Atheism is a faith

[Czechanada]

Because people like you tend to think of atheism as something it's not? Because we're bored? Because someone's wrong on the Internet?

People like me?

That's a little confrontational, personal, and out of order, isn't it? I haven't actually divulged any information about me, so you don't even know anything about me. Why the dig?

Ha. Ha. Hahahahaha. No.

Please look up the definition of faith and the definition of belief.

Faith is confidence and trust in something, atheists have confidence and trust that when they die they just rot in the ground.

Belief is the psychological state in which an individual holds a proposition or premise to be true. An atheists believes materialism to be the only true substance.

So, yeah.

[citation needed]

Also, look up null hypothesis.

Already given a citation above.

Animals don't believe in god, yet they are considered atheists. Babies don't believe in Cthulu either, yet you would most certainly say that they are acthuluist, even though they haven't made a conscious rejection.

Furthermore, thanks to psychology, we have evidence that we will just die and rot. Therefore we don't need to have faith in that belief.

[Menassa]

You cared about 'atheism' enough to feel personally bothered by it's critique. So I'd say yes, people feel like they're being attacked personally.

I take it that Christians or other religious people who respond to negative/false comments about their religions on their threads are taking it too personally, then?

Regardless, people come here because they're bored and/or feel like posting is atleast something to use their time with. I'm on spring break, so yeah i have time to kill.

Seriously, we couldn't care less about what people like you might think about atheism at the end of the day. I forget alot of these kinds of conversations anyways. While we're here though, we're going to debate because it's a discussion forum.

As a religious person, if you attack my religion your argument better be well-planned... and I won't take it personally.

But there is a difference between discussing/debating... and downright attacking.

(also looking for answers, but that's another story for a different time)

[Samuraikoku]

Furthermore, thanks to psychology, we have evidence that we will just die and rot.

You, maybe. I still have plenty of Continues? left. And plenty of quarters in my pockets.

[Czechanada]

"Instead of saying that an atheist is someone who believes that it is false or probably false that there is a God, a more adequate characterization of atheism consists in the more complex claim that to be an atheist is to be someone who rejects belief in God for the following reasons...: for an anthropomorphic God, the atheist rejects belief in God because it is false or probably false that there is a God; for a nonanthropomorphic God... because the concept of such a God is either meaningless, unintelligible, contradictory, incomprehensible, or incoherent; for the God portrayed by some modern or contemporary theologians or philosophers... because the concept of God in question is such that it merely masks an atheistic substance—e.g., "God" is just another name for love, or ... a symbolic term for moral ideals."

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/40634/atheism

Though it's difficult to actually characterize something that doesn't actually mean anything. Atheism is a by-product of actual practices, such as skepticism. It in of itself isn't actually a belief, nor even really a thing.

I agree. Atheism is more often than not a result of mere apathy.

[Enadail]

I don't mind that. I'm just saying I think atheists and theists are both capable of the same militant defensive fundamentalism. If people agree with me on that, then that's fine. There's no need to reply and say 'yeah, we know'. That's good.

Yes, but what people are and have pointed out to you: that's not what you said in the beginning, which is WHY people "jumped down your throat". You never said both are capable, you simply implied that atheism has an underlying militant fundamentalism.

[Individuality-ness]

Because people like you tend to think of atheism as something it's not? Because we're bored? Because someone's wrong on the Internet?

People like me?

That's a little confrontational, personal, and out of order, isn't it? I haven't actually divulged any information about me, so you don't even know anything about me. Why the dig?

Because I'm bored and because I have a final that I don't want to do in about an hour and 45 minutes and I'm talking to you?

Of course, everyone who wants to correct someone when they're wrong is all up and personal and everything is about you, right?

Ha. Ha. Hahahahaha. No.

Please look up the definition of faith and the definition of belief.

Faith is confidence and trust in something, atheists have confidence and trust that when they die they just rot in the ground.

Belief is the psychological state in which an individual holds a proposition or premise to be true. An atheists believes materialism to be the only true substance.

So, yeah.

This is the definition of faith.
This is the definition of belief.

Note the difference? Faith requires absolute trust and confidence in something. Especially because of spiritual convictions rather than evidence. Belief is just acceptance that something is true.

Absolute trust and confidence despite proof to the contrary.

I believe that decomposition in lieu of preservation will occur. I don't have faith in it such that it's due to a spiritual conviction, but because there is evidence pointing towards decomposition in lieu of human or natural intervention such that my body would be preserved in a mummified state.

[citation needed]

Also, look up null hypothesis.

Already given a citation above.

Still need to look up null hypothesis.

[Czechanada]

Furthermore, thanks to psychology, we have evidence that we will just die and rot.

You, maybe. I still have plenty of Continues? left. And plenty of quarters in my pockets.

I thought you were building yourself a Golden Throne.

[Samuraikoku]

You, maybe. I still have plenty of Continues? left. And plenty of quarters in my pockets.

I thought you were building yourself a Golden Throne.

That would be heresy.

[Individuality-ness]

I thought you were building yourself a Golden Throne.

That would be heresy.

But blood for the blood god Sami...

[Samuraikoku]

But blood for the blood god Sami...

That's even more heresy, Ms. Indi. The people who scream that only want to kill.

The loyalist version is "BLOOD FOR THE EMPEROR! SKULLS FOR THE GOLDEN THRONE!"

[Maledixit]

Maledixit, let me express my personal and sincere apologies if at any point any of us were overly aggressive in asserting our opinions and 'beliefs'.

That's fine. At least you're cool about this. So it's easier to actually have a rational discussion rather than 'NO U WRONG DERP', which gets noone anywhere.

I will admit that atheists do have beliefs but I don't agree that they are like theists. Although I suppose we can always find similarities, it is the differences that are really important in discussing theism vs. atheism.

To be honest, I think everyone has a belief and a faith in some format, and I would consider anything a belief of faith for the same reason. Everything counts as a distraction or anchor in some way. I just don't seen atheism as infallible just because it's the polar opposite to theism.

There are different 'types' of atheists but generally most atheists would agree that they do not believe in a supernatural being because there is no plausible evidence. As Richard Dawkins or Christopher Hitchens would say, if the stars suddenly realigned in the night sky and said 'I am here', most theists, myself included would seriously have to re-evaluate our position. Fortunately, or unfortunately as you prefer, no such fantastic event has ever happened in a post-superstitious scientifically aware society.

Well, there have been atheists that have abandoned their 'nonbelief' (for argument sake) because of a supernatural experience they had, so it has happened, but I get what you mean. The essence behind it is strongly on the empirical standpoint.

I mean I look into reincarnation research, and I'd love to talk about that. But it would probably open a can of worms, and I'd rather stick to one topic, rather than throwing in several.

Maledixit, please forgive any insult, direct or implied in any of my posts. I suspect most of us feel the same way. Our concerns are sincere and serious and I hope you will appreciate our desire to share and enlighten not as an attack but rather as genuine concern for our society as a whole.

It's cool. It does tend to send a bad image when about 6 people jump down your throat (a brand new member as well, which I am), just for having a right to post freely, and then try and make out they aren't militant or faithful to their label. But thank you though, I'm really glad to see that one of you actually has some basic manners and rationality, it's reassuring a little bit.

Believe me, I've no problem with sharing views. Just not when people act like they were raised in the jungle, while doing it.

[Alimprad]

I’ve noticed on NS that people who are atheist get mad when a theist talks about the faith of Atheism. Faith is a believe in something everyone has faith that’s where hope and such comes from, you have faith in humanity or faith in your friends, faith isn’t mutually exclusive to religion. Atheism is a faith sense you believe there is nothing, it isn’t a religion though sense you believe there is nothing. The important bit is believing in something every human must believe in something and have faith in it whether they believe there is no god or there is one, is up to them but they must have faith and believe it.

So why do the atheist get so mad about it calling it for what it is?

because they just look for things to complain about, like people who complain when muslims complain when people celebrate christmas, well guess what, this is a christian country!

[Individuality-ness]

But blood for the blood god Sami...

That's even more heresy, Ms. Indi. The people who scream that only want to kill.

The loyalist version is "BLOOD FOR THE EMPEROR! SKULLS FOR THE GOLDEN THRONE!"

I’ve noticed on NS that people who are atheist get mad when a theist talks about the faith of Atheism. Faith is a believe in something everyone has faith that’s where hope and such comes from, you have faith in humanity or faith in your friends, faith isn’t mutually exclusive to religion. Atheism is a faith sense you believe there is nothing, it isn’t a religion though sense you believe there is nothing. The important bit is believing in something every human must believe in something and have faith in it whether they believe there is no god or there is one, is up to them but they must have faith and believe it.

So why do the atheist get so mad about it calling it for what it is?

because they just look for things to complain about, like people who complain when muslims complain when people celebrate christmas, well guess what, this is a christian country!

Treaty of Tripoli dear.

[Menassa]

But blood for the blood god Sami...

That's even more heresy, Ms. Indi. The people who scream that only want to kill.

The loyalist version is "BLOOD FOR THE EMPEROR! SKULLS FOR THE GOLDEN THRONE!"

Gois...this thread is super cereal.

[Enadail]

I’ve noticed on NS that people who are atheist get mad when a theist talks about the faith of Atheism. Faith is a believe in something everyone has faith that’s where hope and such comes from, you have faith in humanity or faith in your friends, faith isn’t mutually exclusive to religion. Atheism is a faith sense you believe there is nothing, it isn’t a religion though sense you believe there is nothing. The important bit is believing in something every human must believe in something and have faith in it whether they believe there is no god or there is one, is up to them but they must have faith and believe it.

So why do the atheist get so mad about it calling it for what it is?

because they just look for things to complain about, like people who complain when muslims complain when people celebrate christmas, well guess what, this is a christian country!

This is not, nor has it ever been, a Christian nation, by any meaning other then it is a nation in which many Christians live.

[Samuraikoku]

because they just look for things to complain about, like people who complain when muslims complain when people celebrate christmas, well guess what, this is a christian country!

What country? Certainly not the U.S.

[Individuality-ness]

because they just look for things to complain about, like people who complain when muslims complain when people celebrate christmas, well guess what, this is a christian country!

What country? Certainly not the U.S.

Perhaps he lives in the Holy See?

[Czechanada]

That's even more heresy, Ms. Indi. The people who scream that only want to kill.

The loyalist version is "BLOOD FOR THE EMPEROR! SKULLS FOR THE GOLDEN THRONE!"

because they just look for things to complain about, like people who complain when muslims complain when people celebrate christmas, well guess what, this is a christian country!

Treaty of Tripoli dear.

I guess John Adams wasn't Christian.

[Samuraikoku]

Perhaps he lives in the Holy See?

Perhaps so.

[Individuality-ness]

Perhaps he lives in the Holy See?

Perhaps so.

Hey, it's the only legit Christian country that I can think at the moment.

[Samuraikoku]

Hey, it's the only legit Christian country that I can think at the moment.

[Maledixit]

atheists have confidence and trust that when they die they just rot in the ground.

No, we don't. Any more then people have faith that rainbows are not unicorn farts. In the absence of evidence supporting a claim (there is an afterlife), you accept the default position (there is no afterlife).

If what you said was true, we also trust there is no pot of gold at the end of a rainbow, and trust that the sun will rise in the morning. We trust that the moon is not made of cheese and that gremlins don't exist in engines.

You have confidence and trust that theism is wrong, no?

Belief is the psychological state in which an individual holds a proposition or premise to be true. An atheists believes materialism to be the only true substance.

This is also blatantly untrue, as many religions are atheist.

Surely that's a complete oxymoron. But hey, I'm open minded, so if you want to share a case, I'll listen.

[Hallistar]

I’ve noticed on NS that people who are atheist get mad when a theist talks about the faith of Atheism. Faith is a believe in something everyone has faith that’s where hope and such comes from, you have faith in humanity or faith in your friends, faith isn’t mutually exclusive to religion. Atheism is a faith sense you believe there is nothing, it isn’t a religion though sense you believe there is nothing. The important bit is believing in something every human must believe in something and have faith in it whether they believe there is no god or there is one, is up to them but they must have faith and believe it.

So why do the atheist get so mad about it calling it for what it is?

because they just look for things to complain about, like people who complain when muslims complain when people celebrate christmas, well guess what, this is a christian country!

Under penalty of thread derail,

[Samuraikoku]

Surely that's a complete oxymoron. But hey, I'm open minded, so if you want to share a case, I'll listen.

What god do Buddhists worship?

[Tsuntion]

This is also blatantly untrue, as many religions are atheist.

Surely that's a complete oxymoron. But hey, I'm open minded, so if you want to share a case, I'll listen.

Buddhism, or at least forms of it.