Anti-theism and anti-religion

[Rabb Allah]

I enjoy studying religions and comprehending their historical and cultural influences, it's a task I find interesting, when I was in highschool I can recall doing a paper about the 3 biggest religions (Judaism, Christianity and Islam) and had a very good mark in the end. How much can the theistic god be separated from religion?

That has been my issue of study. Atheistic religion, because I do not want religion to go away I just want this clinging to god to "pass over"(). I for example and pretty much an Atheist Pagan, I love Arabic paganism and everything about it. It is an overly materialistic brand of paganism that is one metaphysical entity away removed from atheism.
I still study Islamic philosophy and culture to this very day and am heavily inspired by Dharmic principles as well. I just think that religion should be based on the practical application of ethical philosophy instead of pointless worship.

[Dystopia]

I enjoy studying religions and comprehending their historical and cultural influences, it's a task I find interesting, when I was in highschool I can recall doing a paper about the 3 biggest religions (Judaism, Christianity and Islam) and had a very good mark in the end. How much can the theistic god be separated from religion?

That has been my issue of study. Atheistic religion, because I do not want religion to go away I just want this clinging to god to "pass over"(). I for example and pretty much an Atheist Pagan, I love Arabic paganism and everything about it. It is an overly materialistic brand of paganism that is one metaphysical entity away removed from atheism.
I still study Islamic philosophy and culture to this very day and am heavily inspired by Dharmic principles as well. I just think that religion should be based on the practical application of ethical philosophy instead of pointless worship.

We could argue about buddhism being a religion without the theistic god. That is not my question. My question is, how many people believe in the theist god without following a religion? And how many would believe if they were not educated to do so? Most people who believe in a higher spiritual force without following a particular religion are some kind of deists, or pantheists, or sometimes people who simply believe in a spiritual mystical force. Very few people who don't follow a religion worship a theistic god type with the 4 classical characteristics and powers. And why do people believe in a god with the theist characteristics without following a religion?

[archangle]

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?

Can an azzhole be an azzhole regardless of belief? The posted words seem to indicate yes. A "rational" and "healthy" mind would actually understand the need for religion despite being for, or against a particular one. You have an axe to grind. I would get that looked at by a professional.

[Dystopia]

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?

Can an azzhole be an azzhole regardless of belief? The posted words seem to indicate yes. A "rational" and "healthy" mind would actually understand the need for religion despite being for, or against a particular one. You have an axe to grind. I would get that looked at by a professional.

LOL. So where's the need for religion? I missed that part. And yes, an asshole can be an asshole regardless of belief, an atheist can be an asshole like a Christian or Muslim, that is not the point, I'm arguing what my position might be, I concluded I am an anti-theist, even though I didn't realize it before. A healthy mind will realize that religion is not needed other than historical and cultural influences.

[Rabb Allah]

We could argue about buddhism being a religion without the theistic god. That is not my question. My question is, how many people believe in the theist god without following a religion? And how many would believe if they were not educated to do so? Most people who believe in a higher spiritual force without following a particular religion are some kind of deists, or pantheists, or sometimes people who simply believe in a spiritual mystical force. Very few people who don't follow a religion worship a theistic god type with the 4 classical characteristics and powers. And why do people believe in a god with the theist characteristics without following a religion?

I know of many people who believe in a theistic god without a religion. Being a proud mushrik I encounter all sorts of people in the neo-pagan community and paganism is just a collective term for liberal theologies centered around polytheism and European culture. Liberal theology is more honest you can say since people are admitting to subjectivity and divine claims being relevant to each other.

The main reason why people follow a classical theistic god without religion is the feeling of liberation and attachment to theism. Theism predates religion as we all know, again I point to pagans and polytheists as an example. Liberal theists are no different and they want the emotional appeal of having somebody over them or filling their ignorance of the world with something special and unique.

Because of this whole New Thought and New Age movement Oprah has helped hurl into the spot light. Being a theists and a liberal one at that is becoming an evidential norm and it helps people to fit in. Atheism is not popular and liberal theism gives freedom and normality to people's lives. Atheism is seen as a form of defeat and I have experienced this first hand when I was a deist.

There are so many reasons why people become liberal theists and I cannot possibly imagine all of them

[Dystopia]

We could argue about buddhism being a religion without the theistic god. That is not my question. My question is, how many people believe in the theist god without following a religion? And how many would believe if they were not educated to do so? Most people who believe in a higher spiritual force without following a particular religion are some kind of deists, or pantheists, or sometimes people who simply believe in a spiritual mystical force. Very few people who don't follow a religion worship a theistic god type with the 4 classical characteristics and powers. And why do people believe in a god with the theist characteristics without following a religion?

I know of many people who believe in a theistic god without a religion. Being a proud mushrik I encounter all sorts of people in the neo-pagan community and paganism is just a collective term for liberal theologies centered around polytheism and European culture. Liberal theology is more honest you can say since people are admitting to subjectivity and divine claims being relevant to each other.

The main reason why people follow a classical theistic god without religion is the feeling of liberation and attachment to theism. Theism predates religion as we all know, again I point to pagans and polytheists as an example. Liberal theists are no different and they want the emotional appeal of having somebody over them or filling their ignorance of the world with something special and unique.

Because of this whole New Thought and New Age movement Oprah has helped hurl into the spot light. Being a theists and a liberal one at that is becoming an evidential norm and it helps people to fit in. Atheism is not popular and liberal theism gives freedom and normality to people's lives. Atheism is seen as a form of defeat and I have experienced this first hand when I was a deist.

There are so many reasons why people become liberal theists and I cannot possibly imagine all of them

I agree, but why a theist? Why not a deist? If I wanted to believe in a god without following the dogmas of all religions, I'd prefer the deist preposition since it gives me freewill. Theism always has the problem of god intervening with the world constantly. If you ask all people what god means, everyone will give a different answer

[Rabb Allah]

I agree, but why a theist? Why not a deist? If I wanted to believe in a god without following the dogmas of all religions, I'd prefer the deist preposition since it gives me freewill. Theism always has the problem of god intervening with the world constantly. If you ask all people what god means, everyone will give a different answer

Actually modern deists and even some classical deists do not believe in free will. I was a hardcore deist and loved it greatly. Deism is built from determinism and proposes that god created the world functioning as a demiurge and created it so perfectly(it is god) that everything is a result of it's will. God is the master craftsman and the perfect watch maker.
Deists usually are against free will especially if they are not classical deists. Deism conforms to science primarily and free will is not supported by science any more thanks to the discoveries in cognitive neuroscience.

Liberal theists believe in free will but believe god intervenes but this does not destroy free will, it just destroys fate since fate is changeable according to theism. Open or Liberal Theism strong encourages free will since it also promotes Cognitive Dualism. Fluffy liberal theists assume that an immortal essence exists and they thus use this to establish free will on the basis of metaphysical absurdities.

[Dystopia]

Actually modern deists and even some classical deists do not believe in free will. I was a hardcore deist and loved it greatly. Deism is built from determinism and proposes that god created the world functioning as a demiurge and created it so perfectly(it is god) that everything is a result of it's will. God is the master craftsman and the perfect watch maker.
Deists usually are against free will especially if they are not classical deists. Deism conforms to science primarily and free will is not supported by science any more thanks to the discoveries in cognitive neuroscience.

Isn't deism based on the belief that god created the universe and then stopped intervening? The only chance would be if god, being all powerful, defined in the beginning the fate of us all, but that doesn't make a lot of sense to me. Can a deist support a god who is in constant touch with the universe?

Liberal theists believe in free will but believe god intervenes but this does not destroy free will, it just destroys fate since fate is changeable according to theism. Open or Liberal Theism strong encourages free will since it also promotes Cognitive Dualism. Fluffy liberal theists assume that an immortal essence exists and they thus use this to establish free will on the basis of metaphysical absurdities.

Thanks for opening me up to the concept of 'liberal theism', I had never heard of it. Most of my friends (we are young people, millennials) share some sort of liberal theism based view, they believe in a supernatural being (whether we call it god or not) and spiritual forces, just like they believe in supernatural events and an occasional intervention of god, but that doesn't mean god intervenes constantly with our world. It sure is less harmful and peaceful, but I still consider it senseless.

By the way, before I became an atheist I was also a deist

[Thumpalumpacus]

A "rational" and "healthy" mind would actually understand the need for religion despite being for, or against a particular one.

Nonsense. We need religion like we need another hole in our heads. Even many believers worship without a particular religious doctrine.

Perhaps you need a religion, for whatever reason. Perhaps it fills up something inside you. But assuming that your experience is universal is not very solid reasoning.

[Rabb Allah]

Isn't deism based on the belief that god created the universe and then stopped intervening? The only chance would be if god, being all powerful, defined in the beginning the fate of us all, but that doesn't make a lot of sense to me. Can a deist support a god who is in constant touch with the universe?

People keep saying this but that is not the case. This is a refutation of deism and it came from some Christian theologian centuries ago.

Deists do not believe god stopped intervening they do not even call god a he or she and often use it. I have read many Deistic writings ranging from Paine to Voltaire and not a single Deist every concluded that god stopped intervening. God just does not answer prayers or intervene in the usual Christian sense.
God simply maintains the universe the way it is meant to be for whatever reason.

Deist believe in providence and this to is mention numerous times in Paine's work and by Voltaire. Jefferson is no different in this regard either.

Deists assert that God functions as a demiurge and maintainer. Everything is Deterministic and is predetermined. This is the current agreement for most Deists.

Thanks for opening me up to the concept of 'liberal theism', I had never heard of it. Most of my friends (we are young people, millennials) share some sort of liberal theism based view, they believe in a supernatural being (whether we call it god or not) and spiritual forces, just like they believe in supernatural events and an occasional intervention of god, but that doesn't mean god intervenes constantly with our world. It sure is less harmful and peaceful, but I still consider it senseless.

By the way, before I became an atheist I was also a deist

It is called Liberal or Open theism, some say there is a difference but that is not the case really. What your friends have is without a doubt a form of Open Theism which is syncretic and shares from other concepts, primarily New Age gibberish.

I have to say you were a bad Deist. I was hardcore and read tons of Deistic literature and had to explain Deism more often than not because people understand it from a REALLY bias point of view. I think DeistPaladin may know some stuff on this as I have seen his videos before.