(May 21, 2015 at 4:26 pm)Anima Wrote:(May 21, 2015 at 4:18 pm)TRJF Wrote: Yeah, you're going to need to do a... far better job of explaining your position before someone will agree to debate you on it.
As you wish:
I understand the atheistic position to not accept that which may not be empirically verified. Therefore it may be said atheism does not recognize that which is metaphysical and cannot be verified empirically.
I further understand atheism to contend that our sentiments, feelings, compulsion, instincts, and so forth are simply a result of of the chemical reactions in our brains. Thereby rendering us as meat automatons which react to stimuli.
Being meat automatons that react to stimuli means there is no "person" and we are no different than a rock which reacts to its surroundings or bacteria which reacts to stimuli.
Many atheists do feel this way, but those beliefs aren't synonymous with atheism. The first - regarding the empirically verifiable - is empiricism. The second part seems to be a subset of materialism. The final one is similarly physicalism/materialism (and a rejection of dualism), except for the "no different than a rock which reacts to its surroundings" part (to which I'd ask first: different how? and second: what rocks react to their environments?).
Many atheists hold some or all of these beliefs. None of them is required to be an atheist. Atheism is the lack of belief in gods (or a belief in the lack of gods). The definition doesn't reach why one doesn't believe in gods. For instance, I'm an atheist, I'd say, as a result of the fact that I'm a materialist. But there are many spiritual atheists, mind-body dualist atheists, and such.
How will we know, when the morning comes, we are still human? - 2D
Don't worry, my friend. If this be the end, then so shall it be.
Don't worry, my friend. If this be the end, then so shall it be.