Anti-theism and anti-religion

[Rampant.A.I.]

Fundamentalism, for instance, regardless of the religion, is volatile and dangerous in every example I'm aware of.

[Mudhammam]

I'm not against the god idea per se (but I disagree with it)

Me neither but here's why: take away the authority, the appeal to ignorance, and the indoctrination of others, and what's left of God? What IS the idea that apparently involves none of these things? Is that a theistic God? Or does it, as I think, overtake the word "terrorism" as the most meaningless word ever conceived?

[Dystopia]

Fundamentalism, for instance, regardless of the religion, is volatile and dangerous in every example I'm aware of.

If you suggesting I'm a fundamentalist be aware that there is no such thing as a fundamentalist atheist, since there is no dogma or book to follow

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I'm not against the god idea per se (but I disagree with it)

Me neither but here's why: take away the authority, the appeal to ignorance, and the indoctrination of others, and what's left of God? What IS the idea that apparently involves none of these things? Is that a theistic God? Or does it, as I think, overtake the word "terrorism" as the most meaningless word ever conceived?

Not much. Are you suggesting the deistic god proposition would be all that's left? As an anti-theist, are you too against the deistic god type? And by the way, don't you have to be against the god idea to be an anti-theist? The words 'anti' + 'theist' point that way.

[Mudhammam]

Not much. Are you suggesting the deistic god proposition would be all that's left? As an anti-theist, are you too against the deistic god type? And by the way, don't you have to be against the god idea to be an anti-theist? The words 'anti' + 'theist' point that way.

I'm not against the deistic god because it DOESN'T MEAN ANYTHING. In my mind it's simply synonymous with an awe for the Cosmos, the mysteries the underlie our ability to comprehend a cohesive Universe. That's not much of a god, that's just human emotion and inability to apprehend all facets of reality.

I am against the theistic god because it implies or demands the things I've mentioned, which I find both morally and intellectually abhorrent.

But the bigger problem, which not only applies to all theistic gods but to all definitions, is that the word means something different to anyone you ask, and that is simply another way of saying it means nothing. It's literally indistinguishable from Marklar:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bzq4YDt7V-o

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

No of course not, my question is if I'm an anti-theist or anti-religion.

How about calling yourself an 'anti-theismist'?

Boru

[Dystopia]

Pickup thanks for the explanation. My problem is I'm not sure if I'm against the god concept per se, I'm mostly against organized religion. I find the god idea do be silly and unfounded, that doesn't mean I'm against people believing in it, just like if people believed in unicorns or dragons I wouldn't care about it. I will be against the god idea if it is used to commit stupidity and stop people from having critical thinking. I've met some smart people who believe in a higher force, I don't think they are compromised by it at all, they just lack a little of critical skills when it comes to questioning god. Maybe I'm an anti-theist, I don't know.

[buddabobblehead]

Interesting debate - IMO - those people who are are not sure about the 'existence' of the supernatural, which includes all concepts of forces, higher powers, deity - whether of form or formless, etc, are much like those people living in earlier times, where we simply did not know the answer (or even the question) to many of the cosmological and quantum areas of research. In light of what we NOW know about the universe, both macro and micro, there clearly is no need for the supernatural (or god) in any shape or form. Nature is far more bizarre than any of our wildest concepts of the supernatural.

[Mudhammam]

Pickup thanks for the explanation. My problem is I'm not sure if I'm against the god concept per se, I'm mostly against organized religion. I find the god idea do be silly and unfounded, that doesn't mean I'm against people believing in it, just like if people believed in unicorns or dragons I wouldn't care about it. I will be against the god idea if it is used to commit stupidity and stop people from having critical thinking. I've met some smart people who believe in a higher force, I don't think they are compromised by it at all, they just lack a little of critical skills when it comes to questioning god. Maybe I'm an anti-theist, I don't know.

I must ask: do you think belief in unicorns, dragons, or gods contributes to the advancement of humanity, that is, our knowledge about ourselves and our environment, or does it detract from it by promoting a general credulity? Do they add or detract from the average person's ability to think more rationally and morally? And at what point do you say, "Okay, we have real problems to solve and these ideas are hindering an enormous segment of the population from seriously addressing them, generation after generation?"

[Rabb Allah]

I am mixed on this. I am obviously anti-religion while not anti-theistic since I see the concept of god as a symbol blown out of proportions. At the same time I enjoy religions while finding no value in them because they encourage dogma.

The only true religion that should be created is for one's self and the only god known to exist is one's self. I can be very auto-theistic in this regard as the mere conception of god is merely a reflection of the self and the existence of religions will only be as peaceful as the adherents of that religions. This is why you don't see a lot of Christians murdering and killing despite the fact their Bible fully supports this. Jews are no different and are very nice.

[Dystopia]

Pickup thanks for the explanation. My problem is I'm not sure if I'm against the god concept per se, I'm mostly against organized religion. I find the god idea do be silly and unfounded, that doesn't mean I'm against people believing in it, just like if people believed in unicorns or dragons I wouldn't care about it. I will be against the god idea if it is used to commit stupidity and stop people from having critical thinking. I've met some smart people who believe in a higher force, I don't think they are compromised by it at all, they just lack a little of critical skills when it comes to questioning god. Maybe I'm an anti-theist, I don't know.

I must ask: do you think belief in unicorns, dragons, or gods contributes to the advancement of humanity, that is, our knowledge about ourselves and our environment, or does it detract from it by promoting a general credulity? Do they add or detract from the average person's ability to think more rationally and morally? And at what point do you say, "Okay, we have real problems to solve and these ideas are hindering an enormous segment of the population from seriously addressing them, generation after generation?"

I guess I'm an anti-theism then... But I'm not necessarily against all religions or gods. If someone created a religion based on free thinking without worshipping any deity, I won't oppose it.

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I am mixed on this. I am obviously anti-religion while not anti-theistic since I see the concept of god as a symbol blown out of proportions. At the same time I enjoy religions while finding no value in them because they encourage dogma.

I enjoy studying religions and comprehending their historical and cultural influences, it's a task I find interesting, when I was in highschool I can recall doing a paper about the 3 biggest religions (Judaism, Christianity and Islam) and had a very good mark in the end. How much can the theistic god be separated from religion?