[Merged] Atheism=Religion=Pointless

Yig · 9th December 2010, 05:08 PM

Can someone here please explain to me why atheism is just not another religion?

Believing that there is no God seems as pointless as believing that there is one.

Gawdzilla · 9th December 2010, 05:09 PM

Originally Posted by Yig

Can someone here please explain to me why atheism is just not another religion?

Believing that there is no God seems as pointless as believing that there is one.

Atheism is to religion as bald is to hair color.

mikeyx · 9th December 2010, 05:10 PM

Originally Posted by Yig

Can someone here please explain to me why atheism is just not another religion?

Believing that there is no God seems as pointless as believing that there is one.

it essentially is, thing is it's those who force their beliefs on others, be they baptist, atheist, republican, liberal, the word that is consistent is obnoxious.

Yig · 9th December 2010, 05:12 PM

Originally Posted by Gawdzilla

Atheism is to religion as bald is to hair color.

Explain.

Yig · 9th December 2010, 05:14 PM

Originally Posted by mikeyx

it essentially is, thing is it's those who force their beliefs on others, be they baptist, atheist, republican, liberal, the word that is consistent is obnoxious.

Agreed.

bikerdruid · 9th December 2010, 05:14 PM

if atheism is a religion, then not collecting stamps is a hobby.

shandyjan · 9th December 2010, 05:15 PM

So believing there are no unicorns is as pointless as believing there are? I know which side I'm on. How can not believing be pointless, you either believe or you don't.

Gawdzilla · 9th December 2010, 05:18 PM

Originally Posted by Yig

Explain.

It's the absence of religion. Not "another" religion.

Yig · 9th December 2010, 05:19 PM

Originally Posted by shandyjan

So believing there are no unicorns is as pointless as believing there are? I know which side I'm on. How can not believing be pointless, you either believe or you don't.

Don't pretend that believing in unicorns is the same thing as believing in God. The existence of unicorns(or lack thereof) is verifiable. God's existence isn't.

Gawdzilla · 9th December 2010, 05:19 PM

Who's on dart gun duty tonight?

bikerdruid · 9th December 2010, 05:22 PM

Originally Posted by Yig

Don't pretend that believing in unicorns is the same thing as believing in God. The existence of unicorns(or lack thereof) is verifiable. God's existence isn't.

wrong...you can not prove that there have never been unicorns.

John Jones · 9th December 2010, 05:22 PM

Not this again!

OP, what do you understand an atheist to be?

Puppycow · 9th December 2010, 05:23 PM

Can someone explain to me why silence is not just another kind of noise?

And what's the point of it anyway?

Gawdzilla · 9th December 2010, 05:23 PM

Originally Posted by Puppycow

Can someone explain to me why silence is not just another kind of noise?

And what's the point of it anyway?

Dry is just another kind of wet, you know.

Yig · 9th December 2010, 05:26 PM

Originally Posted by Gawdzilla

It's the absence of religion. Not "another" religion.

So you are willing to acknowledge the possibility of God ,or something like it, existing?

Gawdzilla · 9th December 2010, 05:27 PM

Originally Posted by Yig

So you are willing to acknowledge the possibility of God ,or something like it, existing?

No evidence. Whatcha got?

Mr. Purple · 9th December 2010, 05:28 PM

Originally Posted by bikerdruid

if atheism is a religion, then not collecting stamps is a hobby.

Awesome, funny, accurate.

Yig · 9th December 2010, 05:28 PM

Originally Posted by bikerdruid

wrong...you can not prove that there have never been unicorns.

Hahaha......Just like you can't prove that God does not exist.

phatred · 9th December 2010, 05:30 PM

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/religion

Which definition would best fit atheism?

Gawdzilla · 9th December 2010, 05:31 PM

Originally Posted by Yig

Hahaha......Just like you can't prove that God does not exist.

It's not on us to prove gods don't exist, you claim they do, you prove they do.

Yig · 9th December 2010, 05:32 PM

Originally Posted by Gawdzilla

No evidence. Whatcha got?

"Evidence" is open to interpretation. The logic is what really matters.

Puppycow · 9th December 2010, 05:33 PM

Originally Posted by Yig

Don't pretend that believing in unicorns is the same thing as believing in God. The existence of unicorns(or lack thereof) is verifiable. God's existence isn't.

Atheism is simply the absence of religion.

You don't have to "prove" that there is no god to be an atheist.
You just have to not believe the claims of the religious.

If you prefer, you can call yourself agnostic, but that sort of sounds like you think religious claims might be true. Like the Earth might possibly be 6000 years old, and Jesus might possibly have died and been resurrected, and angels might possibly exist. It does not necessarily mean these things, but it vaguely feels that way, whereas if you say you are an atheist, it's pretty clear that you don't think any of those things could possibly be true.

Puppycow · 9th December 2010, 05:34 PM

Originally Posted by Yig

So you are willing to acknowledge the possibility of God ,or something like it, existing?

Define God.

Yig · 9th December 2010, 05:36 PM

Originally Posted by Gawdzilla

It's not on us to prove gods don't exist, you claim they do, you prove they do.

I never claimed that "Gods" exist. Do you claim that they don't?

Gao · 9th December 2010, 05:36 PM

Originally Posted by Yig

So you are willing to acknowledge the possibility of God ,or something like it, existing?

Most of us will. Just like most of us will acknowledge that on some planet somewhere in the universe, there could in fact be something that we could describe as unicorns. We just don't believe that such things exist.

This, however, refers to "God" in a rather vague way. It does not necessarily mean that there aren't specific gods that we know don't exist. For instance, there is no God that inspired an inerrant Bible, as the Bible has plenty of errors, and there is no totally omnipotent and omniscient deity, as those attributes are contradictory.

Gawdzilla · 9th December 2010, 05:39 PM

Originally Posted by Yig

"Evidence" is open to interpretation. The logic is what really matters.

Sorry, that old dog won't hunt.

John Jones · 9th December 2010, 05:39 PM

Originally Posted by Yig

Hahaha......Just like you can't prove that God does not exist.

That's pretty much impossible - that's why there's this thing called the burden of proof. The burden lies on those making the positive claim of existence.

Are you now, or have you ever been a staff member or student at Bob Jones University?

Gawdzilla · 9th December 2010, 05:40 PM

Originally Posted by Yig

I never claimed that "Gods" exist. Do you claim that they don't?

I have no evidence that gods exist. Do you?

John Jones · 9th December 2010, 05:41 PM

Originally Posted by Yig

"Evidence" is open to interpretation. The logic is what really matters.

Let's see your logic.

Yig · 9th December 2010, 05:41 PM

Originally Posted by Puppycow

Define God.

Something akin to an intelligent designer.

Gawdzilla · 9th December 2010, 05:41 PM

Originally Posted by Yig

Something akin to an intelligent designer.

Oh, god.

John Jones · 9th December 2010, 05:43 PM

Originally Posted by Yig

Something akin to an intelligent designer.

Do you have evidence that such a thing exists?

Gao · 9th December 2010, 05:43 PM

Originally Posted by Yig

Something akin to an intelligent designer.

Can you be a bit more specific? I mean by this definition, an engineer is a god.

Yig · 9th December 2010, 05:45 PM

Originally Posted by John Jones

That's pretty much impossible - that's why there's this thing called the burden of proof. The burden lies on those making the positive claim of existence.

Are you now, or have you ever been a staff member or student at Bob Jones University?

All arguments require a justification.

Gao · 9th December 2010, 05:46 PM

Originally Posted by Yig

All arguments require a justification.

But what about those who state that they simply haven't been convinced of any deities and therefore don't believe that any exist?

bikerdruid · 9th December 2010, 05:46 PM

Originally Posted by Yig

Hahaha......Just like you can't prove that God does not exist.

exactly

.

Yig · 9th December 2010, 05:47 PM

Originally Posted by Gao

Can you be a bit more specific? I mean by this definition, an engineer is a god.

You know what I mean. Richard Dawkins argues that it does not exist.

John Jones · 9th December 2010, 05:48 PM

Originally Posted by Yig

All arguments require a justification.

That's a right nice platitude.

Have you got any arguments?

Yig · 9th December 2010, 05:49 PM

Originally Posted by Gao

But what about those who state that they simply haven't been convinced of any deities and therefore don't believe that any exist?

Yeah....Those too.

KingMerv00 · 9th December 2010, 05:49 PM

Originally Posted by Yig

Hahaha......Just like you can't prove that God does not exist.

Russell's Teapot

9th December 2010, 05:08 PM	#1
Yig Thinker Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 136	Atheism=Religion=Pointless Can someone here please explain to me why atheism is just not another religion? Believing that there is no God seems as pointless as believing that there is one.
Yig Thinker Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 136

9th December 2010, 05:09 PM	#2
Gawdzilla 121.92-meter mutant fire-breathing lizard-thingy Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Northern St. Louis County, Missouri. Posts: 13,349	Originally Posted by Yig Can someone here please explain to me why atheism is just not another religion? Believing that there is no God seems as pointless as believing that there is one. Atheism is to religion as bald is to hair color.
	__________________ World War II Diplomatic and Political Resources Hyperwar, WWII Military History Kido Butai did not transmit. 木戸舞台は、無線メッセージを送信しませんでした

9th December 2010, 05:10 PM	#3
mikeyx Banned Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 3,570	Originally Posted by Yig Can someone here please explain to me why atheism is just not another religion? Believing that there is no God seems as pointless as believing that there is one. it essentially is, thing is it's those who force their beliefs on others, be they baptist, atheist, republican, liberal, the word that is consistent is obnoxious.
mikeyx Banned Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 3,570

9th December 2010, 05:12 PM	#4
Yig Thinker Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 136	Originally Posted by Gawdzilla Atheism is to religion as bald is to hair color. Explain.
Yig Thinker Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 136

9th December 2010, 05:14 PM	#5
Yig Thinker Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 136	Originally Posted by mikeyx it essentially is, thing is it's those who force their beliefs on others, be they baptist, atheist, republican, liberal, the word that is consistent is obnoxious. Agreed.
Yig Thinker Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 136

9th December 2010, 05:14 PM	#6
bikerdruid hermit hippy weirdo Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: green island autonomous zone Posts: 7,369	if atheism is a religion, then not collecting stamps is a hobby.
	__________________ Subvert the Dominant Paradigm!!

9th December 2010, 05:15 PM	#7
shandyjan Master Poster Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: N/W England Posts: 2,111	So believing there are no unicorns is as pointless as believing there are? I know which side I'm on. How can not believing be pointless, you either believe or you don't.
	__________________ Belief is the wound that knowledge heals. Ursula K. LeGuin's A dog is for life, not just for xmas!

9th December 2010, 05:18 PM	#8
Gawdzilla 121.92-meter mutant fire-breathing lizard-thingy Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Northern St. Louis County, Missouri. Posts: 13,349	Originally Posted by Yig Explain. It's the absence of religion. Not "another" religion.
	__________________ World War II Diplomatic and Political Resources Hyperwar, WWII Military History Kido Butai did not transmit. 木戸舞台は、無線メッセージを送信しませんでした

9th December 2010, 05:19 PM	#9
Yig Thinker Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 136	Originally Posted by shandyjan So believing there are no unicorns is as pointless as believing there are? I know which side I'm on. How can not believing be pointless, you either believe or you don't. Don't pretend that believing in unicorns is the same thing as believing in God. The existence of unicorns(or lack thereof) is verifiable. God's existence isn't.
Yig Thinker Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 136

9th December 2010, 05:22 PM	#11
bikerdruid hermit hippy weirdo Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: green island autonomous zone Posts: 7,369	Originally Posted by Yig Don't pretend that believing in unicorns is the same thing as believing in God. The existence of unicorns(or lack thereof) is verifiable. God's existence isn't. wrong...you can not prove that there have never been unicorns.
	__________________ Subvert the Dominant Paradigm!!

9th December 2010, 05:22 PM	#12
John Jones Illuminator Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 3,704	Not this again! OP, what do you understand an atheist to be?
John Jones Illuminator Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 3,704

9th December 2010, 05:23 PM	#13
Puppycow Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Japan Posts: 15,701	Can someone explain to me why silence is not just another kind of noise? And what's the point of it anyway?
	__________________ “Some men are born mediocre, some men achieve mediocrity, and some men have mediocrity thrust upon them. With Major Major it had been all three.” ― Joseph Heller, Catch-22

9th December 2010, 05:23 PM	#14
Gawdzilla 121.92-meter mutant fire-breathing lizard-thingy Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Northern St. Louis County, Missouri. Posts: 13,349	Originally Posted by Puppycow Can someone explain to me why silence is not just another kind of noise? And what's the point of it anyway? Dry is just another kind of wet, you know.
	__________________ World War II Diplomatic and Political Resources Hyperwar, WWII Military History Kido Butai did not transmit. 木戸舞台は、無線メッセージを送信しませんでした

9th December 2010, 05:26 PM	#15
Yig Thinker Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 136	Originally Posted by Gawdzilla It's the absence of religion. Not "another" religion. So you are willing to acknowledge the possibility of God ,or something like it, existing?
Yig Thinker Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 136

9th December 2010, 05:27 PM	#16
Gawdzilla 121.92-meter mutant fire-breathing lizard-thingy Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Northern St. Louis County, Missouri. Posts: 13,349	Originally Posted by Yig So you are willing to acknowledge the possibility of God ,or something like it, existing? No evidence. Whatcha got?
	__________________ World War II Diplomatic and Political Resources Hyperwar, WWII Military History Kido Butai did not transmit. 木戸舞台は、無線メッセージを送信しませんでした

9th December 2010, 05:28 PM	#17
Mr. Purple Some Other Guy on Some Other Job Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 1,423	Originally Posted by bikerdruid if atheism is a religion, then not collecting stamps is a hobby. Awesome, funny, accurate.
	Last edited by Mr. Purple; 9th December 2010 at 05:30 PM. Reason: sometimes the funniest joke is the one you don't tell

9th December 2010, 05:28 PM	#18
Yig Thinker Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 136	Originally Posted by bikerdruid wrong...you can not prove that there have never been unicorns. Hahaha......Just like you can't prove that God does not exist.
Yig Thinker Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 136

9th December 2010, 05:30 PM	#19
phatred Scholar Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 75	http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/religion Which definition would best fit atheism?
phatred Scholar Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 75

9th December 2010, 05:31 PM	#20
Gawdzilla 121.92-meter mutant fire-breathing lizard-thingy Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Northern St. Louis County, Missouri. Posts: 13,349	Originally Posted by Yig Hahaha......Just like you can't prove that God does not exist. It's not on us to prove gods don't exist, you claim they do, you prove they do.
	__________________ World War II Diplomatic and Political Resources Hyperwar, WWII Military History Kido Butai did not transmit. 木戸舞台は、無線メッセージを送信しませんでした

9th December 2010, 05:32 PM	#21
Yig Thinker Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 136	Originally Posted by Gawdzilla No evidence. Whatcha got? "Evidence" is open to interpretation. The logic is what really matters.
Yig Thinker Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 136

9th December 2010, 05:33 PM	#22
Puppycow Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Japan Posts: 15,701	Originally Posted by Yig Don't pretend that believing in unicorns is the same thing as believing in God. The existence of unicorns(or lack thereof) is verifiable. God's existence isn't. Atheism is simply the absence of religion. You don't have to "prove" that there is no god to be an atheist. You just have to not believe the claims of the religious. If you prefer, you can call yourself agnostic, but that sort of sounds like you think religious claims might be true. Like the Earth might possibly be 6000 years old, and Jesus might possibly have died and been resurrected, and angels might possibly exist. It does not necessarily mean these things, but it vaguely feels that way, whereas if you say you are an atheist, it's pretty clear that you don't think any of those things could possibly be true.
	__________________ “Some men are born mediocre, some men achieve mediocrity, and some men have mediocrity thrust upon them. With Major Major it had been all three.” ― Joseph Heller, Catch-22

9th December 2010, 05:34 PM	#23
Puppycow Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Japan Posts: 15,701	Originally Posted by Yig So you are willing to acknowledge the possibility of God ,or something like it, existing? Define God.
	__________________ “Some men are born mediocre, some men achieve mediocrity, and some men have mediocrity thrust upon them. With Major Major it had been all three.” ― Joseph Heller, Catch-22

9th December 2010, 05:36 PM	#24
Yig Thinker Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 136	Originally Posted by Gawdzilla It's not on us to prove gods don't exist, you claim they do, you prove they do. I never claimed that "Gods" exist. Do you claim that they don't?
Yig Thinker Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 136

9th December 2010, 05:36 PM	#25
Gao Thinker Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 167	Originally Posted by Yig So you are willing to acknowledge the possibility of God ,or something like it, existing? Most of us will. Just like most of us will acknowledge that on some planet somewhere in the universe, there could in fact be something that we could describe as unicorns. We just don't believe that such things exist. This, however, refers to "God" in a rather vague way. It does not necessarily mean that there aren't specific gods that we know don't exist. For instance, there is no God that inspired an inerrant Bible, as the Bible has plenty of errors, and there is no totally omnipotent and omniscient deity, as those attributes are contradictory.
Gao Thinker Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 167

9th December 2010, 05:39 PM	#26
Gawdzilla 121.92-meter mutant fire-breathing lizard-thingy Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Northern St. Louis County, Missouri. Posts: 13,349	Originally Posted by Yig "Evidence" is open to interpretation. The logic is what really matters. Sorry, that old dog won't hunt.
	__________________ World War II Diplomatic and Political Resources Hyperwar, WWII Military History Kido Butai did not transmit. 木戸舞台は、無線メッセージを送信しませんでした

9th December 2010, 05:40 PM	#28
Gawdzilla 121.92-meter mutant fire-breathing lizard-thingy Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Northern St. Louis County, Missouri. Posts: 13,349	Originally Posted by Yig I never claimed that "Gods" exist. Do you claim that they don't? I have no evidence that gods exist. Do you?
	__________________ World War II Diplomatic and Political Resources Hyperwar, WWII Military History Kido Butai did not transmit. 木戸舞台は、無線メッセージを送信しませんでした

9th December 2010, 05:41 PM	#29
John Jones Illuminator Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 3,704	Originally Posted by Yig "Evidence" is open to interpretation. The logic is what really matters. Let's see your logic.
John Jones Illuminator Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 3,704

9th December 2010, 05:41 PM	#30
Yig Thinker Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 136	Originally Posted by Puppycow Define God. Something akin to an intelligent designer.
Yig Thinker Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 136

9th December 2010, 05:41 PM	#31
Gawdzilla 121.92-meter mutant fire-breathing lizard-thingy Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Northern St. Louis County, Missouri. Posts: 13,349	Originally Posted by Yig Something akin to an intelligent designer. Oh, god.
	__________________ World War II Diplomatic and Political Resources Hyperwar, WWII Military History Kido Butai did not transmit. 木戸舞台は、無線メッセージを送信しませんでした

9th December 2010, 05:43 PM	#32
John Jones Illuminator Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 3,704	Originally Posted by Yig Something akin to an intelligent designer. Do you have evidence that such a thing exists?
John Jones Illuminator Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 3,704

9th December 2010, 05:45 PM	#34
Yig Thinker Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 136	Originally Posted by John Jones That's pretty much impossible - that's why there's this thing called the burden of proof. The burden lies on those making the positive claim of existence. Are you now, or have you ever been a staff member or student at Bob Jones University? All arguments require a justification.
Yig Thinker Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 136

9th December 2010, 05:46 PM	#35
Gao Thinker Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 167	Originally Posted by Yig All arguments require a justification. But what about those who state that they simply haven't been convinced of any deities and therefore don't believe that any exist?
Gao Thinker Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 167

9th December 2010, 05:47 PM	#37
Yig Thinker Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 136	Originally Posted by Gao Can you be a bit more specific? I mean by this definition, an engineer is a god. You know what I mean. Richard Dawkins argues that it does not exist.
Yig Thinker Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 136

9th December 2010, 05:48 PM	#38
John Jones Illuminator Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 3,704	Originally Posted by Yig All arguments require a justification. That's a right nice platitude. Have you got any arguments?
John Jones Illuminator Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 3,704

9th December 2010, 05:49 PM	#39
Yig Thinker Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 136	Originally Posted by Gao But what about those who state that they simply haven't been convinced of any deities and therefore don't believe that any exist? Yeah....Those too.
Yig Thinker Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 136