Apr 19, 2012 -- 7:57PM, mainecaptain wrote:

Apr 19, 2012 -- 6:52PM, steven_guy wrote:

Apr 19, 2012 -- 6:50PM, fodaoson wrote:

Atheism is not a philosophy: Atheism fits the  2 b,c &3 definitions of a philosophy.

Atheism is not a belief. : .  If one thinks about  religion and or theism and then holds to atheism because of lack of evidence and the lack of phenomenal reality,  it becomes a belief

Atheism is not a religion. Atheism is the antithesis of religion so this is a true stement  

Atheism fits the  2 b,c &3 definition of a philosophy

PHILOSOPHY :1 a (1): all learning exclusive of technical precepts and practical arts (2): the sciences and liberal arts exclusive of  medicine, law, and theology

2. a: pursuit of wisdom b: a search for a general understanding of values and reality by chiefly  speculative rather than observational means c: an analysis of the grounds of and concepts expressing fundamental beliefs.

3. the most basic beliefs, concepts, and  attitudes of an individual or group

BELIEF::  conviction of the truth of some statement or the reality of some being or phenomenon especially when based on examination of evidence

So, according to you, not collecting stamps is a hobby?

Not believing in Santa Claus is also a religion

I said nothing about atheism being a religion except that atheism is the antithesis of religion so not a religion is a true statement

Not collecting stamps would be a hobby if you go the extreme of avoiding stamps of any kind, shape or form to accumulate in your possession  after making a conscience  decision to pursue   avoidance of  accumulation

IF one contemplates atheism  and makes an argument for the no-existence of a god, gods, goddess, superior beings, then atheism has  become  A philosophy.[ 2. a: pursuit of wisdom b: a search for a general understanding of values and reality by chiefly  speculative rather than observational means c: an analysis of the grounds of and concepts expressing fundamental beliefs.]

Apr 19, 2012 -- 9:34PM, steven_guy wrote:

Apr 19, 2012 -- 9:01PM, fodaoson wrote:

IF one contemplates atheism  and makes an argument for the no-existence of a god, gods, goddess, superior beings, then atheism has  become  A philosophy.[ 2. a: pursuit of wisdom b: a search for a general understanding of values and reality by chiefly  speculative rather than observational means c: an analysis of the grounds of and concepts expressing fundamental beliefs.

Baloney.

Atheists here don't many any arguments for the nonexistence of God. The onus of proof is on the case for the affirmative. 

There are no arguments for the existence of God that are not deeply and fataly flawed. There is nothing for atheists to do.

How do you know they are “deeply and fataly flawed” unless YOU have pursued  “an analysis of the grounds of and concepts expressing fundamental beliefs”. In that case you have done ”philosophy”  of  “non  theism.”  

fodaoson

IF one contemplates atheism  and makes an argument for the no-existence of a god, gods, goddess, superior beings, then atheism has  become  A philosophy.

That's an armchair view.  If you want to stay in your armchair then I'll have an armagnac thanks, and pass on the cigars.  Our first topic is the absence of a definition of 'supernatural being' suitable both to theology and to reasoned enquiry, so that we have no objective test that will tell us whether any candidate is a supernatural being or not. 

Thus the philosophical point is not that supernatural beings don't exist, but that the term, applied to something thought to be real, denotes nothing, is meaningless.

If you can provide a satisfactory definition then the question of whether supernatural beings have objective existence then becomes one of fact.  Now we rise from our armchairs and go to examine reality.  We find no real supernatural beings anywhere - just the old, vaguely conceived, imaginary ones.

This is fundamental because all arguments for atheism are ultimately inductive - if a satisfactory definition of a supernatural being can be provided, those arguments can be overturned just by a satisfactory demonstration of a supernatural being with objective existence.

But so far we've seen nothing of the kind.

Apr 19, 2012 -- 8:21PM, mountain_man wrote:

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

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

Only if you want to "nit pick" words, but you wouldn't want to do that after complaining about someone else doing that.

Lacking a belief in gods does not "drive" anything in my life. Every thought I have does not begin with "since I do not believe in gods...." I go through life not thinking about not believing in goes. Reality drives my life, it informs my views, it guides me. Atheism does nothing. It can't do anything since it is nothing more than a lack of belief in gods.

Atheism lends itself toward certain views on some very fundamental questions. To say it simply won't affect one's world view is pure nonsense.

"

At one point in my life, I had concluded and thought, no such thing as a God(s)/creator/higher power existed.

I was therefore atheist.

I can't make it any more clear than that"

As briefly as possible, pray, what changed your mind?