Atheist Discussion Thread II

[Transyl]

I am an Atheist, living in a all Christian family, and environment. I don't care what your religion is, I have my own views upon it but I will not voice them unless you really want to know them. When i told my family that I was Atheist they were shocked and couldn't believe what i was saying. They completely utterly disowned me, they no longer claim me as their child and say they don't even know me at all. I think my family is completely stupid for what they have done and that they severely over-reacted towards me being Atheist. I am a Wicca Atheist, and yes that is a real thing. Atheism can be defined in different ways, but for purposes of this piece, I will be using the term “atheism” to refer to standard western atheism—that is, to the view that rejects the existence of God or the gods, that there is no afterlife, and that the material universe is all that is real.
There can be and are other understandings of atheism, but this is the paradigmatic version of atheism in the west, and it’s what we will be considering here. Also, for purposes of this post, we won’t be going into the difference between the “God positively does not exist” version of atheism and the “I can’t positively rule out the existence of God, but I don’t have convincing evidence, so I don’t believe in him” version of atheism.
For purposes of simplicity, we’ll treat them both as a rejection of the existence of God/the gods.
Same thing goes for “the afterlife positively does not exist” atheism and “I don’t have good evidence, so I don’t believe in the afterlife” atheism. Atheism is in fact a Religion due to in their belief of no afterlife, god doesn't exist, and that the material universe is all that is real. Those are beliefs right? Which means Atheism is a Religion because a religion is the belief in a god, or gods, or a particular system of faith and worship. Faith means Beliefs...So therefore it is a religion, so stop saying it isn't..

Your family is full of complete jerks. I had to deal with a similar situation, but with friends and colleagues, not my family.

You think? I have to deal with people saying that Atheism isn't a religion, when it actually is. If you have beliefs, no matter what they are or what its called, its is a religion..by the definition.

[Creepoc Infinite]

Your family is full of complete jerks. I had to deal with a similar situation, but with friends and colleagues, not my family.

You think? I have to deal with people saying that Atheism isn't a religion, when it actually is. If you have beliefs, no matter what they are or what its called, its is a religion..by the definition.

I think your confusing Atheism (not a religion or system of beliefs)
With Atheism+
(Which is pretty close to a religion)

[Transyl]

You think? I have to deal with people saying that Atheism isn't a religion, when it actually is. If you have beliefs, no matter what they are or what its called, its is a religion..by the definition.

I think your confusing Atheism (not a religion or system of beliefs)
With Atheism+
(Which is pretty close to a religion)

Well considering Atheists believe there is no god, and that there is no afterlife, which in fact are beliefs, that means it is technically a 'Religion'.

[Westerplatte]

Your family is full of complete jerks. I had to deal with a similar situation, but with friends and colleagues, not my family.

You think? I have to deal with people saying that Atheism isn't a religion, when it actually is. If you have beliefs, no matter what they are or what its called, its is a religion..by the definition.

Is not playing football a sport? Is being healthy a disease?

Definition of religion in English:
NOUN

[MASS NOUN]
1The belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods:

- Oxford dictionary

[Transyl]

You think? I have to deal with people saying that Atheism isn't a religion, when it actually is. If you have beliefs, no matter what they are or what its called, its is a religion..by the definition.

Is not playing football a sport? Is being healthy a disease?

Definition of religion in English:
NOUN

[MASS NOUN]
1The belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods:

- Oxford dictionary

There are multiple definitions of Religion for your information.

[Creepoc Infinite]

You think? I have to deal with people saying that Atheism isn't a religion, when it actually is. If you have beliefs, no matter what they are or what its called, its is a religion..by the definition.

Is not playing football a sport? Is being healthy a disease?

Definition of religion in English:
NOUN

[MASS NOUN]
1The belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods:

- Oxford dictionary

Exactly. The closest form of atheism to that is Atheism+ which is still not eve a religion. More of just really dogmatic atheism that operates similar to religions.

[Sun Wukong]

I think your confusing Atheism (not a religion or system of beliefs)
With Atheism+
(Which is pretty close to a religion)

Well considering Atheists believe there is no god, and that there is no afterlife, which in fact are beliefs, that means it is technically a 'Religion'.

Nothing about atheism requires you to believe either. Not believing in a god is not the same as believing their isn't one. And atheism doesn't touch on the subject of an afterlife at all. You can be an atheist and believe in an afterlife.

[Transyl]

Is not playing football a sport? Is being healthy a disease?

Definition of religion in English:
NOUN

[MASS NOUN]
1The belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods:

- Oxford dictionary

Exactly. The closest form of atheism to that is Atheism+ which is still not eve a religion. More of just really dogmatic atheism that operates similar to religions.

Well I'm a Religious Atheist, which exists just so you know. I am an Atheists with beliefs and practices, I go to an Atheist church, which also exists where I live. I actually am one of the people who got the Atheist church built, me and allot of other Atheists protested and got it built in my city. If Atheists have a church, then they must be a religion.

[Risottia]

You think? I have to deal with people saying that Atheism isn't a religion, when it actually is. If you have beliefs, no matter what they are or what its called, its is a religion..by the definition.

Atheism is a religion exactly as much as "bald" is a hair colour.

Atheism is the lack of belief in deities. This includes those who have a belief in the lack of deities, and those who don't have any belief about the issue (either by rejecting it as pointless, or by trusting only a scientifical approach to the issue).

[Sun Wukong]

Exactly. The closest form of atheism to that is Atheism+ which is still not eve a religion. More of just really dogmatic atheism that operates similar to religions.

Well I'm a Religious Atheist, which exists just so you know. I am an Atheists with beliefs and practices, I go to an Atheist church, which also exists where I live. I actually am one of the people who got the Atheist church built, me and allot of other Atheists protested and got it built in my city. If Atheists have a church, then they must be a religion.

Buddy, I could buy a Church. Wouldn't make me a religion.

[Transyl]

Well I'm a Religious Atheist, which exists just so you know. I am an Atheists with beliefs and practices, I go to an Atheist church, which also exists where I live. I actually am one of the people who got the Atheist church built, me and allot of other Atheists protested and got it built in my city. If Atheists have a church, then they must be a religion.

Buddy, I could buy a Church. Wouldn't make me a religion.

Does it look like i care, I may be Atheist, but i have beliefs other than not believing in god.

[Creepoc Infinite]

Exactly. The closest form of atheism to that is Atheism+ which is still not eve a religion. More of just really dogmatic atheism that operates similar to religions.

Well I'm a Religious Atheist, which exists just so you know. I am an Atheists with beliefs and practices, I go to an Atheist church, which also exists where I live. I actually am one of the people who got the Atheist church built, me and allot of other Atheists protested and got it built in my city. If Atheists have a church, then they must be a religion.

Atheist churches are jokes. Many of the ones I know of have been established by comedians. They serve a purpose. Like for example. If you're an atheist, but miss the community of church, Atheist church has you covered!

[Conscentia]

You think? I have to deal with people saying that Atheism isn't a religion, when it actually is. If you have beliefs, no matter what they are or what its called, its is a religion..by the definition.

Atheism is a religion exactly as much as "bald" is a hair colour.

Atheism is the lack of belief in deities. This includes those who have a belief in the lack of deities, and those who don't have any belief about the issue (either by rejecting it as pointless, or by trusting only a scientifical approach to the issue).

People may also be atheists because they've never been exposed to theism.

Eskimo: 'If I did not know about God and sin, would I go to hell?'
Priest: 'No, not if you did not know.'
Eskimo: 'Then why did you tell me?'

[Sun Wukong]

Buddy, I could buy a Church. Wouldn't make me a religion.

Does it look like i care, I may be Atheist, but i have beliefs other than not believing in god.

As do I, but those beliefs aren't atheism.

Because atheism is the lack of one specific belief, it is not a doctrine, and it has no content.

[Conscentia]

Well I'm a Religious Atheist, which exists just so you know. I am an Atheists with beliefs and practices, I go to an Atheist church, which also exists where I live. I actually am one of the people who got the Atheist church built, me and allot of other Atheists protested and got it built in my city. If Atheists have a church, then they must be a religion.

Just calling something a church does not make it a church.

[Transyl]

I don't see why people hate Atheism so much...guess they just want everyone to believe everything they believe, which in my opinion is fucking ridiculous.

[Risottia]

Atheism is a religion exactly as much as "bald" is a hair colour.

Atheism is the lack of belief in deities. This includes those who have a belief in the lack of deities, and those who don't have any belief about the issue (either by rejecting it as pointless, or by trusting only a scientifical approach to the issue).

People may also be atheists because they've never been exposed to theism.

Eskimo: 'If I did not know about God and sin, would I go to hell?'
Priest: 'No, not if you did not know.'
Eskimo: 'Then why did you tell me?'

But Inuits are traditionally religious - although of the animist variant, which may or may not qualify as theism.
Better luck with the French, the Swedes, or the Czechs.

[Risottia]

Buddy, I could buy a Church. Wouldn't make me a religion.

Does it look like i care, I may be Atheist, but i have beliefs other than not believing in god.

Which does not imply that all Atheist have beliefs. Your point being?

[Sun Wukong]

People may also be atheists because they've never been exposed to theism.

Eskimo: 'If I did not know about God and sin, would I go to hell?'
Priest: 'No, not if you did not know.'
Eskimo: 'Then why did you tell me?'

But Inuits are traditionally religious - although of the animist variant, which may or may not qualify as theism.
Better luck with the French, the Swedes, or the Czechs.

Czech girls are proof that god loves us and wants us to be happy.

[Crysuko]

But Inuits are traditionally religious - although of the animist variant, which may or may not qualify as theism.
Better luck with the French, the Swedes, or the Czechs.

Czech girls are proof that god loves us and wants us to be happy.

Debate over, atheism loses

Seriously though, the arguments I've heard fundies genuinely use are as simple as that, if not worse.

[Conscentia]

People may also be atheists because they've never been exposed to theism.

Eskimo: 'If I did not know about God and sin, would I go to hell?'
Priest: 'No, not if you did not know.'
Eskimo: 'Then why did you tell me?'

But Inuits are traditionally religious - although of the animist variant, which may or may not qualify as theism.
Better luck with the French, the Swedes, or the Czechs.

Irrelevant.

[Conscentia]

Czech girls are proof that god loves us and wants us to be happy.

Debate over, atheism loses

Seriously though, the arguments I've heard fundies genuinely use are as simple as that, if not worse.

Er, Czechs are generally irreligious. By "us" s/he mean't "godless heathens" "atheists".

[Crysuko]

Debate over, atheism loses

Seriously though, the arguments I've heard fundies genuinely use are as simple as that, if not worse.

Er, Czechs are generally irreligious. By "us" he mean't "godless heathens" "atheists".

I was being flippant, but ok.

[The Rich Port]

I sneak-bombed my parents with my being an atheist in the middle of them making some lame God lesson.

They reacted like I'd said something about my mom's shirt, for the most part, and then the weird insults started. My father asked me if it meant that I would stop loving him as well. My mother called me stupid.

And then the mood shut down again as suddenly as it spiked. I thought, for a second, that they respected my thoughts in some way, but that isn't the vibe I got from them. They stopped talking because they thought I was wrong and just said something stupid. Like it's a phase. Like I'm a teenager or something.

[Dyakovo]

Your family is full of complete jerks. I had to deal with a similar situation, but with friends and colleagues, not my family.

You think? I have to deal with people saying that Atheism isn't a religion, when it actually is. If you have beliefs, no matter what they are or what its called, its is a religion..by the definition.

People are telling you it isn't a religion because, by definition, it isn't one.

1. The belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods:
ideas about the relationship between science and religion
1.1 A particular system of faith and worship:
1.2 A pursuit or interest to which someone ascribes supreme importance: