Is atheism a cult?

[c4ts]

Since so few people are atheists, it might be mistaken for one.

[fishbob]

A group of people that all believe the same wacky thing are a cult. Therefore a group of people that all disbelieve wacky things form an uncult. Sort of like 7 Up.

[MRC_Hans]

I took the chance and voted seriously: No.

A-Theism, however, is a cult!

Hans :p

[Peter Jenkins]

Let's see......

No money is extorted from me by atheist leaders
I'm not just some lowly part of an atheist heirarchy.
I'm not told how to live/eat/have sex so that I can remain in good standing with the atheists.
I don't have to work to support any atheist leaders
I dont spend hours in meetings, being force-fed atheist principles

...........No, on consideration, I dont think Atheism is a cult
P

[Yahweh]

I'm a member of the EAC (Evil Atheist Conspiracy), I spend my days planting fossils in the ground and paying scientists not to publish their real information which proves the existence of God...

It really amazes me how easily people will just give themselves into this "evolution" nonsense, like its even real! The EAC is quite proud of that one.

We're not a cult, we're much much more...

Bwaaaaaahahahahahaaaaa!

[T'ai Chi]

Is atheism a cult?

No, but neither are most religions.

[Craig]

Originally posted by Yahweh
I'm a member of the EAC (Evil Atheist Conspiracy), I spend my days planting fossils in the ground and paying scientists not to publish their real information which proves the existence of God...

It really amazes me how easily people will just give themselves into this "evolution" nonsense, like its even real! The EAC is quite proud of that one.

We're not a cult, we're much much more...

Bwaaaaaahahahahahaaaaa!

Shut up you fool!

[Blackjacks Yahweh]

Fertile imagination, that one. http://www.click-smilies.de/sammlung0903/sprachlos/speechless-smiley-025.gif

Carry on.

[CWL]

Originally posted by T'ai Chi
Is atheism a cult?

No, but neither are most religions.

I beg to differ. From http://www.m-w.com

quote------------------------------------------------------------------------
Main Entry: cult
Pronunciation: 'k&lt
Function: noun
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: French & Latin; French culte, from Latin cultus care, adoration, from colere to cultivate -- more at WHEEL
Date: 1617
1 : formal religious veneration : WORSHIP
2 : a system of religious beliefs and ritual; also : its body of adherents
3 : a religion regarded as unorthodox or spurious; also : its body of adherents
4 : a system for the cure of disease based on dogma set forth by its promulgator <health cults>
5 a : great devotion to a person, idea, object, movement, or work (as a film or book); especially : such devotion regarded as a literary or intellectual fad b : a usually small group of people characterized by such devotion
end quote------------------------------------------------------------------

As the absence of religiousness clearly cannot be a religion, it can hardly be a cult.

What was that about "not collecting stamps" again?

[Abdul Alhazred]

Originally posted by c4ts
Since so few people are atheists, it might be mistaken for one.

There are, of course, atheist cults. For example, Marxism. But atheism as such is not a cult.

There is no God. Period.

[T'ai Chi]

Originally posted by CWL


I beg to differ. From http://www.m-w.com

quote------------------------------------------------------------------------
Main Entry: cult
Pronunciation: 'k&lt
Function: noun
(snip)


Neither the study of the history of a word or dictionary definitions determine the current usage of a word.


As the absence of religiousness clearly cannot be a religion, it can hardly be a cult.


You assume the 3rd, 4th, and 5th words to be true.

[CWL]

Originally posted by T'ai Chi
[B]Neither the study of the history of a word or dictionary definitions determine the current usage of a word.

I concur. Gives a pretty good hint though.

You assume the 3rd, 4th, and 5th words to be true.

I'm not sure I understand what you mean. Care to elaborate?

[Suddenly]

If it isn't a cult does that mean Yahweh is going to refund all that money I've been sending him?

[DarkPrimus]

Atheism does not fit the definition of a cult.

[sorgoth]

Originally posted by T'ai Chi
Is atheism a cult?

No, but neither are most religions.

A religion is a cult that got lucky.

[Yahweh]

Originally posted by Suddenly
If it isn't a cult does that mean Yahweh is going to refund all that money I've been sending him?

You'll get it after we remove your tattoo and memory.

[volant]

http://hometown.aol.com/conspiratah/myhomepage/123.gif

:D

[T'ai Chi]

http://www.abcsoffaith.com/graphics/atheism.gif

[c4ts]

It's more like this:

[T'ai Chi]

Some more fun:

There was a little old lady who would come out every morning on the steps of her front porch, raise her arms to the sky and shout, "Praise the Lord!"

Well, one day an atheist moved into the house next door. Over time, he became irritated at the little old lady. So every morning he would step out onto his front porch and yell after her, "There is no God!"

Time passes with the two of them carrying on this way every day. Then one morning in the middle of winter, the little old lady stepped onto her front porch and shouted, "Praise the Lord! Lord, I have no food and I am hungry. Please provide for me, oh Lord!"

The next morning she stepped onto her porch and there were two huge bags of groceries sitting there. "Praise the Lord!" she cried out. "He has provided groceries for me!" The atheist jumped out of the hedges and shouted, "There is no Lord. I bought those groceries!" The little old lady threw her arms into the air and shouted, "Praise the Lord! He has provided me with groceries and He made the devil pay for them!"

[DarkPrimus]

Yay, nothing like thiny veiled atheist-bashing.

[Yahweh]

Originally posted by T'ai Chi
Some more fun:

There was a little old lady who would come out every morning on the steps of her front porch, raise her arms to the sky and shout, "Praise the Lord!"

Well, one day an atheist moved into the house next door. Over time, he became irritated at the little old lady. So every morning he would step out onto his front porch and yell after her, "There is no God!"

Time passes with the two of them carrying on this way every day. Then one morning in the middle of winter, the little old lady stepped onto her front porch and shouted, "Praise the Lord! Lord, I have no food and I am hungry. Please provide for me, oh Lord!"

The next morning she stepped onto her porch and there were two huge bags of groceries sitting there. "Praise the Lord!" she cried out. "He has provided groceries for me!" The atheist jumped out of the hedges and shouted, "There is no Lord. I bought those groceries!" The little old lady threw her arms into the air and shouted, "Praise the Lord! He has provided me with groceries and He made the devil pay for them!"

:D

[T'ai Chi]

Originally posted by DarkPrimus
Yay, nothing like thiny veiled atheist-bashing.

Run home then. But please, leave the ball.

[Pahansiri]

Originally posted by T'ai Chi


Run home then. But please, leave the ball.

Greetings my friend T'ai Chi.

may I ask you with respect or perhaps it would be better to ask yourself. Why does it bother you so that people do not believe as you do?

If you believe it is funny that people do not believe in God and or ther are lost, blind etc do not you think you should just prove God then all will believe as you do and you will feel better.

Does not this have more to do with how you see your self then what others may believe?

Just what I believe.

[Pahansiri]

Originally posted by T'ai Chi
Some more fun:

There was a little old lady who would come out every morning on the steps of her front porch, raise her arms to the sky and shout, "Praise the Lord!"

Well, one day an atheist moved into the house next door. Over time, he became irritated at the little old lady. So every morning he would step out onto his front porch and yell after her, "There is no God!"

Time passes with the two of them carrying on this way every day. Then one morning in the middle of winter, the little old lady stepped onto her front porch and shouted, "Praise the Lord! Lord, I have no food and I am hungry. Please provide for me, oh Lord!"

The next morning she stepped onto her porch and there were two huge bags of groceries sitting there. "Praise the Lord!" she cried out. "He has provided groceries for me!" The atheist jumped out of the hedges and shouted, "There is no Lord. I bought those groceries!" The little old lady threw her arms into the air and shouted, "Praise the Lord! He has provided me with groceries and He made the devil pay for them!"

this a fine example of several things.

1- Some people who refuse to believe facts. i.e. the person who did not believe in God helped the old woman not a God.
2- The "God" did nothing to help her and the man did.
3- The man was filled with compassion for her suffering and she was filled with hate and only called him evil and names because he would not believe as she did.
4- it is the beliefs of the woman that caused suffering to, as she would not go looking for food believing a God would save her, it is the beliefs of the woman that are the causes of hate and war " he is evil, lost and blind because he is not like me and I am special"

T'ai Chi my friend this story was not a help to you but showed how some people can use religion to cause harm.

[jimmygun]

Atheism isn't a cult but it plays one in the minds of the believers.

[jimmygun]

There was a little old lady who would come out every morning on the steps of her front porch, raise her arms to the sky and shout, "Praise the Lord!"

Well, one day an atheist moved into the house next door. Over time, he became irritated at the little old lady. So every morning he would step out onto his front porch and yell after her, "There is no God!".............

What would follow in the real world would be harassment and beligerance from the religious community. Picketing and shouting and a general attempt to make life miserable for the atheist, hoping to drive him from the neighbourhood. Possibly there could be cross burnings or firebombings but not so much these days as a few short years ago.

[Diamond]

Atheism is not a cult. It is a philosophy of lack of belief in any diety.

That said, cults can be atheistic, agnostic or theistic in their philosophy. Cults are more defined by group dynamics and psychology than by statements of belief.

[wert]

;)

[DarkPrimus]

Originally posted by T'ai Chi

Run home then. But please, leave the ball.

I see conducting a mature discussion is out of the question.

[T'ai Chi]

Originally posted by wert
;)

LOL!

I like it.

[T'ai Chi]

Originally posted by Pahansiri

Why does it bother you so that people do not believe as you do?


It doesn't bother me. Why do you think it does?


If you believe it is funny that people do not believe in God and or ther are lost, blind etc do not you think you should just prove God then all will believe as you do and you will feel better.


I thought the cartoon was funny, so I posted it, especially in a response to the animated smiley of a smiley bashing a crucified Jesus smiley on the head with a hammer.

Why don't you go talk to them about posting that? Or do you just concentrate on what I post now?

[Pahansiri]

Originally posted by T'ai Chi


I thought the cartoon was funny, so I posted it, especially in a response to the animated smiley of a smiley bashing a crucified Jesus smiley on the head with a hammer.

Why don't you go talk to them about posting that? Or do you just concentrate on what I post now? [/B]

Actually I have many times said that I personally do not find it helpful to disrespect the beliefs of others, what they may hold dear. The smiley bashing a crucified Jesus smiley on the head with a hammer.is rude to people that hold that dear.

Funny though you said such things did not bother you but your last post have been a silly book comparing anyone who does not believe in a God as Godless killers, a cartoon showing a “god” and other guys sitting in clouds lol laughing at Atheist beliefs and a very silly story that sought to say atheist are “lost and demons” but as I demonstrated only back fires and shows them as caring people who fed an old woman.

By the way may I again post my review on your story and ask for your opinion of my look at this story?

this a fine example of several things.

1- Some people who refuse to believe facts. i.e. the person who did not believe in God helped the old woman not a God.
2- The "God" did nothing to help her and the man did.
3- The man was filled with compassion for her suffering and she was filled with hate and only called him evil and names because he would not believe as she did.
4- it is the beliefs of the woman that caused suffering to, as she would not go looking for food believing a God would save her, it is the beliefs of the woman that are the causes of hate and war " he is evil, lost and blind because he is not like me and I am special"

T'ai Chi my friend this story was not a help to you but showed how some people can use religion to cause harm.

Again my friend I respect your beliefs and the beliefs of peace and respect of all. I am also not bothered by what others may say about my beliefs etc I just find that you have moved away from how you came to this board looking to conduct conversations and exchange ideas. To , me and perhaps just me it seems you have become bothered that people here do not believe as you do and will not, I am not sure what you expected to find at a board like this.


I have great respect for you and all and speak only that you seem to be acting from emotion and not as you really are.

Just my opinion for what or what little it is worth.

[T'ai Chi]

Originally posted by Pahansiri

Funny though you said such things did not bother you but your last post have been a silly book comparing anyone who does not believe in a God as Godless killers, a cartoon showing a “god” and other guys sitting in clouds lol laughing at Atheist beliefs and a very silly story that sought to say atheist are “lost and demons”


Funny how you ignore that the book was a serious discussion (which you dismiss as silly without reading it. Talk about judging a book by its cover! Which you also might have misunderstood, as the book was talking about Communists from a specific location, from a specific time.), and the cartoon and story were posted as humor.

[CWL]

Originally posted by CWL


I concur. Gives a pretty good hint though.

I'm not sure I understand what you mean. Care to elaborate?

Zzzzzzz.

[T'ai Chi]

Originally posted by CWL


Zzzzzzz.

So your own words put you to sleep? Bravo!

[Pahansiri]

Originally posted by T'ai Chi


Funny how you ignore that the book was a serious discussion (which you dismiss as silly without reading it. Talk about judging a book by its cover! Which you also might have misunderstood, as the book was talking about Communists from a specific location, from a specific time.), and the cartoon and story were posted as humor. [/B]

Funny how you ignore that the book was a serious discussion (which you dismiss as silly without reading it.

But my friend you have not made any attempt to discuss it. you posted the title of the thread , a leading one Godless Communists: Atheism and Society in Soviet Russia, 1917-1932 then this one statement about the book.
I came across this interesting book recently:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...=glance&s=books

It is interesting to note that for a society that attempted to weed religion out, their leader's funeral still had religious overtones.

You do not make another post concerning the book or what it says, so all I have to go by is the title which is on the cover a prejudice title seemingly saying that Atheism is Communism and atheist are Communists. I pointed out as others did this is of course silly.


Where is the discussion from you past just that one statement?

Be honest did you read the book?



Talk about judging a book by its cover!


All we have to go by is the cover you have offered no more.


Which you also might have misunderstood, as the book was talking about Communists from a specific location, from a specific time.),

That may be true I do not know as the title was all I had to go on and was very leading “Godless Communists”. What if it was “ God believers cold blooded killers and rapist” .

Can you see my point?


and the cartoon and story were posted as humor.

I understand you believe they were funny I found them funny as they were self-effacing. In their attempt to make something ( atheism) look bad it illustrated how prejudice they are.

Be well my friend

[Chanileslie]

Originally posted by c4ts
Since so few people are atheists, it might be mistaken for one.

No because if I recall correctly one of the qualifications for a cult is a charismatic leader, and atheists definitely don't have that!!

[ReasonableDoubt]

It seems to me that the term 'cult' is sufficiently ambiguous and, as such, unhelpful. Rather than grappling with dictionaries, a better approach migh be to insist that those who ask the question rephrase it with sufficient clarity and specificity so as to permit a clear and specific response.

BTW, I found CultFAQ.org (http://www.cultfaq.org/) interesting.

[espritch]

Speaking of religion jokes, did you hear the one about the theist who died and met God?




Neither did I. ;)

[hammegk]

Originally posted by Chanileslie


No because if I recall correctly one of the qualifications for a cult is a charismatic leader, and atheists definitely don't have that!!

Some groups think the Prince of Wales is your man. If so, that business about the charismatic part sounds a bit strange.

[Chanileslie]

Originally posted by hammegk


Some groups think the Prince of Wales is your man. If so, that business about the charismatic part sounds a bit strange.

Prince of Wales, um, no, I don't think so. If I were to follow a cult leader, he would have to definitely be much better looking than that.

Now, say if, Hugh Jackman wanted to be my cult leader, I might not object to much. :-)

Although, come to think of it, I believe that in order to be considered part of a cult, one must have a unifing belief system, and unfortunately I have yet to meet another atheist who thinks just like me. :-)

[epepke]

A cult is a bit like pornography.

I am spiritual, you are religious, he and/or she belongs to a cult.

(Actually, of course, I'm not, but that's the way the joke goes.)