Is there really a decision? Atheism is just as impossible to prove as any religion. The only reason to definitively be an atheist is if you hold a grudge against religion or religious people, or if you are an expressly positivist individual, in which case you best not go about contemplating any matters beyond the observable, material world.
I'm a very bitter and cynical person. I don't like being apart of any groups, especially politically and religiously.
They weren't mentioned, but then no one ever talks about the second man on the moon.[/quote:3nn2ygzr] I suppose that's true. Well, I'll just stick to the metaphorical thing. In the end, wasn't the story of Adam and Eve about that snake and apple or something? Again, my knowledge of the Bible isn't too great, so I might be off here. And I don't think you can easily deny Jesus himself. Him being the son of God doesn't make much sense to me either, although in that time it was quite popular to be the child of a god, so... I believe atheism is being against any religion, lacking belief in (a) deity/deities is being agnostic, I think.
I don't hold a grudge over anyone for their religious beliefs & never try and change what people believe - it's their choice, I just don't believe in a God or Allah, or any other name there is for deitys
I think i will create a religion called Stalinism Rules: Must worship Stalin as God( The word Stalin must be highlighted in red at all times) Must go to prayer 5 times a day through this forum Must wear a symbol of Stalin around the neck, must not be used as a fashion statement Must have the 'Snip' in the honor of Stalin Must not harm anything at all, including infidels Must sacrifice spaghetti every year on the May 1(International workers day) Must be able to recite the communist manifesto Perks: There will be an heaven A promise of 40 virgins every day You will meet the God Stalin in this heaven All infidels will go the hell where work is hardlabour Free communist flag comes with this!
Why should I concern myself with unfalsifiable statements? I consider myself a strong atheist (I believe beyond a reasonable doubt that deities don't exist) for the same reason I'm a strong a-unicorn-ist.
Atheism is the lack of a belief in a god or gods. Anti-theism is being against the concept of god. Agnosticism is the 'I don't know' position.
Agnosticism is the only reasonable position of the three, since the entire debate falls outside the scope of science and proving a negative is functionally impossible.
I believe atheism is being against any religion, lacking belief in (a) deity/deities is being agnostic, I think.[/quote] Agnosticism is a position that a god is unknown and unknoweble. Atheist is just some one that doesn't believe in a god. Its incredible how many people get this wrong. Most religious people are atheist when it comes to gods that they don't believe in. CorB thx fore making my post obsolete. hehe
Right, but you can be both an atheist and an agnostic. You can lack a belief in a god (the default position), while also not claiming to know the truth either way (agnosticism).
Wait, did you just say believing in (a) deity/deities is reasonable, not knowing whether there is (a) deity/deities is also reasonable, but not believing in one/them isn't, or did I misunderstand that? And yes, I guess I mixed the terms up again, I tend to do that a lot =/
FFS atheism isn't stating a negative. Its just lack of belief. How the hell is that negative? If you say that you have magic powers, and I say I don't believe you, I'm not stating a negative. Anti-theist is a negative. A in atheist doesn't mean anti.
Reasonability has little to do with it, it's more about the logicality of each. Believing in a deity isn't a logical thing to do; not claiming to know if a deity doesn't exist or not expressly believing in a deity is logical; and believing in the nonexistence of any deities isn't logical. To them other folks: I really don't want to get into a semantical debate that we've already had, and only a few pages back, so instead I'll just accept your nonsense terms. Under your definition (incorrect though it may be) it is acceptable to lack belief in a deity, and thus it is acceptable to be an atheist. It is entirely illogical to believe in the nonexistence of any deities, as it is functionally impossible to prove a negative. I understand that religion isn't a purely logical pursuit, and that's perfectly okay with me, as I am not an expressly positivist individual. But to anti-theists who claim scientific superiority, I cannot allow that nonsense to stand. Science doesn't concern itself with religion, and it doesn't seek to concern itself with religion. It cannot answer religious questions and should not be used to attempt to do so.
Atheism is not a religion. Atheism is a belief that there isn't a God. Atheism is the exact opposite of religion.
What happens to a mind after death, why we exist, whether or not a god exists, what our ultimate role in the universe is, to name a few.
