Are there certain rules you have to follow to be an Atheist?
How is it different from other religion(is it a religion?)?
Are there still sins?
I am considering changing beliefs, please answer honestly, am just curious. Just want to understand better before I go any further. Thanks.
2007-05-14 07:28:13 · 45 answers · asked by annabelle 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Atheism is not a religion.
The only "rule" is no belief in God. Any god.
Sin is a religious concept, so no. There is only right and wrong.
2007-05-14 07:31:35 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 2⤋
The term "atheism" is derived from the Greek word "theos", meaning "god" (not God, in this context). The prefix "a-" simply means "without" or "lacking". The suffix "ism" means "belief" or "theory" or "system". An "a-the-ist" is someone who lacks a belief in gods. That's it. If you lack a belief in gods, you are, by definition, an atheist.
Many atheists subscribe to a naturalistic or secular viewpoint, but many do not (most Buddhists do not worship any gods, for example). There is no overriding philosophy or rules to atheism, simply a lack of belief. As an atheist, you can develop your own moral system and philosophy, or you can find a religion or philosophy that you think is right and follow their's. There are as many types of atheism as there are atheists.
The site below is a pretty good resource to answer common questions about atheism.
2007-05-14 07:47:44 · answer #2 · answered by marbledog 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no rules, other than not giving supernatural beings credit for things that happen. Under atheism, there is no "sin", just actions that harm people and actions that help people. Atheists trust themselves to be smart enough to figure out what is healthy behavior.
if you are thinking about atheism, try agnosticism first. That is where you believe there is no proof either way, it's a much more grey area. Practically, it's almost the same thing as atheism, but with less certainty (and therefore less arrogance- take that athiests!) tied to it.
and finally, if you need help turning away from christianity, just read the first book of the Bible then learn some actual science. embarassingly off the mark.
2007-05-14 07:44:52 · answer #3 · answered by ajj085 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
By definition a religion is a set of beliefs and practices generally held by a community, involving adherence to codified beliefs and rituals and study of ancestral or cultural traditions, writings, history, and mythology, as well as personal faith and mystic experience. The term "religion" refers to both the personal practices related to communal faith and to group rituals and communication stemming from shared conviction.
Atheism is NOT a religion by definition. And no there are no rules or sins since it is not an organized belief system.
Why must some people always feel the need to be lead around by the nose? If anything I think atheism is about thinking for yourself and not become another mindless sheep in the flock.
2007-05-14 07:38:42 · answer #4 · answered by ndmagicman 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you are an atheist all that means is that you have no belief in an deity....it is not a religion...there are no rules...there are no sins...but most atheists are very moral, law abiding people...
Why do you want to change your beliefs? Please don't become an atheist just because you think it might be *cool*...it's more than that...I didn't just decide one day that I wanted to be an atheist...it was about a 10 year long journey...a time in which I studied the bible in great detail...I studied other religions...I became an atheist through gradual phases...it doesn't just happen overnight...
2007-05-14 07:35:12 · answer #5 · answered by Stormilutionist Chasealogist 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You don't have to follow any rules; just don't believe in any gods. It is not a religion; it is more of a philosophy. There are no sins but that doesn't excuse bad behavior. Do some serious reading and research before you make any decisions about what you truly believe. Good luck whatever you decide.
2007-05-14 07:32:06 · answer #6 · answered by carebear 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No, there are no special rules to follow. Just the laws of the country you live in.
There are no sins. Sin is meaningless without a judgemental deity.
You will most likely have a set of ethics that you have come up with. Some may be from society, some may be from yourself. If you break the laws of your country (murder, steal, etc) then you will be judged by that legal system. If you break you own ethics (lie, cheat, etc.) then the only one to judge you is you.
If you think your current belief is right, why would you change it? If you think it is wrong, why are you just 'considering'.?
2007-05-14 07:40:57 · answer #7 · answered by Simon T 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Atheism is not a religion. All it means is that one does not believe in a God or Gods. Buddhism is a religion but essentially atheistic, so atheist does not imply without religion. However most of the atheists here are of the breed that does not follow any doctrine or religious teachings and so would be described perhaps as an a-reglious atheist.
They do not believe in sin per se, as sin implies a wrong doing that was explicitly forbidden by a greater power, and that in doing these things we hurt him. However most atheists do have a sense of morality, we are not pyschopaths. Whereas religious theists get their morals from holy books and God's words, atheists have to be more cunning and create their own morals from axiomatically obvious concepts such as "incurring loss of choice is bad", and have to introspect and philosophise as to the best way to behave. I am agnostic, but I firmly believe that we do not need a God to teach us morality.
As for your changing beliefs, it is always good to self doubt and challenge your beliefs. It either causes you to sway from your position, in which case your beliefs were never right for you, or it consolidates your beliefs and your faith is set more firmly.
In terms of the amount to rememeber, atheism is much easier than Christianty! There is no doctrine.
2007-05-14 07:35:51 · answer #8 · answered by tom 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No, atheism is not a belief system. It is a status of a lack of belief in gods, primarily based on lack of evidence for and lack of reason to believe.
An atheist can be spiritual but not religious.
An atheist can also be religious but simply not believing in any particular god.
An atheist can be a part of any religion that does not require the belief in a god.
So there are no implied rules, sins, or other religious-type guidelines to follow in order to be an atheist.
You either stop believing in god(s) or never believe in god(s) at all, and that makes you an atheist.
If you are looking for an atheistic religion, I suggect buddhism or satanism.
2007-05-14 07:34:20 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Atheism is not a school or system of thought. It is simply a name for people who don't believe in God.
Many people come to Atheism through rational thought, most are empiricists, meaning they only believe in something that can be logically and rationally proven. Christians often think that you cannot be a moral person without God. This is not true. But I for one find the concept of sin to be very troubling. The exaggerated guilt and shame aspect of it unhealthy and wrong, in my opinion. You can be a moral and good person without believing in sin.
How can you change beliefs by choice? That makes no sense to me. Belief in God requires faith. There are no truly logical arguments that support God. You either have this faith or you do not. It make take some searching of yourself to find out what you really believe, but forcing yourself to believe a certain thing is dishonest.
2007-05-14 07:46:43 · answer #10 · answered by thesaintofelsewhere 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are no rules, no, other than simple common sense.
An atheist can follow the practices of nearly any religion or philosophy in the world. I'm a Taoist, myself.
But because I do not believe in a god, I am an atheist.
2007-05-14 07:44:49 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋