Aren't we all atheists?

Question

The way I see it, we're all atheists. Probably no one on this forum believes in, say, the Greek god Zeus or the Egyptian god Horus. It's just that those labelled "atheists" here happen to believe in one less god than those who don't consider themselves atheists, right? I'm just looking for clarification about labels.

I'm awed by the sheer number of responses, including some that really clear up my confusion, for which I'm grateful.
But why all the vitriol? This was an honest question (no, I haven't see the other discussions about this, I'm new here), is it impossible to ask a sincere question here without all the flaming?

Answer 1

Not entirely correct. An atheist believes there are no gods, that's what it means - "a" meaning "without", and "theism" meaning "belief in gods".

I'm not sure what the term would be for disbelief in a specific group of gods but if you still believe in a single god you are still a theist.

Answer 2

No, we are not all atheists. To believe this is to have a wrong understanding of what "atheism" is.

There are several definitions of the word "atheist" and many people have tried to define it. The most common definition is probably "a person who does not believe in Deities" but to some it can also mean someone without a belief in a Deity (i.e. they just don't have any opinions on the matter). The use of "a-" in front of a word comes from Greek and is called the "privitive a" which simply negates what comes after it; in this case "Theism".

A "Theist" is someone who believes in the existence of God or gods; therefore a Jew, Christian, Muslim, Hindu are all Theist. However out of these, there are subcategories of theist: the Jew, Christian and Muslim are monotheists because they believe there is only one God ("mono" is Greek for "one"); the Hindu is "polytheist" because they believe in more than one God ("poly-" is Greek for "many"); the "Pantheist" believes that God and the physical Universe are one and the same thing - in effect, the Universe is God and God is the Universe ("pan-" is Greek for "all"). Some polytheists are also pantheists and vice versa.

In reality there is some crossover between the above but, by definition, a Theist cannot be an Atheist and vice versa (because the "a" means distinct and opposite).

So I for one, as a Christian, cannot be an Atheist and, conversely, an Atheist cannot be a Christian, Jew, Muslim etc.

As well as the variations on Theism we have Agnosticism, Deism, Animism and many more but I'll leave you to read more about those ;-)

Hope that helps :-)

Answer 3

Very good inquiry. We can express the "spirit" world only in human terms which surely do not apply. Religions in general cannot lose. If something good happens that is god rewarding you. If something bad then that god is punishing you. It is much easier for mankind to blame his decisions, right or wrong, on the influence of an unseen rather than take credit for doing it himself. Using mans terminology explaining a god let one assume that god is the perfect crystal to the enth degreee of the smallest part of an atom. This spirit is in perfect harmony. As defined by most religions it is perfect in every way. Why then creation? It has no needs beyond itself. To create shows a need. If this spirit has need then it is not perfect. If it is perfect it cannot love or hate. It is in perfect balance within itself. Religions go even further by labeling a sex tag on the spirit. Has anyone, including the so called angels, ever seen God the Father's penis? Do spirits have sexual organs? Of what use would they be? They dion't eat. Why all of the dietary prohibitions? They don't drink. So why the bruhaha about alcohol? Why all of the terror about sex? Read Genisis. The first time that the Judeo/Christian god got angry was when he saw Adam and Eve clothed. Was this god a voyeur? Anger?? Another emotion from a perfect god. Read on. You will discover that this god not only took anger out on the individual that angered him but everything around that individual had to pay from the neighbors, cattle, and even the ants in the ground if they were in the area. Why the test for Job? If this god knows past, present, and future this god knows that Job is faithful and automaticall knows the outcome of the tests so why does this "loving" god torture this man? A perfect god? I suggest two authors to you. First, Joseph Campbell and the Masks of God, and second, James George Frazier's The Golden Bough. Each will give you the documented answers you seek. Both have helped me establish my own simple religion without any god. I do not, repeat, NOT seek converts. My religion belongs only to me and others must seek their own. Here it is for reference only. Do not knowingly, willingly, and with full consent cause mental, physical, or social harm to yourself or others. Eveything else, like you can't eat the left eyeball of a toad in the full moon, is garbage. Good luck in your search. You have my admiration and certainly have exhibited an inquiring mind. If I may be of further assistance you may certainly e-mail me at [e-mail].

Answer 4

Actually, there are many Wiccans out there that follow the Greek and/or Egyptian pantheons. I absolutely believe that both Zeus and Horus exist, but since I follow the Welsh pantheon they aren't the deities I worship.

And Zeus and Horus are merely representations of the God anyway, just as Aphrodite and Isis are representations of the Goddess. All Gods are one God and all Goddesses are one Goddess.

And no, we are not all atheists. Have you ever read Joseph Campbell? While he said that science is absolutely important to the continued evolution of human society, so is myth. Myth is extremely important to the development of the human psyche. Having science without myth is no better than having myth without science. Perhaps you should check out one of his books.

)O(

Answer 5

"We are all atheists, I just believe in one less god than you do. When you understand why you don't believe in other gods, then you will understand why I don't believe in yours."

This is false, as it isn't an accurate definition of atheism. The quote is to prove a point and make an argument

"Atheism is the state either of being without theistic beliefs, or of actively disbelieving in the existence of deities"

If you believe in even one deity, according to the definition, you can no longer be described as an atheist

Answer 6

I'm not sure I follow your logic. An Atheist says there is no god. Others believe in God (by whatever description). How is believing in less gods or different gods atheist by definition? The belief in any god is not an Atheist belief.

Answer 7

I am not an atheist. I believe in the One Most High God. You can't compare people saying if they don't believe in anything some people come up with and say is a god is really true. Some people worship golden calves and cows; should we be considered atheists because we won't pray to cows.

Answer 8

This is just one of the answers posted to this same question that has been asked so many times it is boring. It's hard to believe how many people are ignorant as to the definition of atheist.

·the·ist
n.

One who disbelieves or denies the existence of God or gods.

atheist

adj : related to or characterized by or given to atheism; "atheist leanings" [syn: atheistic, atheistical] n : someone who denies the existence of god!!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

the·ism

n.
Belief in the existence of a god or gods, especially belief in a personal God as creator and ruler of the world.

theist n.
the·istic or the·isti·cal adj.
the·isti·cal·ly adv.


theistical

adj : of or relating to theism [syn: theist, theistic]

PLEASE!!!!!!!! Enough with the condescending ignoramus, & playing on words... Go do your homework and come back with some inteligent arguments!!!

Answer 9

I don't think we are all athiests.
I think that we have different views of God.

If you paint a house a different color on all 4 sides, and place a man at each side and ask him what color the house is, he will tell you the color that he sees. But a man from above the house will tell you it is a house of many colors. None of the men are wrong.
They just see the house from different perspectives.

When they go into the house, maybe they will find that it is even another color inside!! Cool huh?

Answer 10

Theists believe in a god.
Atheists believe in no god.

What else is there to say.
Christians and Jews believe in a god, known as God.

On the otherhand, you choose to deny the existance of God.
Apparantly you believe in men instead of God.

Why do you believe in man?
Because you can see man?
We can see God.
Because you can see the works of man?
We can see the works of God.
If you don't believe in God or man, you believe in nothing.

grace2u