OK, getting the hang of this forum, thanks for all the encouraging responses. Are we agreed that the only dumb question is the unasked one? Great.
I just have no idea what theists believe. I've been reading back some on this forum, including responses to my "atheist" questions, and I'm more baffled than ever.
I think the consensus here is that "God" refers to the deity embraced by Jews, Catholics, Protestants and Moslems. (Hope I've got that right.)
So in order to call myself an atheist, I have to NOT believe in this God. But honestly I have no idea what on earth this "God" is, beyond something equivalent to the (presumably) mythical and man-made Greek storytime gods like Zeus.
Can someone tell me in simple words (and PLEASE without quoting e.g., the Bible or Koran, whose only authority is obviously paradoxical, "This is true because it says here it's true") what or who they mean when they say they believe in God.
2007-01-15 12:25:55 · 22 answers · asked by barry 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Yes, theists essentially believe in (a) God or (b) Gods
This division is monotheist (one God) or polytheism (many Gods).
Jews (Judaism), Christians (Catholics Protestants, etc) and Moslems all believe in one God (monotheistic religions), and basically all go back to stories of Abraham and Moses. Essentially, Christians add significance to the teachings of one prophet (Jesus), who some believe is actually God. Moslems add significance to another later prophet (Mohammed) [as well as jesus]. The God in these religions is typically seen as an all powerful all knowing entity, and importantly desires, wants and goals. 'He' has an interest in the daily and long term issues of all people and places.
The older polytheistic religons (like the Greeks or romans) had a series of Gods and lesser gods in a hierarchy, also who were interested in human affairs.
Otherwise, there is Deism, which is a belief in a higher power (like a life force, guiding energy in the universe etc). This is essentially the supernatural. The deist God established universal principles, but is not interested in the unfolding events on the scale we would understand.
An athiest, does not believe in the structured medling God of theists or the careless one of Deists. You must also reject the polytheistic believes, and (typically but not necessarily) does not believe in anything supernatural, beyond objective investigation and logical reasoning.
Agnostics are those who do not accept the existance of God/s or the lack of God/s. This can either be because the agnostic does not believe there is enough evidence to say either way, or because they believe there will never be enough evidence to say either way.
To be a theist you must have faith in something that you will (most likely) never have any evidence of, apart from through the words of others or the writings of some sacred text. To be in athiest, you must accept that faith is not enough to believe in something, and prefer to only believe what you see real life evidence of.
Agnostic is the safe option if you dont believe in God but want a chance to go to heaven if you find you were wrong when you die.
that seems VERY unlikely.... :) but then, i'm athiest
and p.s Einstein was more likely a Pantheist - God is everywhere and everything...from gravity to butterflies...
2007-01-15 12:57:51 · answer #1 · answered by nnjamerson 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Simply stated, an atheist is a person who does not believe in gods. Whether it be Allah, Yahweh, Zeus, or whomever, an atheist simply doesnt believe there is such a thing as a "god". No Christian God, No Muslim God, No God at all.
A theist believes that there is a specific "God" or "Gods" that exist. The Ancient Greeks were theists. Christianity is theist as well. More specifically, Christianity is monotheistic meaning there is one God.
If you describe yourself as an atheist then you do not believe in the possibility or existence of any god in any religion--not just Christianity, Judaism, or Islam. All gods from all religions and beliefs are fictitious to you.
An important distinction is that an atheist is not necessarily "anti-religion." Many so-called atheists attack various religions saying religions are "baseless" or whatever. That is not atheism; that's impiousness. An impious person is anti-religious. An atheist simply doesnt believe in gods. .
2007-01-15 12:37:45 · answer #2 · answered by sothere! 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's impossible to answer your question without quoting the Bible, as the Bible is the first record to reference an Almighty God.
Your question has a lot of answers. The truth is - everyone has a different interpretation of the Bible and therefore everyone has a different "idea" about who God is.
Some believe in the Trinity - the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.
Others believe these are three seperate entities.
Some believe God is "everywhere" and that he changes between the three according to his purpose.
Others believe in thousands of demi-gods.
The only way to decide for yourself is through research. Never stop searching for the truth, and always listen to others. Then you must come to your OWN conclusion about your relationship with God and how you want to express it.
2007-01-15 12:33:17 · answer #3 · answered by Woohoo! 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes I see your problem.I don't think you can consider yourself an atheist because to be an atheist you have to affirm the non-existance of God.But just because you don't believe in the same concept of God majority of religious do that doesen't make you an atheist.I don't have nothing against atheist because I really think this conflict over thelogycal views is a mistake that humanity presents independent of your belief we shouldn't create more disharmony for that.I do believe in God but not as a form of some magic fairy who's looking from the sky to us,maybe more as a source or force who originated the existance of creation.But we never know because if God is the All Mighty and Infinite we cannot expect to a limited human mind comprehend God than.For me you seem more like a deist IMO,look at bright side Einstein was one of them LOL.
Hope that can help ;D
2007-01-15 12:42:51 · answer #4 · answered by Fresh Prince of Brazil 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To be an "athiest" means different things, to different people. But basically it means that you believe that when you die a physical death, you cease to exist. In other words, you don't believe in the "spiritual" side of your own existance. It really has nothing to do with a belief in anyone else's concept of "God."
God does get dragged (drug?) into the mix, when you consider the origin of your spiritual self. Did your parents create your soul, or did God create your soul? Of course, if you don't believe you have a soul, it doesn't matter.
None of the religions can seem to agree on the origin of the soul. Christianity for example preaches/teaches that our souls are created with the body, and each body has a unique soul, regardless of when that body existed. For example, you can't be a long gone pirate from the 16th century, according to Christianity.
But, according to most other religions, you could have been.
Anyway, I hope that answers your question. It'll at least piss a few Christians/Jews/Muslims off.
Sincerely,
Chris
2007-01-15 12:37:43 · answer #5 · answered by ChrisJ 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you're questioning whether or not you're an atheist, it makes you an agnostic, I am an agnostic aswell, but as far is this website is concerned I consider myself an atheist, mainly because I feel that if a god existed, I'm sure it isn't the one anyone is praying to, so I just make it easier on everyone and call myself an atheist so that I can recieve thumbs down on all of my answers the second that a theist sees the word atheist, as I'm sure many will on this very response.
2007-01-15 12:33:14 · answer #6 · answered by Scott Justice 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
if you believe in God, then you believe in an entity who created the universe with a purpose and a plan, with Man being made to worship Him. Depending on the particular religion, you will have all kind of details on that purpose and plan and how Man should worship. If you are agnostic, you may believe in a higher power that created everything but that the power does not have a relationship with Man, does not answer prayers and does not need worship. An atheist believes in no higher power, that everything just started with a big random bang.
2007-01-15 12:36:08 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Theism refers (generally) to a personality that is the source of the universe. It need not look like a human (though many people seem to think he/she/it does). I personally believe that science has already demonstarted the energy and information (intelligence) underly all phenomena. I simply see no evidence for attatching a personality to that source. Therefore, I am an Atheist that is more in line with Buddhism (an atheistic religion).
2007-01-15 12:34:51 · answer #8 · answered by neil s 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most monotheists when they use the title "God" are referring to YHVH, the God of the Old Testament. Keep in mind I'm no monotheist.
An Atheist believes that no gods at all exist. This covers everyone of them from Zeus, to Odin, to Shiva, to Jesus.
If you believe however that some type of god other then the monotheists God might exist, then you'd be an Agnostic; you aren't sure.
2007-01-15 12:30:01 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
You sound more like an agnostic then an atheist. As to what God is - he transcend time and space - he is everywhere and in everything. His presence can be found everywhere. We need only call upon him in prayer and he is their for us. That is the God I know and love as God loves me. Because of him I know I am never truly alone.
Good Luck!!!
2007-01-15 12:38:37 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋