Is this a reasonable analogy of Atheism and Theism?

Question

Atheism is to religion as Conservatism is to Liberalism.

I know this sounds odd and I don't necessarily believe it in it's pure form but consider this:

Atheism limits their belief to that which is proven of Science. (conservitive)

Theist choose to belive that which is not yet proven of men but which is confirmed of the Spirit. (Liberal)

If this is true then why does it seem that in practice, most atheist are liberals based in a conservitive belief system and most Theist are consrtvitives based in a liberal belief set?

Often in practice they are at the exteem end of the views that are of opposet polarity to their beleif system?

Follow on:

These are some really interesting answers! Thanks, As I stated I do not necessarily believe this but wondered id it was a good analogy. I guess my difficulty with atheism is that it is not definable as it is a disbelief having no paramiters other than denial of God. At least that is what Webster says. Is there more?

Answer 1

I am a moderately conservative atheist. However that plays into your analogy...

Answer 2

That isn't a good analogy at all. The best analogy that I have heard about this is:

"Atheism is to Religion as Bald is to hair Color"

Obviously, bald isn't a hair color, it is a complete lack of hair, just like atheism is not a religion, it is a complete lack of belief in religious ideas. It isn't even a denial of god's existance, just a lack of belief. If there was any evidence to back up the theists claim, then there wouldn't be as many atheists, because the majority of them would be open to proof. Unfortunately, to date, not one shred of evidence has been produced to prove the existance of a god, any god. There are also no other common traits that atheists share, there are atheists of all stripes, liberal, conservative, pro choice, anti-choice, you name it.

I also wouldn't call theism liberal, most religions are quite restrictive. Think of the definition of liberal:

lib·er·al adj.
1. Not limited to or by established, traditional, orthodox, or authoritarian attitudes, views, or dogmas; free from bigotry.
2. Favoring proposals for reform, open to new ideas for progress, and tolerant of the ideas and behavior of others; broad-minded.

This is the opposite of most religions, religions are bound by dogma, rife with bigotry and almost completely closed to new ideas and are very intolerant of the ideas and behaviors of others. If you want examples of this, read the newspaper and read about the religious people who protest abortion clinics, protest gay marriage, and are constantly trying to force their religious views into public school science classes.

So, you're mis-informed on all counts, but I hope this helps clear things up.

Answer 3

I'm not sure why you've lumped that definition of atheism in with conservativism (same with theism and liberalism).

You could turn the argument around by saying that conservatives hold on to the past, to "conserve" the old values and ideas. While an atheist looks to new sciences and discoveries in order to create a worldview.

And that liberals are about movement away from old methods and are "liberal" with their views of rules, and open in their attitudes of inclusion. Whereas theists are about preserving their traditional systems of belief as close to original as they can, and do what they can to make people in their society conform to their practices.

Answer 4

This is the way I see it.

Both Conservatives and Christians believe there needs to be laws by which we live.
The purpose of these laws is to protect our lives, things, and beliefs.
Conservatives and Christians have no problem obeying the laws of God and of man, if they apply to everyone equally.

Both Liberals and Atheists believe all laws are limits on our freedom which is more important that lives, things, and beliefs.

Does this mean that the Conservatives and the Christians are the affluent in this society, and the Atheists and Liberals are the poorer in this society.

Not at all, Atheists and Liberals live as well of as the Conservatives and Christians, and have as many toys.
Conservatives drive Cadillacs and Lincolns and Liberals drive BMWs and Volvos.

grace2u

Answer 5

No, no longer truly. Political middle-top isn't a lot about provable vs unprovable, or stay-the-direction vs try-new-issues, because it really is about nationalism. Political middle-left is about mitigating the undesirable outcomes of capitalism by potential of a more effective mixed economic gadget. Neither one is in accordance with more effective or a lot less info per se. extra, atheism doesn't reduce expertise to that which will be scientifically shown. this is positivism. Atheism's theory is a lengthy way more effective modest -- this is basically that there is no God floating round interior the sky. Atheism does unavoidably impose a benchmark conception gadget, except to say that there is no God.

Answer 6

No, you have it backwards.

Theism limits belief to that which is traditionally believed.

Atheism is based on the notion that we should not limit ourselves as a result of tradition, and instead open ourselves up to possibilities whether they're what we were taught or not.

If I were to characterize the highest values of each, it would be that atheists put honesty at the top, and believers put tradition at the top.

Answer 7

There are thousands of Gods, many past religions, many present religions, many religions we don't know about besides what we have from cave paintings, and who knows how many God(s) were created before than. We know that religion looks like it started off as polytheistic. Those who do not need an idol to worship are not 'denying' God. This would only be possible if their were evidence or deities presented themselves to the people. There is nothing to deny at this time.

Answer 8

Atheism doesn't need defined, it is the beliefs in god or gods that need defining. If someone claims there is a god or gods, they need to define what they are talking about. Do you have similar difficulty in trying to define the non-belief in Santa Claus, Zeus, Dragons, Leprauchans, Fairies, Goblins, Unicorns and Mermaids? The burden of proof and definition is on those who make a claim, not those who see no evidence for these things. Get it now?

Answer 9

Amazing how you can make so many wrong claims within such a short post.

Atheists do not all limit their beliefs to science. They simply do not believe in gods.

I don't see anything "confirmed of the spirit" whatever that means.

Answer 10

not really becuase theism takes too many forms, and Christians are far more hidebound than atheists whereas polytheists are much more free, and deists are about equal though their thinking is antithetical