my notion is that our tolerance to uncertainty is what divides us into the various camps.
1: believers cannot tolerate uncertainy but cannot face the reality of death and so escape into belief.
2: atheists can face death but cannot face uncertainty, so they retreat into stoicism.
3.agnostics are happy/resigned to leave the question open untill further evidence tips the balace one way or the other.
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can atheists be further divided into A) those that think the whole show is meaningless...ie are fatalistic pessimists and
B) those who see themselves as being realistic and pragmatic.
my real question is....is there much different in the way that these two types of atheists live and experience their lives?
does anyone think there are any further varieties, beyond what i will now rather crudely call pessimistic atheists, and positive atheists.
just for the record...i think atheists are at least as ethical as religious people...and their ethics are purer for not seeking reward.
2006-11-25 12:34:00 · 14 answers · asked by catweazle 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Interesting! You make some good points.
2006-11-25 12:35:39 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
what a funny question and I dont mean funny haha. I have to answer this with a question, that sounds silly but it is not. Would you call me an athiest? I dont believe in a god above but I do believe in a power greater than us. My first idea years ago was that aliens sent us here hence the pyramids and great buidings of the past. I belived the imaculate conception of mary supposedly the mother of jesus was an implantation from aliens. Now my belief is that the power greater than us is mother nature, she supplies us with most things except in the poor countries where the rich pillage the country. When we die we go back to the earth which in turn feeds other growing things to feed the people again. I am not frightened of death because I believe we all come back in some form or other. And plz dont call me a crank. I believe what I believe.
2006-11-25 12:49:32 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I dont know whether I fall into the category of Atheist or Agnostic as I dont believe in A God But I'm not frightened of dying and feel that is the only time I will learn the truth. I dont fear hell because I dont think it exists and I dont want most Christians idea of heaven! If there is nothing after death how will I know anyway? I dont know what is happening when I sleep! If the biblical Armaggedon comes I will accept I was wrong. If he is the God my daughter believes in I'd willingly worship him! If he's the Vengeful One, I'd willingly Go to Hell! I would not want to worship him!
I call myself an Atheist because I dont believe in God!
Quoting from the bible will never convince me otherwise as I dont believe in that either!
2006-11-25 13:35:57 · answer #3 · answered by willowGSD 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm Atheist and I dont agree with stoicism. You should ask Atheists if they believe in stoicism before you assume we do. A question was asked about stoicism on here before and most Atheist didn't agree with it
At the Atheists conventions i've attended, I realized that Atheists think life has no meaning on its own but Atheists give life a meaning by cherishing it
Atheists dont believe in the after life. If they do, they're not Atheist. They're probably just bitter Christians
2006-11-25 12:38:09 · answer #4 · answered by Black Atheist 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
"i think atheists are at least as ethical as religious people...and their ethics are purer for not seeking reward."
That made so much sense it almost brought a tear to my eye. Some believers are good people just because they're good people though, and do not fear Hell because they know they're going to Heaven anyways. For others, the only reason why they don't beat their children to death is because they fear going to hell. There are good and bad people in all walks of life.
2006-11-25 12:38:50 · answer #5 · answered by Atlas 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Atheists can fall into many different "types"...
There are those that are Buddhist
Those that believe in an afterlife
Those that don't believe in anything supernatural
Those that think aliens created the universe
Those that believe in ghosts, fairies, psychics, and so forth
To Pauline below me there... if you do not believe in a god or gods, you are an atheist. That's all it takes to be an atheist.
2006-11-25 12:42:49 · answer #6 · answered by Snark 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Since we don't have organized meetings, no one can answer your question...which doesn't mean I ain't gonna try...
I believe every atheist came to his beliefs (or lack thereof) by himself. Each is different.
For example, although I don't believe, I do not want my daughter to know and follow my path.
I COULD be wrong.
I don't mind endangering my soul....as I don't think I have one, but I will not take the chance with my daughter...as I said,
I COULD BE WRONG
2006-11-25 12:39:46 · answer #7 · answered by Grundoon 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don,t agree with religion and I am not sure about the existence of God.What category would you put me under?.
2006-11-25 14:33:45 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The only thing atheist have in common is that they don't believe in God.
2006-11-25 12:38:39 · answer #9 · answered by Tee 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You forgot lazy atheists. You can put me in that catagory, since I just skimmed what you wrote.
2006-11-25 12:36:21 · answer #10 · answered by eri 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋