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RE: Atheism is a religion (according to D. Smartt)
May 1, 2013 at 6:10 am
(April 30, 2013 at 4:11 pm)Darkstar Wrote: Seeing as how people have already noted the irony of his surname, I think I'll just deconstruct this for fun.
(April 30, 2013 at 1:08 pm)Luminox Wrote:
The article states that atheism has six of the seven attributes of a religion (defined by Ninian Smart);
it is narrative (evolution is a story that leads to atheism)Atheism and evolution are not mutually inclusive, nor are theism and evolution mutually exclusive. Acceptance of evolution was not the deciding factor in my deconversion. The only form of theism evolution conflicts with is creationism. There are so many other types that are compatible with evolution (even theistic evolution) that I couldn't hope to list them here. Correct me if I am wrong, but the previous pope accepted evolution, did he not?
(April 30, 2013 at 1:08 pm)Luminox Wrote: , experiential (it requires faith in abiogenesis),
If there was so much faith needed, then why would scientists still be trying to prove it? Why hasn't it been accepted as definitive truth, if there is so much faith in it?
(April 30, 2013 at 1:08 pm)Luminox Wrote: social (atheists convert religious people to atheism via teaching evolution),
Only in creationists' nightmares would anything that ridiculous happen.
(April 30, 2013 at 1:08 pm)Luminox Wrote: doctrinal (Secular Humanism is a doctrine of atheism),
No it isn't.
(April 30, 2013 at 1:08 pm)Luminox Wrote: ethical (it gives moral guidelines, which are derived from other religions)
Just because some atheists may happen to agree with some common moral guidelines that theists also agree with (such as genocide being wrong...no I am not even going there), that does not mean they are derived. That, and there is no code that is accepted by all atheists or officially atheist. A lack of a particular belief does not instill moral guidelines in and of itself.
(April 30, 2013 at 1:08 pm)Luminox Wrote: and material (nature is treated as divine).
By what definition of divine?
merriam-webster.com Wrote:Definition of DIVINE
1
a : of, relating to, or proceeding directly from God or a god <divine love>
b : being a deity <the divine Savior>
c : directed to a deity <divine worship>
2
a : supremely good : superb <the pie was divine>
b : heavenly, godlike
Do they mean 2a? Like divine pie?
(April 30, 2013 at 1:08 pm)Luminox Wrote: And there is more. One of the comments (again, not my views): "They [atheists] use circular reasoning, bait and switch tactics, and the 'pot calling the kettle black' routine. I myself used to believe in evolution until I went for higher education and I noticed problems in the theories that were largely ignored. (...)
Why is it that people like this always project the flaws of their religion onto atheists?
(April 30, 2013 at 1:08 pm)Luminox Wrote: They believe in God but they hate him obscenely. I think this is the root of all of atheism." (sic)
(the text between square brackets is added by me)
Someone doesn't know the definition of atheism...
I hope to god (pun intended) that no one takes this guy seriously. But at least some people will, I'm sure...
Yes, Pope John Paul II has stated in 1996 that: "(...) this theory has been progressively accepted by researchers, following a series of discoveries in various fields of knowledge. The convergence, neither sought nor fabricated, of the results of work that was conducted independently is in itself a significant argument in favour of this theory." (cf. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_John_P...#Evolution)
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