Is atheism a belief?

[Dimmesdale]

Atheism is absolutely a belief.

Those who say it is a mere "lack" of a belief do not know what they are talking about. Actually, atheism can be just as dogmatic as religion if not worse. If we lived in a universe, in a Reality, in which there was no God, no religion, no theistic notions of any kind, then perhaps people there could be said to be atheists in the sense that they lack belief in a God.

Problem is, this isn't that kind of universe.

Instead, we live in a universe where we have to "pick a side" in a sense, and order our belief systems accordingly. Those who adopt atheism, adopt also the things which go along with atheism and the rejection of beliefs and values that don't go along with it. Now, I'm not saying that materialism and atheism, for example, go hand in hand by a strict logical necessity, but a disbelief in God still carries with it a "casting off" of many notions which "gell" with it.

I would also say that atheism in itself is not religious in anyway, but in it's relationship and application to people, it has religious overtones. At least in potential.

I don't know how to put this exactly. But the fact is, everything is in relationship to everything else, and atheism is not exempted from this fact. Sure, one can say it is a "lack of a belief", but it is a "lack of a belief" in-the-face-of various theisms practiced by people of respective religions, some of which religions view infidels as worthy of death. Religions that may teach that everyone has a religion in a way because we are made in the image of God except that human nature has been distorted/disfigured by sin, etc. So atheism is therefore an idol of man, hence religious.

So already here you have a division of 'us' against 'them.' And this is incontrovertible in my view. Everything is in relationship to everything else. At least conceptually. And I think... socially, psychologically, and many other ways as well.

[Amarok]

Atheism is absolutely a belief.

Nope 

Those who say it is a mere "lack" of a belief do not know what they are talking about.

Yes they do 

Actually, atheism can be just as dogmatic as religion if not worse.

No it can't 

If we lived in a universe, in a Reality, in which there was no God, no religion, no theistic notions of any kind, then perhaps people there could be said to be atheists in the sense that they lack belief in a God.

Utter nonsense 

Problem is, this isn't that kind of universe.

Assertion 

Instead, we live in a universe where we have to "pick a side" in a sense, and order our belief systems accordingly.

Nope

Those who adopt atheism, adopt also the things which go along with atheism and the rejection of beliefs and values that don't go along with it.

Assertion 

Now, I'm not saying that materialism and atheism, for example, go hand in hand by a strict logical necessity, but a disbelief in God still carries with it a "casting off" of many notions which "gell" with it.

Again nope 

I would say that atheism in itself is not religious in anyway, but in it's relationship and application to people, it has religious overtones. At least in potential.

Not even close 

I don't know how to put this exactly. But the fact is, everything is in relationship to everything else, and atheism is not exempted from this fact. Sure, one can say it is a "lack of a belief", but it is a "lack of a belief" in-the-face-of various theisms practiced by people of respective religions, some of which religions view infidels as worthy of death. Religions that may teach that everyone has a religion in a way because we are made in the image of God except that human nature has been distorted/disfigured by sin, etc. So atheism is therefore an idol of man, hence religious.

A giant block of nope 

So already here you have a division of 'us' against 'them.' And this is incontrovertible in my view. Everything is in relationship to everything else. At least conceptually. And I think... socially, psychologically, and many other ways as well.

A giant block of nope 

[Dimmesdale]

Atheism is absolutely a belief.

Nope 

Those who say it is a mere "lack" of a belief do not know what they are talking about.

Yes they do 

Actually, atheism can be just as dogmatic as religion if not worse.

No it can't 

If we lived in a universe, in a Reality, in which there was no God, no religion, no theistic notions of any kind, then perhaps people there could be said to be atheists in the sense that they lack belief in a God.

Utter nonsense 

Problem is, this isn't that kind of universe.

Assertion 

Instead, we live in a universe where we have to "pick a side" in a sense, and order our belief systems accordingly.

Nope

Those who adopt atheism, adopt also the things which go along with atheism and the rejection of beliefs and values that don't go along with it.

Assertion 

Now, I'm not saying that materialism and atheism, for example, go hand in hand by a strict logical necessity, but a disbelief in God still carries with it a "casting off" of many notions which "gell" with it.

Again nope 

I would say that atheism in itself is not religious in anyway, but in it's relationship and application to people, it has religious overtones. At least in potential.

Not even close 

I don't know how to put this exactly. But the fact is, everything is in relationship to everything else, and atheism is not exempted from this fact. Sure, one can say it is a "lack of a belief", but it is a "lack of a belief" in-the-face-of various theisms practiced by people of respective religions, some of which religions view infidels as worthy of death. Religions that may teach that everyone has a religion in a way because we are made in the image of God except that human nature has been distorted/disfigured by sin, etc. So atheism is therefore an idol of man, hence religious.

A giant block of nope 

So already here you have a division of 'us' against 'them.' And this is incontrovertible in my view. Everything is in relationship to everything else. At least conceptually. And I think... socially, psychologically, and many other ways as well.

A giant block of nope 

LOL.

Some engagement of the issues......

[Belacqua]

Atheism is absolutely a belief.

Nope 

All adult atheists, who have heard and rejected religious claims, have one belief in common. 

They believe that the claims of religion are unpersuasive.

[T0 Th3 M4X]

Nope 

All adult atheists, who have heard and rejected religious claims, have one belief in common. 

They believe that the claims of religion are unpersuasive.

This is a redundant statement.

Errr...could be fun though.

All adult religious people who believe in any God (or gods) have one belief in common.

They believe that atheism isn't the way to go. 

_

All people who think dogs are the best animal in the universe don't think cats are the best animals in our solar system.

-

It's snowing outside and it is also cold.

[Amarok]

Nope 

All adult atheists, who have heard and rejected religious claims, have one belief in common. 

They believe that the claims of religion are unpersuasive.

Nope they have heard the religious claim and are simply not capable of accepting it . They hold common lack of belief in the claim .

They simple lack of belief the claim

---

Nope 



Yes they do 




No it can't 



Utter nonsense 


Assertion 



Nope



Assertion 



Again nope 


Not even close 


A giant block of nope 


A giant block of nope 

LOL.

Some engagement of the issues......

Nope simply stating what is the case if you have the problem with the length of my response that's your problem

[Angrboda]

I would also say that atheism in itself is not religious in anyway, but in it's relationship and application to people, it has religious overtones. At least in potential.

When you figure out how to pay your bills with the "potential" for money, you be sure to let us know.

[ohreally]

Other people making continual assertions about any topic that does't involve me are not my beliefs.

[Rahn127]

Amarok - I am going to assume that you hold a very strong belief that the Sun exists.

I am referring to the star that our planet orbits.

For me, as an atheist, I find it rational to believe the Sun exists based upon the evidence we have for it's existence.

Let's say someone makes the claim and wholeheartedly believes that a second star exists in close proximity to our own Sun.

This person says that this second star is invisible, intangible and is the most powerful source of gravity in the entire universe.

At this time, there is no evidence to support his claim of a second star and his claim of it being the most powerful source of gravity in the universe while exhibiting no gravity whatsoever, makes the claim very difficult, if not impossible, to believe.

In which category would you put your god in ?

Is it more like our Sun, bright, obvious, and real.

Or is it more like the invisible, intangible star that has the most powerful gravitational source in the universe ?

[Bucky Ball]

Instead, we live in a universe where we have to "pick a side" in a sense, and order our belief systems accordingly. Those who adopt atheism, adopt also the things which go along with atheism and the rejection of beliefs and values that don't go along with it. Now, I'm not saying that materialism and atheism, for example, go hand in hand by a strict logical necessity, but a disbelief in God still carries with it a "casting off" of many notions which "gell" with it.

I would also say that atheism in itself is not religious in anyway, but in it's relationship and application to people, it has religious overtones. At least in potential.

You have absolutely no evidence for those biased assertions. There are "humanist" groups all over the world that prove you wrong.
The universe does not require anyone to pick a "side". Maybe the small fundy one YOU live in,  does.
Not only does a "side" not have to be picked, but one of them is actually incoherent. YOU have no coherent definition of this "god" thingy you are going on about.
Until you do, any discussion of theism is dismissed. It has the equivalent importance of a discussion of pink sparkly unicorns.
YOU have no evidence that theists live better or more moral lives ... none at all. "Potential overtones" is one damn weak argument. LOL

So .... now you (a mind reader) think that you get to tell people what and how they think, and that what YOU think about the way they think, is reality.
Sure glad I neither know you, nor have to interact in any way with you. I pity those that do.