It seems that most atheist on here are religious, right?

Question

Many of the atheist on here talk about how great being an atheist is because they solve there own problems and believe in people using rational thinking to secure happiness and make the world a better place.

Aren't these people not really atheist at all but humanist, people who see god within people and people as the surpreme souce of good and knowledge. I mean anybody can be an atheist right but that doesnt make them all idealistic and wanting to do good. My friend is a proud atheist and all he does is play video games and smoke joints all day and could care less about making the world a better place.

So are most atheists really humanists(belief in humanity as their diety) . In my mind a true atheist would believe that the idea of god is BS and the idea of the supremeness of humanity is BS too.

"Yoda Green
3 minutes ago

he bleedingly obvious to yet another idiot.
I have NO idea where you got your info, but humanists do NOT believe that they are gods. They believe that humanity is equal and undivided. Secular humanists are for the most part, Atheists. I have not met one that isn't. Not yet at any rate.
So, get some education, learn what humanist means and then come back and apologize for wasting everyone's time.
Deal? "

Everytime I want to not believe that atheist are mean hearted and extremely arrogant, another one proves me wrong. Is there and can there be an atheist who doesnt have a strong level of arrogance? The search continues

Answer 1

Atheism means no god, that's all. It applies to anyone who doesn't believe in god(s) or deities or deny their existences. That's the only common thing among atheists.

An atheist can be many things, humanists, nihilists, anarchists or someone who hate labels. There are no common grounds but the lack of belief in god(s).

Anyone who claim that atheist have a set of rules or that they should think humans are the best of the best and so on is someone who doesn't really need the meaning of the word.

An atheist is someone who doesn't believe in god. The way they live their life doesn't make them more or less atheistic.

Now, I don't know anyone who considers "humanism" as a religion, but is some here proposed that alcohol or sports can be someone's god(s), then I wouldn't be surprised that sooner or later maths will be a religion too. Sounds to me like a really loose definition of religion and gods.

Religion: beliefs and opinions concerning the existence, nature, and worship of a deity or deities, and divine involvement in the universe and human life and the institutionalized or personal system of beliefs and practices relating to the divine. Do atheist beling to this? No.

God(s): supreme being: the being believed in monotheistic religions such as Judaism, Islam, and Christianity to be the all-powerful all-knowing creator of the universe, worshiped as the only god. One of a group of supernatural beings in some religions, each of which is worshiped as the personification or controller of some aspect of the universe.

Answer 2

Six of one half a dozen of the other, what's the difference? If we start dividing into little groups how does that make us any different than believers with a million religions?

I don't think any Atheist gives it that much thought. I for one don't want to be given a label, put in a place and then be given a sub-label in the category and then be part of the left or right of that division. Sound confusing? That's because it is and I'm not looking for that.

I like to look at it this way. Everybody who doesn't believe in a supreme being has that in common. Then some will have care about the world, some won't. Some will be deep thinkers, some won't, but I'll guarantee most don't want to be put in categories, it's not important. Those who want to help the world will get into causes and organizations that do so. They still don't feel the need to have another name assigned.

Answer 3

Sigh.
Looks like we have to explain the bleedingly obvious to yet another idiot.
I have NO idea where you got your info, but humanists do NOT believe that they are gods. They believe that humanity is equal and undivided. Secular humanists are for the most part, Atheists. I have not met one that isn't. Not yet at any rate.
So, get some education, learn what humanist means and then come back and apologize for wasting everyone's time.
Deal?

Answer 4

Humanism includes more than just atheists, including agnostics, irreligious, etc. Atheists know that there is no such thing as a god(s), including ourselves as a god, based on the absence of evidence. Agnostics aren't sure, so they don't say either way. Irreligious may believe there is a higher power but don't follow any particular religion. There are many groups of people who can claim humanism. Only 3% of americans, I've read, are atheists. 15% of americans can be considered humanist. What is common among humanists is that they don't believe that anything supernatural exists.

Study atheism at http://www.atheists.org to find out about our history, ethics, etc. It's an atheist civil liberties organization. The reason americans aren't forced to pray in public school is because of a legal case in the 60's won by an atheist named Madalyn Murray O'hair. This organization was born from what she did.

Oh and Julie, you may not call yourself an atheist, but you are.

Answer 5

This isn't entirely correct. While many Atheists strive to do good and have varied beliefs about humanity, they cannot be called Secular Humanists because of this. Secular Humanism is a particular set of ideas about humanity, and cannot be concluded by such basic things as people wanting to do good things, or valuing the human ability to reason.

There are other branches of philosophy besides Secular Humanism, such as Eudaimonism and Objectivism and a great deal of other philosophies that don't fit into any particular description.

My own beliefs would focus on the contradictory nature of humanity and the arrangement of the mind which leads to the problems people have in pursuing the good life, which I propose can be solved by adhering to a logical perspective on life, striving for good whilst acknowledging your mistakes, understanding what caused them, and avioiding those causes in the future...

Also, Secular Humanism does not make people into "gods", this frequent use of the term "gods" to describe any element people hold in high regard comes from misconceptions about a person's need to worship. They respect the ability of humanity and reason, but they do not make them into gods of any sort.

EDIT: "Everytime I want to not believe that atheist are mean hearted and extremely arrogant, another one proves me wrong. Is there and can there be an atheist who doesnt have a strong level of arrogance?"

Perhaps, you should be more careful with your characterizations then. It's kind of like if I made a description of Christians that made Phred Phelps and Racism prominent elements of Christianity.

You wouldn't like that at all, would you? Neither would Secular Humanists like their philosophy characterized as "making humans their god"

Answer 6

I have just finished reading a book called, "God doens't believe in Atheists" by Ray Comfort. A very good book, I highly reccommend it. You're question about atheists...all atheists believe in something whethere they like it or not. They all have formed their "god" whether it's sports, drinking, smoking, etc., Some don't want to admit it, that they will one day be judged, that one day, they will be face to face with their Creator. Then they will see, that they were wrong. Honestly, I don't know how a person can be an atheist, when all around us, we see evidence of what God's miracles. And what is happening in Israel...People had better be getting prepared for the rapture, because it will come. Christ is coming back for His church, will you (to anyone who reads this) be going also? You better think twice before you call yourself an atheist. You are not wise. (I have talked with many, many "atheists" so...I know what they say. There is a verse, but I can't seem to find it...I'll try to post it later on. take care and have a good day!

Answer 7

An atheist can be a humanist but humanism is simply one branch of secular ethics an atheist may (or may not) subscribe to.

A humanist does not believe in humanity as a deity. Your definition is incorrect.

Thanks to txgirl for advising on the pointlessness and sadness of our existence. She has given me a good laugh though and is a fine example of the need to teach UNintelligent Design in our schools. We have living proof!

Answer 8

Yes they are religionists. This is the reason why, they have a belief system, it may not be the same as a Christian or any other religion but it is religion just the same. Any time a belief system is set in place this is called religion. Their religion is against God. They have beliefs in Scientology. They have beliefs in evolution. These have not been proved beyond a reasonable shadow of doubt, so it makes it a religion. Since Scientology is by trial and error and ever changing they have to have an ever changing belief. This is for the good of all, so they have to believe in the good of all. Again a belief system.

Answer 9

Athieism is a religion in itself. Just like Christianity, they have their own set of rules, try to keep others from thinking for themselves, and try to make others conform to their beliefs. I'd much prefer to have a humanist to a friend that either of the above if the Christians are just religious zealots and not true Christians. Christians don't always follow the rules if they are following the Spirit.

Answer 10

It is hard to say. I imagine that most atheists and agnostics who have considered the matter have developed some sort of moral system, such as one based on evolutionary principles (remembering that evolution applies to societies as well as to species). Whether such a system might be called humanist is a question of definition, and hence not readily resolvable.