What Atheists Believe

#151
#151
I started this thread early yesterday , hoping for a reasonable weighing of opinions and viewpoints. You guys did not disappoint.

Sincere thanks to all.

We'll continue tomorrow - but the deeper we go into science, be prepared to provide a primer to those of us who are largely ignorant of those intricacies, of which I am chief amongst all.

Look forward to it.
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#154
#154
Religion:
the service and worship of God or the supernatural
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Theism:
belief in the existence of a god or gods; specifically : belief in the existence of one God viewed as the creative source of the human race and the world who transcends yet is immanent in the world
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#157
#157
Orangekush423 said:
Define religion. Then define truth.
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Religion

1. a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, especially when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.
2. a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects: the Christian religion; the Buddhist religion.
3. the body of persons adhering to a particular set of beliefs and practices: a world council of religions.
4. the life or state of a monk, nun, etc.: to enter religion.
5. the practice of religious beliefs; ritual observance of faith.
6. something one believes in and follows devotedly; a point or matter of ethics or conscience: to make a religion of fighting prejudice.
7. religions, Archaic . religious rites.
8. Archaic . strict faithfulness; devotion: a religion to one's vow.
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Truth

1. the true or actual state of a matter: He tried to find out the truth.
2. conformity with fact or reality; verity: the truth of a statement.
3. a verified or indisputable fact, proposition, principle, or the like: mathematical truths.
4. the state or character of being true.
5. actuality or actual existence.
6. an obvious or accepted fact; truism; platitude.
7. honesty; integrity; truthfulness.
8. ( often initial capital letter ) ideal or fundamental reality apart from and transcending perceived experience: the basic truths of life.
9. agreement with a standard or original.
10. accuracy, as of position or adjustment.
11. Archaic . fidelity or constancy.
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Atheism does not concern itself with the cause and purpose of the universe, those are entirely different sets of beliefs not common throughout all atheists.

No rituals in atheism. No outlined moral code.

No specific fundamental set of beliefs.

The only organization is to oppose religious advancements into secular society.
 
#158
#158
Religion: a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe.

In my opinion, belief that there is no God, and my actions have no eternal consequences, is in itself, a set of beliefs to explain purpose and nature. (2 of 3 from definition)

Frankly, our alliegence is to someone of something, whether we believe it or not. I believe that by nature, our alliegence is to ourselves. Think about it, unless we are taught that giving is better than receiving, (a whole other topic) we, by nature, would MUCH rather take something for ourselves than to sacrifice something for another. We worship our own selfish desires. (Jumping around a bit, I know)
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#159
#159
Orangekush423 said:
Religion: a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe.

In my opinion, belief that there is no God, and my actions have no eternal consequences, is in itself, a set of beliefs to explain purpose and nature. (2 of 3 from definition)
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It is not a belief.

Additionally, I think you will have a hard time finding an atheist who provides a supposed "purpose" of the universe.
 
#161
#161
therealUT said:
It is not a belief.

Additionally, I think you will have a hard time finding an atheist who provides a supposed "purpose" of the universe.
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As for the belief that there is no God, what would you call it, if not a belief?

As for the purpose, the belief of a lack of purpose, is eual to a specific purpose. God= specific purpose.......no God = no purpose @ all.......see what I'm saying?
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#162
#162
Orangekush423 said:
As for the belief that there is no God, what would you call it, if not a belief?
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it's not a belief to simply say something doesn't exist. Are you a member of the anti-Zeus religion too?

Orangekush423 said:
As for the purpose, the belief of a lack of purpose, is eual to a specific purpose. God= specific purpose.......no God = no purpose @ all.......see what I'm saying?
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you can have a purpose in life without God
 
#163
#163
Orangekush423 said:
As for the belief that there is no God, what would you call it, if not a belief?

As for the purpose, the belief of a lack of purpose, is eual to a specific purpose. God= specific purpose.......no God = no purpose @ all.......see what I'm saying?
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I can't speak for everyone, but I just live then die. I don't believe I have a specific purpose. I can choose to make myself useful to society, or I can choose not to. I don't have to please anyone or anything.

If I have to pick a purpose, then it's for my body to temporarily house energy (read: molecules) used to create life further down the road.

I think you're reaching pretty far to equate lack of belief with belief.
 
#164
#164
utvolpj said:
it's not a belief to simply say something doesn't exist. Are you a member of the anti-Zeus religion too?



you can have a purpose in life without God
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"I contend that we're both atheists, I just believe in one less god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all other gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours." - Stephen Roberts
 
#165
#165
Orangekush423 said:
As for the belief that there is no God, what would you call it, if not a belief?
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A logical conclusion based on evidence and inference.

Orangekush423 said:
As for the purpose, the belief of a lack of purpose, is eual to a specific purpose. God= specific purpose.......no God = no purpose @ all.......see what I'm saying?
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Do atheist believe in a lack of purpose? Or, do they settle with a simple "I don't know if there is a purpose and until I know, I remain undecided regarding a purpose"?

Failure to provide a supposed purpose is not synonymous with stating that there is no purpose.
 
#166
#166
and the Zeus comment is a joke but I really can't believe how claiming something just isn't there is a belief system.
 
#167
#167
I either believe something is, or I believe it's not. My point was that the devotion to the noGod theory is not much different (if @ all) than the God truth.( as it relates to one's choice to believe it is truth, or believe it is false)
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#168
#168
utvolpj said:
and the Zeus comment is a joke but I really can't believe how claiming something just isn't there is a belief system.
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To me the question boils down to a binary choice:

Creator or no Creator.

Those who take the Creator view generally add the theism/religion view as well and have a specific view of the Creator. However, that is not a prerequisite for belief in a Creator; particularly the religious view.

To me, evidence and logic points to a Creator being more likely than there not being one.

Is that a belief or a reasoned conclusion?

If I then expand that into more religious aspects - e.g. what that Creator means in terms of purpose of life, impact on my life and what happens when I die I definitely move into "belief" or "faith" mode.
 
#171
#171
Orangekush423 said:
I either believe something is, or I believe it's not. My point was that the devotion to the noGod theory is not much different (if @ all) than the God truth.( as it relates to one's choice to believe it is truth, or believe it is false)
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it's absolutely different. Atheists don't go around worrying themselves with their no-God stance. You are able to dismiss other Gods without that becoming a belief right?
 
#172
#172
I absolutely believe that Alla does not exist. I absolutely believe that Horace does not exist. Nor did they ever.
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#173
#173
I see projecting the fallacies of religious belief and superstition onto nonbelievers as an implied admission of weakness in faith. It's supposed to be that faith is what sets one apart... Yet everything supposedly takes faith? That doesn't work.
 
#174
#174
Orangekush423 said:
I absolutely believe that Alla does not exist. I absolutely believe that Horace does not exist. Nor did they ever.
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There's as much evidence for Allah as there is for the Judeo-Christian god. Heck, they appear to be the same god on paper.
 
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