The future of Atheism

[Metis]

It might amuse some of you but despite being an anti-theist, I took the time to aquire both a B.A and M.A in Theology. Why? I wanted to be able to play the game with a better grip of their rules and the minds creating them (Wasn't really a loss for me, I just needed a degree in anything, B.A professional bullshitter even would have got me where I wanted to go).

One point that I always find fascinating personally is how adaptable the ruleset is, and how little impact changes seem to have on theists. There are exceptions, like in the U.K how I've heard the conservative Anglican's are jumping ship with the ordination of Women Bishops and switching to Catholicism but for the most part they carry on ahead like nothing has happened. It's like Orwells' 1984 "We are at war with Xxxx"...And then mid sentence they switch to "we have always been at war with Yyyy".

For as much as church attendance is falling in Europe when the surveys go around most of them still sign off as Christian, they get their brats baptized, they do the big white wedding and ultimately expect their funerals to be done by whatever denomination they're signed up to.

Apathy is growing, but avowed Atheism doesn't appear to be, sure we've got a bigger audience now we have the internet but it doesn't seem to be really having much impact. Sure, Church attendances might be low today but (while I don't have them to hand) there are figures to suggest a large swave of the U.K working classes during the late 19th century didn't either. Kinda springs between revivals and declines, but the number of avowed Atheist thinkers or writers remains more or less the same. Sure you get mostly Atheist states today like Japan (in these sense they don't believe in a personal deity) but if you look back into history they were never especially religious anyway.

I'd like to think one day everyone would wise up and leave the twilight zone, but I'm increasingly doubtful its ever going to happen and a fight no one can ultimately "win". The Theists are going to be round a while yet and while the number of liberal ones might rise the number of Atheists isn't.

What do you think?

[Surgenator]

I find it annoying that you're an anti-theist while you're religious views description says theist.

I believe religion won't ever disappear. It will just change into something else. Religion trived for so long because it exploits several human weaknesses: mental laziness, confirmation bias, unquestionable loyalty, us vs them mentality, etc... If we remove all the human weaknesses that religion exploits, then religion won't exist.

[robvalue]

I think secularism will thrive, and the emotional hold of religion's myths will wane as fundamentalists die out and more liberal theists replace them, and so on. The Internet is doing the dirty on religion big time. I think religion will only continue to hold power by force in the long run. It will otherwise be relegated quite a lot in its validity and effect.

[AFTT47]

It might amuse some of you but despite being an anti-theist, I took the time to aquire both a B.A and M.A in Theology. Why? I wanted to be able to play the game with a better grip of their rules and the minds creating them (Wasn't really a loss for me, I just needed a degree in anything, B.A professional bullshitter even would have got me where I wanted to go).

One point that I always find fascinating personally is how adaptable the ruleset is, and how little impact changes seem to have on theists. There are exceptions, like in the U.K how I've heard the conservative Anglican's are jumping ship with the ordination of Women Bishops and switching to Catholicism but for the most part they carry on ahead like nothing has happened. It's like Orwells' 1984 "We are at war with Xxxx"...And then mid sentence they switch to "we have always been at war with Yyyy".

For as much as church attendance is falling in Europe when the surveys go around most of them still sign off as Christian, they get their brats baptized, they do the big white wedding and ultimately expect their funerals to be done by whatever denomination they're signed up to.

Apathy is growing, but avowed Atheism doesn't appear to be, sure we've got a bigger audience now we have the internet but it doesn't seem to be really having much impact. Sure, Church attendances might be low today but (while I don't have them to hand) there are figures to suggest a large swave of the U.K working classes during the late 19th century didn't either. Kinda springs between revivals and declines, but the number of avowed Atheist thinkers or writers remains more or less the same. Sure you get mostly Atheist states today like Japan (in these sense they don't believe in a personal deity) but if you look back into history they were never especially religious anyway.

I'd like to think one day everyone would wise up and leave the twilight zone, but I'm increasingly doubtful its ever going to happen and a fight no one can ultimately "win". The Theists are going to be round a while yet and while the number of liberal ones might rise the number of Atheists isn't.

What do you think?

Who cares?! The U.K. is nearly free of Christian influence. You have no idea how much we in the U.S. envy you. Let them have their baptisms, their weddings and their funerals. They're not trying to force their will upon you, they're not sabotaging education and they're not holding back progress. What's the problem?

[FreeTony]

You spent 4 years studying theology out of choice and aren't a Theist???

[bennyboy]

You spent 4 years studying theology out of choice and aren't a Theist???

Why not?

If the person is actually a metis, the influence of Western Christianity on his life and culture are almost absolute.

[Whateverist]

We have different standards for what constitutes a good time.

[Pyrrho]

I find it annoying that you're an anti-theist while you're religious views description says theist.

...

You might want to look at the crazy labels some other forum members choose. Reality and what is stated in such a label need have nothing in common.

Also, take a look at his first post:

http://atheistforums.org/thread-31506-po...#pid870995

That explains the label. Frankly, the required label annoyed me when I registered. It is nobody's goddamned business what I believe, and no one has the right to demand that I tell them. I say, when someone demands such things, they have no right to expect the truth. And in the case of online posting, only fools believe everything they read.

[Aoi Magi]

Future of atheism?, If there is no theism, there won't be any atheism either. What I do hope for would be a future with a majority of skeptics and rational/logical thinkers.

[Thumpalumpacus]

I'd like to think one day everyone would wise up and leave the twilight zone, but I'm increasingly doubtful its ever going to happen and a fight no one can ultimately "win". The Theists are going to be round a while yet and while the number of liberal ones might rise the number of Atheists isn't.

What do you think?

I have no interest in pushing my nonbelief onto others. I'm happy to act against their encroachments, and will defend our rights happily, but I don't care what you or anyone else believes insofar as it does not affect me. When it gets to that point, I do push back.