Does atheism guarantee disbelief in anything unproven?

[Whateverist]

I've met atheists who are holocaust deniers, 911 truthers, chemtrail believers, and swear by homeopathy. Just because we share the non-belief in gods, that doesn't mean that we are more rational in any other topic.

My favorite example in this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ra%C3%ABlism
This cult is atheistic, and it claims that all life on Earth was created scientifically by aliens called Elohim.

Good to hear you say it, Leo.

Frankly I don't think it is rational to think you could subject all your beliefs to rational testing. Who even knows what all assumptions they are operating on at any given moment? Even if you could, would that be a wise use of your time? The ground before you which looks solid .. is it really? Can we be certain it isn't just an illusion? How long are we to stand with one foot suspended?

Then there are the arts and literature. Do we really think proper application of the scientific method could produce the works of Shakespeare or a Picasso painting or a work of Mozart?

Science is not the measure of everything. They are merely the best means of testing what is real and how things work.

[Tempus]

Do we really think proper application of the scientific method could produce the works of Shakespeare or a Picasso painting or a work of Mozart?

The scientific method is a framework for investigation, I don't know why anyone would think it would produce art; it's purpose is to discover, not create. That being said, I don't see why science couldn't be used to inform us about art and literature. I can imagine you could even use science to figure out a way to produce states of creativity within people - that is, without pumping them full of drugs.

I quite enjoy Mozart. I remember a while back someone analysing various piano composers and creating a computer program that could create strikingly similar pieces, so much so that some couldn't tell the difference.

I can't find the original article I read (years back now) but I did find this:
http://www.miller-mccune.com/culture/tri...oser-8507/
Seems he's written a new version since which I wasn't aware of. There's even some samples there. Scientifically created music So yes, I do think application of the scientific method could produce a work of Mozart.

[The Grand Nudger]

People like to compartmentalize. Science has nothing to say about art or music? It must be silent on the subjects of light and sound (and their effect on our minds...another area it must be silent on). Pop music is nothing if not the application of a tested formula, shown to produce results at the point of sale, whose results can be independently reproduced. Maybe you don't like it, but it's still art to someone....and there's a science to it.

[fr0d0]

To answer for the opposition... I'm skeptical of most things. I think my christian beliefs re-affirm that. It's also biblical to be skeptical. Esp. rubbish like spiritualism and homeothapy.

I can only speak for my own faith, where superstition is outlawed. Which isn't to say that there aren't superstitious types, especially catholi... .

[Nine]

People tell me the moon isn't just the cold sun but think about it. Its cold at night when the moon is there and its hot in the day when the sun is there. And seems the moon landing was a lie nobody can say I'm wrong

[picto90]

For me, atheism is the epitome of open mindedness. We all have different ideas and aren't tied to any specific ideology beyond that which is proven. The difference between atheism and religion is that if you give us new information, we can draw a different conclusion based on that new information, and we'd all be happy to do so. With religion they're stuck with what they have, and will either turn a blind a eye, or strike at anything that may challenge what they want to believe.

[downbeatplumb]

To answer for the opposition... I'm skeptical of most things. I think my christian beliefs re-affirm that. It's also biblical to be skeptical. Esp. rubbish like spiritualism and homeothapy.

I can only speak for my own faith, where superstition is outlawed. Which isn't to say that there aren't superstitious types, especially catholi... .

What is the difference between a religion and a superstition?
They are both irrational beliefs with the same basis.

[fr0d0]

What's the difference between atheism and ignorance?

Atheism can also mean a non stance.

[The Grand Nudger]

Don't pay any attention to Frods, he's incapable of providing evidence or a proper argument, so he just flamebaits. When he isn't pretending to be a jackass for jesus he's downright pleasant.

[Child of Stardust]

The "atheist community" (defined here as the people that tend to frequent atheist forums, join atheist societies, and debate religion) is not representative of all atheists, and is probably more acurrately described as a community of strongly logic-oriented people who are opposed to anything that doesn't make logical sense. Since atheism isn't a belief in and of itself, just the absensce of belief, the community cant really exist based on atheism alone. The only atheist communuties that would realistically form need to stand for something positive.

The only "positive" thing atheists could form a community around, that I can think of, is opposing religion (though obviously not all atheists do). That's why you tend to see so much antitheism on these forums. Most atheists have a more live and let live approach to religion...they just don't care about it. So they don't form a community based around the absence of it...that's like founding a non-knitting club. Since antitheism is not a true positive motivation, as its major purpose is to tear something down (not a bad thing necessarily), the people who tend to be drawn to this cause are critical types. These are people who are logic-oriented and naturally see the flaws in things. They are naturally skeptical. Atheists who are less logic oriented are less likely to care, so long as everyone gets along. Non-logic oriented people tend to be more human-oriented, seeing harmony as the most important thing and disdaining useless conflict (which religion as a very controversial subject tends to invite).

This is of course a vicious circle. Like attracts like, and a culture begins to form - a culture where reason and skepticism are the most important values of the tribe. The us and them bonding ritual kicks in - "we atheists are the smart people who stand up for rationality in the world...unlike those annoying irrational theists". The two become equated, and people in the community are expected to possess these qualities. Skepticism and rationality become the angle from which everything is analyzed and dismissed. Logic-oriented fields like science and philosophy become popular topics for threads. Less logic-oriented people might feel alienated by this, and so even if antitheistic (and some people are antitheistic based on non logical reasons) they may go their seperate ways.