Atheist question?

Question

There are many types of atheistic expression and practice: existentialism and nihilism, some forms of Buddhism, and some forms of Hindu beliefs. What form do you most identify with, and what do you see as lacking in other forms?

Answer 1

A-theism indicates nothing more or less than the disbelief that there is such a thing as a super-natural being, any being that operates beyond the laws of the universe. It may allow that our perception of the phomena of the universe is possibly interpretive of the actual objects and events, but our experience of the universe, however allegorical, is consistent, to the degree that a supernatural overlay is irrelevant. Any apparently magical relationships or influences can or will eventually be explained mechanistically.

Existentialism is concerned with the subjective assignment of "meaning" to experience. Nihilism denies any intrinsic meaning in the world. Both reject any objective, authoritative standard of "values". Values are abitrary determinations made either by individuals or communities.

Buddhism and Hinduism, at least in their least theistic forms, are oriented toward transcending the appearance of the observed world and realizing the illusion of phenomenon and multiplicity. The assumption is that the singular, true Reality is somehow disguising itself in order to better understand itself, a kind of phenomenon of its own.

All of these theories deny intrinsic meaning in the phenomena of the universe, although they all acknowledge that one must necessarily live in the environment one finds oneself in. Buddhism and Hinduism attempt to dissolve the world through disengagement, the "extinction of desire", asserting that there is a Reality, but it is not the world. Existentialism and nihilism imply that the world IS some form of the Reality, but has no purpose other than what we assign it to pass the time.

Of the four, I find Hinduism the most burdened with a supernatural component. It assumes the cycle of reincarnation and the underlying reality of Brahman, two metaphysical concepts that cannot be empirically demonstrated. Buddhism is better only in that it espouses the value of compassion, a sort of reverse desire, to facilitate enlightment both in oneself and others. Yet the unproven supernatural component endangers its validity too.

Nihilism is the purest empirical form, but it leaves the unanswered question, "What are we supposed to do?" The human mind wants to fill that gap and many troubling possibilities arise.

Existentialism is the messiest theory, acknowledging that subjective determination will inevitably lead to conflict with others. But every value is tested in the conflicts and working compromises eventually result. An honest existentialist sees beyond self-interest and works to eke out useful values for as long as the game lasts. Whether life is real or hypothetical, we need to get along, because we can't be sure anything else is available. As I understand it, this is my preferred philosophy.

Answer 2

Atheism is only the absense of a belief in theism. It has nothing to do with nihilism, or existentialism. The forms are more like ways to defend ones position on atheism.

Answer 3

None. If you start to identify with one of those things, you're basically becoming religious. Remember, religion != theism. I don't feel the need to circle jerk with a bunch of atheists and talk about atheist stuff and denigrate christians. I'll hang out with people with better things to do than sit around and ponder about the universe that they can't hope to even begin to understand.

If you believe that humanity is anything special, you are a moron.

Answer 4

i personaly am an anti-theist atheist. i believe that the idea of a higher power is compleatly obsurd. i guess buddhism allthough it really isnt considered athiestic.but i relate to mostly not for the teachings but the idea of venerating someone who lived at one point for the things they did rather than something only people with mental issues ever talk to.

and that moron with the cat avatar is wrong.

athiesm is A+ thiesm meaning there is no theisim. no diety but you can have your own beliefs and your own philosophies.

Answer 5

In my general day to day life I don't identify myself as an Atheist. However with it's strong Christian emphasis, as someone who doesn't believe in God, I identify with the Atheist for the benefit of most questions on this Q&A category. I would be more Pagan and believe that there are most likely higher beings of intelligence that can influence and contribute to our existence but they aren't Gods. They are possibly who early Romans, Greeks and Egyptians referred to as Gods but in modern day they would probably be classified as demons (by Christians) or aliens. Perhaps they are even responsible for human life on this planet and that is how the whole God and Creation theory arose. I really don't know but it is fun and interesting to explore all the possibilities.

Answer 6

It is unclear how I should label my beliefs; let me offer a brief description and you may pick a label. There is no evidence to support (or to refute) the existence of god. It follows from the latter (provable) that no theory of god can make any prediction about the real world: all such theories are useless. I prefer not to engage in totally useless activity, so I choose not to believe in a god.

Answer 7

I don't identify with those beliefs you mentioned. I find those beliefs that you mentioned are not practical enough for reality, or not optimistic enough, or not placing the responsibility of changing the world on the individual enough.

Without beliefs in god, the responsibility of our existence remains directly on ourselves. We need to be more involved in the future direction of that existence than the beliefs you mentioned.

Answer 8

If one has beliefs in any form of God at all, they're not atheist.
It's not my place to judge other people's belief systems....but....we all identify with "being human."

Answer 9

Vedanta and Yogacara Buddhism.

The others offer little opportunity for direct access to consciousness.

Answer 10

i believe in my own form and i don't care about others no offense to the others of course