So often I hear that Atheism is just another faith like Christianity or Buddhism. But every religion positively asserts something they believe in. No religion or faith defines itself solely by declaring what it does not believe.
But atheism does exactly that: Atheism is lack of belief in any gods. How can the lack of faith be described as a faith? That's like describing a vacuum as "inter-stellar atmosphere."
2007-05-09 08:53:40 · 8 answers · asked by NHBaritone 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
It's the perfect metaphor, so, no, they won't get it.
2007-05-09 08:57:34 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
i don't know the place it originated--and that i'm arranged for my hailstorm of thumbs-down, yet... i think of that's not unreasonable to declare this once you get previous (or in the previous?) the huge Bang. i don't dispute conventional scientific understanding--evolution, etc. yet, i think of while it is composed of "Why" this all passed off, you've self assurance it got here from not something, or that some Being or stress became into at the back of it. As neither has conclusive info, i don't see that the two perception is idiotic.
2016-10-15 05:19:00 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The reason people relegate atheism to faith, is because it's the positive affirmation of something that can't be proven. Atheism positively affirms the non-existence of God. It's not some implicit stance such as "I don't think god exists." It's bold and explicit in that it states "I know that god doesn't exist." However, no one has ever proven the non-existence of God. And yes, it is possible to prove that something doesn't exist. Until someone has successfully proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that it's necessarily impossible (not improbable) that god doesn't exist, then there is an element of faith involved...since faith is essentially the belief in something that can't be proven. Therefore atheism = faith.
2007-05-09 09:05:28 · answer #3 · answered by sickblade 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Blame the stupid Christian book "I don't have enough faith to be an atheist" by Norman Geisler. Another idiot thinking he has the way to save the non believers.
Great metaphor by the way, my kids wanted to know what I was laughing at.
2007-05-09 09:01:11 · answer #4 · answered by Aria 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
From Chambers UK dictionary:
faith noun 1 trust or confidence. 2 strong belief, eg in God. 3 a specified religion • the Jewish faith. 4 any set or system of beliefs. 5 loyalty to a promise, etc; trust • break faith with someone. bad faith dishonest; treachery. in good faith from good or sincere motives.
Faith when applied to an atheist is described in definition 4. This is quite different from a specified religion which is definition 3.
Clear enough for everyone?
2007-05-09 09:01:09 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I find it a bad metaphor because it implies that atheism is bad and/or an aberration (like anorexia).
I prefer the following: "Atheism is no more a faith than bald is a hair style."
2007-05-09 09:02:32 · answer #6 · answered by prairiecrow 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Who said it was a faith?
2007-05-09 08:58:29 · answer #7 · answered by Afi 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Thats brilliant !!!! haha!!
I like it..........
2007-05-09 08:59:31 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋