What Atheists Believe

#1
Tenacious D

Tenacious D

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#1
While there are undoubtedly thousands of beliefs and their variants, I'd like to see if their is some consensus as to a Statement of Non-belief, so to speak.

So, I'll start with the most obvious atheistic belief (by definition): That there is no god.

Any others?
 
#2
#2
you should, perhaps, clarify a bit further. There are every day atheists who can walk down a sidewalk and see a nun or a cross and not react as if they'd just seen, and smelled, a possum that's been dead on the road for a week. Then you have the Michael Newdow types who find offense at a cross contained in a city seal or a college logo.

Militant (and some not-so-militant) atheists will also have a deeply flawed interpretation of Jefferson's letter to the Danbury Baptists, believing that this was the basis for the mythical "wall of separation" that isn't mentioned anywhere in the 1st Amendment.
 
#3
#3
What exactly are you looking for?

I believe there's no proof of a god. Burden of proof also lies on the believers.

I believe that there should be separation of church and state, whether that's what Jefferson intended or not.

I believe that religion should be kept in the churches and homes.
 
#4
#4
I am an agnostic. There is a Supernatural, Divine Creator. This being certainly has the potential to be "personal" and to perform "miracles", yet I have not been personally approached by such a being, therefore, I remain unconvinced.

Believers might take this opportunity to state that I have not tried to establish a personal relationship with such a being. I've been to multitudes of Catholic Churches, Protestant Churches, Hindu Temples, and Mosques (have not been to a Synagogue, because, frankly, they are places for teaching the Torah and the Talmud, not for worship); I have read the Bible, the Koran, the Upanishads, and the Bhagavad-Gita; if there was a "door", I have certainly knocked on it. I finally decided to stop knocking. If the all-powerful being requires a personal relationship, then that being certainly has the power to establish one with me.
 
#11
#11
therealUT said:
I am an agnostic. There is a Supernatural, Divine Creator. This being certainly has the potential to be "personal" and to perform "miracles", yet I have not been personally approached by such a being, therefore, I remain unconvinced.

Believers might take this opportunity to state that I have not tried to establish a personal relationship with such a being. I've been to multitudes of Catholic Churches, Protestant Churches, Hindu Temples, and Mosques (have not been to a Synagogue, because, frankly, they are places for teaching the Torah and the Talmud, not for worship); I have read the Bible, the Koran, the Upanishads, and the Bhagavad-Gita; if there was a "door", I have certainly knocked on it. I finally decided to stop knocking. If the all-powerful being requires a personal relationship, then that being certainly has the power to establish one with me.
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I have heard differing opinions on what a "personal relationship" is in regards to the all mighty, ranging from devout believers and non believers. How would you define it? Or what do you expect from it?
 
#12
#12
Seriously though, my understanding is that atheists believe there is no higher power whether it be an energy, spirit, a god or gods. There is no life after death. No soul. So, enjoy your life today because it's all you have to look forward to.
 
#13
#13
BeecherVol said:
I have heard differing opinions on what a "personal relationship" is in regards to the all mighty, ranging from devout believers and non believers. How would you define it? Or what do you expect from it?
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A direct statement from this being. Not some portentous omen that can be easily explained through natural logic. Certainly, an all-powerful being has that ability.
 
#14
#14
I don't even know why we need the term "atheist". We don't have a special term for a non-belief in astrology. I see it as more of a philosophy of reason and expectation of reasonable evidence, with anything.
 
#15
#15
therealUT said:
A direct statement from this being. Not some portentous omen that can be easily explained through natural logic. Certainly, an all-powerful being has that ability.
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Do you believe the supernatural divine creator that you believe has ever done this? In some shape or form that is not logically explained by our human abilities.
 
#16
#16
BeecherVol said:
Do you believe the supernatural divine creator that you believe has ever done this? In some shape or form that is not logically explained by our human abilities.
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He has not done so to me. Might he have done so to other persons, of course. For them, their knowledge and personal relationship is justified; I, however, will not stand convicted on hearsay alone.
 
#17
#17
therealUT said:
He has not done so to me. Might he have done so to other persons, of course. For them, their knowledge and personal relationship is justified; I, however, will not stand convicted on hearsay alone.
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This is a very interesting comment.
 
#18
#18
I don't believe anyone when they say that god has spoken to them.
Posted via VolNation Mobile
 
#19
#19
VOLatile said:
I don't believe anyone when they say that god has spoken to them.
Posted via VolNation Mobile
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As long as it simply has to do with the way they live their life, not infringing upon the rights of others, I have no problem with it.

I have a problem when someone says "God spoke to me, and this is how you should live". God doesn't need middlemen.
 
#20
#20
therealUT said:
I am an agnostic. There is a Supernatural, Divine Creator. This being certainly has the potential to be "personal" and to perform "miracles", yet I have not been personally approached by such a being, therefore, I remain unconvinced.
Click to expand...


I'm sort of in this boat but never considered it agnostic - I believe in a creator; I'm not wishy-washy about that belief. I guess I'm closest to being a Deist.

I don't really believe about daily involvement in our lives in any sort of paying attention to everyone and making decisions for them.

Instead I believe:

1) the creative force put all this stuff in motion
2) there are supra-natural forces/powers/phenomena that fall out side of man's "reasoning" at least for know.
3) following up on 3, I see no reason why these things should be determined not to exist simply because man may be incapable of "understanding them". I believe this is the arrogance of man.
4) I believe some people are more attuned to the concepts in #2 and "sense" them more strongly than others.
5) I label my self Christian since that is how I was taught about a creator - I simply view it as the prism through which I sense this greater power. I don't see Christianity as any more of a direct link to the power than any other religion.
6) Heaven and Hell are metaphors - perhaps there is some link to what happens to the soul but as in #5, I don't see being a devout believer of a particular religion as a prerequisite for those outcomes.
 
#21
#21
hohenfelsvol said:
Seriously though, my understanding is that atheists believe there is no higher power whether it be an energy, spirit, a god or gods. There is no life after death. No soul. So, enjoy your life today because it's all you have to look forward to.
Click to expand...
Life sure seems bleak. :cool:
 
#23
#23
therealUT said:
I am an agnostic. There is a Supernatural, Divine Creator. This being certainly has the potential to be "personal" and to perform "miracles", yet I have not been personally approached by such a being, therefore, I remain unconvinced.

Believers might take this opportunity to state that I have not tried to establish a personal relationship with such a being. I've been to multitudes of Catholic Churches, Protestant Churches, Hindu Temples, and Mosques (have not been to a Synagogue, because, frankly, they are places for teaching the Torah and the Talmud, not for worship); I have read the Bible, the Koran, the Upanishads, and the Bhagavad-Gita; if there was a "door", I have certainly knocked on it. I finally decided to stop knocking. If the all-powerful being requires a personal relationship, then that being certainly has the power to establish one with me.
Click to expand...

Having (seemingly) failed to establish this personal relationship on your own, you now simply rely upon G/god to do bridge the chasm, instead. If I've accurately represented your position, it is profoundly important - and rare, I believe. Many others simply could not stand upon that uncertain ground, or for very long. Most c/wouldn't tolerate the mystery, and would either feign an experiential awareness or choose outright unbelief, instead.

Given the choice, would you prefer to have a relationship with this g/God, or not, and what do you imagine that experience would look like, if obtained?

lawgator1 said:
That children are our future?
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You obviously want to participate, or you wouldn't have provided any comment at all. So, do so.

hohenfelsvol said:
There are no atheists in fox holes.
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No, but I personally know of several who were in a ship's aft engine room and only several yards away from a main engine embroiled in fire and threatening explosion.

The effects of their atheism was of little consequence in that moment, and left undiscussed.

rjd970 said:
I don't even know why we need the term "atheist". We don't have a special term for a non-belief in astrology. I see it as more of a philosophy of reason and expectation of reasonable evidence, with anything.
Click to expand...

Can reason be attributed to non-believers, alone? Is it possible to believe something - or that it may be true - in the absence of supporting evidence?

therealUT said:
He has not done so to me. Might he have done so to other persons, of course. For them, their knowledge and personal relationship is justified; I, however, will not stand convicted on hearsay alone.
Click to expand...

You believe that any possible conviction to be unjust, until this g/God makes these things known to you, directly? Not intended to imply anything, just wanted to be certain that I understood your point.

It's an incredibly personal question, and one which you certainly don't have to answer - but I'll offer it, in case you wouldn't mind:

Why is it that you believe that this g/God has seemingly withheld this personal relationship from you, at least to this point, despite the fact that you have earnestly sought it?
 
#24
#24
volinbham said:
I'm sort of in this boat but never considered it agnostic - I believe in a creator; I'm not wishy-washy about that belief. I guess I'm closest to being a Deist.

I don't really believe about daily involvement in our lives in any sort of paying attention to everyone and making decisions for them.

Instead I believe:

1) the creative force put all this stuff in motion
2) there are supra-natural forces/powers/phenomena that fall out side of man's "reasoning" at least for know.
3) following up on 3, I see no reason why these things should be determined not to exist simply because man may be incapable of "understanding them". I believe this is the arrogance of man.
4) I believe some people are more attuned to the concepts in #2 and "sense" them more strongly than others.
5) I label my self Christian since that is how I was taught about a creator - I simply view it as the prism through which I sense this greater power. I don't see Christianity as any more of a direct link to the power than any other religion.
6) Heaven and Hell are metaphors - perhaps there is some link to what happens to the soul but as in #5, I don't see being a devout believer of a particular religion as a prerequisite for those outcomes.
Click to expand...



My views as well.
 
#25
#25
volinbham said:
.
3) following up on 3, I see no reason why these things should be determined not to exist simply because man may be incapable of "understanding them". I believe this is the arrogance of man.
Click to expand...

When is that ever the case? Like what are some examples of this?
 
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