Christianity and religion have inspired great works of art, poetry and literature. Is there any evidence of atheism inspiring anyone to create anything? Even if religion or belief in God are delusional the power to inspire people to great things is unquestionable. I can't think of any poetry, art, music or literature inspired by atheism..

Atheism simply means without theism, the question is pointless.
You're essentially asking "does your lack of theism inspire......"
Another way of looking at it - 'Does your lack of belief in Thor/Odin/FSM inspire......ect ect'.

The only way I can answer is to state that I live my life like any other......just without religion. I inspire myself. That's all that needs to be said on my part.

Faulty question.

Let me clarify, can you think of any art, poetry, music or literature that was inspired by a lack of belief in faeries.

Can you see why its a dumb question yet?

Without religion, atheism would be a meaningless term.

To my sorrow however, I do think of many great pieces of art inspired by religion, and think of all the amazing pieces of art, poetry, music and literature we've LOST that would have been inspired by the world, universe, nature, people.

I would argue, that regardless of the beauty of a religious piece of artwork, it would have been made greater if the artists were allowed a wider worldview to draw their experiences.

You start with the assumption religion created these pieces of art, not the talent of the individual.

EDIT: Gah, Ace, beat me to the point

(May 31, 2012 at 6:19 am)Ace Otana Wrote: Atheism simply means without theism, the question is pointless.
You're essentially asking "does your lack of theism inspire......"
Another way of looking at it - 'Does your lack of belief in Thor/Odin/FSM inspire......ect ect'.

The only way I can answer is to state that I live my life like any other......just without religion. I inspire myself. That's all that needs to be said on my part.

That would be a "no" then...

(May 31, 2012 at 6:24 am)StatCrux Wrote:

(May 31, 2012 at 6:19 am)Ace Otana Wrote: Atheism simply means without theism, the question is pointless.
You're essentially asking "does your lack of theism inspire......"
Another way of looking at it - 'Does your lack of belief in Thor/Odin/FSM inspire......ect ect'.

The only way I can answer is to state that I live my life like any other......just without religion. I inspire myself. That's all that needs to be said on my part.

That would be a "no" then...

It's a pointless question.

I fail to see how an absence of belief in something can be inspiring.

Science though, that is incredibly inspirational.

Way more than religion will ever be.

(May 31, 2012 at 6:23 am)NoMoreFaith Wrote: Faulty question.

Let me clarify, can you think of any art, poetry, music or literature that was inspired by a lack of belief in faeries.

So, if belief in God does have the power of inspiration, does lack of belief also lack in inspiration? Simple equation really.

If believing in God provides inspiration then lack of belief must remove that inspiration, hence the lack of art, music, poetry and literature arising from atheistic thinking. The very things that define us as humans and make life meaningful.

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(May 31, 2012 at 6:30 am)Zen Badger Wrote: I fail to see how an absence of belief in something can be inspiring.

I agree, it isn't.

(May 31, 2012 at 6:24 am)StatCrux Wrote: That would be a "no" then...

Nobody said that. We said it was an irrelevant question.

Reverse the question.

Would great art exist without religion?

1. Great art exists that is not inspired by religion
2. Religion inspires great pieces of art
3. If there were no religion, great art would still exist.
4. Therefore religion is non-essential to great art.

/end.

(May 31, 2012 at 6:30 am)StatCrux Wrote:

(May 31, 2012 at 6:23 am)NoMoreFaith Wrote: Faulty question.

Let me clarify, can you think of any art, poetry, music or literature that was inspired by a lack of belief in faeries.

So, if belief in God does have the power of inspiration, does lack of belief also lack in inspiration? Simple equation really.

If believing in God provides inspiration then lack of belief must remove that inspiration, hence the lack of art, music, poetry and literature arising from atheistic thinking. The very things that define us as humans and make life meaningful.

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(May 31, 2012 at 6:30 am)Zen Badger Wrote: I fail to see how an absence of belief in something can be inspiring.

I agree, it isn't.

I notice that you ignored the rest of my post.

Also inspiration can come from many things. It's not restricted to just religion. That's completely stupid.
Like the mysteries of space, the cosmos for example. Science can provide much inspiration.

The question you pose is pointless. Seeing as atheism simply means without theism. That's what the 'A' is for. It means without. Without theism and in no way does it mean without meaning or inspiration.
Just thought I'd point that out.