Atheism is defined as a LACK of beliefs in a god or gods.

Can someone sticky this or something, so we can cut down on the number of morons going "But it's a religion" when it fucking *isn'*? That'd be great, thanks.

They are just confusing atheism with evolutionianity and scientistism, which are real religions.

edit - mispelled evolutionianity

[This message has been edited by Viraljimmy (edited 11-17-2006).]

atheism

from theos, meaning god.

atheos meaning godless.

it is not a religion, it merely defines if you belive in god or not.

it is not a state of mind, theory of living or any of that crap, just a statement if you belive in god.

Duh, anyone who believes otherwise is a douche

quote:Originally posted by Viraljimmy:

They are just confusing atheism with evolutionianity and scientistism, which are real religions.

I've never heard of either word.

If you're contending that one who accepts evolution is part of the religion "evolutionianity", you're way off!. By this logic, I would have thousands of religions. I'd be a a member of the "germ theorist" religion, the "molecular theorist" religion, etc.

Religions are defined as having a belief in God or gods with a an unchanging group of particular tenets and specific fundamental sets of beliefs and practices.

quote:Originally posted by RAOVQ:

atheism

from theos, meaning god.

atheos meaning godless.

it is not a religion, it merely defines if you belive in god or not.

it is not a state of mind, theory of living or any of that crap, just a statement if you belive in god.

Atheism is definitely a state of mind. This is because atheism affects how somebody lives their life. What a person does or does not do because of atheism makes it a state of mind.

quote:Originally posted by Dr Euthanize:

Atheism is definitely a state of mind. This is because atheism affects how somebody lives their life. What a person does or does not do because of atheism makes it a state of mind.

atheism is a description of if a person belives in god. they do or they don't. no matter of what else they belive or think or do they are still an atheist. being an athiest may come with connotations, at least in the US, but it does not specify. being a chrisitan says you belive in jesus, and also suggests church, forgiveness etc etc.

its like race. you are either black (or white or whatever) or you are not. if you are black it does not mean for a second that you act a certain way, dispite stereotypes saying you should. its backwards logic.

being an atheist is a descriptor of one part of your life, not a state of mind, as you claim. perhaps angsty would be a better one?

Atheism is a state of mind because it affects how you react to certain situations pertaining to religion or god. I'm an atheist and do not want to have anything to do with religion or any type of belief in a god. It's my state of mind that keeps me away from religion or any type of god. Yes, saying you are atheist is saying you don't believe in god. But after telling a christian this they wouldn't invite you to church, because they know the atheists answer. It's all in their personal state of mind, which is atheism.

That's why some people say, "I don't believe in god." And others say, "I'm atheist." There is a difference, and it has to do with your state of mind.

having a very tiny portion of your life/responses controled by your atheism hardly makes it a state of mind. Being scared of spiders is not a state of mind, dispite coming into play fairly often.

(general)Fear is a state of mind, probably because it affects almost all of your mind(also your body)

If you find it idiotic to think other people believe in god. And hate to hear others speak of how god alters their life day by day, knowing that there is no way this is possible. And you yourself doesn't believe in a god. I believe that makes atheism a state of mind. You have to not only think there isn't a god, but have confidence that there isn't a god. Otherwise your just an agnostic.

Agnosticism on the other hand isn't a state of mind. Unlike atheism because your decisions can be altered back and forth with good evidence. If you don't think a good documentary can change your views on gods it makes it a state of mind.

quote:Originally posted by Niceguy:

having a very tiny portion of your life/responses controled by your atheism hardly makes it a state of mind. Being scared of spiders is not a state of mind, dispite coming into play fairly often.

(general)Fear is a state of mind, probably because it affects almost all of your mind(also your body)

You have good points and seem to understand what a state of mind consists of but you need to be a little more conservative on your view points on exactly how far a state of mind can go. There is always more than just black OR white. There's always a gray area with anything pertaining to someones beliefs.

quote:Originally posted by Dr Euthanize:

That's why some people say, "I don't believe in god." And others say, "I'm atheist." There is a difference, and it has to do with your state of mind.

There is no different. If you're an atheist, you don't believe in God. That's it. Nothing else.

quote:Originally posted by Dr Euthanize:

Agnosticism on the other hand isn't a state of mind. Unlike atheism because your decisions can be altered back and forth with good evidence. If you don't think a good documentary can change your views on gods it makes it a state of mind.

A state of uncertainty isn't a state of mind. Yeah, good point.

This is literally the 7th or 8th time I've seen a variation of this exact argument this week, in this forum. Not kidding, no exaggeration. I'm tired of fucking educating people on atheism and correcting their misguided idiocy. I'm done. Good job, troll.

I do have a state of certainty, and that is that there is no god. And I am atheist. It is my state of mind. You can lick my nuts and believe whatever your own ignorant ass wants to believe but I know for a fact atheism is a state of mind. You dumb ass stubborn prick.

You can be an Agnostic-Atheist or an Agnostic-Theist. I'm an Agnostic-Atheist, and no, it does not require any faith. But I've explained this several times before and unless someone asks me specifically in this thread, I'm not going in to it again, you assholes either can't learn or ignore arguments where you've been beaten.

quote:Originally posted by Raw_Power:

You can be an Agnostic-Atheist or an Agnostic-Theist. I'm an Agnostic-Atheist, and no, it does not require any faith. But I've explained this several times before and unless someone asks me specifically in this thread, I'm not going in to it again, you assholes either can't learn or ignore arguments where you've been beaten.

I'm assuming your talking about me, "the one that was beaten" in this argument about whether or not atheism is a state of mind. Faith has nothing to do with this conversation. This conversation has to do with whether or not atheism comes with a state of mind. Atheism is apart of the cognitive processes of judgement and reasoning. Which makes it a state of mind you smart ass pussy. With your beliefs, your making yourself sound like an ignorant indecisive cunt.

Look at it like this; The agnostics are the people at the party that want to be cool like the atheist so they drink and spend the rest of the night throwing everything they drank because they can't hold their liquor. The atheists are all making fun of the agnostic pussy for trying to be cool and that is now throwing up everywhere, all while the christians or believers are at the party talking to no one but themselves shaking their heads at the pussy agnostic as well.

Your opinion on whether or not atheism has a state of mind has 0 relevancy because your not an atheist, just an agnostic bitch. So shut the fuck up.

I don’t worship any gods, I don’t act as if there is any gods, and I don’t believe there any gods because I‘ve yet to see any evidence, but I admit that there is a possibility of a god; as all good scientists would.

How does that make me a pussy bitch?

Read my statement, "good scientist."

quote:Originally posted by Dr Euthanize:

Read my statement, "good scientist."

I did read it, and it was childless and baseless and a terrible generalization.

You got your ass handed to you for sticking your nose in something you don't have anything to do with. Trying to say somebody lost an argument when you wouldn't know the answer to the question anyways, being agnostic makes you a pussy because your unsure of yourself and can't make decisions for yourself. Your a follower, not a leader and very naive. These are the attributes of a pussy, and what do you know, an agnostic as well. That's how being agnostic makes you a pussy.

Dear DR Troll,

When you stop with the ad-hom attacks, we'll talk. You have done nothing but say agnostics and atheists are separate things (not true, since there are agnostic-atheists) and that all agnostics are pussies (a baseless claim).

Once again, how is admitting there is a possibility of being wrong equal to being a pussy?

[This message has been edited by Raw_Power (edited 11-19-2006).]

"You can be an Agnostic-Atheist or an Agnostic-Theist. "

so how does this work? atheism is denile of god, while agnosticism is acceptance that we can never know the truth about god's existence.

so how on earth can you truely belive the two at the same time?

quote:Originally posted by RAOVQ:

"You can be an Agnostic-Atheist or an Agnostic-Theist. "

so how does this work? atheism is denile of god, while agnosticism is acceptance that we can never know the truth about god's existence.

so how on earth can you truely belive the two at the same time?

One is an acceptance of ignorance; (a)theism is a choice made in ignorance of truth.

All that is important to me is the acceptance of my own ignorance. Denial of ignorance is the detrimental factor, as far as I can see. You are free to believe whatever you wish to believe...that I am sure of. However, to think you are correct and 'in the know' is absolutely foolish.

To know with certainty what reigns (or to know with certainty what caused) you must either have been with that which reigns (or have been there when the initial cause was perpetrated). I'd be highly suspicious of anyone who claims either.

quote:Originally posted by RAOVQ:

so how does this work? atheism is denile of god, while agnosticism is acceptance that we can never know the truth about god's existence.

so how on earth can you truely belive the two at the same time?

Let's go over this one more time.

ALL that is necessary to be an atheist is a lack of belief in God or gods!

Saying that, even if an atheist does deny the existence of gods, he can certainly be agnostic also.

An atheist can aver that there is without a doubt no gods in existence, while wholly admitting he nor anyone else can ever prove it, nor can anyone prove that gods do exist.

What's most important for you to understand, is that an atheist need not deny the existence of gods, he just need to lack belief in their existence.

I agree. Saying Atheism is a religion would be like saying Anarchism is a form of government.

quote:Originally posted by RAOVQ:

its like race. you are either black (or white or whatever) or you are not

I'm both.

Saying atheism is a religion is like saying bald is a hair color.

Thats a quote from someone.

quote:Originally posted by Hexadecimal:

However, to think you are correct and 'in the know' is absolutely foolish.

To know with certainty what reigns (or to know with certainty what caused) you must either have been with that which reigns (or have been there when the initial cause was perpetrated). I'd be highly suspicious of anyone who claims either.

Good thing that atheism doesn't claim either of those things...