Do Christians mistake atheism for nihilism?

Question

I quote this answer from a question I posted moments ago:

"Dismiss what beliefs? As an atheist, you believe in nothing. I don't know how to take "nothing" seriously. If you believe there is no God, then fine. But how do you expect people to take your beliefs seriously when you don't believe in anything spiritually?"

Atheism is, by definition, a lack of belief in God(s)/deities. This does not insinuate that we believe in nothing or hold no beliefs what so ever. I, personally, am a spiritual atheist. The Buddhist religion is a non-theistic religion but still holds spiritual beliefs for example. Do you think that simply because we do not prescribe to religious dogma or believe in personal gods and deities that we hold no beliefs at all?

It seems that many confuse atheism with nihilism. Please read the below definitions:

ni·hil·ism –noun
1. total rejection of established laws and institutions.
2. anarchy, terrorism, or other revolutionary activity.
3. total and absolute destructiveness, esp. toward the world at large and including oneself: the power-mad nihilism that marked Hitler's last years.
4. Philosophy. a. an extreme form of skepticism: the denial of all real existence or the possibility of an objective basis for truth.
b. nothingness or nonexistence.

a·the·ism –noun
1. the belief that there is no God.
2. disbelief in the existence of a supreme being or beings.

I am not suggesting that all atheists have spiritual beliefs but it is incorrect to assume that no atheists have spiritual beliefs. The only thing that links us together as a group is a lack of belief in supreme beings.

Answer 1

I'm a spiritual atheist also (Taoist).

What I think it is, is that since their faith is the basis of of their entire reality, they can't imagine anything else being there if it was gone. Take away the foundation of all their perception and everything comes crashing down with it.

But surprisingly enough, atheists don't turn into homicidal maniacs or lack meaning in our lives without their particular brand of faith... we simply go on, because there is in fact a lot there, as you well know.

Answer 2

Look, it doesn't matter what false religion, cult, or cultic belief one subscribes to. There is only One truth, not many. The God of the Bible does what no other so-called god attempts to do - He accurately predicts the future 100% of the time and He put His predictions in writing. If what He says is contradicted by some other so-called god, false religion, cult, or cultic belief, He is NOT the one that is wrong. He has proven Himself.

Most worldly people worship money, so let me use a money analogy: If something has a real value of twenty dollars and someone wants to buy it, but they only have one dollar and fifty three cents, one would not normally be able to buy the thing that costs twenty dollars. One can however buy something that has a value equal to or lesser than what they have in their pocket. False religions, cults and cultic beliefs say to us, "Here is something that is exactly the same as Christianity and has exactly the same value." Then they are willing to sell it to us for fifty three cents. It is obviously a cheap fake - A knock-off of the real thing.

Want to know how to recognize a fake? Get to know the REAL thing personally. Handle it daily. Look closely at it and study it. Then when the fake pops up it will be recognizable instantly. That's the principle the U.S. Secret Service uses to train its personnel how to spot fake money. They don't study the fake in order to recognize the fake, they study the REAL thing in order to spot the fake.

You can understand this if you are willing.

Answer 3

uhhh, in re 'posted answer', it should come as no surprise that bone-heads exist.

"Belief" is often a private type of thing. Maybe, the more "public" belief-things become, the less sincere they become.

"chest-thumping" is not always "honest"

Maybe it should come as no surprise that few people receive 'spiritual' development help from any institution.
Spiritual skill-sets are exceedingly rare.

caveat: just my opinion based on decades of experience

"rah-rah, go team fight" doesn't rate very high on the "skill-set" scale tha I'm using here.

Answer 4

Um as a christian kid I just want to state that I dont get along with most religious folk.

haha ok

heres an easy way to look at it.

Theist means: God made everything.
Atheist means: No God.
Pantheist: God is everything.
Gnostic:Knowledge.
Agnostic: No knowledge.

But yea Atheist do have their own beliefs just not in God.

=]

Answer 5

Pretty much every hour, there's at least one shining example of a Christian mistaking atheism for something it's not.

Nihilism is just one of many.

Answer 6

A lot of them do, yes.
I've seen that "atheists believe in nothing" line quite a few times on this forum.

Answer 7

It's a good point you're making but I actually think that a lot of atheists here mistake Atheism for Nihlism... It may happen both ways though...

Answer 8

Many Christians don't have a clue what atheism is. I can say this, because they always ask me: "Why do you hate God?"

Answer 9

no...I only have 3 groups "Christian, Non-Christian, and then Non-believer"

.....I wonder if it is some of the "atheists" who might miss the definition.

Answer 10

As I've read from others, and have stated before, I'm amazed at how much time is spent on something you don't believe in.