Is it denying atheists an identity when people who believe in souls call themselves atheist?

Question

Christians have a whole lot of sub groups they can fall into, and can identify their beliefs quite quickly with a title.

But when buddhists and the like start saying "Hey we're atheists too!", what is left for the rest of us atheists to identify ourselves?

Why can't buddhists just call themselves buddhists?

Is there a specific term for "Atheist who dosn't believe in souls, or an afterlife, or reincarnation"?

Kallan............The problem to me is that it opens up the potential for confusion in the debate. I understand that labels aren't what make the person, but they do help define an argument. I can think of times when you've pointed out in answers your pagan or wiccan labels. Once those words are used, they create an understanding of where you are coming from. I think an atheist who believes in a soul can cause great confusion in here.

Answer 1

The only thing all Atheists have in common is that we don't believe in God or a Higher Power.

The rest is individual.

Answer 2

I never heard or saw a Buddhist call themselves atheist. Actually don't some believe that the first Buddha was God incarnated? Doesn't matter.

What is with all this label crap anyway? I don't fit any one label and i am just me.

Answer 3

Why are labels so important to you? The definition of an atheist is one that does not believe in any sort of god.

That could encompass quite a few people.

To start arguing as to who is truly an atheist opens the door for the True Scotsman argument the christians like to use so much.

Edit: Ah okay, I see your point in this. It can cause confusion, just as saying one is pagan can.. the umbrella of paganism is large. It also can be confusing with different denominations of 'christian'. Perhaps by our q&a, we should be sure to clarify our beliefs?

Answer 4

You're right. There are many varieties of atheism. The only common thread is not believing in God. Even though churches branch off and form little groups, there is no universal agreement in any church. However, they feel more need to classify themselves because they believe they are trying to win a ticket to heaven. We don't feel a need to go to such lengths because atheism is neither a religion nor lifestyle.

Answer 5

Why would you want such a restrictive "label" for yourself?

Why not just be you?

One of the reasons people embrace atheism is to escape the herd-like tendencies of organized religion--why, then would you want to simply join another herd called (big "A") "Atheism".

Atheism is a description of one aspect of an otherwise wide-ranging group--it really only has relevance when discussing spiritual topics (unless you want to start organizing "athiest" cooking classes, sports teams, or credit unions).

Answer 6

No. God is only an imaginary being created by employing primitive guy to describe the unknown. non secular companies use god of their pyramid scheme to lie to gullible human beings because of the fact those human beings have worry, uncertainty and doubt approximately existence/dying. each and every thing are created by employing potential launch from the super bang. each and every residing element are created by employing potential in the process the evolution technique. Human superior from a single cellular residing organism. as a result human physique includes thousands and thousands of cells. potential can not be created or destroyed even though it somewhat is recycled and reuse. Reincarnation is the recycled and reuse of this potential. existence is persevered and supported by employing potential and whilst dying happens, the potential are reincarnated for yet another existence cycle. Nature is the ambience or fact the place person stay in. although, human beings know-how created illusions base on their interpretation of fact. motives why human harm nature is by technique of the fact they're attempting to interrupt unfastened from nature/fact and pass in direction of their phantasm of a acceptable international (utopia,heaven).

Answer 7

Atheists can be spiritualists like Sam Harris. Atheists can believe in UFOs, crop circles.

Atheists by definition do not believe in "Gods". That's it.

But most of Atheists I know don't believe in anything supernatural and are the most intelligent people I've ever known.

Answer 8

I can't see that it affects me at all. It's not as if atheists are a community or resemble each other in beliefs in any way but one, whatever the theists think.

Answer 9

Yeah, Buddhists are Buddists, the term "Atheist" is thrown around to much these days, alot of people who call themselves "atheists" are actually agnostic.

Answer 10

Yes. Atheist.

Those who believe in the supernatural are not atheists.