Atheism and Misconceptions

Cann!bal · Jun 24, 2013

I just want to address the common misconceptions revolving the premise of atheism.

1. Atheists must prove God doesn't exist

The burden of proof is upon theists for the reasoning that radical ideas call for radical evidence.

2. Atheism is a religion

Atheism is not a religion (although, some may treat it like one) for the reasoning that it is the position of lack of belief in a God, not the belief that there is no God.

3. Atheism implies that life is meaningless

Why should life have to be everlasting to be meaningful? Why not draw the reverse conclusion and say that, since we know that life is fleeting, we should strive to experience all the meaning we can within that short compass? The message we should draw from our knowledge of our mortality is this: You have a limited number of days, hours, and minutes. Therefore you should strive to fill each of those days, hours, and minutes with meaning. You should strive to fill them with learning and gaining wisdom, - with compassion for the less fortunate, with love for friends and family, with doing a job well, with fighting against evil and obscurantism, and, yes, with enjoying sex, TV, pizza, and ballgames.

4. Atheists are intolerant

What makes an atheist intolerant? Opposing creationism or mandatory prayer in public schools? If so, then yes, I would have to accept that classification. But please realize that those who say atheists are intolerant are the most notable endorsers and doers of intolerance in our society.

5. Atheists have no morals

Just because atheists to not follow a moral code that does not derive from text, certainly does not mean they have no morals. I'm a humanist, I do not need a book to dictate how I have sex and in what position, and who I have sex with to what type of clothing I must wear, and how I should act towards certain people.

If you have any questions or want me to elaborate furthermore, please ask. Too many people are ignorant of what atheism really is.

Aura · Jul 6, 2013

Atheists are some of the most caring, understanding people in the world. Very misunderstood and misconstrued labels have been put on them. In reality, everyone is born an "atheist." Nobody is born believing in god, the belief is, in many cases, forced upon them.

I wont go too far into it, but religion as a whole has been selectively portrayed by leaders and media for a long time. People have been brainwashed for so long, and so many problems have stemmed from its very existence. So I proudly accept the label of intolerance. I will not tolerate the relationship between church and state, or the unspoken authority it has over society and further generations to come. I want to break the chain, and so I will speak out, and educate in every opportunity I get, without stooping to the level of those I am trying to defeat.

We shouldnt have to explain ourselves for thinking with rationality and logic, and having a voice and being conscious enough to question things that dont make sense to us, to better ourselves and our fellow man. We should be respected and joined by the majority.

Yeah, I went further into it than I planned on but, I feel strongly about the situation at hand. The world is so backwards man.

Cann!bal · Jul 6, 2013

Alt said:
Atheists are some of the most caring, understanding people in the world. Very misunderstood and misconstrued labels have been put on them. In reality, everyone is born an "atheist." Nobody is born believing in god, the belief is, in many cases, forced upon them.

I wont go too far into it, but religion as a whole has been selectively portrayed by leaders and media for a long time. People have been brainwashed for so long, and so many problems have stemmed from its very existence. So I proudly accept the label of intolerance. I will not tolerate the relationship between church and state, or the unspoken authority it has over society and further generations to come. I want to break the chain, and so I will speak out, and educate in every opportunity I get, without stooping to the level of those I am trying to defeat.

We shouldnt have to explain ourselves for thinking with rationality and logic, and having a voice and being conscious enough to question things that dont make sense to us, to better ourselves and our fellow man. We should be respected and joined by the majority.

Yeah, I went further into it than I planned on but, I feel strongly about the situation at hand. The world is so backwards man.

Crazy thing is atheists were one of the least trusted groups, right above pedophiles or rapists, in America according to a study I read a while back. Might have been fake, because it seemed impossible.

Wanted · Jul 6, 2013

Alright dude we get it, just let this guy be the mod of the "Philosophy & Debates" section... LOL

Although I agree with most of what you said, I think you should've gone into the difference of agnostic and atheism.

Cann!bal · Jul 6, 2013

Wanted said:
Alright dude we get it, just let this guy be the mod of the "Philosophy & Debates" section... LOL

Although I agree with most of what you said, I think you should've gone into the difference of agnostic and atheism.

I wasn't aware there was a common misconception between the two, although, I don't think it is one of the popular misconceptions.

Aura · Jul 6, 2013

Agnostics in my opinion are the more reasonable group. They neither deny nor confirm the existence of a deity, because they are humble in the sense that they really dont know. They may lead to one side or the other but dont feel like they must level themselves because of it. They have been wrongly associated with Atheists for as long as I have known.

And Atheists, clearly do not believe in god. Although there are different levels, and hybrids of the two like myself. And thats okay, because we have room to breath. The subject in our eyes is an open book (no pun intended) whereas although many people of "faith" very in commitment which I dont agree with because religious books are very clear on the set of rules that are to be followed. You either do or you dont, and this whole modern picking and choosing shit makes me laugh.

Sorry for those typos, I havent slept. And for some reason cant figure out how to edit my post.

Cann!bal · Jul 6, 2013

Alt said:
Agnostics in my opinion are the more reasonable group. They neither deny nor confirm the existence of a deity, because they are humble in the sense that they really dont know. They may lead to one side or the other but dont feel like they must level themselves because of it. They have been wrongly associated with Atheists for as long as I have known.

That's false. There are agnostic theists and agnostic atheists, like myself, as well, they claim there is a probably a God, but do not know for certain. Whilst agnostic atheists claim there's probably no god, but we do not know.

I think agnosticism is the most rational side.

And Atheists, clearly do not believe in god. Although there are different levels, and hybrids of the two like myself. And thats okay, because we have room to breath. The subject in our eyes is an open book (no pun intended) whereas although many people of "faith" very in commitment which I dont agree with because religious books are very clear on the set of rules that are to be followed. You either do or you dont, and this whole modern picking and choosing shit makes me laugh.

The term you're referencing to is agnostic atheism.

Agreed, protestantism is ridiculous, you can't cherry pick the good stuff out of your religious scriptures and ignore all the bad stuff like Christianity does.

Aura · Jul 6, 2013

I think I am correct. Those are sub-beliefs if you will, more specific branches of the core. Agnosticism at its core is truly admitting you dont know, and I said some people may lean towards one belief or the other. Now if you want to slap a seperate label on them for that, by all means go ahead and do so. This is the first definition I found and expresses my understanding of an Agnostic:

"Agnosticism is the philosophical position stating that the world is unknowable and certainty is impossible. In a narrower meaning, Agnosticism is the view that the existence or non-existence of any deity is unknown and possibly unknowable."

No real specification of theist or atheist there but I acknowledge they exist and are probably more common than pure agnostics. Doesnt matter though, no we're cherry picking each other.

Cann!bal · Jul 6, 2013

Alt said:
I think I am correct. Those are sub-beliefs if you will, more specific branches of the core. Agnosticism at its core is truly admitting you dont know, and I said some people may lean towards one belief or the other. Now if you want to slap a seperate label on them for that, by all means go ahead and do so. This is the first definition I found and expresses my understanding of an Agnostic:

"Agnosticism is the philosophical position stating that the world is unknowable and certainty is impossible. In a narrower meaning, Agnosticism is the view that the existence or non-existence of any deity is unknown and possibly unknowable."

No real specification of theist or atheist there but I acknowledge they exist and are probably more common than pure agnostics. Doesnt matter though, no we're cherry picking each other.

Yes, they are somewhat like branches of agnosticism just like how gnosticism has branches of gnostic atheism and gnostic theism, however, your previously highlighted statement was incorrect.

Andy · Jul 6, 2013

Alt said:
Sorry for those typos, I havent slept. And for some reason cant figure out how to edit my post.

You need to be upgraded to edit your post, for more information about upgrades, click here.

Aura · Jul 6, 2013

Optimus said:
You need to be upgraded to edit your post, for more information about upgrades, click here.

Wow, things have changed. I'll have to pass on that, thank you though.

Cicero · Jul 6, 2013

I hate it when people try and say that atheists have no morals, or that without a god everyone would be killing each other. They don't realize that humans are naturally empathetic.

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