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Atheism
Atheism is the disbelief in or denial of the existence of God or gods.
1,002 Questions
What are the strengths of the design argument?
The design argument is one of the strongest indications of God's existence. For details, see these links: Is there evidence against Evolution
"The beauty of religious mania is that it has the power to explain everything. Once God is accepted as the first cause of everything which happens in the mortal world, nothing is left to chance…logic can be happily tossed out the window." - Stephen King, Novel Writer.
Do you have to have a religion?
There are only two real reasons for why you would have to follow a religion strictly. First, if you are a dependent child, your parents will likely have a strong say in how strictly or loosely you follow the doctrine of a given religion. In that case, once you are no longer dependent on them financially, you are most likely free to practice religion however you choose, if at all.
The other reason for strictly following a religion would be if you felt like you needed to follow it strictly. In America, at least, it is against the law for anyone to force you to practice a religion in a manner which you do not agree with. If you disagree with the strictness of a particular church, you are free to choose a different one. However, if you personally believe that your religious deity requires that you live and act a certain way, then by all means, follow that religion strictly.
Almost no one follows all the rules of their religion, though many people try to. Most religions say that sincerely trying is the important part.
What is the difference between Catholic and atheist?
The answer is generally reduced to a god/no god response. However there are many other differences:
- An atheist has proven to his own satisfaction that there is no god. He then gets on with his life behaving as most honest citizens and having his own opinions on a multitude of things from birth control to the what charities should be supported and even if there is life on other planets. As a downside his opinions do not count in citizenship cronies where he is forced to "sear" that he will be loyal etc.
- A Catholic, on the other hand, believes in a specific interpretation of "God" and accepts a number of side issues as being "right". These include the right of the local clergy to specify who he can marry, birth control, abortion, medical procedures (abortion, birth control HPV vaccinations, etc.), is constrained on who he can marry, if he can get divorced, public issues he can support, lifestyle and many others.
Is Ben Gibbard of DCFC an atheist?
Who cares? Isn't he just a human being as the rest of us. I do hope a yes or no answer will NOT influence you to subscribe to his beliefs? That is like me asking "Did John Lennon believe in God?" The question is neither here nor there, in other words find answers to spirituality questions within yourself- if you're fixated on grasping onto what others believe you're doing a disservice to yourself and ultimately undermining the essence of individualism, self-being, and freedom.
Peace
I guess he isn't if he's qouted on many websites stating:
" "To set the record straight for the God knows millionth time, we certainly didn't sign to Atlantic just for the money."
Does Richard dawkins hate god?
Richard Dawkins does not hate God.
He is an atheist and as such does not believe in him/her and therefore does not have any feelings towards God one way or the other.
Dawkins book "The God Delusion" is not against God but against the concept of organised religion, particularly the concept of an 'Abrahamic personal God.'
Richard Dawkins doesn't waste his time with God or Zeus.
Can Atheism be considered the equivalent of a religion for purposes of Title VII?
Yes, atheists do indeed have civil rights. And yes, their civil rights are protected under Title VII as are the rights of any American citizen. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is codified as subchapter VI of Chapter 21 of U.S.C. You can read the entire section at the link provided below.
TITLE 42 > CHAPTER 21 > SUBCHAPTER VI > § 2000e-2
§ 2000e-2. Unlawful employment practices
(a) Employer practicesIt shall be an unlawful employment practice for an employer-
(1) to fail or refuse to hire or to discharge any individual, or otherwise to discriminate against any individual with respect to his compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment, because of such individual's race, color, religion, sex, or national origin; or
(2) to limit, segregate, or classify his employees or applicants for employment in any way which would deprive or tend to deprive any individual of employment opportunities or otherwise adversely affect his status as an employee, because of such individual's race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.
He was definitely not, although we can't say he was really a classic theist neither, because he was interested only in psychological, "archetypal" God, rather than in problem of objective cosmic intelligence. Jung used the therm "God" as a synonym for "archetype of self" - collective, unconscious structure of psyche which generates harmony and wholeness of soul, according to his theory. In interview "Face to face with Carl Jung" he said: "The word "belief" is a difficult thing for me. I don't believe. I must have a reason for a certain hypothesis. Either I know a thing, and then I know it - I don't need to believe it." And when he was asked does he believe in God, he answered: "Now? Difficult to answer... I know. I don't need to believe, I know."
Elie Wiesel has been ambivalent on that topic. He has stated that on the one hand, he could not believe in a God who allowed the Holocaust to happen, but on the other hand, it equally seems impossible for God not to exist, when so many people gave up their lives in order to retain their belief in Him. So, there is no easy answer to this question, it is a very difficult philosophical knot for Wiesel.
How can atheism be good for the US as a nation?
Yes, because we strive for the common cause which the Constitutionn guarantees for all citizens.
No, he is a devout Muslim, although he has expressed some doubt about this and all other religions in the past.
How many atheists say that artifacts are a waste of time?
Not a very specific question... In what context? "artifacts" is a pretty broad term; it includes any manufactured object throughout all of history and pre-history as well. A stone flake used as a cutting tool is an artifact. So is a Buick.
So I don't really understand why you would think "atheists" would think that artifacts are a waste of time. I'm typing this on an artifact right now, a PC. Pretty obviously not a waste...
Are you referring to history? Artifacts tell us much about our ancestors.
AnswerAtheists are not known for declaring that artifacts are a waste of time. Atheists are scientists, archaeologists, sociologists, anthropologists, paleontologists, historians, philosophers, geologists and are represented in every other discipline. All are interested in artifacts which are objects made by humans such as a tool, ornament, structure,weapon, implement, garment, etc.
Adams has argued that atheism implies 100% certainty, which he thinks is an irrational position. Based on that, he probably wouldn't describe himself as an atheist.
In defense of atheism, most atheists don't believe in gods in the same way they don't believe in fairies; they simply don't consider the possibility.
This question has several different parts. First, being an atheist has nothing to do with morals: you could be moral and an atheist, or immoral and religious. If you are not religious you can be moral or immoral either way. Secondly respecting people's faiths would be considered moral.
- atheist from the greek "theos" or "god" adding an "a" means "not with" or "without". It has nothing to do with morals which is a completely different disipline.
- An Atheist is just a person who does not believe in a higher power. Just because they're atheist doesn't mean they're bad people; it just means they have different beliefs. If they respect other people's faith, they're of higher morals than those who do not feel similarly.
- If you do not believe in god, then yes, you are an atheist - but that does not make you immoral, and if you respect the views of others that is an indication that you do have some good morals.
- You're an Agnostic if you believe in some sort of Supreme Being, yet not particularly the God mentioned in the Bible; or, you may have your doubts about the authenticity of the Bible. No, you're not a bad person. I'm a Christian and my husband is an Agnostic. I find that each person in their own time has to come to grips with some sort of faith.
- If you do not believe in God, you are an atheist.
- Someone is not 'immoral' if they are not religious, particularly if they also respect other people's decisions to be religious. Believing in God does not make someone more moral than those who don't. Spritual faith and morality are not mutually exclusive.
- In summary, somebody who isn't religious, but respects other people's religion, is a good atheist, and is certainly not immoral.
What methods do Atheists use to discredit Christianity?
Atheists use simple logic to discredit Christianity. Any Christian would struggle to find definitive proof that there is a higher power besides resorting to faith that there is one. Faith does not equal proof. While most atheists would admit that even they are not sure of how the universe came to be (although the theory of the Big Bang has been well supported by scientists), Christians choose to believe in a figure that they will adamantly say is real and exists today, yet has not been proven to exist in any way, shape or form.
Why is the population of atheists increasing?
Opinion
Because there is less prosecution for atheists these days. Less pressure from the government and families to believe in a certain doctrine (although there is still pressure in some places). Also, communism instated atheism as the state religion, seeing as how Marx described religion as the opiate of the masses. Lastly, with science some people feel that mysticism no longer has a place in their lives since everything has a rational explanation.
Opinion
Everything in the first answer is true, though I think it is prudent to note that the biggest reason is probably science. Deities are usually put in place to explain things that couldn't be explained at the time (Zeus was the reason for lightning, for example). Now that we have an explanation for lightning, we no longer need Zeus.
At this point, god has been relegated, by anyone who understands enough science, that the only place for him anymore is untestable areas with assertions about God making the Big Bang happen and having a heaven/hell to go to after we die. We now know a deity is not needed to make a star, planet, life, sentience, and other major things previously attributed to him/her. So, logically at this point god can only be a "clockmaker" who started the universe via the Big Bang and hasn't interfered since (which makes him negligible), or simply doesn't exist. Either would give the same amount of evidence we have today: none.
As science continues to progress, there is less and less need for God (as shown in the previous paragraph, he's nonexistent or negligible already), and with advancements in global communication, polling studies, and such it becomes more an more apparent that organised religion is generally a corrupting influence that is a detriment to society.
How does atheism differ from us?
Atheists do not have any belief in gods. You can contrast that with your own views about gods.
What is chris Evans' religion?
He was raised Roman Catholic but supports gay marriage in direct conflict with the Catholic Church. His brother is homosexual and his uncle Congressman Michael Everett "Mike" Capuano was also raised Roman Catholic, but supports Abortion, and gay marriage as well.
What does the root word atheist mean?
Atheist comes from "theist," a believer in god or gods, and "a-" meaning not. Monotheist, polytheist, and pantheist have the same root. So atheist means one who does not believe in God.
Explain Richard Dawkins' term Lazy Thinking?
Professor Dawkins says that 'God' is a weak explanation for the mysteries of the universe and actually an obstacle to thinking about them. The so-called 'intelligent design' theory looks for God in the 'gaps' in our existing knowledge (in so far as the gaps it identifies are genuine). But even if you prove something else does not account for a fact, it is lazy thinking to conclude that the explanation is therefore supernatural.
Dawkins believes that religion is used as an easy option by those who wish to avoid looking for real s, thus his term "lazy thinking".
Why do Christians keep pestering atheists to convert?
2 Peter 3:9 - The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
Bible-believing Christians strive to attain and develop godly graces, which would include a shared and genuinely caring unwillingness to see someone forfeit their eternal well-being. They also discern from scripture that atheists are doing just that through the sin of unbelief (Revelation 21:8).
However, efforts to share the gospel with others should never amount to pestering or badgering; rather, they should be a sincere expression of concern for another.
2 Timothy 2:24 - And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient,
[Quotes from NKJV]
Another view.
Many, not all, believe their views and only their views are right and refuse to accept that anything else may be correct.
A lack of belief in a god or gods or worshipping a god in a different manner to their own is considered heretical. This is otherwise known as prejudice.
Is Sikhism an atheist religion?
By definition atheists acknowledge no god. In addition they have no formal organization (no code of practice, no meeting halls, no membership) which would make them a religion. In short there is no "atheist religion." Sikhism (the fifth largest religion in the world) emerged in 16th-century India. Its founding teacher, Guru Nanak Dev, was born in 1469. His most famous saying was, "There is no Hindu, there is no Muslim, so whose path shall I follow? I shall follow the path of God." It has a God, prayers, meetings, temples.
Sikhism is not atheistic in any of its aspects.
New contribution: Something interesting to consider is the question of what is actually meant by "God" as explored or considered in Sikh philosophy. Firstly, it is very different than the Abrahamic concept. In Sikh mystical and musical poetry the focus is on the human mind and its relationship with all that is; bringing oneself into a state of love, for all, good, bad, and in between; a state of conscious ecstasy at the sheer fact of existence; a stable, balanced state of mind able to be sustained (through practice) regardless of external circumstances. This "All" that is the focus of devotion and love is the concept of "God" in Sikhism and is so broad as to have no conflict with and encompasses all of science, any new discoveries, the universe, every person regardless of faith, sex, caste, class, nationality, sexual preference, etc.; every living thing, and all human experience.
That said, as per usual in all cultures, with stories told and retold down the generations with exaggerations and various cultural influences layered over; today for many Sikhs, rituals and supernatural and magical stories and ideas have come to be considered an important part of what is now an organized religion in the western sense. These things are now often matters of faith that lend proof of legitimacy for many Sikhs. Though well meaning, these things are a departure from the actual writings of the Sikh Guru's or teachers which have been passed down and survive to this day.
Interestingly, the most revered scriptures in the Sikh religion which were compiled in a volume by the fifth Sikh Guru includes not just the writings of the first five Sikh Guru's, but also select compositions from 15 other saints and thinkers from Hindu, Muslim, and Sufi mystical traditions in India. The idea was that human experience, an inspired state of mind, human brotherhood, service to one another, compassion, the pursuit of "Truth" - all transcend artificial divisions and boundaries of class, caste, race, dogma and organized religion.
