2007-06-15 14:12:20 · 19 answers · asked by toietmoi 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Atheism, per se, cannot possibly be dogmatic since it demands nothing further than itself. The "Church of Atheism", if you will, has no demands on its members, other than that they are members. This is just a tautology.
Is atheism a dogma of some institution?
Many scientists do treat atheism as dogma. They will insist with great zeal that the only valid truths are scientific truths, that the existence of god is not a scientific truth, and use these as an excuse to excoriate the religious. See these pages for examples of such behaviour.
What stops science itself being dogmatic in this regard is that it has no central authority which can pronounce gospel and denounce heresy.
Is atheism a belief? Yes.
There has certainly been no scientific proof thus far as to the non-existence of god. If you disagree, perhaps you'd care to cite the paper. The philosopical arguments against god commit various fallacies of one form or another, usually by confusing the unknown god with a particular God.
The existence and nonexistence of god are both axiomatic; anyone who seeks to prove or disprove either is wasting their time.
2007-06-17 10:23:36 · answer #1 · answered by John Dee 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Check out "My Life Without God", by William Murray. He is the son of Madeline Murray O'Hare. May shed some light on the subject.
As far as my life's experience has shown me, atheism is a dogma. It is the dogma of self, nature or science worship. It is the dogma which insists there is no God or gods. It is a dogma which tells believers they are fools and fantasizers. They have faith in themselves, science and logic. So, for a bunch who say they don't believe in a god, they seem to have several.
2007-06-15 21:16:30 · answer #2 · answered by TroothBTold 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is NO dogma in atheism because it is not an "organized" sub-culture, silly! "Atheism" isn't a club, like Christianity or Catholicism or Seventh Day Adventism! Atheism is just an understanding.
2007-06-15 21:17:52 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Have you looked up "dogma" in a dictionary? Its a term relating to religion, so no. Atheism is lack of belief and individual, not a structured set of beliefs people are pushed to follow.
2007-06-15 21:22:02 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. I am an atheist, but I am absolutely not dogmatic. I respect the beliefs of others- my partner is a devout and practising catholic, and our difference in belief causes no problem.
I am, in fact, very much against dogma in all it's forms. Therefore if atheism can comfortably accommodate my belief system (and it can) it is not in itself dogmatic.
2007-06-15 21:22:50 · answer #5 · answered by nealo d 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Atheism is the 'anti'-dogma.
2007-06-15 21:16:28 · answer #6 · answered by The Walkin Dude 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's freethought. That's the opposite of dogma.
Dogma: 1 a : something held as an established opinion; especially : a definite authoritative tenet b : a code of such tenets
2 : a doctrine or body of doctrines concerning faith or morals formally stated and authoritatively proclaimed by a church
freethinker: : one who forms opinions on the basis of reason independently of authority; especially : one who doubts or denies religious dogma
2007-06-15 21:15:31 · answer #7 · answered by Laptop Jesus 3.9 7 · 6⤊ 0⤋
There is NO concensus of belief in Atheism. There is NO concensus at all in Atheism, other than a disbelief in the existance of gods.
One concensus of disbelief is not dogma, neither is it a cult.
2007-06-15 21:17:20 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Absolutely not. Atheism is not a religion. It's the belief of the certainty of their philosophy.
2007-06-15 21:16:30 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Regardless of opinions to the contrary, there is a belief involved. But, I would not necessarily call that a dogma.
2007-06-15 21:15:45 · answer #10 · answered by The GMC 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋