Atheism

I think if the statement "I believe there is a God" is a religious statement, then so is the statement "I believe there is no God".

P.S. he he, I like "ThePastafarian" handle. Let me guess - you're half Italian, half Jamaican?

Indeed. Religion means to be bound together in belief and has the same root word as ligature and ligament. In this example, the person is following someone else's beliefs. It ceases to be simply the denial of belief in deities - the person chooses to follow someone else's belief that there are no deities.

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that is the same thing actual religions do follow others' beliefs.

When people bind together in commonality for support and fellowship for their non-beliefs, they are just a group and not a religion. But if they get into a unity of their theology, they are looking like a group of similar believers in their dogma. They have faith that their ignorance by a lack of experience of God will some how propel them into an enlightenment of some sort, maybe with higher intellectual abilities or greater objectivity, knowing the truth better than those of the ancient craft of religion. This sounds like a faith without knowledge of truth, but faith that their logic is enough and they ignore the evidences of otherwise.

Stephen Kendall said:

When people bind together in commonality for support and fellowship for their non-beliefs, they are just a group and not a religion. But if they get into a unity of their theology, they are looking like a group of similar believers in their dogma. They have faith that their ignorance by a lack of experience of God will some how propel them into an enlightenment of some sort, maybe with higher intellectual abilities or greater objectivity, knowing the truth better than those of the ancient craft of religion. This sounds like a faith without knowledge of truth, but faith that their logic is enough and they ignore the evidences of otherwise.

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What evidences, exactly? Most atheists (myself included) would happily believe in one religion or another; who doesn't want an all-powerful, all-loving Father in the sky?
The problem is that there appears to be a total lack of evidence. No reason to believe in the Christian god, the Hindu god(s), the Buddhist paradigm (for want of a better word), etc.

Wiccan_Child said:

What evidences, exactly? Most atheists (myself included) would happily believe in one religion or another; who doesn't want an all-powerful, all-loving Father in the sky?
The problem is that there appears to be a total lack of evidence. No reason to believe in the Christian god, the Hindu god(s), the Buddhist paradigm (for want of a better word), etc.

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How do you suppose that religions were started? In the Torah, it was God doing a variety of miracles and was even choosing individuals to act for him, over thousands of years and actually still going on; all with an intended purpose that isn't readily understood (God-like instructions for the entirety of mankind, hidden knowledge for his creation to come to himself (through Jesus' way)). Religions were based in the unknown, faith, hope, superstitions and signs. Christianity, actually includes the Torah, so it has been going on since God's first humans. Miracles are a daily occurrence on Earth within Christianity, but not with every Christian. Are miracles evidence of God? Is faith evidence of God or the god within us? I have had a couple of dozen miracles personally, yet people of different religions have had miracles as well. Are we taping into our god within us (our faith)? I don't believe in the god within me, but I do readily believe in the one true God, creator of all. I believe that he is wise, kind, loving and faithful. He isn't a tyrant. He is the father of Jesus Christ. He is all powerful and everlasting. The little god within us, is wrapped in our egos and is of no benefit to us, even if it were to do miraculous things. No evidences is a ridiculous way to describe a religion that was built upon constant evidences, even today. You can not corner God into showing you a sign, but if you were to truly believe in Him, you would have many miracles in your life. It is interesting that he who doesn't believe will receive no sign, but he that does has many. That may tell something about God, that he is searching us out. For those who refuse to believe in Him will be allowed to live in the world that they have believed in, yet for those that search beyond this world, they will find evidence of their own faith, for God does know our hearts and needs; he cares for us.

The greatest evidences that their are is within you. If you do not search Him out, then you are not His. If you do search Him out, you will find Him, and that is through Jesus Christ. Why? What kind of God only relates to those who look beyond this world and our human existence to find Him, yet not to the many stubborn ones who reject Him for their own place. True Christians listen to and obey Jesus Christ's teachings and commandments (there are few, especially within the church). They are loving individuals with wisdom & peace. I don't know that I even qualify to be called one, but I do call myself Christian, in hope. Have a good day.

Check things out, ask God for input, if you are sincere, He will help you.

How do you suppose that religions were started?

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Religions were formed as a means for primitive man to explain the experiences around them. They didn't have answers or know of reliable methods to determine truth so they made up answers. This is why if you study the history of religion, it follows a general pattern of change over time. Shamanism/Anamist to Polytheist to Monotheist.

Stephen Kendall said:

How do you suppose that religions were started?

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People see lightning and thunder, and thus Odin and Thor are born. Religions merge and change over time, becoming more and more sophisticated. That's how religions are started.

That, or you have new cults and off-shoots that become fully-fledged religions (Christianity, Islam, Baha'i, etc).

I'm not sure what to make with the rest of your post, so I'll leave it.

Anon Sequitur said:

Do you believe atheism to be a religion? Why or why not?

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I always connected any "ism" with religion

ZahavaP said:

I always connected any "ism" with religion

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Conservationism .

... like a herd of cats are organized.

Nameless Anonymous Nobody said:

Oops, looks like I'm not an atheist after all. I'm not part of any organization and I haven't been going to the meetings because I don't know where they are being held.

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For only $20 a month I will keep you updated on all the various Atheist meeting locations, elections, appointments, bylaw amendments, and organized recreational activities.
.

Nameless Anonymous Nobody said:

No, it's absence of belief.



Almost, but not quite. Our dogma is that the earth is round.




Oops, looks like I'm not an atheist after all. I'm not part of any organization and I haven't been going to the meetings because I don't know where they are being held.

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Disbelief in a God is a belief. The bible says that the world is round, but the Catholics said it is flat. Atheist may be organized like a herd of cats, but there are Atheist organizations. Not all who believe in a God attend a church either. Evolution is not a fact, but a theory that requires a lot of faith.

JudaicChristian said:

Disbelief in a God is a belief ...

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Not believing IS believing?
.
Whats next? Not blue IS blue? Incorrect IS correct? This is a recipe for insanity.
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durangodawood said:

Not believing IS believing?
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Whats next? Not blue IS blue? Incorrect IS correct? This is a recipe for insanity.
.

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It is very simple, even for a simple mind. What you do or do not believe is by fact or faith. Disbelief in a God is a matter of faith, because evolution is a theory and not a fact. If you said you were an Agnostic, then you are claiming you do not know what to believe about the matter.

JudaicChristian said:

It is very simple, even for a simple mind. What you do or do not believe is by fact or faith. Disbelief in a God is a matter of faith, because evolution is a theory and not a fact. If you said you were an Agnostic, then you are claiming you do not know what to believe about the matter.

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Lets see if my simple mind can grasp this...
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If I believe there are no gods, thats an act of faith, right?
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But if I simply dont hold a belief in gods... then what am I?
.

JudaicChristian said:

Disbelief in a God is a belief.

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Yes, but atheists in general don't disbelieve in God. They lack any belief in God: they affirm neither the existence nor non-existence of God. This is not faith.

JudaicChristian said:

Evolution is not a fact, but a theory that requires a lot of faith.

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Evolution, the biological phenomenon, is a known event. We've seen evolution occur.
Evolution, the scientific theory, is a well-evidenced theory. It's as well established as the existence of atoms. We've never seen atoms, but you'd hardly reject their existence, would you?
Evolution, the long-term morphological change of species, has also been observed, albeit not directly. There's a little thing called 'evidence'.

There's a reason most scientists believe in atoms, gravity, and evolution: they are all supported by evidence.

JudaicChristian said:

It is very simple, even for a simple mind. What you do or do not believe is by fact or faith. Disbelief in a God is a matter of faith, because evolution is a theory and not a fact. If you said you were an Agnostic, then you are claiming you do not know what to believe about the matter.

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That doesn't even make any sense. What does evolution have to do with having no belief in god? I had no belief in any god (since birth) long before I ever heard of evolution. I have not studied evolution enough to say that I have been convinced 100% to believe in it. So I guess you could say I am "atheistic" towards evolution in the same way I am towards god.......I have not been provided with enough convincing evidence to lead me to belief. I currently lack belief in gods and evolution. That does not mean that I am not open to any new information which could make me believe.

Wiccan_Child said:

Yes, but atheists in general don't disbelieve in God. They lack any belief in God: they affirm neither the existence nor non-existence of God. This is not faith.


Evolution, the biological phenomenon, is a known event. We've seen evolution occur.
Evolution, the scientific theory, is a well-evidenced theory. It's as well established as the existence of atoms. We've never seen atoms, but you'd hardly reject their existence, would you?
Evolution, the long-term morphological change of species, has also been observed, albeit not directly. There's a little thing called 'evidence'.

There's a reason most scientists believe in atoms, gravity, and evolution: they are all supported by evidence.

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Mutation of species is a fact, but within limits. Atoms and gravity is science, but evolution is a theory.

Mythunderstood said:

That doesn't even make any sense. What does evolution have to do with having no belief in god? I had no belief in any god (since birth) long before I ever heard of evolution. I have not studied evolution enough to say that I have been convinced 100% to believe in it. So I guess you could say I am "atheistic" towards evolution in the same way I am towards god.......I have not been provided with enough convincing evidence to lead me to belief. I currently lack belief in gods and evolution. That does not mean that I am not open to any new information which could make me believe.

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If you have not made up your mind, then you are a Agnostic and not an Atheist. Because you are an Agnostic, only you can say you have no faith.