I am debating if I am an Atheist or an Anti-theist if somebody could help me, that would be great.
My 'beliefs':

1. Religion is the spawn of evil and the greatest cause of it.
   
2. People can believe anything they want as long as it does not contradict reality, For example Believing in creationism over the fact of evolutionary.
   
3. There is no deity or magical sky daddy, but is open to one if it can be proven to exist.
   
4. Reglion is outdated and needs to go as a believe system.
   
5. There will be no peace on this planet until all religion is taught in history classes.
   

And the list goes on.
Is that Atheistic or Anti-theistic?

Number 1 says anti-theist.
I can't understand your number 2.
Number 3 says atheist, but then goes on to agnostic.
Number 4 says anti-theist again
Number 5.... isn't that done already? Egyptians, greeks, romans, norse(very little).... yes, we should learn more about the mesopotamic people and all that middle-eastern area where so much trouble boils...

I waffle on this issue too. Some believers are fine and in touch with reality. But for those believers who want to sugar-coat people's suffering as their way to eternal salvation... Well, that was one justification for slavery. It's the zealots that scare me and make me think religion does more harm than good.

when the bishop of berlin insisted that homosexuality was "unnatural", the smal catholic comunity of berlin protested against his remarks and demanded an apology.
when the bishop of (i forgot the parish, was a newsstory of last year) demanded from catholic teens that they reject sex-education, reject sex untill the are married and convince other teens to do the same, the members protested and demanded the bishops resign.
when the head of the german lutheran church Margot Käßman, was caught driving drunk, she didn`t try to talk her way out put resigned and apologised.

ever since catholic scandels have repeatedly rocked germany, many catholics left the church and joined the lutherans - wich are quite reasonable people here.

so in conclusion, the behavior of my christian fellow citizens doesn´t give me a reason to be anti-theist.
if there are religious comunities wich give me a reason to be anti-theist it are the muslim comunities, especialy the salafists

Same here, but I would say for me something more specific. I am an Atheist as long as it refers to all religions. As long as it concerns Christianity I would say I'm more of an Anti-Christian rather than Atheist.

To me, there seems to be an ambiguity in the term anti-theist itself. It seems it could mean two different things: a) opposition to the assertion that a deity exists is a true statement (i.e. the positive assertion that there is no god, or that believing the assertion that there is one makes no sense), or, b) opposition to theism and theistic religions, many of which appear to be harmful and oppressive to both believer and non-believer alike. (i.e. against the belief, or against believers and believing)

I don't think that in practice the distinction needs to be made, as the typical anti-theist likely employs a mix of both. Still, there is some ambiguity as to the term's meaning. (Along other lines as well; is a strong atheist naturally anti-theist?)

I think the term 'anti-theist' carries with it an interest to act. Maybe I'm wrong on that one, I don't know, but I feel the term would be suitable for e.g. the four horsemen of atheism who are/were actively on the frontlines seeking to deconvert and make things 'right'.

(October 1, 2012 at 11:51 am)FallentoReason Wrote: I think the term 'anti-theist' carries with it an interest to act. Maybe I'm wrong on that one, I don't know, but I feel the term would be suitable for e.g. the four horsemen of atheism who are/were actively on the frontlines seeking to deconvert and make things 'right'.

I consider myself an antitheist, but I don't really 'act' (outside this forum, I mean). I don't think all religious people are insane, or anything, but I do think that religion has a negative impact on society.

Quote:Is that Atheistic or Anti-theistic?

If god exists is a question which can be debated endlessly....there is no evidence for him but that never stops someone who believes in fairy tales.

But religion DOES exist, as a creation of humanity, and for millenia it has been the most oppressive force known to man and we would be better off without it.

So the question is almost pointless. God is irrelevant but religion is dangerous.

(October 1, 2012 at 11:55 am)Darkstar Wrote:

(October 1, 2012 at 11:51 am)FallentoReason Wrote: I think the term 'anti-theist' carries with it an interest to act. Maybe I'm wrong on that one, I don't know, but I feel the term would be suitable for e.g. the four horsemen of atheism who are/were actively on the frontlines seeking to deconvert and make things 'right'.

I consider myself an antitheist, but I don't really 'act' (outside this forum, I mean). I don't think all religious people are insane, or anything, but I do think that religion has a negative impact on society.

Why do you consider yourself an anti-theist then? I'm not comparing you with my description, but instead I'm wondering how you would define the term.