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This is how you don't defend Atheism.
- Thread starter IceDoesntHelp
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bonesmccoy
Banned
Every belief system has, and requires, apologetics.
haha yes.
But atheism isn't a belief system. Hell it's the lack of a particular belief.
No, atheism refers to a lack of theistic beliefs, i.e. you don't believe in the existence of an almighty god who exercises power over human affairs. In other words, atheism is still a belief system, since atheists still share a set of common beliefs.
What you refer to is something closer to agnosticism, i.e. the desire not to pursue knowledge for the sake of knowledge. An agnostic acquires the knowledge needed to function in this world and does not bother with pursuing any more.
Extra Sauce
Member
"Probably" is an understatement.
If I'm not agnostic then what am I? I want to know if there is one. But I don't think there is proof (of a god or lack of)either way xD
TheOohChild
Member
I liked it when he referred to Richard Nixon as a "Quaker bastard"
Gareth Bale
Member
Le reddit in human form
with lack of a particular belief i meant the bolded.
Not believing is by definition not a belief. And a System cannot consist of only one axiom.
perfectchaos007
Member
They live in trees so the construction crews can't cut them down for commercial development.
BrokenEchelon
Banned
That's some crazy daddy issues coming out right there.
You should come up with a new word to distance yourself from people who take their atheism seriously.
Mammoth Jones
Member
"It amazes me to find an intelligent person who fights against something which he does not at all believe exists."
BrokenEchelon
Banned
Vigilant Walrus
Member
it's called little lobster for a reason, son
cheststrongwell
my cake, fuck off
Has this dude been auto-tuned yet? He needs to be auto-tuned.
Tornado Condor
Member
So euphoric
PlayALLtheGames
Banned
That doesn't make any sense.
Nobody is fighting the imaginary being, but the attempts by people who believe in him to legislate religious practices and values. Those people definitely exist.
I don't want to insult anyone but the quote Mammoth posted summarizes how i think about this:
Fighting for separation of church and state, against discrimination based on faith ect. does not require the banner of atheism. I don't cherish the fact that i don't believe in god, it's not an achievment, it doesn't make me a better (or a worse) person. Just like believing in god doesn't.
No it's not. Unless i'm horribly mistaken Atheism means the lack of belief in a deity/deities.
Believing in god is not like Gravity, it's not observable, it's an abstract statement just like you can make a non provable abstract statement about anything. I don't need to qualify the non existence of the giant spaghetti monster as belief.
Lack of belief in a "creator(s)" is not so much a rigid belief as it is more of an inference/assumption based on a set of observational facts.
People can take Atheism as seriously as they want. Its a way of rationalize life and the nature of existence.
Now when it becomes an organized movement, then you got something that's no different than a religious movement. Which is both hypocritical and nauseating.
Atheism doesn't need defending. It refuses to acknowledge the existence of a higher power.
I mean how can you prove something you don't believe exists doesn't exist? The mental fucking gymnastics you need to rationalize that question in itself is absurd.
People can take Atheism as seriously as they want. Its a way of rationalize life and the nature of existence.
Now when it becomes an organized movement, then you got something that's no different than a religious movement. Which is both hypocritical and nauseating.
Atheism doesn't need defending. It refuses to acknowledge the existence of a higher power.
I mean how can you prove something you don't believe exists doesn't exist? The mental fucking gymnastics you need to rationalize that question in itself is absurd.
Of course not, why would I? But if you call yourself an atheist and you establish a belief system out of not believing in god...that takes about as much creativity as actually believing in a religion. Or to put it differently, they emulate the behaviour they are so adamantly critisising/ distancing themselves from.
^Derwind puts it nicely. Though i wouldn't call it nauseating. Part of the reason it happens is that people feel the need to belong, some also have a persecution complex. And some are persecuted.
You should come up with a new word to distance yourself from people who take their atheism seriously.
I'd rather just describe them with a word that distances then from me. Luckily, such a word already exists: They're assholes.
N
NinjaFridge
Unconfirmed Member
blackandwhitepictureoffamousatheistwithachoicequoteononesideofthepicture.jpg
Give me upvotes!!!
Chuckie
Member
But that is not how it works with most atheists..or at least the ones I know.
What I am about to say is anecdotal:
First of all...we don't even call ourselves atheists. As long as it is not brought up in a discussion..there's no need to mention we don't believe in a god. Not believing in somethings does not establish a belief system...I don't understand where you get that from.
However I do agree with you that certain types of atheists emulate the behaviour of certain types of christians. However those kind of atheists differ as much from the 'regular' atheists as the Westborough Church differs from 'regular' christians
Alligatorjandro
Banned
Where are his shoes
I think just like you. I've argued the bolded a few times in this thread.
I was just talking about the types in the picture bombadil posted.
Mammoth Jones
Member
If it was solely against the legislators and people that are attempting to legislate religion I'd completely agree with you. But that's simply not the case in the real world.
Monocle
Member
The reason this quote is fucking bonkers is that belief in this particular nonexistent thing has had ruinous social effects throughout history, continuing on into modern times, where it has directly enabled nonsense like the Bush administration's support of abstinence-only education and bigots' attempts to get their hate enshrined in law under the guise of traditional values. Any nonbeliever with two eyes and a brain can see this and be motivated to take a stand against it. (Preferably in a constructive manner, like promoting science and sane, reality-based public policy.)
Gandhi did a damn good impression of a fool with that quote. A surprisingly common talent among intelligent public figures who have taken it upon themselves to criticize nonbelief without bothering to understand it.
People who act like religion isn't a hideously effective incubator for nuttery are bad at pattern recognition.
SteveWinwood
Member
No, sir. You're wrong.
Atheism has nothing to do with secularism.
You know how Clarke said religion hijacked morality?
Atheism hijacked secularism.
It's not impossible for a religious person to be secular. And it's not impossible for a person who believes in god to be non-religious.
So why do these organizations, which purport to be secular, keep bashing the belief in a god? Why do these organizations keep associating a belief in god with a belief in theocracy?
Monocle
Member
A mess of strawmen in here. Where did I put my scythe?
Gold_Loot
Member
Bingo!..
The man has a right to say how he feels, as a ( admittingly twisted a bit) Christian I can respect that, but for god sakes, someone get him some pants.
SteveWinwood
Member
Arthur C Clarke is rolling in his grave right now.
Haha.
I know how your mind works.
Edit: I've said this before.
I don't understand why most atheists aren't nihilist. I don't have a lot of respect for people who are atheists but aren't nihilists, especially the ones who vocally claim that they arrived at their position through logic. Take your logic a little further.
And yet how many cliches does he spout?
Monocle
Member
I strongly doubt it, if your previous posts are any indication.
Because it's possible to find meaning in one's daily life and local context, in spite of the recognition that the universe is purposeless? I mean, you don't suddenly start thinking like an alien and being immune to emotion when you shun superstition and adopt a pragmatic view of life.
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