(August 18, 2011 at 2:49 pm)Statler Waldorf Wrote: Just out of curiosity, why would you not consider atheism at the very least a philosophy? It certainly behaves like one.
I can only answer for myself, but yes. I would concider atheism a philosophy, or perhaps more of a way of living.
If we take Christians as an example; there are many branches, but ultimately everyone is (supposed) to believe in the same god and most definetely in Jesus. The Bible is the foundation and in there are guidlines and law how to live one's life.
My way of seeing life is that I am the most important thing in my life, but I acknowledge the people around me and how important interaction between me and others are. Yes, I am important to me, but I still recognize that on the whole I'm quite unsignificant. In midst of this train of thought I found out that I in fact was an atheist. Is it philosophy? Would I have became an atheist in a different situation? I do not know, and frankly, I haven't thought about it too much.
The only thing I can say for sure is that all other atheists, like me, don't believe in any gods. How they percieve their atheism is all up to them.
When I was young, there was a god with infinite power protecting me. Is there anyone else who felt that way? And was sure about it? but the first time I fell in love, I was thrown down - or maybe I broke free - and I bade farewell to God and became human. Now I don't have God's protection, and I walk on the ground without wings, but I don't regret this hardship. I want to live as a person. -Arina Tanemura
