Just WHAT defines an atheist....

[KichigaiNeko]

Random thought:

The difference between an atheist and a theist is that an atheist has gone beyond (at least mentally) his local neighbourhood, his own country and his own Solar system to contemplate the existence of the Cosmos with it's BILLIONS of Galaxies and Billion Stars etc x 10 (to the power) of etc.

A theist is still wondering where his next meal is coming from.

So just who is closer to reality??

[Oldandeasilyconfused]

So just who is closer to reality??

Are you assuming there's only one reality?

Everyone in the world is crazy except me and thee,and lately I've begun having doubts about thee (anon)

[theVOID]

I can't spot a single thing I agree with other than your spelling

What defines an atheist is their being without a belief in gods - it's really that simple.

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So just who is closer to reality??

Are you assuming there's only one reality?

Your not serious?

[KichigaiNeko]

Thanks guys for considering this random thought of value to your time ....

I was wondering that.... what the majority of atheist have in common is the fact that they are of the "scientific community" if one would like to put that term / label to atheists. And so that the majority of atheists are very interested in the cosmos and "just WTF is 'Out there' and how awsome it all is just because it is" no goddidit; no nothing, but looking through telescopes and marveling at what is seen and wondering how the fuck it all works.

With recent convos (blis et al) it got me thinking as to what it is that is "In Common" with atheists other than the non-belief in god/s. The fact that we can accept in our minds that there is a possibility that 'reality' is so fucking huge and theists are incapable of this mind ability is what I am looking for.

[History: so many conversations with xtians and others over a lifetime usually end up with ..."Oh no!! I can't accept that the universe is SO FUCKING BIG and I am so fucking small" So just what is it with atheists who are more than comfortable with this concept. To the point that they are ellated when new dicoveries are found (either in the very very small or the very very big)]

[Zen Badger]

[quote='padraic' pid='127850' dateline='1302776782']

So just who is closer to reality??

Are you assuming there's only one reality?

Well, Sae's got one all her own.

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What defines an atheist???

Having the T-shirt certainly helps.

[fr0d0]

Existentialist had a great wind up of this on atheistsheaven.com here: http://www.atheistsheaven.com/showthread.php?tid=681

Dictionary atheists is what PZ Myers calls those numbskulls

[Frosty]

The difference between an atheist and a theist is that an atheist has gone beyond (at least mentally) his local neighbourhood, his own country and his own Solar system to contemplate the existence of the Cosmos with it's BILLIONS of Galaxies and Billion Stars etc x 10 (to the power) of etc.

This has nothing to do with the definition of atheist, it's entirely possible that SOME people are atheist because of the process you describe, but it's certainly not true of all atheists, in fact some people arrive at being an atheist for entirely bad reasons, I've seen bad arguments convince people atheism is a rational position before.

I'm also sure there are many people who have considered the greater picture of the cosmos and arrived at being religious, so the 2 aren't linked in any strict way.

I would have agree that there is definitely some kind of trend amongst my peers where those who are interested in critical thinking are often interested in the sciences and frequently the study of space/cosmology. But it's far from definitive and certainly nothing to define atheists by.

[everythingafter]

Existentialist had a great wind up of this on atheistsheaven.com here: http://www.atheistsheaven.com/showthread.php?tid=681

"Exploring atheism"? What is there to explore? Seems to me if this guy replaced "atheism" with "secularism," he might be on a more tenable track. His statement:

Therefore atheism for me is a statement of intent, a direction that we are moving in ...

would make more sense with the word secularism, for societies can move toward a more secular foundation, which could include a polity of agnostics, atheists, free thinkers and some (and increasingly fewer) believers.

[LastPoet]

Random thought:

The difference between an atheist and a theist is that an atheist has gone beyond (at least mentally) his local neighbourhood, his own country and his own Solar system to contemplate the existence of the Cosmos with it's BILLIONS of Galaxies and Billion Stars etc x 10 (to the power) of etc.

A theist is still wondering where his next meal is coming from.

So just who is closer to reality??

I came with a random thought last night after a 6 pack: The word atheist bears no meaning if no religions exist. If we suppose religion diminishes to 0 over time that means we are an endangered species! We are bound to extintion by our own struggle!

[Napoléon]

what defines an atheist is their lack of belief in a god