Atheism: Yes, it is a Religion. It's the religion of Liberals

[GeorgeWBush]

Religion was created by man and therefore can be altered by man at any time. Because a word Atheist is described as the lack of belief in a god does not mean atheism is not a religion. Well, maybe to a close minded republican. Let me put it in other words. How about i just make up a new name for this religion right now... Will this make it more suitable, then you won't have to take is so literal.

Creditathiesm - The belief in the belief of no god.

Creditum a thiesm

Same thing as the atheist view, just a new word. Does that better suit your
republican views?

They have established churches for atheists to go to every sunday.

Religion: Definition

A specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects

1. Believing in the existance of no god.
2. Going to church is a practice agreed upon by other atheist followers.

Fits the definition of religion..
DING DING DING
Let's wait for the republicans to shoot us down again!

[harper]

Originally Posted by GeorgeWBush

Religion was created by man and therefore can be altered by man at any time. ....
Let's wait for the republicans to shoot us down again!

This sounds very unlike you, Mr. President. Perhaps you're not authentic.

[GeorgeWBush]

oh ahem, you can advice my legal guardian for questioning on this one..

Dick!!

[DickCheney]

Don't question my little georgie!! He may be republican and the leader of the world, but he knows his stuff!

[dudewithasock]

Just enough time to switch accounts!

[DickCheney]

You forgot one important thing!!! The creation of the account!!

Yes, dick can do anything!

The bigger picture though, i'm right!

[BillyTheMountain]

Originally Posted by Mikefule

On this basis, I think most atheists simply do not accept religion, but they have no strong feelings about it.

Originally Posted by dforbes

A letter written to New Scientist recently put it very well:

Dave Minter

Roy Sablosky's letter reminds me of a signature line that I saw on a contribution to an online bulletin board.

It read: "If atheism is a faith, then not playing chess is a hobby."

Doug

To all who have voiced similar points: WRONG!

You tend to confuse Atheism (a conviction: The active rejection of a god) with agnosticism (a lack of conviction or lack of faith).

Originally Posted by harper

Billy-

I'm a sod-busting prairie-roamer from Kansas. I need to belong. Where to I sign up to follow and worship you and where do I send the check? Will there be Kool-Aid?

Greg,

Thanks for your PM. I PM'd you the address to mail your check. No kool-aid--I ain't no Jim Jones--though there will be Jim Morrison and some mystic heated wine!!!!

We'll have a "service" together next time your in NYC!! Come back soon.

And I challenge you to the "10K unicycle-with-dog race!"

Billy

Equality for unicyclists. End Bike Supremacy!

[harper]

Originally Posted by BillyTheMountain

And I challenge you to the "10K unicycle-with-dog race!"

You're on. I'll bring a dead Chihauhau and put it in my hydration pack. I'll smoke you.

[BillyTheMountain]

Originally Posted by harper

You're on. I'll bring a dead Chihauhau and put it in my hydration pack. I'll smoke you.

Read the NAUCC 10K "unicycle-with-dog" rules. The dog must be running, on leash, and under its own power.

[harper]

Originally Posted by BillyTheMountain

Read the NAUCC 10K "unicycle-with-dog" rules. The dog must be running, on leash, and under its own power.

Rules? We don't need no steenking rules.

[BillyTheMountain]

Originally Posted by harper

Rules? We don't need no steenking rules.

The way you guys run the nuclear power plant is your business, but serious problems can result if NAUCC is not run properly.

[uni57]

Billy,

Atheism, at a minimum, is the lack of belief in a god or gods. A baby (atheist) lacks this belief. Someone who sees no evidence and therefore no reason to believe in the far-fetched "God" myth... also lacks this belief.

If you tell me that a '57 Chevy is in Earth orbit, I will tell you that you are nuts. However, it's certainly possible. Show me concrete evidence and of course I will believe. But until then, I don't share your belief that a car is in orbit. There's no reason to believe and no reason to give it further thought. It's too far-fetched. Too implausible (too expensive).

Notice that I'm not saying, "a '57 Chevy is definitely NOT in orbit." That is a belief. I'm saying that I lack that belief. It's not the same thing.

Lack of a belief is not the same thing as belief in the opposite. There are stronger forms of atheism, however, that do hold a positive belief -- that God definitely does not or cannot exist. You will never know whether I'm that kind of atheist -- because for me to hold a positive belief opens me to proving my belief to be true. And to saying that I have a belief system. To simply lack belief requires no defense. You have postulated a hokey theory of God -- and I have simply rejected your theory. You've given me no reason to believe. You lose and I have nothing to prove. The burden of proof lies with you, the presenter of the theory -- and you have failed in your job.

Can Harper the Scientist help out here? If someone presents a scientific hypothesis or theory which lacks sufficient evidence or conflicts with the body of scientific knowledge -- what do you say? Do you say, "due to lack of evidence supporting your theory, I shall therefore believe the opposite of your theory"? Of course not. Right? You say, "nice try, but come back and see me when you have more evidence (or revise your theory)." You simply fail to accept the theory as truth. You lack the belief that it is true. That's NOT the same thing as rejecting it as false.

Am I crazy? Am I the only one who sees this distinction?

Because if I simply LACK the belief in God, then that is NOT a belief, NOT a belief system, and therefore certainly NOT a religion. And Billy loses, once and for all. End of discussion. I think this could be the knockout punch. Good night, Irene (I mean, Billy).

Billy -- you really didn't respond to my first post. Care to respond to this one? Or have I converted you? Come to the next unicycle club meeting and we can duke it out in person.

[harper]

Originally Posted by uni57

Am I crazy?

DAVE! Nice to hear from you again. Yes, you're crazy. Challenge me...give me a tough question.

[BillyTheMountain]

Originally Posted by uni57

Billy,

Atheism, at a minimum, is the lack of belief in a god or gods. A baby (atheist) lacks this belief. Someone who sees no evidence and therefore no reason to believe in the far-fetched "God" myth... also lacks this belief.

Well, Dave, here again we have a problem which is even seen among so-called Christians, like those "Christians" who support the war, though no TRUE Christian would ever do so (There was a thread establishing this recently). S many people call themselves "Christian" and claim to have accepted Jesus, while in fact they are not Christian and have not really listened to Jesus. If accepting Jesus is required for anything, a pro-war person just does not qualify for it. A pro-war person is not Christian.

Now again, it appears we have some "so-called" Atheists who are actually agnostics or something else, but they are NOT Atheists.

Were you ever confused about which room you were supposed to be in? Somehow you ended up in the transexuals anonymous meeting, and it took you awhile to figure out you were in the wrong place?

A baby is at best agnostic, as it hasn't developed any convictions about the existence of a god. A baby is certainly NOT Atheist, unless baptized
atheist (then we're not talking convictions or beliefs).

An Atheist has a conviction that there is no god, no unicorns, no Flying Spegetti Monster.

Nevertheless, you are welcome to come to the Atheist meetings while you're on the fence about this issue. We'll try to win you over to our side. Then you'll be comfortable doing whatever feels good!!

[Mikefule]

Agnosticism does not mean what many people here seem to think it does.

It comes from "a" meaning "without" and "gnosis" meaning "knowledge".

In the proper formal sense, agnostic means believing we can have no certain knowledge of the existence of god. Many agnostics follow religions; some agnostics do not. Indeed the whole idea that "faith" is superior to "reason" is an agnostic position.

Agnosticism isn't just the very popular and intellectually lazy position of, "I don't really know. I believe in something but I don't know what, but I'd believe in God if you could prove it to me."