Why I'm No Longer An Atheist

[Achtland]

The word 'Atheist' has been tainted by that man dawkins using it to create a sodo-like-religion for people who do not belive in god(s). With theme parks/camps/bible-like books about how to think and act as a member of his group of same-thinkers.
Like people who belive in religion no-one should be allowed to force their views on anybody, just because they do not think the same as them.

sorry if this view upset anyone.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

99.99999% of my life, religion simply had no immediate impact on my life. It simply does not exist for me. I don't care enough about it to have an opinion, unless someone gets in my face about it.


There was probably only one time "religion" had a major impact on me. (Spoilered for the squeamish.)

Trigger Warning!!!1! :

I once saw a church burned to the ground. It was packed with people. I got to kill the motherfucker that ordered it done.

[Feck]

Personally I am quite upset by any label attached to me ,I didn't mind atheist as a term used to describe my god -free state ,
But Atheist ,with all its humanist conotations gets on my nerves .I do not belong to the church of Atheism and I never will.
It is not my job to promote rational ,moral humanism ,anymore than I have to be a champion of science.
"There is no God "is a statement of fact not the first line of my initiation to the cult of RDism

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Personally I am quite upset by any label attached to me ,I didn't mind atheist as a term used to describe my god -free state ,
But Atheist ,with all its humanist conotations gets on my nerves .I do not belong to the church of Atheism and I never will.
It is not my job to promote rational ,moral humanism ,anymore than I have to be a champion of science.
"There is no God "is a statement of fact not the first line of my initiation to the cult of RDism

There are more restrictive labels than "atheist" that we accept all the time.

Gender
Race
Ethnicity
Height
Weight
Hair color

etc. I lump "atheist" in with those.

[Transgirlofnofaith]

Well, since theist and atheist encompass the entirety of the spectrum, you MUST be one or the other.

So, if you say that you are "no longer an atheist", then you are now a theist.

Hmmm...false dilemma. Those two terms are opposite, true, but they don't span the entire spectrum. Instead, they only represent the two extremes. It's not really quite so black-or-white. The middle ground is held by various forumlations of agnosticism, or, in 'zilla's case, apatheism. (apathy about theism)

Then there are belief systems in which 'gods' exist, but not a creator god. Is that true theism? Or belief systems in which 'gods' are long-lived, but not immortal.

Theism = belief in a god.
Atheism = without that belief.

Either you have the belief, or you don't.

Why didn't you ACTUALLY FUCKING BOTHER to read what I wrote? Try reading what others write in response to you before you spout the exact same non-points again.

[Xamonas Chegwé]

Well, since theist and atheist encompass the entirety of the spectrum, you MUST be one or the other.

So, if you say that you are "no longer an atheist", then you are now a theist.

Hmmm...false dilemma. Those two terms are opposite, true, but they don't span the entire spectrum. Instead, they only represent the two extremes. It's not really quite so black-or-white. The middle ground is held by various forumlations of agnosticism, or, in 'zilla's case, apatheism. (apathy about theism)

Then there are belief systems in which 'gods' exist, but not a creator god. Is that true theism? Or belief systems in which 'gods' are long-lived, but not immortal.

Theism = belief in a god.
Atheism = without that belief.

Either you have the belief, or you don't.

The historical definition of theism was simply "belief in the existence of God or gods." This was the opposite of atheism. However, while theism is still used in that context, the current, precise definition is "belief in one god who created and intervenes in the universe." Thus distinguishing it from deism and other variations of religious conviction.
(Source for both of these definitions: The New Shorter Oxford English Dictionary. Fourth edition 1993)

There is currently no precise term for the opposite of atheism as far as I know.

On the subject of whether to label oneself an atheist or not, I have a foot in both camps. I am anti-label in most contexts, owing to the baggage that usually attaches itself to such things. As has been pointed out in this thread, there are a lot of preconceptions that are attached by others if one proclaims oneself an atheist. However, I am very much in favour of making my lack of belief in the supernatural known to anyone that asks, especially anyone that tries to impose their religious views upon me, or to assert them as fact in my presence. And if pressed, I will assert that I am atheist rather than agnostic.

I suppose that I am a little more comfortable with being termed atheist (adj.) than being termed an atheist (noun.) It is not what I am, merely something that applies to me.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

I suppose that I am a little more comfortable with being termed atheist (adj.) than being termed an atheist (noun.) It is not what I am, merely something that applies to me.

"Atheistic" or "God-challenged".

[FBM]

Hmmm...false dilemma. Those two terms are opposite, true, but they don't span the entire spectrum. Instead, they only represent the two extremes. It's not really quite so black-or-white. The middle ground is held by various forumlations of agnosticism, or, in 'zilla's case, apatheism. (apathy about theism)

Then there are belief systems in which 'gods' exist, but not a creator god. Is that true theism? Or belief systems in which 'gods' are long-lived, but not immortal.

Theism = belief in a god.
Atheism = without that belief.

Either you have the belief, or you don't.

I have two Korean friends who say that they 'sort of' believe in God sometimes because praying helps them through stressful times. Which black-and-white group do they belong in?
Many Buddhists believe in a realm of gods that are neither omniscient, omnipotent, immortal nor created the universe. What about them?
Agnosticism = atheism or theism? Equally strong arguments could be made for both, according to your reasoning.
Black-or-white thinking is not only lazy thinking, it produces some terrible results.

[charlou]

Why didn't you ACTUALLY FUCKING BOTHER to read what I wrote? Try reading what others write in response to you before you spout the exact same non-points again.

Keep your fur on, MoNF, and I'd appreciate it if you keep discussion to a more civil tone, too. Thanks.

[Transgirlofnofaith]

Why didn't you ACTUALLY FUCKING BOTHER to read what I wrote? Try reading what others write in response to you before you spout the exact same non-points again.

Keep your fur on, MoNF, and I'd appreciate it if you keep discussion to a more civil tone, too. Thanks.

Well excuse me, but it is pretty irritating when someone just blows by what you say and clogs up the thread. What's that term, again? Oh yeah, TROLLING. And why do we have those smileys if we aren't allowed to use them?

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Why didn't you ACTUALLY FUCKING BOTHER to read what I wrote? Try reading what others write in response to you before you spout the exact same non-points again.

Keep your fur on, MoNF, and I'd appreciate it if you keep discussion to a more civil tone, too. Thanks.

Well excuse me, but it is pretty irritating when someone just blows by what you say and clogs up the thread. What's that term, again? Oh yeah, TROLLING. And why do we have those smileys if we aren't allowed to use them?

MoNF, you don't make a right out of two wrongs.

[Hermit]

Hiding my atheism by not wanting to be known as an atheist is a subterfuge I will happily do without while christians, muslims and believers in any other god thingy not only proclaim their superstitions but insist on proselytizing them.