An atheist is just that... not a theist. Not a believer in the supernatural (e.g., gods).
Well, are people who don't believe in fairies called a-fairyists? What about people who don't believe in the Flying Spaghetti Monster? Are they called a-FSMsts? So why should people who don't believe in gods be called a-theists?
Besides for statistical purposes.. is there really a reason?
And anyway, we're ALL atheists to some things. Atheists to Aphrodite, Thor, Quetzlcoatl, unicorns, trolls, etc.
2006-12-14 18:59:23 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
mouse_tail_0, atheists have a LACK of belief. That means we do not have a belief system.
How is this so hard for people to understand? The gnostic atheists typically get there through logic, science, common sense and evidence - it has nothing to do with belief or faith.
2006-12-14 19:05:00 · update #1
betty boop: "If you are an Atheist you can't believe in any God."
Incorrect. We are all atheists to other religion's gods. "True" atheists (the ones who don't believe in any of them) just go one god further than you do.
Atheism is not a lack of belief in ALL gods. Just a lack of belief in a god OR gods. = 1 or more gods. The more gods meaning it could be all of them, but not necessarily so.
2006-12-14 19:17:11 · update #2
I agree with ZERO COOL, Alan, et al. People need labels. They always have. It's how society functions, as you "know" how to categorize people (although most often these categorizations are incorrect--and dangerous).
However, I would like to counter one of your added points. I don't like to generalize groups of people, though it is sometimes necessary. I would argue that Atheists are not without belief. I would argue that *all* people have some form of belief system. Atheists just don't believe in a god or gods or the supernatural.
For example, those that rely on science must *believe* that science is correct. That is what science is all about--it, with sufficient evidence, can be disproven, so scientists and researchers must simply hypothesize (which is basically just an educated guess or assumption) as to what is true and real. Just as many believed centuries ago in a geocentric universe, we now believe in a heliocentric one. Nothing in science is irrefutable. Because of this, belief is needed. Of course, this is only assuming a person believes in science.
Here's another example. A baby is abandoned (for whatever reason) in the wilderness and ends up being raised by wolves. This person knows not science or religion or philosophy (at least as we understand them). However, the now "feral" adult believes, because of what has been observed in the past, that darkness only falls when there is a storm or when the sun has disappeared over the horizon. What happens when there is an eclipse? The person must now re-evaluate her or his belief system. Even those without a god or science have a system of belief.
To generalize again, *everyone* believes. They just don't necessarily believe in a god or gods.
2006-12-14 20:01:27 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is easier to deal with "isms" and "ists" for some people. It is part of the process of dehumanization. You can condemn a word easier than you can condemn other humans. If you look at the war against terror or against terrorism you have a prime example. They could not declare war on anybody or even a country but they could declare a war on a military type of strategy. odd is it not.
2006-12-15 03:13:50 · answer #2 · answered by Barabas 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm a Buddhist but...I'm not an atheist, I'm more like an agnostic. I believe in spirits and I pray for long gone ancestors like my grand mothers & fathers.
I thought people who don't believe in god are called atheist and people who don't believe in god but believe in something else are called agnostic? I'm not sure anymore!
2006-12-15 03:04:30 · answer #3 · answered by Este 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There really IS no reason... but... people like labels.
P.S. Mouse tail is incorrect. Break down the word "atheism" -
"a-" (prefix) meaning "without".
"theist" (noun) meaning "one who believes in the existence of a god or gods".
Put them together and you get "one without belief in the existence of a god or gods".
2006-12-15 03:01:52 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
Reason is that when they get blind of a 'god' they think themselves to be the superior. You can never convince the truth to such epople. They fancy about gods. Thats why pope has great place. Else whats the use of that man?
2006-12-15 03:04:18 · answer #5 · answered by indike111 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No you can not be an Atheist to only one God. If you are an Atheist you can't believe in any God. It doesn't mean you can't believe in the supernatural though. xx
2006-12-15 03:10:14 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
You're absolutely right. Embedded in the word "atheist" is the binary opposite - theist.
2006-12-15 03:02:27 · answer #7 · answered by Good Times, Happy Times... 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, but atheists have always existed on the fringes of society's norms, so they needed to be named and set apart by the masses.
2006-12-15 03:03:57 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Oh my god you are so right! God is a flying spaghetti monster... it all makes sense now!
2006-12-15 03:02:48 · answer #9 · answered by ♪♫♪Ginny♪♫♪ 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It's just a label. Mostly we are all just people trying to do the best we can with what we've got.
2006-12-15 03:02:15 · answer #10 · answered by Alan 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋