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EvC Forum ⇒ Social and Religious Issues ⇒ Faith and Belief ⇒

Does Atheism = No beliefs?

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Author Topic:   Does Atheism = No beliefs?
Dr Jack
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Message 5 of 414 (551258)
03-22-2010 5:46 AM 		Reply to: Message 1 by Den
03-22-2010 12:11 AM

1. Does Atheism has any beliefs which are unique to Atheism?
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Atheism is general doesn't, no. That's because it's not a belief system. The particular strand of atheism I agree with holds that the universe is an entirely naturalistic one which we can only learn truths about by empirical investigation. I guess you could describe that as a belief unique to Atheism if you really wanted?
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2. Is the so called "freedom" of Atheism just the illusion given by an endless empty space that traps and imprisions the intellect?
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I'm more interested in reality than intellectual freedom.
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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: 8.3

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Message 7 of 414 (551261)
03-22-2010 6:37 AM 		Reply to: Message 6 by Larni
03-22-2010 6:19 AM

Atheism is all about taking a positive position that there are no supernatural beings: that's pretty much it.
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I quibble on two counts: firstly, while most atheists would agree there are no supernatural beings, one can be atheist whilst holding there are supernatural beings just no Gods. Secondly, I don't hold the positive belief that there are no supernatural beings, that follows from the belief that you can determine how the world actually is by investigation and the fact that we find no trace of supernatural beings.
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 Message 17 by CosmicChimp, posted 03-22-2010 10:31 AM Dr Jack has replied
  
Dr Jack
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Posts: 3514
From: Immigrant in the land of Deutsch
Joined: 07-14-2003
Member Rating: 8.3

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Message 14 of 414 (551280)
03-22-2010 8:44 AM 		Reply to: Message 11 by Larni
03-22-2010 8:13 AM

Isn't that agnosticism?
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No, agnosticism is either the position that you don't know whether there's a god or not or that you can't know whether there's a god or not.
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I know there isn't a god, but this isn't a positive belief, it's a deduction from other beliefs combined with evidence.
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Dr Jack
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From: Immigrant in the land of Deutsch
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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?
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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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Dr Jack
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Posts: 3514
From: Immigrant in the land of Deutsch
Joined: 07-14-2003
Member Rating: 8.3

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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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