Atheism = Absence of Religion and Spirituality?

Question

Brought to my attention by other members here in the R&S section, appearently, "Atheism" does not only mean "To not believe in any god" it also means "void of religion and spirituality", and thus, Atheists should not "post in this Christian section"?

Im an Atheistic Satanist and from what I was told, Satanism is a religion and somewhat spiritual, but being a Atheist cancels that out? So technically a Buddhist shouldn't ask questions and answers either, because most are non-theistic?

So my main question is:

If someone is Atheist, they technically should not post here because they have no religion or spirituality, correct?


http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AkL2XTLrJzTKMZVcZHyveRJIzKIX?qid=20061030131433AAf48T6

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AvhP8BBjR36NFBZFfGktzbMjzKIX?qid=20061018142908AAucpD6

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AqkIlKgxuzafTFWLouyCM.cjzKIX?qid=20061011184907AAydYRO

Answer 1

By definition an atheist is one who does not have belief in a god or gods. By this definition a person who never heard of a god or gods could be called atheist. But the more common useage of the word atheist is to describe a person who denies the existence of a god or gods.

Non-existence can never be proved. To believe that which cannot be proved is by definition an act of faith. Therefore, to beleve in the non-existence of god is an act of faith. Bottom line: Atheism, as the word is commonly used, is a faith. As a faith atheism is legitimate grist for the mill of the Religion & Spirituality forum.

Answer 2

To have religion as an atheist would be odd...or confused... Because views can differ though beyond simply no god belief, technically a person could still have a spiritual aspect or view in some form, it just does not include any belief in gods or god like entities.

Although why shouldn't we post here? People who think that way are wrong... I thought they wanted to convert us, so why wouldn't they be glad we're here? This isn't specifically a Christian section, and we often still have interest in understanding what makes the religious tick. Especially as religion can have a large influence on the society that we live in.

Answer 3

Many atheists can be spiritual. But your reasoning seems bland. It's like asking if a black person should be allowed on a panel full of white people: wrong. The atheists (the polite ones) can offer VERY stimulating intellectual topics. Just as the polite Christians can. The reason this board seems to go to hell (no pun intended) every few hours is because jerks post things like "THIS IS WHY GOD EXISTS AND YOU CAN'T DISPROVE ME!" or "YOUR RELIGIONS ARE ALL WRONG! GO ATHEIST!" The board would be wonderful without all the needless attacks like this, and purely intellectual and theological discussions could be heard instead of the whiny bickering that is the norm.

Answer 4

Well, there is a secular humanist church... it's a 'religion' without a spirituality. No God, no afterlife, but a morality based on humanism. Chruch gatherings to offer support and encouragement and knowledge. Religion no more necessarily implies a God or Hell or afterlife.

In many senses, the absence of religion is a religious viewpoint. It is a viewpoint "on religion", and to deny that viewpoint in a religious section is silencing a dissenting viewpoint. It is a form of promoting your view by denying another from being voiced.

If a philosophical viewpoint that denies the existence of God or Spirit has no place in a discussion of religion or spirituality, I really don't see how other positions have any validity. R&S doesn't claim (in my meager understanding) to be a "deist only" support group.

If your views are so tenuous as to be threatened by those opposing views, are they really as strong as they should be?

Answer 5

You don't have to hold the values of a section to post there. In fact, atheists or agnostics posting in the Christian section would most likely create more productive dialogue than if it was completely full of Christians just agreeing with each other.

My answer to your question: No, incorrect. Anyone can post in any section, regardless of their beliefs. That, my friend, is technically correct. You might say that hypothetically or philosophically an atheist should not post in the Christian section, but technically, they can and should.

Answer 6

i could extremely not have herders and holy books tell theists what i think of. The Bible says i'm a corrupt fool who can do no sturdy in Psalms 14:a million, it somewhat is an obtrusive lie. Herders say that i'm immoral and basically disbelieve for a cost ticket to sin freely..extra lies. human beings such as you're saying that I spew venom. i'm right here for many reasons, yet not least of it somewhat is to teach hate crammed theists like your self that I care basically as lots approximately or extra approximately humanity than theists do. i don't have horns or have faith in devil and that i do have sound philosophical reasons for not believing.

Answer 7

atheism is technically a religion and belief system because an atheist says, "God or Heaven or Hell does not exist". They have no way of proving these things so they are going on faith. you can't prove a negative. of course they should post here! they have their own religion!

Answer 8

What makes you (or anyone, for that matter) think this is the "Christian" section? My computer says " Religion & Spirituality."

Seems pretty all-
encompassing to me.

Answer 9

Does not follow. This forum is to discuss these matters, and one of the rules of the game is that everyone is entitled to his opinion, and is free to offer it here so long as the usual rules of civility are followed.

Answer 10

Any one can post here, it is NOT a Christian section.