Religion: Atheist or Agnostic or just hatred?

You don't have a good definition of "atheist" - it simply means "not a theist".

I'll make you a deal - you don't tell atheists what they believe, and I won't tell theists what they believe.

I am an atheist because I have no belief in the variously described God(s)ess(es). This does not provide any more information about me, my morals, ethics or even my demeanor.

I am also a husband, a father, a police officer, a Humanist and a social activist.

In my view, the only reason it becomes important that I be called an atheist is when I refute false assertions made by religious adherents which are either deceptive, flawed by over-generalization or downright demeaning against those who simply don't buy the claim of the particular supernaturalist.

Most often, I find, this defining moment of proactively asserting my atheism comes when discussing politics and/or social causes involving liberty.

It is rare that anyone would become so defined as a "non"-whatever as atheism does. After all, I am not a stamp collector either but I don't go around asserting my "non-stamp collector"ism.

Atheism, however, strongly requires this proactive assertion because theists make claims about life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness in this one life. Many times these claims need a critical analysis and severe refutation for the greater good.

It doesn't really matter to me if you believe in Gods, a lucky rabbit's foot or an invisible wish-granting dragon...until you pick my pocket or begin to cause harm.

As for me, the atheist, I think it is better to await some actual evidence rather that take religious assertions on blind faith or promise of posthumous reward/punishment.

I don't think that any hypothetical benevolent deity would base her unconditional love on such a kind of blind belief in any event.

It is my hope that my words here have helped you understand more about atheism and the motivation of those who might engage in providing dissent.

Sincerely,

Steve Schlicht
the-humanist@hotamil.com

Santa Clause, the Easter Bunny, Vishnu, Allah, the Tooth Fairy, any of the gods(and there are many) are just imaginary beings that some folks still choose to believe in and sometimes kill for. Are you offended enough to kill for your imaginary friend?

I think that being an atheist is perfectly fine, for every person has a free will. I would never try to change a person if they truly felt that there isn't any possibility of any gods existing. I do not believe that being an atheist has anything to do with a person's moral beliefs, or attitudes pertaining to anything else other than religion. I am just trying to figure out how a person who is a proclaimed atheist, not that all who proclaim to be athiest do, can criticize a person's religion. That seems to indicate a presonal vendetta against that particular religion, not an objection to the possibility of religion in general. Also, I'm not sure who kills for Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, and the Tooth Fairy. (Refer to above comment) I said that i did get offended when people directly criticizes my beliefs (not the same as challenging them, which i can respect), but i would never kill because i was offended, i am not an extremist.

I'm a christian too and I have read about the other world religions in several books. The one I liked best was called "The Deadliest Monster" by J.F. Baldwin. He outlines all the popular worldviews in this book and gives the beliefs of each. And the truth is, that a true athiest must believe that there is nothing out there at all, no souls, nothing that cannot be seen. Which takes more belief than anything else, I think.
I have been studying chemistry this year in school and have found myself wondering how people can call all this amazing stuff random chance happenings! It is all in your point of view.
May the Force be with you...and God bless.

Originally posted by Tilly:

"And the truth is, that a true athiest must believe that there is nothing out there at all, no souls, nothing that cannot be seen. Which takes more belief than anything else, I think."

Actually that is mere assertion.

The true atheist *awaits the evidence* to prove that there is a particular God/Gods/Goddess (etc)., "souls" and any number of unfalsifiable imaginary beings such as pixies, magic unicorns, fairies, leprechauns.

There comes a time with the one making the claim has to provide evidence for the claim. Without evidence most people will refuse to believe in a claim blindly. Religions and God-claims included.

Atheism really is a simple as that.

Steve

For the first 25 years of my life I was a non-theist and would probably be classified as an agnostic. I live in the bible belt, so people approach me quite often and attempt to "convert me." I now say I am an atheist because the word "agnostic" does not imply the **degree** of doubt I have about the supernatural claims of religions. For example, I think that there might be a tooth fairy, by I am really an a-fairyist (instead of an agnostic regarding fairies) because I lean much more toward their nonexistence than the other way around.

Originally posted by norami1:

"I am just trying to figure out how a person who is a proclaimed atheist, not that all who proclaim to be athiest do, can criticize a person's religion. That seems to indicate a presonal vendetta against that particular religion, not an objection to the possibility of religion in general.'

An atheist can critically examine the religious claim and provide comment resulting in refutation.

It should not be considered a personal vendetta, however, since most Christians in the USA are using their supernaturalist claims to establish public policy it becomes necessary for atheists to openly criticize the religion when applicable.

This returns us to my prior statement:

"It doesn't really matter to me if you believe in Gods, a lucky rabbit's foot or an invisible wish-granting dragon...until you pick my pocket or begin to cause harm."

Take care and thanks for the opportunity to clarify the issue,

Steve

You truly need to do some research into Atheism in order to avoid making false and baseless claims about them. Atheism is, pure and simple, absence of belief in a "god" or "gods". Nothing more nor less. There is a wealth of information at www.infidels.org

Atheists do not attack "god". They do, however, speak out against god-BELIEVERS who they perceive as violating separation of church and state and using religious belief as an excuse to legitimize bigotry and hatred. You wonder perhaps why Atheists criticize religion; I believe you answered that question yourself when you mentioned the "irrational thinking" associated with religion. They protest Christian Dominionists who are working to create an American theocracy, as well as violent extremists of all religions. No, they don't attack "god", but the often foolish and sometimes dangerous actions of believers are fair game.

And the truth is, that a true athiest must believe that there is nothing out there at all, no souls, nothing that cannot be seen.

The truth is, you are misusing the word "truth".

A true atheist lacks belief in God or gods. Some Buddhists would therefore qualify as atheists despite their belief in reincarnation. A person who does not believe in anything supernatural, including gods, souls, heaven, hell, etc., is an adherent of naturalism, not just atheism.

Atheism is a lack of belief in God(s); but how different Atheists express that lack can vary a great deal. Atheists take a wide array of positions on Atheism – much like the many different flavors of Christianity.

Some Atheists have been verbally or physically attacked by the devout, which drastically affects their views of religious people. Other Atheists are satisfied to ‘live and let live’, and would never tell you about their own personal beliefs.

In my own case, I point out the bad logic, the dishonesty, and even the evil that organized religion makes possible. I hold some Christians up to criticism due to the beliefs that they hold that serve to degrade or diminish the humanity of others. Sometimes I get very upset at the thoughtlessness of Christianity, or the wrong wrought by individual Christians.

But I’m not upset with a God of any sort – I don’t believe in such a being so I think it would be foolish to do so.

I am upset with a prevalent idea, a religious culture, that seems to function like a virus of the mind as it warps its followers into doing bad while calling it good. I’m angry with the masses of Christians who refuse to think critically, and even to read their own bible. I’m angry with those people who use and manipulate this culture in order to gain power over others or to line their own pockets, or both.

You have the right to get angry when people criticize your religion or your God. But you do not have the right to attempt to limit anyone’s ability to criticize. I see your belief in God no different to any other generic belief – and in any form of reasoning all beliefs should be subject to criticism. Why is it I’m allowed to criticize someone’s beliefs about politics or fashion, but not yours just because it is your religion? What makes Christianity, or any other religious idea, automatically above criticism?

I’m not upset with Christians in general. The majority of the Christians that I know are loving people who are able to accept me as I am. They are content to “hate the sin and love the sinner

To deny God is to deny one's own existence because religion affirms human existence.

This is an easy answer. If a person does not have their own beliefs, it is easy to attack, because you cannot be attacked yourself. Those who have no backbone are not volerable to criticism, and give it out blindly. That is, for those who don't proclaim to believe in anything in particular. Those who attack God because their beliefs are different, are a different story.

Just because Atheists will/can refute the existence of god/s with factual information does not mean they are "attacking" that belief. That is also not Atheism's goal. Lastly, Atheism is not a religion and we don't go around attacking others' beliefs or try to convert them to ours.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atheist#Types_and_typologies_of_atheism

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agnostic#Qualifying_agnosticism

"Men become civilized, not in proportion to their willingness to believe, but in proportion to their readiness to doubt."

"Freedom of press is limited to those who own one."

H. L. Mencken

"These don't tend to get mixed up as much as atheisim and hatred. I have read and heard of many people who proclaim to be atheist who directly attack God. THIS IS NOT ATHEISM. This is a direct attack on God, which means that the person acknowledges God's existance. If the person was truly athiest, then they would not attack God, but would, instead attack the irrational thinking that might sometimes be associated with religion or God."
Thank you! I agree. I also would like to say that it makes me mad when people attack religious individuals and then call it a 'reasoned attack on religion.' Someone in a religion might be a jerk but that doesn't mean that everyone in a religion is and it's hardly unfair to presume 'because you know one you know 'em all.' D: A reasoned attack on religion would be an actual argument as to why it's not a rational, or valid idea.
Glad you posted this!

A lot of people have supplied the type of answers I would give.

First, I'll say there seems to be a definite mix-up in what Atheism means and I won't define it here because...I just won't.

I think my answer to your question is that, like many people who do believe in a higher being are capable of attacking other religions and saying that they are incorrect and that their religion is the correct one, we (atheists) are just as capable of attacking EVERY religion and saying that it is wrong. It's more of an acknowledgment of the existence of the religion and not the existence of the God/Goddess/Gods.

Hope that helped!

I am agnostic and the thing that bothers me the most is when people who do believe in God throw me into the Atheist category. I don't NOT believe though! I just don't know what I believe and I wish more people could respect that. I have been told many times that Agnostics and Atheists are the same thing but I really don't think that is true.

I also think that a lot of times people see Atheists as attacking God because many of them do. I see a lot of people bash religion just because they don't believe in it, and a lot of time they happen to be non-believing. I am not saying this is true of all though, just something I have observed.