Atheism: Love it or Leave it? - Part 2

[Bat-Mite]

Not every Atheist is that way just like not every theist is a crazy abortion clinic bombing homosexual hating bigot. Every person views their beliefs a different way and like minded people join together. But, for a person to call themselves an Atheist and try to convert theists to atheism and spend money to put up billboards shows that Atheism is evolving.

Atheism doesn't evolve. People wanting to spread it or attach political motives to it in no way changes what atheism's basic definition is, nor will it ever.

 

[Lasirius]

Not every Atheist is that way just like not every theist is a crazy abortion clinic bombing homosexual hating bigot. Every person views their beliefs a different way and like minded people join together.

They're not, but the formation of a club gives the idea that's what it's for.

 

[Bat-Mite]

They're not, but the formation of a club gives the idea that's what it's for.

Does the formation of a comic book club give the impression that people want to "force" others to read comic books? When hearing about the formation of such a club, I'd be under the impression that it exists for like minded people to meet and discuss their shared interests.

 

[Franklin Richards]

It's all about civil rights. That's it. Being black in the 60's wasn't a religion.

 

[Lasirius]

In a comic book club you discuss the comics you read. Characters, story lines, writers, and whatnot. What can you discuss about the non-existence of religion and God. If there's none of that then I'd rather be at the comic book club.

 

[Bat-Mite]

In a comic book club you discuss the comics you read. Characters, story lines, writers, and whatnot. What can you discuss about the non-existence of religion and God. If there's none of that then I'd rather be at the comic book club.

This has already been brought up. They'd discuss the things that people discuss in this topic. It's not that hard to fathom.

 

[Franklin Richards]

In a comic book club you discuss the comics you read. Characters, story lines, writers, and whatnot. What can you discuss about the non-existence of religion and God. If there's none of that then I'd rather be at the comic book club.

If God doesn't exist, then why was the Bible written?

 

[chaseter]

It's all about civil rights. That's it. Being black in the 60's wasn't a religion.

There also weren't billboards trying to get you to convert to a black man or groups trying to persuade whites to rethink their skin color situation.

 

[chaseter]

Atheism doesn't evolve. People wanting to spread it or attach political motives to it in no way changes what atheism's basic definition is, nor will it ever.

Atheism is evolving and growing. I already gave proof. Christianity has evolved but the basic definition that Jesus is salvation remains the same. You don't have an argument here.

 

[chaseter]

To say that "atheism" its self is a belief is inaccurate Chaester. By definition it is simply the lack of belief. Nothing further necessarily follows from that term.

The term does not describe what said people DO believe in however and thus is the problem with applying that term as some sort of identity marker.

Or are you an A-Zues-ist?

Also on the matter of atheist establishments...

lol South Park.

Haha I have used that ep before. Atheism is the belief that there is no god. That is a belief is it not? Until someone captures the flying spaghetti monster or tests all variables to conclude that no spaghetti monster exists then all either side has is a belief in something or a belief in nothing.

 

[Marvin]

If God doesn't exist, then why was the Bible written?

not sure if serious...

 

[Franklin Richards]

There also weren't billboards trying to get you to convert to a black man or groups trying to persuade whites to rethink their skin color situation.

Considering billboards weren't sold to black men back then or that the Klan burned down black churches who tried to advance their cause, I'd consider that comparison inaccurate.

 

[Franklin Richards]

not sure if serious...

Just an example of the sorts of things one might discuss at an atheist's social group.

 

[chaseter]

Considering billboards weren't sold to black men back then or that the Klan burned down black churches who tried to advance their cause, I'd consider that comparison inaccurate.

I think both comparisons were inaccurate since you didn't catch the ridiculousness in mine.

 

[Franklin Richards]

Sounds about right. You still think atheists are nihilists.

 

[Bat-Mite]

Atheism is evolving and growing. I already gave proof. Christianity has evolved but the basic definition that Jesus is salvation remains the same. You don't have an argument here.

The only thing that you gave proof of is that there is a movement to advertise and spread atheism. Does the atheistic Buddhist monk meditating in a cave in Asia give a damn about someone in America advertising their atheism? Of course not. If it was atheism itself that was evolving, said monk should have a stake in it as well because it would effect atheism EVERYWHERE. Atheism isn't anything but a lack of belief in deities... you're trying to compare that to a religion with has dogmas and scriptures and clergy that declare what is orthodoxy and what is heresy, etc. There is no official authority to declare those things in atheism, nor will there ever be. Groups with specific goals like the secular humanism movement may arise and have their own agendas, but that does not mean that atheism itself supports or discourages them.

 

[chaseter]

Neh. 'A' means no, 'the' means god and 'ist' means one who follows...if I remember my Greek/Latin roots correctly.

 

[redhawk23]

Things that we've discussed within my group: Do you believe morals? Where do ethics come from if they exist. Quite a bit of meta ethics, there's a large intersection in the venn diagram between my group and the philosophy club.

 

[Franklin Richards]

Just because I can't prove Harry Potter doesn't exist somewhere in the universe doesn't mean that Harry Potter is not fiction.

 

[chaseter]

The only thing that you gave proof of is that there is a movement to advertise and spread atheism. Does the atheistic Buddhist monk meditating in a cave in Asia give a damn about someone in America advertising their atheism? Of course not. If it was atheism itself that was evolving, said monk should have a stake in it as well because it would effect atheism EVERYWHERE. Atheism isn't anything but a lack of belief in deities... you're trying to compare that to a religion with has dogmas and scriptures and clergy that declare what is orthodoxy and what is heresy, etc. There is no official authority to declare those things in atheism, nor will there ever be. Groups with specific goals like the secular humanism movement may arise and have their own agendas, but that does not mean that atheism itself supports or discourages them.

With that argument then there should only be one species of snake.

 

[Lasirius]

I just don't see the point. If you're don't believe in God, good -- I don't have anything against it considering I don't really believe in religion as well. I think if you don't share the belief of the existence of God, the Bible, religion, etc. then why waste time lumping yourself in a category where you proclaim about your own set of believes when you don't have any? It would make more sense if you just don't incorporate that as part of your life, which I thought that was the point of not believing in religion.

 

[redhawk23]

Definition of "theism" is given as follows.
Belief in the existence of a god or gods, especially belief in a personal God as creator and ruler of the world.

The prefix A for "no" then would be no "belief.."

 

[chaseter]

Just because I can't prove Harry Potter doesn't exist somewhere in the universe doesn't mean that Harry Potter is not fiction.

That holds the same weight as the argument that Harry Potter may be non fiction somewhere in the universe. No one knows so it's stupid to think you know.

 

[Franklin Richards]

I just don't see the point. If you're don't believe in God, good -- I don't have anything against it considering I don't really believe in religion as well. I think if you don't share the belief of the existence of God, the Bible, religion, etc. then why waste time lumping yourself in a category where you proclaim about your own set of believes when you don't have any? It would make more sense if you just don't incorporate that as part of your life, which I thought that was the point of not believing in religion.

So you're saying that atheists don't have common interests or goals because they believe in the absence of something? What is so intrinsic about activity amongst people who believe in the presence of something?


People who don't believe in taxes shouldn't be active in their lack of faith?

 

[redhawk23]

I say I have an incorporeal invisible pink unicorn floating around in my back yard. Is it "stupid" for you to say I don't? I'm the one making the claim not you. It's not your responsibility within the argument to prove that I don't.