If atheism is not a religion...

[sith123]

Why does it get involved in religious threads? i was prompted to ask this by something naomi said. If anyone wants the link i can give it.

[naomi24]

I'd like the link.

[NOX]

I would imagine Sith because Atheists feel that religion and and the religious impact upon them due to their lack of faith. which I think to some extent is right, it does as many laws re loosely based around religious ideals of one group or another.

[ummmm]

Many Atheists made their decision after reading their holy books. Bar two people I know, I don't know anyone who has read the bible outside of school.

[jomifl]

Sith, I can think of 2 reasons why atheists get involved in religious threads. The first is that religious belief and custom permeate and pevert society to varying degrees. In some countries nobody is allowed to drink alcohol, regardless of their religious affiliation whilst in other countries it is not possible to have an abortion and in others shops are closed on a sunday. These are only a few examples but they illustrate my point. There are much deeper cultural effects that are taken for granted because we have always lived with them.
The second reason is that many atheists are concerned with intellectual honesty and understanding the universe as it is without looking at it through religious spectacles. As a result of this when believers post statements that are either fanciful nonsense or downright lies then atheists challenge them, because lies promote ignorance and confusion.
To give an example, Keyplus recently stated that humans are comprised of a body and a soul. Now nobody would dispute that humans have bodies but there is not and has never been any evidence that such a thing as a soul even exists let alone that humans have them. Keyplus stated this as a fact though it is only his belief. If it wasn't a downright lie it wasn't far off being one.

[goodlife]

You live on a crisis-filled planet; a momentary glance at newspaper headlines confirms that fact each day. The desperate state of our world has caused many to question the existence of God. Some even claiming to be atheist.
Well belief or disbelief in God can profoundly affect your outlook on the future. Without God, the survival of man is entirely in man’s hands—a bleak thought, considering man’s destructive potential.

[beso]

The future is in the hands of man and man's science is the only thing that has had any hope of fixing anything. History has proven that only man has intervened with cures for diseases and making life more comfortable.

Praying for an imaginary deity has never succeeded in fixing anything. Millions of Africans die of starvation while they pray in vain for their God to put things right.

The real bleak outlook is that the religious are in control of many societies and actively prevent science from achieving the benefits it offers.

[doctordb]

Sith, are you saying that atheists shouldn't get involved in religious debate? What use is a debate with only one point of view?

[goodlife]

beso- Yes, the grim fact is clear: the world is in worse shape than ever before. Thus prayers for the world go unanswered and even seem to backfire. What are we to think of such a confusing situation?

To understand just what is wrong and why prayers go unanswered we must turn to God’s Word, the Bible. There we find three reasons: (1) Failure to pray to the right One, (2) failure to pray in the right manner and (3) failure to pray on the right matters. (Matt. 6:9)

[doctordb]

Goodlife, people who lived through WW2 might think the world is in better shape than ever.

[andy-hughes]

goodlife - Christians seem able to find endless reasons why their God does nothing to aid the suffering of His creation -but no evidence that he in any way helps.

It is simply too glib to say that mankind is the cause of all the evils in the world - why did Jesus die for us to be saved in the next life, if we are to suffer so much in this one>

And please don't tell me that this life is a preparation for eternal life - there is no evidence what ever to back up that assertion.

[Davethedog]

Athiests get involved in religious threads, Atheism doesn't.

You are a Muslim, why do you involve yourself in threads about christianity?

You believe in allah, so you discount, out of hand all other gods why? You can no more say the other gods don't exist than you can say yours does.

[WaldoMcFroog]

This was answered by numerous people in this recent thread: http://www.theanswerb.../Question1131611.html

[keyplus90]

I have no doubt that it is a faith. I am not really sure about calling it a religion.

[cathfromsaron]

i think that 'believing there is no god or gods' is just as valid a belief system as any other structure or concept!

those with a FAITH in a god or gods should not feel threatened ...

[jake-the-peg]

It's not a faith Keyplus or atleast it shouldn't be

Allow me to illustrate the difference:

I'll admit there's a God if a giant hand writes Believe in flaming words in the Sky for Everyone to read

Now what will it take for you to admit there is no God?

You see that's the difference - I can give you an example whereby I will adjust my views - you can't

That's wht Islam is a religion and atheism (or at least rational atheism ) isn't

If an Atheist says nothing will make him change his mind - feel free to tell him he's acting religiously

[keyplus90]

Dave - /////You believe in allah, so you discount, out of hand all other gods why?////

Tell me what other god are you talking about and what religion believe in that and I will tell you from within the teachings of that religion that they are not acting upon that teachings. In other words they are worshiping wrong god even according to their own religion. To make your life easier let’s talk about Christianity the only religion you know, shall we?

Jack – Your example shows me that even after you are an educated person now the affects of Christian up bringing have not left you. God does not have to show a “giant hand” to convince people. Otherwise people would start worshipping “the hand” and would forget about God. History of mankind is full of these sorts of examples. Anyway you have given me an option therefore I would give you an option too. Show me “pain” that we all know exists and I would accept that there is no god or God or Allah or whatever you may call it.

[naomi24]

Keyplus, you have no doubt about a lot of things that really warrant doubt.

[doctordb]

There was a time in our history when everyone was religious and there were no atheists. Belief in a god was compulsory unde rule of law. For very good reason that period of history is known as the dark ages.

[jomifl]

Keyplus, you probably think you are being clever but really you are just being foolish. If you think that someone not being able to show you something that is not directly visible supports your argument then you are deluding yourself (again). I have said this quite a few times before but it is worth saying again, trying to win an argument by trickery or playing with semantics may work in a debating society but in real life you are only fooling yourself, and that is an acheivement worthy of a real fool.

[chakka35]

I am always tickled by the fact that a common criticism of theism by religionists is that it is a religion or a faith!

It isn't, of course. And it is only a belief in the sense that I believe that my shoes are not repaired overnight by elves. It is merely a refusal to accept an idea that makes no sense in theory and for which there is not a jot or tittle of evidence in practice.

The simple application of of a little reason. No faith or belief necessary.