Is Atheism faith?

[Blackhammer]

After reading through this thread, I have to ask...

Who cares? Who really cares whether Atheism is considered a faith or not?

And along with that, why does it really matter whether there is a God or not?

I mean, if there is, we can't change it.

If there isn't, we still can't change it.

We will never know for certain so it makes no sense to worry about it while you're alive.

This entire argument is the most arbitrary thing I've ever read.

[Dyakovo]

After reading through this thread, I have to ask...

Who cares? Who really cares whether Atheism is considered a faith or not?

And along with that, why does it really matter whether there is a God or not?

I mean, if there is, we can't change it.

If there isn't, we still can't change it.

We will never know for certain so it makes no sense to worry about it while you're alive.

This entire argument is the most arbitrary thing I've ever read.

The important thing is that you have found a way to pretend you're better than everyone else.

[Risottia]

After reading through this thread, I have to ask...

Who cares? Who really cares whether Atheism is considered a faith or not?

Some theists do. Let's call them, more appropriately, anti-atheists. They want to exploit the "you too have beliefs about the supernatural" excuse to justify their attempt at enforcing their own religious norms on people and countries.

[Divair]

Atheism is a faith. Agnosticism is not.

Wrong.

[NSP]

If atheism is a religion than a tyrant can force civil rights on people

[Gallup]

A better question is is faith atheism?

*plays x-files music*

[Conscentia]

After reading through this thread, I have to ask...
Who cares? Who really cares whether Atheism is considered a faith or not?
And along with that, why does it really matter whether there is a God or not?
I mean, if there is, we can't change it.
If there isn't, we still can't change it.
We will never know for certain so it makes no sense to worry about it while you're alive.

Some of us like to debate & learn things. Weird right.

This entire argument is the most arbitrary thing I've ever read.

I don't think you're using "arbitrary" correctly.

[Czechanada]

After reading through this thread, I have to ask...
Who cares? Who really cares whether Atheism is considered a faith or not?
And along with that, why does it really matter whether there is a God or not?
I mean, if there is, we can't change it.
If there isn't, we still can't change it.
We will never know for certain so it makes no sense to worry about it while you're alive.

Some of us like to debate & learn things. Weird right.

This entire argument is the most arbitrary thing I've ever read.

I don't think you're using "arbitrary" correctly.

Your nation name reminds me of one scene from the film Life of Brian.

"He has a wife, you know. Her name is Incontinentia... Pants.

[Blackhammer]

After reading through this thread, I have to ask...
Who cares? Who really cares whether Atheism is considered a faith or not?
And along with that, why does it really matter whether there is a God or not?
I mean, if there is, we can't change it.
If there isn't, we still can't change it.
We will never know for certain so it makes no sense to worry about it while you're alive.

Some of us like to debate & learn things. Weird right.

This entire argument is the most arbitrary thing I've ever read.

I don't think you're using "arbitrary" correctly.

Arbitrary - based on random choice or personal whim, rather than any reason or system.

[Conscentia]

Some of us like to debate & learn things. Weird right.

I don't think you're using "arbitrary" correctly.

Arbitrary - based on random choice or personal whim, rather than any reason or system.

So I am correct.

[Vashta Nerada]

Will Cthulhu rise out of the ocean tomorrow?

I sincerely hope not.

[Sun Wukong]

That's not what atheism is.

And you're arguing unimportant semantics... and based on most definitions, yeah, that's what it is.

This is a thread on unimportant semantics, and you just participated. Look in the mirror pot.

But I suppose it shouldn't matter that virtually all atheists don't agree that that's what atheism is?

[Stovokor]

Well, the definition of faith,

''complete trust or confidence in someone or something.''
"this restores one's faith in politicians"

Atheism is complete trust in the fact there is no God.

''strong belief in the doctrines of a religion, based on spiritual conviction rather than proof.''

There is no proof that there is no God, so it requires faith to believe that. Religion is belief in something, so Atheism is a religion.

What do you guys think?

To have faith that something is not there implies that it tangibly exists in reality.

[Dorrod Muth]

"He has a wife, you know. Her name is Incontinentia... Pants.

I believe her name was incontinentia bucket

The problem with an argument like this, is that it will simply go in circles

It's a bit of a logical paradox, though ignoring philosophical thought and for practical use, Atheism is not a faith. Atheism is to not believe in any form of deity, and though logical is therefore a faith (a faith in not having a faith) in terms of human common sense, it's just not believing in a god.

[Conscentia]

"He has a wife, you know. Her name is Incontinentia... Pants.

I believe her name was incontinentia bucket

The problem with an argument like this, is that it will simply go in circles

It's a bit of a logical paradox, though ignoring philosophical thought and for practical use, Atheism is not a faith. Atheism is to not believe in any form of deity, and though logical is therefore a faith (a faith in not having a faith) in terms of human common sense, it's just not believing in a god.

And in English?

[Rabbi Alex Jones]

Who cares? Keep your views to yourself don't force it on anyone.

I mean basically if I need to defecate it is my own business, I will do it in my own toilet, with my own privacy, in my own house, thankyou very much. Same with religion, if you need to believe in shit whatever it may be. Do it in your own brain, privately, in your own house, and do not force everyone else to hear your shit. I have no desire to watch other people shitting in my own toilet, nor do I have any desire hearing people shitting their religious beliefs at me via verbal diarrhea.

[Agorapolis]

Who cares? Keep your views to yourself don't force it on anyone.

I mean basically if I need to defecate it is my own business, I will do it in my own toilet, with my own privacy, in my own house, thankyou very much. Same with religion, if you need to believe in shit whatever it may be. Do it in your own brain, privately, in your own house, and do not force everyone else to hear your shit. I have no desire to watch other people shitting in my own toilet, nor do I have any desire hearing people shitting their religious beliefs at me via verbal diarrhea.

*sigh* These people.

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[Risottia]

If atheism is a religion than a tyrant can force civil rights on people

1."Then"
2.Napoléon Bonaparte.

Luckily, you didn't say that the fact that a tyrant can force civil rights on people implies that atheism is a religion.

Which, by the way, would be a different claim. Not all faiths are religions.

[Grave_n_idle]

On the contrary, the lack of evidence IS, itself, evidence of absence.

While I largely agree with you I feel that I should point out one thing.
The axiom you quoted actually meant the opposite of your intention; the original axiom stated that the absence of evidence is not the same as the evidence of absence (The lack of proof is not the proof of lack.)

I'm well aware that lack of proof is not proof of lack... but it is evidence. If you're looking in your pocket for your keys, and you can't find them, that's evidence your keys aren't in your pocket. Does it prove it, absolutely? No. But it is evidence.

[Grave_n_idle]

While I largely agree with you I feel that I should point out one thing.
The axiom you quoted actually meant the opposite of your intention; the original axiom stated that the absence of evidence is not the same as the evidence of absence (The lack of proof is not the proof of lack.)

Clearly s/he does not agree with the original axiom.

The original axiom is fine - it's just that evidence and proof are not the same thing.

[Breadknife]

"He has a wife, you know. Her name is Incontinentia... Pants.

I believe her name was incontinentia bucket

Buttocks.

HTH, HAND.

[Retired WerePenguins]

One of the problems with questions like this is that there is no atheist pope, no atheist creed and no atheist catechism. An atheist can range from the agnostic to the "weak" atheist to the "strong" atheist and most wouldn't even know what those terms are. (Fewer still would ever bother to look up atheism in Wikipedia to even know what those terms are.)

One might argue that extreme strong atheism is "faith." I wouldn't want to argue that with strong atheists, but someone else might.

[Blazedtown]

Well, the definition of faith,

''complete trust or confidence in someone or something.''
"this restores one's faith in politicians"

Atheism is complete trust in the fact there is no God.

''strong belief in the doctrines of a religion, based on spiritual conviction rather than proof.''

There is no proof that there is no God, so it requires faith to believe that. Religion is belief in something, so Atheism is a religion.

What do you guys think?

By that definition being a Vikings fan is a faith. We have absolute belief in our team, despite absolutely no proof they deserve it.

[Greater Beggnig]

If atheism is a religion than a tyrant can force civil rights on people

Father Knows Best state?

[Seshephe]

Is atheism
"A subjective confidence or trust in a person, thing, deity, or in the doctrines or teachings of a religion, or view (e.g. having strong political faith) without empirical evidence. It can also be belief that is not based on proof."?

Yes, in the same way that scientific skepticism is faith. Ultimately one has to believe in the axioms of scientific skepticism and empiricism in order to embrace atheism, but then again, scientific skepticism as a philosophical approach proves itself through empirical evidence.
To paraphrase someone, "science works bitches" and "science is true whether you believe in it or not".

So is a belief founded on empiricism faith? Yes and no. But mostly no.