Atheism

Thât's Philosophy 4 U. In Holland we spell in Latin. Filosofie. Same results...

I'm on this thread trying to dispell non atheists' defining conceptions of what atheists think..

In order to save myself irritation, I skip most atheism threads, indeed, most religion threads. I have mixed opinions about other people's religions, but am not very interested. I'm in this one and continue to read once in a while because of who started it, littlek.

I did not curse the first time my reply dis-appeared !

HeLLo Olga ! Nice to see U here ... What's cooking ?

Quoting the opening post to this entire thread:

"I know there are other threads about atheism, but they tend to be focused somewhat specifically to some argument or subtopic. I'd like this thread to be open for constructive conversation, sharing of ideas and resources, etc."


This thread was supposed to be different. You can argue for or against religions and gods on any number of threads. K meant this thread for constructive conversation among atheists and friendly members. I hope we can refocus on that, at least a bit.

Sign I made for my apartment door!
Jehovah Whiteness, Mormon and Baptist Missionary's, stay away from this door!

How about Scientology ?

I have never witnessed Scientologists going door knocking.

They should !

I have been in a few Scientology churches. Read a few of the books. That was over thirty years ago. I did not perceive them to be a threat at the time. I don't follow developments with them any more. Some of their bad publicity makes them seem a bit frightening. But, the ones I used to know were peaceable, searching, individuals.

How can we have a conversation about something that doesn't exist?

We can only have a conversation about the effects of a belief that something doesn't exist in a context where the majority, or a significant minority, believes that the something does exist. If everybody believed the something doesn't exist the conversation would not exist.

We could discuss the effects of atheism on individuals, on communities, on societies and on the social structure in terms of a change of direction towards atheism and away from belief in God.

I think most of it relates to morals and politics. In morals the discussion is that religion is not needed for moral behaior and religious fanaticism in politics such as laws and terrorism, etc.

I am an atheist and therefor atheism exists. What are you talking about Spendi?

Osso and Edgar (and others who have spoken up) - thank you. I have pretty much given up on this thread. I usually just come in once in a while to see if anything interesting is happening. Most of it is the same old silly bickering and misrepresentation. Thanks to you and others who have gone beyond that.

Should Philosophy be without Theo
and Religion without morals ?

Pepjin - I haven't a clue as to what Theo is let alone what it should be. It's, to me, a diminutive nickname for Theodore. And, frankly, I don't care if religion has morals or not just as long as they let me maintain my own.

But it is a conceit that you "maintain my own". You only need imagine you being born and brought up among cannibals or in North Korea to see that you are incapable of maintaining your own. You are a product of a system of socialisation and the type of the socialisation is the only cause of everything you think.

I am sorry you didn't understand my post. I feel sure the fault is mine for not explaining it properly and my silly assumption that you can understand simple English. What I meant was that without religious belief the concept of "atheist" has not the slightest shred of meaning.

The concept of "atheist" is dependent on there being religious believers to argue with and to feel superior to. Atheists might need believers more than than believers do. In which case they are ridiculous.

It's idiots like spendi, seeking to disrupt the thread that made it go awry, K.

That's not conversation ed.

How is what Edgar said to you different than what you said to me? You just used more words.

Probably Theo is shorthand for Theology..

To answer, I think theology is one type of philosophical thought.
Religion without morals? I will endeavor not to joke. Concepts of morality seem to be a keen interest of religion, if not the primary one.

As littlek., I am not very interested.