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Author Topic:   Does Atheism = No beliefs?
hooah212002
Member (Idle past 802 days)
Posts: 3193
Joined: 08-12-2009


Message 16 of 414 (551307)
03-22-2010 10:20 AM
Reply to: Message 1 by Den
03-22-2010 12:11 AM


1. Does Atheism has any beliefs which are unique to Atheism?
Are there any beliefs that are unique to not being a stamp collector? Other than not collecting stamps?
2. Is the so called "freedom" of Atheism just the illusion given by an endless empty space that traps and imprisions the intellect?
"empty space that traps and imprisons the intellect"? Clarify that statement please. True intellect is not "trapped" by anything.

"Some people think God is an outsized, light-skinned male with a long white beard, sitting on a throne somewhere up there in the sky, busily tallying the fall of every sparrow. Othersfor example Baruch Spinoza and Albert Einsteinconsidered God to be essentially the sum total of the physical laws which describe the universe. I do not know of any compelling evidence for anthropomorphic patriarchs controlling human destiny from some hidden celestial vantage point, but it would be madness to deny the existence of physical laws."-Carl Sagan
"Show me where Christ said "Love thy fellow man, except for the gay ones." Gay people, too, are made in my God's image. I would never worship a homophobic God." -Desmond Tutu

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CosmicChimp
Member
Posts: 311
From: Muenchen Bayern Deutschland
Joined: 06-15-2007


Message 17 of 414 (551308)
03-22-2010 10:31 AM
Reply to: Message 7 by Dr Jack
03-22-2010 6:37 AM


What on earth are you talking about? This makes no sense to me:
Mr Jack writes:
... one can be atheist whilst holding there are supernatural beings just no Gods. ...
What the heck is a supernatural being? The thing that is not there?

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Huntard
Member (Idle past 2295 days)
Posts: 2870
From: Limburg, The Netherlands
Joined: 09-02-2008


Message 18 of 414 (551310)
03-22-2010 10:36 AM
Reply to: Message 17 by CosmicChimp
03-22-2010 10:31 AM


CosmicChimp writes:
What the heck is a supernatural being?
Fairies, leprechauns, trolls, sprites, vampires, succubi and so on. None of these are gods.

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CosmicChimp
Member
Posts: 311
From: Muenchen Bayern Deutschland
Joined: 06-15-2007


Message 19 of 414 (551312)
03-22-2010 10:48 AM
Reply to: Message 18 by Huntard
03-22-2010 10:36 AM


Ah, I see. LOL. The ridiculous has found a new level for me.

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Dr Adequate
Member (Idle past 284 days)
Posts: 16113
Joined: 07-20-2006


(1)
Message 20 of 414 (551313)
03-22-2010 10:51 AM
Reply to: Message 1 by Den
03-22-2010 12:11 AM


I asked him whether Atheism has any beliefs which are unique to Atheism?
Apart from disbelief in gods, no, none whatsoever.
You might as well ask: "Do people who don't believe in Santa Claus have any beliefs which are unique to disbelief in Santa Claus".
Well, no, no we don't, not particularly. The one thing that we have in common is our disbelief in Santa Claus.
Apart from that, I don't see anything. I mean, you don't believe in Santa Claus --- do you? And I don't believe in Santa Claus. But is that a reason why we should have anything else in common?

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Dr Jack
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Posts: 3514
From: Immigrant in the land of Deutsch
Joined: 07-14-2003
Member Rating: 8.7


(1)
Message 21 of 414 (551314)
03-22-2010 10:52 AM
Reply to: Message 17 by CosmicChimp
03-22-2010 10:31 AM


What the heck is a supernatural being? The thing that is not there?
Well, the 'usual' godless notion of the supernatural would be animistic notions. Or spiritualist notions that ancestors stick around. I suppose you could also believe in the supernatural but not supernatural beings - psychic powers, etc.

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New Cat's Eye
Inactive Member


(1)
Message 22 of 414 (551315)
03-22-2010 10:53 AM
Reply to: Message 19 by CosmicChimp
03-22-2010 10:48 AM


There's also Animism, the belief that everything is animated with a spirit, but not neccessarily that a god exists so it too can be atheistic.
Does Athiem = no beliefs?
No, it doesn't.

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Dr Jack
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Posts: 3514
From: Immigrant in the land of Deutsch
Joined: 07-14-2003
Member Rating: 8.7


(1)
Message 23 of 414 (551316)
03-22-2010 10:53 AM
Reply to: Message 19 by CosmicChimp
03-22-2010 10:48 AM


I'm curious as to why you would consider fairies more absurd than gods?

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Dr Adequate
Member (Idle past 284 days)
Posts: 16113
Joined: 07-20-2006


(2)
Message 24 of 414 (551318)
03-22-2010 11:01 AM
Reply to: Message 8 by Den
03-22-2010 6:40 AM


Once you commit to Atheism doesn't ruling out a possibility disable you from continuously objectively investigating it?
Or to put it another way: "Once you commit to the proposition that 2 + 2 = 4, doesn't ruling out the possibility that 2 + 2 = 5 disable you from continuously objectively investigating it?"
Well, in a sense, yes. But imagine the alternative. Suppose that you did in fact spend your life "continuously objectively investigating" the proposition that 2 + 2 = 5.
Would that not be a waste of your life?
Edited by Dr Adequate, : No reason given.

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CosmicChimp
Member
Posts: 311
From: Muenchen Bayern Deutschland
Joined: 06-15-2007


Message 25 of 414 (551320)
03-22-2010 11:09 AM
Reply to: Message 21 by Dr Jack
03-22-2010 10:52 AM


I think we are using their word for their non-empty space. Which is for us atheists an empty space and the same as any other of our empty spaces. Hopefully not too cryptic but I think you smart fellows know what I mean.
Edited by CosmicChimp, : clarity

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Theodoric
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Posts: 9076
From: Northwest, WI, USA
Joined: 08-15-2005
Member Rating: 3.7


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Message 26 of 414 (551321)
03-22-2010 11:14 AM
Reply to: Message 19 by CosmicChimp
03-22-2010 10:48 AM


I agree
I have a friend that is(at least claims) to be an Atheist(as I am) , but believes in ghosts and the "paranormal".
Makes no sense to me.

Facts don't lie or have an agenda. Facts are just facts

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Theodoric
Member
Posts: 9076
From: Northwest, WI, USA
Joined: 08-15-2005
Member Rating: 3.7


(1)
Message 27 of 414 (551322)
03-22-2010 11:36 AM
Reply to: Message 22 by New Cat's Eye
03-22-2010 10:53 AM


Does Athiem = no beliefs?
Atheism is no belief in a god.
Nothing more, nothing less.
I find it hard to think of an animist as an atheist. I am not real familiar with the concept. Maybe others can better enlighten this thought.

Facts don't lie or have an agenda. Facts are just facts

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New Cat's Eye
Inactive Member


Message 28 of 414 (551344)
03-22-2010 12:35 PM
Reply to: Message 27 by Theodoric
03-22-2010 11:36 AM


Atheism is no belief in a god.
Nothing more, nothing less.
Not necessarily, it is capable of being more than that.
I find it hard to think of an animist as an atheist. I am not real familiar with the concept. Maybe others can better enlighten this thought.
The point was that an animist can be an atheist, whilst still being an animist. And animist have beliefs, so being an atheist doesn't necessitate having no beliefs.
Edited by Cat Sci, : No reason given.

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Theodoric
Member
Posts: 9076
From: Northwest, WI, USA
Joined: 08-15-2005
Member Rating: 3.7


Message 29 of 414 (551345)
03-22-2010 12:43 PM
Reply to: Message 28 by New Cat's Eye
03-22-2010 12:35 PM


Atheism is no belief in a god.
Nothing more, nothing less.
Not necessarily, it is capable of being more than that.
Just because a person that is atheist could have more beliefs, dos not make atheism more.
Atheism is the lack in the belief of a god.
If some atheist believe in something else, that does not affect what atheism is.
I'll am trying not to be an asshole. It is just that you argument is flawed.

Facts don't lie or have an agenda. Facts are just facts

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Taq
Member
Posts: 9973
Joined: 03-06-2009
Member Rating: 5.7


Message 30 of 414 (551346)
03-22-2010 12:44 PM
Reply to: Message 1 by Den
03-22-2010 12:11 AM


So I ask again, what beliefs are unique to Atheism?
Like others have said, atheism is a disbelief in gods, and that's it. However, a vast majority of atheists also consider themselves to be skeptics so one could say that skepticism is a strong part of atheism, but not necessary outcome of atheism.
What do skeptics believe? Generally, extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. Many atheists are just as comfortable debunking UFO's, Bigfoot, and crop circles (of ET origin) as they are religious or creationist claims. I, as an atheist, view religious claims and paranormal claims about the same and am skeptical of them for the same reasons. Other famous atheists, such as Penn Jillette and James Randi, seem to be made of this mold.
So what beliefs are unique to atheists? In general, I would say the belief that you need evidence to back up your claims. Faith is not a way to arrive at a model of reality.

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