Atheism: Is it a religion?

[dlamberth]

It could be said that the Area 51 people are somewhat religious..

I can't say that. They might be a type of cult, but they are not religious.

.

 

[Braunwyn]

It depends, really. Once someone demands you call it "Atheism" as opposed to atheism, they certainly adhere to it with a religious fervor. When it becomes evangelical, it's bordering on the religious.

The strange thing is the way so many anti-theists have misappropriated the term "atheist". The atheists I know simply don't believe, and they've no beef with any of it. But Atheism, as re-invented by Harris and Dawkins, is almost certainly a religion.

I think that Atheist "christian hunters" and Christian "atheist hunters" are perhaps more of the sensitive/emotional type. They get so wound up in their own garbage that nothing and no-one matters.

 

[GreenMunchkin]

I think that Atheist "christian hunters" and Christian "atheist hunters" are perhaps more of the sensitive/emotional type. They get so wound up in their own garbage that nothing and no-one matters.

Fo realz, Cholla. By that point, it's ceased to be about communication and it's all about the point scoring. But it's all become so polemical now, so staying reasoned is more of a struggle. We become what we behold, so if we're exposed constantly to polemics, that's what we take on board - it's what we become, even - and that's what we bring to people we debate.

 

[dlamberth]

I think that Atheist "christian hunters" and Christian "atheist hunters" are perhaps more of the sensitive/emotional type. They get so wound up in their own garbage that nothing and no-one matters.

Holy Roller sure doesn't seem to want to let it go and actually listen to what atheist have to say about themselves. When your married to wrong assumptions, it's darn hard to let them go sometimes.

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[Holy Roller]

Why is the area 51 crowd less absurd than believers in a pink elephant?

Because advanced life exists on earth.

 

[Holy Roller]

How about if they just lack faith in the existence of the theistic G-d? As opposed to what you put.

Because that's agnosticism; not Atheism.



(I changed your quote a little...)

 

[Holy Roller]

There are many people in the world who would find the belief in a pink elephant God no less absurd that the beliefs of a Christian or a Hindu.

You realize that don't you?

In any event, you seem to grasp the concept that your not believing in the pink elephant God, is not a faith and is not a religion of not believing in the pink elephant God.

Can I safely assume that you now no longer profess that Atheism is a religion?

No, because your 'pink elephant' god is too weak. Your argument would be stronger if you used aliens instead of the pink elephant god.

 

[dawiyd]

Because advanced life exists on earth.

So what?

 

[Braunwyn]

No, because your 'pink elephant' god is too weak. Your argument would be stronger if you used aliens instead of the pink elephant god.

Come now, if you've learned nothing from dialog with atheists know this, all gods are equal in the eyes of an atheist.

 

[dawiyd]

Because that's agnosticism; not Atheism.

I think you will find it's Atheism, as it's without God, do you understand what agnosticism actually is, as I have seen you miss apply it twice now?

(I changed your quote a little...)

Why?

1) You are messianic why hold up rabbinic dictations.
2) The usage no way implied the Rock of Israel, but a generic omni-max God.

 

[dawiyd]

No, because your 'pink elephant' god is too weak. Your argument would be stronger if you used aliens instead of the pink elephant god.

Why?

Again all you are doing is re-asserting your position, but you fail to bring any substance why the pink elephant is more absurd than aliens...

 

[Holy Roller]

So what?

1. Advanced life is on earth.
2. Earth is a planet in a solar system that has one star.
3. There are around 150 billion stars in our galaxy (Milky Way).
4. There are about 100 billion galaxies in the known Universe.
5. That means, there are 150 billion times 100 billion stars in the known Universe.
6. Since there are so many stars out there, common sense says there's also tons of advanced life out there.
7. The tons of advanced life in the known Universe makes aliens much easier to believe than the pink elephant god.

Please, don't make this circular. Thanks in advance.

 

[GreenMunchkin]

Come now, if you've learned nothing from dialog with atheists know this, all gods are equal in the eyes of an atheist.

Actually, that's not strictly true. The ones I've debated and spoken to are most offended by/angry at/against the God of the Bible.

Am aware of the snappy rhetoric and sayings... ("I just disbelieve in one more god than you..." etc) and yet when you get down to it, a large proportion of people who prescribe to the label of atheist are most against God, and less concerned with gods.

 

[dawiyd]

1. Advanced life is on earth.
2. Earth is a planet in a solar system that has one star.
3. There are around 150 billion stars in our galaxy (Milky Way).
4. There are about 100 billion galaxies in the known Universe.
5. That means, there are 150 billion times 100 billion stars in the known Universe.
6. Since there are so many stars out there, common sense says there's also tons of advanced life out there.
7. The tons of advanced life in the known Universe makes aliens much easier to believe than the pink elephant god.

Please, don't make this circular. Thanks in advance.

False, it makes it plausible Aliens exist, it doesn't however make the existence of a pink elephant god any more absurb than aliens. This is leap is on your part and no doubt based on your presumptions.

 

[Holy Roller]

Come now, if you've learned nothing from dialog with atheists know this, all gods are equal in the eyes of an atheist.

You have never seen nor seen evidence of either Creator G-d or aliens. Which do you believe less? Since you don't believe in G-d, this makes you a believer in aliens by default, right? Just asking.

 

[dawiyd]

You have never seen nor seen evidence of either Creator G-d or aliens. Which do you believe less? Since you don't believe in G-d, this makes you a believer in aliens by default, right? Just asking.

No, it's a false dichotomy.

And they could just equally lack belief in each one.

 

[Braunwyn]

1. Advanced life is on earth.
2. Earth is a planet in a solar system that has one star.
3. There are around 150 billion stars in our galaxy (Milky Way).
4. There are about 100 billion galaxies in the known Universe.
5. That means, there are 150 billion times 100 billion stars in the known Universe.
6. Since there are so many stars out there, common sense says there's also tons of advanced life out there.
7. The tons of advanced life in the known Universe makes aliens much easier to believe than the pink elephant god.

Please, don't make this circular. Thanks in advance.

ah okey dokey

 

[dawiyd]

Actually, that's not strictly true. The ones I've debated and spoken to are most offended by/angry at/against the God of the Bible.

Thats probably because the the majority you have spoken to have been surrounded by the God of the bible, and the majority you have spoken to are a demographic that have been effected by believers in the God of the bible, so it is natural they will put up a front to this "aggressor" that is most dominant in their lives as opposed to the gods of the Greek pantheon (which they lack belief in, but the followers of such don't play much of a role in the life's of said atheists).

 

[Braunwyn]

You have never seen nor seen evidence of either Creator G-d or aliens. Which do you believe less? Since you don't believe in G-d, this makes you a believer in aliens by default, right? Just asking.

I think it's plausible that life beyond the earth exists. There is no belief or degree of belief for your god, Krisha, the pink elephant god, etc. They're all in the same pot as far as I'm concerned. This I state as an atheist. period. A-god, B-god, C-god, D-god...there are so many. Why should I and how could I differentiate between what you value compared to the next theist?

 

[GreenMunchkin]

[/color]Thats probably because the the majority you have spoken to have been surrounded by the God of the bible, and the majority you have spoken to are a demographic that have been effected by believers in the God of the bible, so it is natural they will put up a front to this "aggressor" that is most dominant in their lives as opposed to the gods of the Greek pantheon (which they lack belief in, but the followers of such don't play much of a role in the life's of said atheists).

That doesn't make any sense. If they don't believe, full stop, they would have no reason to differentiate, regardless.

And, incidentally, very few cite Greek gods. The one I see most frequently is "Even Allah is better than your god!" Which I find staggering, given the respective teachings of the two faiths in question.