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Religious Atheists?

SalixIncendium

अग्निविलोवनन्दः
Staff member
Premium Member
In a couple of Dharmic religions, Buddhism and Hinduism, it's acceptable to be a follower of that religion and to identify as an atheist at the same time depending on the school of philosophy one follows, and doing so is generally accepted by followers of these religions (not that debate between the schools of philosophy isn't all that uncommon). We have followers of these religions who are atheists on this very forum.

My question is this: Is it possible in your religion to be a member of or follow your religion and identify as atheist? Why or why not?
 

Eddi

Agnostic
Premium Member
No!

Because the whole of Christianity is based on Jesus being God

Without him being God the whole thing doesn't work

Also, the resurrection is central to Christianity - there can be no Christianity with no resurrection

And without God there can be no resurrection
 

mikkel_the_dane

My own religion
In a couple of Dharmic religions, Buddhism and Hinduism, it's acceptable to be a follower of that religion and to identify as an atheist at the same time depending on the school of philosophy one follows, and doing so is generally accepted by followers of these religions (not that debate between the schools of philosophy isn't all that uncommon). We have followers of these religions who are atheists on this very forum.

My question is this: Is it possible in your religion to be a member of or follow your religion and identify as atheist? Why or why not?

Well, since I am not a member of a religion in the traditional sense, that is not relevant to me. And as a general Western atheist, I am not religious in the traditional meaning of the word "religious", yet I am religious in an academic cultural anthropological sense.

The closed fit I have would be Unitarian Universalism but I am not a member. But if I were, yes, my religion would allow me to be an atheist.
 

Brian2

Veteran Member
In a couple of Dharmic religions, Buddhism and Hinduism, it's acceptable to be a follower of that religion and to identify as an atheist at the same time depending on the school of philosophy one follows, and doing so is generally accepted by followers of these religions (not that debate between the schools of philosophy isn't all that uncommon). We have followers of these religions who are atheists on this very forum.

My question is this: Is it possible in your religion to be a member of or follow your religion and identify as atheist? Why or why not?

Christianity is not a philosophy, it is the revelation and actions of God. No God means no Bible and no Judaism and no Christianity.
 

Secret Chief

nirvana is samsara
Is it possible in your religion to be a member of or follow your religion and identify as atheist?
Yes. Personally, I don't, unless forced under duress, self-identify as an atheist (see thread on the 47 varieties of atheism :)) because I consider it a position against something which is irrelevant in respect of the matter of living and dying. I would therefore choose the term non-theist. I don't self identify as an awizardist for the same reason; wizards don't exist but so what.
 

questfortruth

Well-Known Member
My question is this: Is it possible in your religion to be a member of or follow your religion and identify as atheist? Why or why not?
Part of the brain is atheist, a part is the theist. It is the duality of the brain. There are basic driving motives for every human: atheism and theism. The Christian, who is watching pornography, is an atheist because of pornography, and theist because he goes to Church.
 

mikkel_the_dane

My own religion
In a couple of Dharmic religions, Buddhism and Hinduism, it's acceptable to be a follower of that religion and to identify as an atheist at the same time depending on the school of philosophy one follows, and doing so is generally accepted by followers of these religions (not that debate between the schools of philosophy isn't all that uncommon). We have followers of these religions who are atheists on this very forum.

My question is this: Is it possible in your religion to be a member of or follow your religion and identify as atheist? Why or why not?

Since you put it in debate and had the audacity to some to link philosophy and religion, here is my take on that.
All humans capable of a normal level of human cognition in effect combine science, philosophy and religion. We just all do it with some variation due to nature and nurture.

Now we, from the Greek and Abrahamic, tradition can be fun to "wrestle" with, because most of us believe in the highest power of the truth, yet we can't even agree what that is. Fun times.
 

lewisnotmiller

Grand Hat
Staff member
Premium Member
Part of the brain is atheist, a part is the theist. It is the duality of the brain. There are basic driving motives for every human: atheism and theism. The Christian, who is watching pornography, is an atheist because of pornography, and theist because he goes to Church.

I may have reached the point where reading threads on RF is breaking my brain...

This is in no sense true or accurate.
What religious folk do, and how they assuage their guilt is up to them.
But if they believe in God/s, they're theists, regardless of behaviour.
If they don't, they're atheists, regardless of behaviour.
 

SalixIncendium

अग्निविलोवनन्दः
Staff member
Premium Member
Yes. Personally, I don't, unless forced under duress, self-identify as an atheist (see thread on the 47 varieties of atheism :)) because I consider it a position against something which is irrelevant in respect of the matter of living and dying. I would therefore choose the term non-theist. I don't self identify as an awizardist for the same reason; wizards don't exist but so what.

So you would choose the term non-wizardist? :D
 

Aupmanyav

Be your own guru
In a couple of Dharmic religions, Buddhism and Hinduism, it's acceptable to be a follower of that religion and to identify as an atheist at the same time depending on the school of philosophy one follows, and doing so is generally accepted by followers of these religions (not that debate between the schools of philosophy isn't all that uncommon).
Don't forget the Jains. Mahavira was the Che Guevara of Indian religions.
I have heard of Jewish atheists.
 
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SalixIncendium

अग्निविलोवनन्दः
Staff member
Premium Member
Don't forget the Jains. Mahavira was the Che Guevara of Indian religions.

I would apply the term transtheist to Jains. Like me, they acknowledge the existence of gods, but understand gods are transcended by realization (moksha).
 

VoidCat

Pronouns: he/him/they/them
The Forgotten History of Atheist Paganism
Thus we see that atheistic and non-theistic Paganism has a long history dating back to Classical Greece and Rome. If we had better sources for other pagan peoples, we would likely find atheists among them as well. Literal belief in the gods was never a prerequisite for participation in ancient pagan religions, nor is it necessary for Neo-Pagans today.

Yes.
 

Secret Chief

nirvana is samsara
Neither are the religions mentioned in the OP.

Not meaning to cause violent ructions but it is true to say that Buddhism is a religion underpinned by philosophy. On extremely rare occasions, for example, I have been known to read the Mūlamadhyamakakārikā - a foundational philosophical treatise of the Madhyamaka tradition.
 

Vinayaka

devotee
Premium Member
In a couple of Dharmic religions, Buddhism and Hinduism, it's acceptable to be a follower of that religion and to identify as an atheist at the same time depending on the school of philosophy one follows, and doing so is generally accepted by followers of these religions (not that debate between the schools of philosophy isn't all that uncommon). We have followers of these religions who are atheists on this very forum.

My question is this: Is it possible in your religion to be a member of or follow your religion and identify as atheist? Why or why not?

I don't really see it as a 'this or that' in any religion, but rather up to the individual to observe and decide whether or not a person is religious. For example, if a person sees service to humanity, or service to others as a key to practicing a faith, then they can look at a group of people and determine 'religiousity' by that. If the atheist is the guy who wins the 'volunteer of the year' award for a town, then he's religious by his actions. If the _________ (insert any religion) is the guy who exploits others, cheats, etc., then he's not religious at all.
 

crossfire

LHP Mercuræn Feminist Heretic ☿
Premium Member
Theist, deist, atheist, agnostic, ignostic, transtheist, or whatever is fine--it doesn't matter, as long as you are not into group worship.
 
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