BedellBrave
It's OVER 5,000!
^^^ This.
Paid To Pray
- Thread starter 57Brave
- Start date
^^^ This.
sturg33
I
Isn't that what you do with guns?
sturg33
I
Hmm... seems like when someone shoots someone... you attack the gun
Kind of like your brick analogy.
BedellBrave
It's OVER 5,000!
57, here's a suggestion, try laying off of the dumbarse memes. It usually never ends well for you, despite what you think.
BedellBrave
It's OVER 5,000!
Like I said...
Btw, you might want to research the phrase homo religiosus. Or, instead you could just stick to reading TPM and scouring the internet for some more memes.
Btw, you might want to research the phrase homo religiosus. Or, instead you could just stick to reading TPM and scouring the internet for some more memes.
57Brave
Well-known member
What Is Atheism?
No one asks this question enough.
The reason no one asks this question a lot is because most people have preconceived ideas and notions about what an Atheist is and is not. Where these preconceived ideas come from varies, but they tend to evolve from theistic influences or other sources.
Atheism is usually defined incorrectly as a belief system. Atheism is not a disbelief in gods or a denial of gods; it is a lack of belief in gods. Older dictionaries define atheism as "a belief that there is no God." Some dictionaries even go so far as to define Atheism as "wickedness," "sinfulness," and other derogatory adjectives. Clearly, theistic influence taints dictionaries. People cannot trust these dictionaries to define atheism. The fact that dictionaries define Atheism as "there is no God" betrays the (mono)theistic influence. Without the (mono)theistic influence, the definition would at least read "there are no gods."
Why should atheists allow theists to define who atheists are? Do other minorities allow the majority to define their character, views, and opinions? No, they do not. So why does everyone expect atheists to lie down and accept the definition placed upon them by the world’s theists? Atheists will define themselves.
Atheism is not a belief system nor is it a religion. While there are some religions that are atheistic (certain sects of Buddhism, for example), that does not mean that atheism is a religion. Two commonly used retorts to the nonsense that atheism is a religion are: 1) If atheism is a religion then bald is a hair color, and 2) If atheism is a religion then health is a disease. A new one introduced in 2012 by Bill Maher is, "If atheism is a religion, then abstinence is a sexual position."
The only common thread that ties all atheists together is a lack of belief in gods and supernatural beings. Some of the best debates we have ever had have been with fellow atheists. This is because atheists do not have a common belief system, sacred scripture or atheist Pope. This means atheists often disagree on many issues and ideas. Atheists come in a variety of shapes, colors, beliefs, convictions, and backgrounds. We are as unique as our fingerprints.
Activism
https://atheists.org/activism/resources/what-is-atheism
No one asks this question enough.
The reason no one asks this question a lot is because most people have preconceived ideas and notions about what an Atheist is and is not. Where these preconceived ideas come from varies, but they tend to evolve from theistic influences or other sources.
Atheism is usually defined incorrectly as a belief system. Atheism is not a disbelief in gods or a denial of gods; it is a lack of belief in gods. Older dictionaries define atheism as "a belief that there is no God." Some dictionaries even go so far as to define Atheism as "wickedness," "sinfulness," and other derogatory adjectives. Clearly, theistic influence taints dictionaries. People cannot trust these dictionaries to define atheism. The fact that dictionaries define Atheism as "there is no God" betrays the (mono)theistic influence. Without the (mono)theistic influence, the definition would at least read "there are no gods."
Why should atheists allow theists to define who atheists are? Do other minorities allow the majority to define their character, views, and opinions? No, they do not. So why does everyone expect atheists to lie down and accept the definition placed upon them by the world’s theists? Atheists will define themselves.
Atheism is not a belief system nor is it a religion. While there are some religions that are atheistic (certain sects of Buddhism, for example), that does not mean that atheism is a religion. Two commonly used retorts to the nonsense that atheism is a religion are: 1) If atheism is a religion then bald is a hair color, and 2) If atheism is a religion then health is a disease. A new one introduced in 2012 by Bill Maher is, "If atheism is a religion, then abstinence is a sexual position."
The only common thread that ties all atheists together is a lack of belief in gods and supernatural beings. Some of the best debates we have ever had have been with fellow atheists. This is because atheists do not have a common belief system, sacred scripture or atheist Pope. This means atheists often disagree on many issues and ideas. Atheists come in a variety of shapes, colors, beliefs, convictions, and backgrounds. We are as unique as our fingerprints.
Activism
https://atheists.org/activism/resources/what-is-atheism
57Brave
Well-known member
re: homo religiosus
I find it interesting in the thread Paid To Pray, originally intended to put a thumb on hypocritical pols miss using a practice many of their constituents find sacred, we find paid and published theist after theist attempting to define those that disagree
Just saying
I find it interesting in the thread Paid To Pray, originally intended to put a thumb on hypocritical pols miss using a practice many of their constituents find sacred, we find paid and published theist after theist attempting to define those that disagree
Just saying
zitothebrave
Connoisseur of Minors
Atheism in and of itself isn't a religion. But there's certainly atheists (Dawson) who've made it their religion.
I think taking the massively loose definition of whatever your religious beliefs are, is your religion is a silly ploy.
chop2chip
Well-known member
Serious question.
What is the significance of defining Atheism as a religion versus not? To me this seems like an argument built upon semantics, but I'm curious to know if there is an underlying importance that causes a stir in people (I have this in other circles as well).
What is the significance of defining Atheism as a religion versus not? To me this seems like an argument built upon semantics, but I'm curious to know if there is an underlying importance that causes a stir in people (I have this in other circles as well).
zitothebrave
Connoisseur of Minors
Personally, I don't care. I'm agnostic. I don't believe anyone really knows. It's probably the laziest "religion" one can have but I truly struggle with saying there's no god, but at the same time no religion I've run across has me believing they're correct.
It is an argument built upon semantics. It's a common tactic used by some (bedell has done it in the past) to attempt to disarm and derail. I'm not a fan of it for that reason. It gets people into a tizzy and then derails the direction of the discussion, for as you said it semantics.
When you look at Miriam Webster, the 3 definitions given for religion are
: the belief in a god or in a group of gods
: an organized system of beliefs, ceremonies, and rules used to worship a god or a group of gods
: an interest, a belief, or an activity that is very important to a person or group
People saying atheism is a religion are stretching that third definition way out. Though, as I said, some people do make atheism a religion. When you go out of oyur way to prove people of faith wrong and preach your atheism to me it's no different than door to door jehovah's witnesses.
BedellBrave
It's OVER 5,000!
You will note that I said it is a tenet of religion.
I think any legitimate definition of "religion" actually needs to encompass those things that we all recognize as religions (i.e. forms of Buddhism, and Secular humanism, etc.) and if it doesn't, well let's just say it's a convenient definition.
BedellBrave
It's OVER 5,000!
Having trouble figuring out exactly what you are saying. I will note though, that I'm not the one who posted the dumbarse meme.
BedellBrave
It's OVER 5,000!
You were saying?
BedellBrave
It's OVER 5,000!
It's a tenet of several religions - I can buy that - though those several can be narrowed down substantially I suspect.
zitothebrave
Connoisseur of Minors
It's a tenet of a religion in that theism is the belief in a god or gods so atheism is the opposite. It's really hard to sell that though. I think to me, what makes a religion is the gathering. NOw not all gatherings are religious, that's obvious I think. BUT someone who's willing to go out of their way to try and convert others to atheism is taking it to a level of religion.
BedellBrave
It's OVER 5,000!
Everyone is religious. Atheists aren't less so because of that particular dogma. Yet, many of them lack sufficient self-awareness, chiefly due to their disdain/dislike/hatred for those they deem as "religious" (e.g. Dawkins and the other horsemen of the New Atheism and their disciples).
zitothebrave
Connoisseur of Minors
I literally addressed the third definition in the paragraph below.