Am I an Atheist?

Question

I am a strong believer, but somehow not able to visualize the institution of religion with God. I believe, a religion is more of a tradition we follow varying according to geographical reasons (or is it obligatory?). Am I an Atheist?

Answer 1

Atheist: one who believes that there is no deity.

Agnostic: one who believes that the evidence for and against the existence of God is inconclusive... one who questions religious or spiritual beliefs, and who may choose not to claim any system of knowledge, One who holds the theory that God is unknown or unknowable.

You are Agnostic and in my limited experience, that belief seems to be shared by more and more people as the time goes by.
Most people, it seems are most bothered by the concept of organized religion. Others have had bad experiences, which jade them. And still others have simply had no guidance in spiritual matters.

But organization is a marvelous thing. A whole lot of people who ascribe to Christian beliefs think there are many different beliefs which "all lead to the same place". "One God, many names, many roads, one reward." is a very common belief.
But is that possible? Is God Ra, Allah, Jehovah, Isis? What do each of those teach? It makes my head spin lol.

Even in Christianity, there is one Bible but many beliefs. Some say all good people go to heaven, some say Hell is for the bad, others say the complete opposite. No wonder there's confusion!

My email is always open for further discussion.

Answer 2

No. You're a strong believer so no, having so much faith in what is not real means you're a theist.

If you realise that as religion is just a tradition - and always steals from earlier myths, and begin to see what that implies about the reality of things described in that religion - when you start to ask for evidence and stop believing like a small child, maybe then you'll be an atheist.

Answer 3

the Magic eight ball says try back another time.... no just joshing..

No your not, that makes you a non traditionalist only. Not an Atheist. An Atheist does not believe in God. Pagans believe in many Gods and Agnostics question everything.

SO you are either a mono theist and believe in one god, a poly theist and believe in more than one or an Atheist and believe in No god or gods. Those are the options.

Faith & spirituality do not require organization and a church for you to believe. That is all in your heart and self belief.

For me it is mother Earth but that is irrelevant. No Id not call you an Atheist, Id consider you a non trad Christian, meaning more laid back and usually open minded too!

Answer 4

It's hard to define you from your short description, but why would you be so eager to do so? You seem to still be exploring possibilities, and I encourage you to to search for the answers you seek. For me, this meant reading the sacred texts of various religions, studying my environment, and concluding none of it was absolute. So I label myself agnostic - I do not know if there is a god, or gods, and I believe it is impossible for anyone to know given the current information around us.

Atheists reject gods with reckless abandon, so while there is some room for spirituality, there is none for God. If you believe in God but do not believe any of the church institutions are as perfect as they make themselves out to be, you are still faithful to that God (perhaps moreso than some denominations).

Geography has a lot to do with it, as does establishment and upbringing. However, religion does escape these bounds. I live in a modest-sized community, surrounded on all sides by rural/Christian dominated country, but just down the street there is a synagogue, a Tibetan monk/cultural center, and a mosque (along with churches of course). There are a lot of practicing Hindis around here as well.

Answer 5

You are right in your perceptions. There's over 3,000 different religions and cults all teaching different man- made doctrines. Man teaches religion as they see fit to place all the add ons they can that amount to a hill of beans. Most Christan's celebrate Christmas not knowing it's a pagan holiday, Easter follows... You are like me having no part to do with organize religion that has lied to man- kind, that prey upon their children, pedophiles, big business religion that has blinded the masses to their own doom.

Answer 6

It is discovered through who you ask. Your idea was published in a newsletter through utilising Sam Harris known as "Letter To A Christian Nation". He thinks very similar to you that Atheist is a word for you to need to not exist. If you ask a brand new Atheist, they'll permit you to recognize Atheist procedure one fairly functional component and not anything else. The predicament is they are lying. They're re-inventing truth. Truely, dictionaries disagree at the definition. So if a few New Atheist comes along and tells you it handiest method one functional component, who is mendacity? Dictionaries or the brand new Atheist? Atheist is a phrase invented in 5th century B.C. Greece. It was used to convict Socrates. He refused to good identified the Greek gods as precious of compliment. For this intent, they killed him. I will link you to a satisfactory ebook at the subject. It was once as soon as written by way of a character who was putting jointly a dictionary of religious terms in 1922. "Atheism In Pagan Antiquity".

Answer 7

"Atheist" means "no belief in deity". That's ALL the term means, period.

If you believe in God, then by definition, no: you are not an atheist. Your view on religion is irrelevant in this regard.

(It's worth noting that contrary to popular belief, not all atheists fully reject religion. There are some non-theistic religions out there.)

EDIT: I see people saying that you're an agnostic. I don't know how they conclude this. An agnostic is somebody who firmly believes that the existence of God is unknowable and unprovable.

Answer 8

I think you are not an atheist because you you have a strong believe.I think you are a doubtful man because you confuse for selecting the best one religion.Please you study and understand the certain religion in depth such as comparatively between christianity and islam which one is better..By understanding it you will have a firm decision to choose one.and you are no doubt anymore.

Answer 9

no, atheists dont view religion as a tradition and they dont believe in god. You have your own understanding of religion and there is nothing wrong with that.

Answer 10

No religion is not an obligation...plenty of people are believers without being involved in any religion, which are man made. If you still believe in a god, then you are not one of us.