Slaytanic Wehrmacht Posted August 15, 2012 Share Posted August 15, 2012 Actual atheists? Atheists are by definition people who don't believe in a deity. That's the one and only requirement to be an atheist. Imposing other rules to exclude people past that definition is a no true Scotsman fallacy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Common sense Posted August 15, 2012 Share Posted August 15, 2012 First of all...we don't have any beliefs...that is the point of atheism....we are without a belief system. Secondly, we don't threaten people emptily with eternal damnation or violence just because people don't agree with us. There is a HUGE difference between us and those "right wing christian nutjobs" you compared us with. Get a clue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VICanucksfan5551 Posted August 15, 2012 Share Posted August 15, 2012 Yes - because believing in a deity in the sky that no one has ever seen is very different from those 'supernatural' beliefs you are referring to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharpshooter Posted August 15, 2012 Author Share Posted August 15, 2012 Buddhists don't believe in a deity, but they believe in reincarnation. Atheism and belief in an afterlife isn't mutually exclusive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squeak Posted August 15, 2012 Share Posted August 15, 2012 I'm not quite sure what you're saying. Are ghosts and psychic abilities not supernatural beliefs? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VICanucksfan5551 Posted August 15, 2012 Share Posted August 15, 2012 When I say "actual atheists" I mean those who really, honestly do not believe in a deity...not the agnostics who are fence sitting just to cover their own asses. And actually, an "atheist" by definition is someone who rejects the existence of a deity, not just someone who doesn't believe in one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slaytanic Wehrmacht Posted August 15, 2012 Share Posted August 15, 2012 Buddhists don't believe in a deity, but they believe in reincarnation. Atheism and belief in an afterlife isn't mutually exclusive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharpshooter Posted August 15, 2012 Author Share Posted August 15, 2012 I am suggesting whats the difference between believing in that and 'god'? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squeak Posted August 15, 2012 Share Posted August 15, 2012 There's about as much credibe evidence for all 3. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VICanucksfan5551 Posted August 15, 2012 Share Posted August 15, 2012 True, but Buddhism is a religion organized around dogma......and religious dogma is something that most Atheists reject. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slaytanic Wehrmacht Posted August 15, 2012 Share Posted August 15, 2012 "You" don't threaten people with damnation or violence, but some of "you" (and I stress that it's only some of the atheist population) comes off as a-holes. I'm not saying that then all religious people are goody-two-shoes, but get a grip when you want to put yourself above theists. The fact is, you hold onto your ideals just as mush as theists do. Standing on a soapbox and telling someone to get a clue doesn't help. We're human, and when one group attacks another group's belief system, that throws group A into a defensive system. Tell me how that helps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharpshooter Posted August 15, 2012 Author Share Posted August 15, 2012 If had to make a credibility argument - IMO - there is a LOT more credible evidence of paranormal (or 'ghosts') activity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuonGO Canucks Go Posted August 15, 2012 Share Posted August 15, 2012 I do not hate god because there is none. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squeak Posted August 15, 2012 Share Posted August 15, 2012 Their shrouds are as credible as the one 'found' in Turin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharpshooter Posted August 15, 2012 Author Share Posted August 15, 2012 It's entirely possible to be religious and an atheist, like with Buddhists and other non-theistic religions. I can't say I know any religious atheists, personally, but there are ~1 billion Buddhists in the world, which is a sizable number just in that religion alone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slaytanic Wehrmacht Posted August 15, 2012 Share Posted August 15, 2012 I don't think it is possible, in my humble opinion...but i'm open to being wrong. Though Buddhism doesn't necessarily believe in a Creator deity, they do proclaim dogmatic 'truths' based on or from the supernatural realm that isn't necessarily backed up by anything empirical. Theism is guided by the dogma of its understandings of, or revelations to, a supernatural truth. 'Nirvana' in Buddhism seems to be the object of worship as an ultimate 'oneness' is with a deity in other religions. Buddhism has its own theology. It is therefore inherently theistic. I don't believe an Atheist can also be a Theist, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pimpcurtly Posted August 15, 2012 Share Posted August 15, 2012 Love that guy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elvis15 Posted August 15, 2012 Share Posted August 15, 2012 Buddhists don't believe in a deity, but they believe in reincarnation. Atheism and belief in an afterlife isn't mutually exclusive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GodzillaDeuce Posted August 15, 2012 Share Posted August 15, 2012 God bless this thread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super19 Posted August 15, 2012 Share Posted August 15, 2012 "Atheism on the rise? Then in that case, it must mean America is becoming a better place." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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