(December 16, 2019 at 1:26 pm)Mister Agenda Wrote: [quote='maxolla' pid='1947007' dateline='1576184035']
New to this site and actually atheism. I’m here to know more about atheism and how people convert to it.
A person who has never been taught to believe in the supernatural and never came to accept it will remain an atheist. Someone who came to believe in at least one supernatural deity and lost that belief becomes an atheist by default, atheism is the state of not holding a belief that any God or gods are real. A theist becoming an atheist is more like deconverting from their previously-held belief. Atheism is just one opinion on one particular topic, not a religion or worldview in itself. It's just like theism in that regard. If all you know about someone is that they're some kind of theist, that only tells you one thing about them. Same if all you know about someone is that they're an atheist. Once you've found out someone is an atheist, a good follow-up question might be to ask what moral philosophy they most agree with, since that seems to be a point about atheists that's of great interest to theists; but bear in mind that just as there are thousands of different religions that a theist could be, there are many moral philosophies an atheist might have. In the West we do seem to often converge on Humanism, though.
(December 12, 2019 at 4:53 pm)maxolla Wrote: My questions are below. If you have time please take a moment to help me understand more of the atheist view.These questions are intended for those who espouse the atheist view but if you are from another belief system feel free to answer.
There isn't an 'atheist view' just as there isn't a 'theist view'. A theist can be a member of any religion or have their own thing, the only requirement is that they believe in some sort of God or gods. The only thing all atheists have in common is that they don't believe in any gods. They can literally believe in anything else, even astrology and ghosts. If you take nothing else from the replies you get, I hope you understand that there is no such thing as an 'atheist view', atheists have many views and actually only a small percent are related to their atheism.
(December 12, 2019 at 4:53 pm)maxolla Wrote: What do you consider as prime reality?
Actual reality.
(December 12, 2019 at 4:53 pm)maxolla Wrote: What is the purpose of history or does it serve a purpose?
Knowing what has already happened is often useful, and provides context for the present and future; IMHO
(December 12, 2019 at 4:53 pm)maxolla Wrote: How did human existence begin?The same way the existence of every other species began, biological evolution. The line between our nonhuman and human ancestors is very fuzzy, and very subjective. Language, tool use, even art, aren't exclusive to humans; but I suggest that when we were developed enough in those areas to have a culture that routinely built on the past to improve the human condition, we were definitely human.
(December 12, 2019 at 4:53 pm)maxolla Wrote: What is morality?
The dictionary provides an adequate definition that it's a system of values and principles of conduct. That definition works for me.
(December 12, 2019 at 4:53 pm)maxolla Wrote: Where do you decide what is right and wrong?That's an odd phrasing, open to a lot of interpretation. I'm going to assume 'how' will lead to an answer more like what you're really looking for than 'where'. I use conscience, empathy, knowledge, intuition, and reason to decide what is right and wrong. Those are all anyone really has in their toolkit to decide right and wrong.
(December 12, 2019 at 4:53 pm)maxolla Wrote: What do you believe in with absolute certainty?Math, I suppose, within the framework of a given mathematical system you can arrive at conclusions that must be true; like 12+32=44. There's a saying that proof only applies to alcohol and math. The best I can do with anything else is 'justified acceptance'. I accept that reality is real, but I also accept that I can't prove that; but I believe my acceptance of the reality of reality is justified.
(December 12, 2019 at 4:53 pm)maxolla Wrote: Thanks in advance.
Max
You're welcome. I hope that was helpful.
Thanks, that was concise and to the point. I would say that all of this makes good sense. I agree that certainty is illusory at best. Some discussion has taken place here about evolution vs creation theory. It seems obvious to me that belief in either theory takes a degree of faith. What say you?
