Things atheism is not.

steven_guy

Posts: 11,042

Atheism is not a philosophy.
Atheism is not a path.
Atheism is not a religion.
Atheism is not a world view.
Atheism is not a way of life.
Atheism is not a belief.
Atheism is not a rebellion against religion.
Atheism is not a rebellion against God or any other imaginary being.
Atheism is not a political stance.

Others may add to this list if they like.

mytmouse57

Posts: 9,316

Apr 19, 2012 -- 5:29PM, steven_guy wrote:

Atheism is not a philosophy.
Atheism is not a path.
Atheism is not a religion.
Atheism is not a world view.
Atheism is not a way of life.
Atheism is not a belief.
Atheism is not a rebellion against religion.
Atheism is not a rebellion against God or any other imaginary being.
Atheism is not a political stance.

Others may add to this list if they like.

Atheism might not be those things, but it can drive and/or result from them.

For example, atheism is not a world view. But being atheist surely will affect how one views the world. Atheism is not a philosophy -- but it most surely can affect philosophy.

Hence, in generalized discussions, such terms might be used.

As is, "X" is a theistic philosophy, whereas, "Y" is an atheistic philosophy.

steven_guy

Posts: 11,042

Apr 19, 2012 -- 5:37PM, mytmouse57 wrote:

Apr 19, 2012 -- 5:29PM, steven_guy wrote:

Atheism is not a philosophy.
Atheism is not a path.
Atheism is not a religion.
Atheism is not a world view.
Atheism is not a way of life.
Atheism is not a belief.
Atheism is not a rebellion against religion.
Atheism is not a rebellion against God or any other imaginary being.
Atheism is not a political stance.

Others may add to this list if they like.

Atheism might not be those things, but it can drive and/or result from them.

For example, atheism is not a world view. But being atheist surely will affect how one views the world.

It doesn't for me. My political opinions influence the way I view the world as well as my sense of justice and fairness.

Atheism is not a philosophy -- but it most surely can affect philosophy.

How?

Hence, in generalized discussions, such terms might be used.

As is, "X" is a theistic philosophy, whereas, "Y" is an atheistic philosophy.

Atheism is not a philosophy. It is a philosophical position on a single philosophical issue.

mainecaptain

Posts: 20,470

Some people seem to deliberately not want to understand what atheism actually is.

A tyrant must put on the appearance of uncommon devotion to religion. Subjects are less apprehensive of illegal treatment from a ruler whom they consider god-fearing and pious. On the other hand, they do less easily move against him, believing that he has the gods on his side. Aristotle
Never discourage anyone...who continually makes progress, no matter how slow. Plato..
"A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives" Jackie Robinson

Ken

Posts: 33,790

Apr 19, 2012 -- 5:37PM, mytmouse57 wrote:

Atheism might not be those things, but it can drive and/or result from them.

For example, atheism is not a world view. But being atheist surely will affect how one views the world. Atheism is not a philosophy -- but it most surely can affect philosophy.

Obviously, it places certain limits on the Weltanschauung or philosophy one can adopt. But that still leaves many possibilities.

mytmouse57

Posts: 9,316

Apr 19, 2012 -- 6:10PM, mainecaptain wrote:

Some people seem to deliberately not want to understand what atheism actually is.

What's to understand?

Atheist all have one thing in common. They don't think a God(s)/creator/higher power exists.

My point simply is, thinking that can, and probably will, affect how one views or approaches any number of things. One's view of the world and life, one's philosophy, one's path... etc.

What the effect/effects might be surely can vary from person to person. In another thread, you mistakenly tried to say I claimed atheism is a philosophy, becuase I said one particular philosophy (one type of modern Satanism) is atheistic.

I'm pointing out the possibilites of instance, not general principle.

Because again, in general principle, atheism is one thing, and one thing only -- thinking there is no god(s)/creator/higher power.

mytmouse57

Posts: 9,316

Apr 19, 2012 -- 6:14PM, Ken wrote:

Apr 19, 2012 -- 5:37PM, mytmouse57 wrote:

Atheism might not be those things, but it can drive and/or result from them.

For example, atheism is not a world view. But being atheist surely will affect how one views the world. Atheism is not a philosophy -- but it most surely can affect philosophy.

Obviously, it places certain limits on the Weltanschauung or philosophy one can adopt. But that still leaves many possibilities.

Well, of course. Note, I said "affect," not limit or dictate.

steven_guy

Posts: 11,042

Apr 19, 2012 -- 6:10PM, mainecaptain wrote:

Some people seem to deliberately not want to understand what atheism actually is.

I've noticed that over the years. There must be some sort of psychological need in these people to misunderstand atheism.

mytmouse57

Posts: 9,316

Apr 19, 2012 -- 6:02PM, steven_guy wrote:

Apr 19, 2012 -- 5:37PM, mytmouse57 wrote:

Apr 19, 2012 -- 5:29PM, steven_guy wrote:

Atheism is not a philosophy.
Atheism is not a path.
Atheism is not a religion.
Atheism is not a world view.
Atheism is not a way of life.
Atheism is not a belief.
Atheism is not a rebellion against religion.
Atheism is not a rebellion against God or any other imaginary being.
Atheism is not a political stance.

Others may add to this list if they like.

Atheism might not be those things, but it can drive and/or result from them.

For example, atheism is not a world view. But being atheist surely will affect how one views the world.

It doesn't for me. My political opinions influence the way I view the world as well as my sense of justice and fairness.

Atheism is not a philosophy -- but it most surely can affect philosophy.

How?

Hence, in generalized discussions, such terms might be used.

As is, "X" is a theistic philosophy, whereas, "Y" is an atheistic philosophy.

Atheism is not a philosophy. It is a philosophical position on a single philosophical issue.

I never said atheism is a philosophy. I said a particular philosophy (or world view, or school of thought, if you wish) can be atheist, or perhaps more accurately, atheistic.

For example, some forms of Buddhism are athiest, or atheistic, insofar as they acknowledge no God or gods. That does not make atheism a religion/philosophy/way of life, simply because one religion/philosophy/way of life happens to take an atheistic stance.

In other words, my point is not, never was, and never will be about general principle. It's about specific instance.

Is that clear now?

mytmouse57

Posts: 9,316

Apr 19, 2012 -- 6:19PM, steven_guy wrote:

Apr 19, 2012 -- 6:10PM, mainecaptain wrote:

Some people seem to deliberately not want to understand what atheism actually is.

I've noticed that over the years. There must be some sort of psychological need in these people to misunderstand atheism.

You must know some strange people.

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