Anti-theism and anti-religion

[Dystopia]

That's why I brought the classification of anti-religion. I consider myself both a gnostic and agnostic atheist, gnostic to all religions and personal gods, agnostic when asked if there is a god/higher force (not a personal one, maybe the kind of deistic god).

Some people seem to identify both definitions, most anti-theists I've met on the internet and the few I've met in real life seem to be more worried about religiousness and religion than by the simple god concept. I find the god idea silly and I'm against it, but I don't practice a frontal opposition to it, I'm not against people believing in higher forces, some of these beliefs interfere little or nothing with people's lives. In other words, I'm ok with people embracing metaphysical spirituality, I'm not ok with people embracing a specific religion.

[psychoslice]

You Don't have to label yourself as anything, just because you don't believe in something doesn't mean you have to hate it, kids believe in father x-mas and all sorts of other things, does that mean you have to hate their beliefs.

[buddabobblehead]

You Don't have to label yourself as anything, just because you don't believe in something doesn't mean you have to hate it, kids believe in father x-mas and all sorts of other things, does that mean you have to hate their beliefs.

See, now that makes sense to me! I believe that the concept of god and religion is a plague on humanity, but I dont hate it anymore than I hate cancer or AIDS. Its part of the human condition, at least for now. It wont last forever! As soon as we find life in the cosmos, and we will, there will be many a conversion going on.

[*Deidre*]

I think the term ''anti'' is a bit strong. It lends itself to a negative connotation, even if we don't intend it quite like that.

As an atheist, I believe in the freedom of religion, so long as it doesn't trespass into others' lives, laws, and become a component of government.

Religion in my view, is unnecessary to living a good and fruitful life, but there was a time when I thought the opposite. Coming full circle makes me at least compassionate to those who are religious and thus, I could never see myself as 'anti-religion,' or 'anti-theism.'

[Jenny A]

I'm not anti god, or anti religion. But I am anti some gods and some religions. Islam, particularly fundimentalist Islam, I'm against. Many forms of Christianity especially fundamentalist Christianity I'm against. Everything having to do with caste in Hinduism, I'm against. The god of the OT, I'm against or would be if such a monster existed.

Buddhists and Jains may be wrong, but I don't much care.

I believe in freedom of religion. I believe in freedom of religious practice only to the extent it is moral with regard to those outside of the particular religion.

[Mudhammam]

After reviewing some of my posts and real life arguments I've came to the conclusion that I hold a frontal opposition to religion, but I'm not against the simple god concept, despite considering it silly. I positively criticize and claim to be against all religions, constantly trying to prove them false to believers, I think they are unnecessary and childish, a rational healthy mind shouldn't accept religion.

Can I be anti-religion without being an anti-theist, or does being anti-religion necessarily make me an anti-theist?

I don't think so. Then again, they're basically two peas in the same pod.

I think anti-theism and anti-religion basically amount to anti-authoritarianism, anti-ignorance, and anti-indoctrination.

[Rampant.A.I.]

I'm not anti-theist, anti-religion or even atheist, though I'm often accused of each.

In my opinion, these are buzzwords used to invalidate pressing a valid question about beliefs.

"I don't like the question: Therefore you just don't like religious people."

Or more often:

"I don't have an answer for that question without invoking apologetics; therefore you're just one of those rabid militant types intolerant of my beliefs."

[Esquilax]

I'm not anti-theist, anti-religion or even atheist, though I'm often accused of each.

In my opinion, these are buzzwords used to invalidate pressing a valid question about beliefs.

"I don't like the question: Therefore you just don't like religious people."

Or more often:

"I don't have an answer for that question without invoking apologetics; therefore you're just one of those rabid militant types intolerant of my beliefs."

This exactly. It's most often deployed as a way to redirect the conversation, so that we're no longer even evaluating whether or not the contention the atheist is making is a valid one, but instead we're now talking about what must be wrong with the atheist, that he's even daring to ask the question in the first place. It's attack dog apologetics, a passive aggressive ad hominem.

"I can't possibly be wrong! There must be something wrong with you as a person, if you disagree with me!"

[BlackMason]

After reviewing some of my posts and real life arguments I've came to the conclusion that I hold a frontal opposition to religion, but I'm not against the simple god concept, despite considering it silly. I positively criticize and claim to be against all religions, constantly trying to prove them false to believers, I think they are unnecessary and childish, a rational healthy mind shouldn't accept religion.

Can I be anti-religion without being an anti-theist, or does being anti-religion necessarily make me an anti-theist?

Antitheism is the view that religion is bad for society. I think you're talking about the same thing confusing it as two different ones.

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...gnostic to all religions and personal gods, agnostic when asked if there is a god/higher force (not a personal one, maybe the kind of deistic god).

Could you share with us how you think you know personal gods don't exist?

[Dystopia]

Could you share with us how you think you know personal gods don't exist?

Mason, I can prove religions wrong by pointing out either lack of evidence for scriptures and many holy characters or I could show the contradictory characteristics in those gods. I can't prove by 100%, but I'm almost 100% certain... As for a higher force existing, the deistic type or another spiritual type of superior being, I can't prove it wrong so I'm an agnostic. Satisfied?

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After reviewing some of my posts and real life arguments I've came to the conclusion that I hold a frontal opposition to religion, but I'm not against the simple god concept, despite considering it silly. I positively criticize and claim to be against all religions, constantly trying to prove them false to believers, I think they are unnecessary and childish, a rational healthy mind shouldn't accept religion.

Can I be anti-religion without being an anti-theist, or does being anti-religion necessarily make me an anti-theist?

I don't think so. Then again, they're basically two peas in the same pod.

I think anti-theism and anti-religion basically amount to anti-authoritarianism, anti-ignorance, and anti-indoctrination.

Sure, but according to wikipedia anti-religion and anti-theism are two different positions. Being an anti-theist will most likely make someone anti-religious by a matter of coherence, but being anti-religion doesn't necessarily make me an anti-theist, I'm not against the god idea per se (but I disagree with it) but against people following organized religion.

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I'm not anti god, or anti religion. But I am anti some gods and some religions. Islam, particularly fundimentalist Islam, I'm against. Many forms of Christianity especially fundamentalist Christianity I'm against. Everything having to do with caste in Hinduism, I'm against. The god of the OT, I'm against or would be if such a monster existed.

Buddhists and Jains may be wrong, but I don't much care.

I believe in freedom of religion. I believe in freedom of religious practice only to the extent it is moral with regard to those outside of the particular religion.

Jenny I too believe in freedom of religion (as a law student, I reckon it's importance), I'd never go against it, that doesn't mean I can't have a position against certain institutions