(January 20, 2016 at 10:43 am)wallym Wrote: While "religion" probably has too many connotations associated with it, I've always thought of atheism sharing some similarity to a religion in that they are both one's take on the nature of existence, upon which you base your beliefs.
But perhaps I've been wrong all along. Rob's "I don't care if there is a God or not" thread, and the number of people who lined up to say they aren't changing no matter what the nature of existence is, throws a wrench in that theory.
That there are people who, no matter what they know/learn reality to be, are going to behave a certain way. I can certainly see why you guys wouldn't want to be likened to religion, as you've got your own thing going. I can't quite figure out what it is, though. Still trying to guess whether it's a real thing, or just being obstinate, because 'take that stupid religion people.'
In my time here I've noticed a strong sense of individualism and the desire not to be associated with a group. People seem to really value their desire to be the individual that they are rather than conform to outside pressures. I think that is an inevitable result of people embracing free-thought.
Perhaps this "thing going" we have is a bunch of atheists fighting for our individuality?
Even if the open windows of science at first make us shiver after the cozy indoor warmth of traditional humanizing myths, in the end the fresh air brings vigor, and the great spaces have a splendor of their own - Bertrand Russell
