commonly attributed to deities to this power, and acknowledges that it isn't a deity, even then this person can be called an atheist by definition.
I think higher power could mean anything they want it to mean. Almost certainly something supernatural.
 
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Unveiled Artist

Veteran Member
I don't recall any atheists who believe in a "higher power".
I'm curious what this would mean to them.

I find that odd. I never really got the higher power (or belief in something greater than myself and so forth). Though, higher power isn't always a deity, so I guess so. Atheists can be spiritual. I wonder why people associate atheism with no belief in the supernatural.
 

Revoltingest

Pragmatic Libertarian
Premium Member
I find that odd. I never really got the higher power (or belief in something greater than myself and so forth). Though, higher power isn't always a deity, so I guess so. Atheists can be spiritual. I wonder why people associate atheism with no belief in the supernatural.
It's all new to me.
 

questfortruth

Well-Known Member
What does "Higher Power" mean in these two articles?

1. 10 facts about atheists
2. Americans' beliefs about the nature of God

I understand that Atheism is not believing in any theism or even anti-theism. Its pretty simple. But the atheists seem to grapple with the fact that some atheists yet believe in a "higher power". That goes against the definition atheism. But this is normal as anything can become an identity statement. But some atheists are fighting to redefine and reinterpret "Higher Power" to defend the tribe. I find it highly contradicting because atheists claim they are not a religion, while they also claim the religious people do just the same thing they are doing.

Thus. Let me ask again.

What does "Higher Power" mean in these two articles?

1. 10 facts about atheists
2. Americans' beliefs about the nature of God
Aliens

 
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Samael_Khan

Goosebender
What does "Higher Power" mean in these two articles?

1. 10 facts about atheists
2. Americans' beliefs about the nature of God

I understand that Atheism is not believing in any theism or even anti-theism. Its pretty simple. But the atheists seem to grapple with the fact that some atheists yet believe in a "higher power". That goes against the definition atheism. But this is normal as anything can become an identity statement. But some atheists are fighting to redefine and reinterpret "Higher Power" to defend the tribe. I find it highly contradicting because atheists claim they are not a religion, while they also claim the religious people do just the same thing they are doing.

Thus. Let me ask again.

What does "Higher Power" mean in these two articles?

1. 10 facts about atheists
2. Americans' beliefs about the nature of God

It seems to me that in both articles the there are people saying that there is a difference between god and a Higher Power. Thing is that Higher Power might not mean god or the Middle Eastern concept of god. But also, they did interview Americans, and Americans aren't the most consistent bunch. These people could be irrational atheists.
 

Heyo

Veteran Member
What does "Higher Power" mean in these two articles?

1. 10 facts about atheists
2. Americans' beliefs about the nature of God

I understand that Atheism is not believing in any theism or even anti-theism. Its pretty simple. But the atheists seem to grapple with the fact that some atheists yet believe in a "higher power". That goes against the definition atheism. But this is normal as anything can become an identity statement. But some atheists are fighting to redefine and reinterpret "Higher Power" to defend the tribe. I find it highly contradicting because atheists claim they are not a religion, while they also claim the religious people do just the same thing they are doing.

Thus. Let me ask again.

What does "Higher Power" mean in these two articles?

1. 10 facts about atheists
2. Americans' beliefs about the nature of God
We had that discussion in one form or another several times, one just two weeks ago (Various kinds of Atheism).
It all comes down to the definition of god (or, more precisely, theos) you are using and if you define atheist on that definition of theos.
Giving atheism a positive definition (does not believe in any gods) instead of using the literal, negative definition (not a theist), leaves one group undefined, namely those who don't believe in a theos but do believe in an entity or power that could be said to be a "higher power" or even a god (deos).
 

sun rise

The world is on fire
Premium Member
At the same time, roughly one-in-five self-described atheists (18%) say they do believe in some kind of higher power. None of the atheists we surveyed, however, say they believe in “God as described in the Bible.”

Part of the answer is in one of the articles as the excerpt shows.

Typing atheist pantheist into a google search brings up many web sites with various views about whether some atheists are pantheists such as Is Pantheism an Atheism? The answer in the article is 'maybe'. Is pantheism an atheism?... that is up to you to decide, and it depends very much on how you experience the universe through your cerebral atheism.
 

ChristineM

"Be strong", I whispered to my coffee.
Premium Member
Part of the answer is in one of the articles as the excerpt shows.

Typing atheist pantheist into a google search brings up many web sites with various views about whether some atheists are pantheists such as Is Pantheism an Atheism? The answer in the article is 'maybe'. Is pantheism an atheism?... that is up to you to decide, and it depends very much on how you experience the universe through your cerebral atheism.


I would say regarding the universe as a god runs againt the definition of atheism but as you say, thats up to me to decide. I have been in trouble more than once from higher powers for taking definitions literally
 

Shadow Wolf

Certified People sTabber
I'm hoping for a fellow poster to present their perspective.
I frequently have people throwing the atheist label on me, just because I don't believe in any sort of personal deity as it's typically and generally understood in a Western perspective. Never mind anything else I say, such as a very deep agnosticism and mandatory skepticism towards my own experiences, or that I don't reject the possibility of a god and do have a "loose vision"/concept of some thingy (my views are heavily influenced by Einstein), I frequently still get called an atheist. I reject the label, I've never used it myself, not even when I leaned slightly more towards that, but many others do apply it to me.
Sam Harris, however, is one such person that does consider himself a "spiritual atheist." He even wrote a book titled that. It's an interesting read if for no other reason Sam Harris typically presents a formidable and shrewdly informed position in his books (I've never gotten around to listening to his podcasts).
And, truly, the definition of atheist has changed much and greatly over the past few centuries. Used to be that not only was an atheist godless, but also of immoral character (an unfortunate lingering effect still witnessed today).
 

ChristineM

"Be strong", I whispered to my coffee.
Premium Member
I don't recall any atheists who believe in a "higher power".
I'm curious what this would mean to them.

Not American but i have 2 cents to spend.
Define higher power.
Mains electricity potential is certainly more powerful than the electtivity that drives my brain.
Authority wields a higher power, one just cannot contend with french bureaucracy.
Some nations the police have the power to arrest me, even execute me for my beliefs.
 
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