I was just speaking with my friend, who defines himself as a "true atheist", because "not only don’t I believe in a 'god' or Supreme Being, but I don’t believe in souls, miracles, interconnectivity of any species, or any of that BS".....
Now, I'm sorry. I know a lot of "spiritual" people who say they are atheists... Is there such a thing as "true atheism" or is my friend just talking out his butt?
2007-10-10 03:54:46 · 26 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Cooper...
That's what I'm trying to find out. I told him I know of people who belive in certain spirirtual things, but are atheists. He stated they are "definitely not atheists". I think he's wrong, but I wanted to know what others thought as well.
2007-10-10 07:22:52 · update #1
See, people who are atheist or agnostic, aren't part of an "organization". It is a label only. So, there is no such thing as a "true atheist" since there aren't a set of guidelines for what a "true atheist" is or is not!
There are varying beliefs in all people in regard to their faith or lack thereof. From what you said, It seems he has a problem with those that call themselves atheist but are still spiritual in some way. It almost sounds as if he was once religious or had it pushed upon him, and now is atheist. You often hear people say theirs is the "true" religion. Seems he has a some subconscious residuals leftover from his past religious experiences for him to say he is a "true" atheist... as if atheism is a religion.
I'm sure as you've witnessed with your atheist and religious friends, everyone can be adamant about their beliefs being more true then anothers. He is just expressing this through those words to make it sound "bigger" or "better". We all do it at one time or another.
2007-10-10 05:16:37 · answer #1 · answered by I, Sapient 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
An atheist is someone who does not believe in god(s). Atheists may or may not be spiritual. There is no such thing as a "true atheism" or "false atheism" - but there are different levels of atheism.
2007-10-10 04:00:17 · answer #2 · answered by qxzqxzqxz 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
He's talking out his butt. The word Atheist means, quite literally, "without god". Your friend is a skeptic to be true, but there is no such thing as "true Atheism.
2007-10-10 03:58:09 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 0⤋
I guess that is his own personal definition. There are many atheists who do not believe in anything supernatural. I would say that your friend is both a skeptic and an atheist. Many atheists are both skeptics and atheists.
Ask him if he believes in the Lock Ness Monster or Bigfoot or Aliens. I am just kind of curious to see if his skepticism is working on all levels or if he is selectively skeptical.
2007-10-10 03:59:45 · answer #4 · answered by A.Mercer 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Your friend is just talking out his butt. All atheism means is not believing in a god. The rest varies among atheists.
2007-10-10 04:33:02 · answer #5 · answered by Linz ♥ VT 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
If your friend wants to call himself a True Atheist with those definitions in mind to define the term, then why not allow him that right?
I notice that some Atheists are against the guy defining himself that way!
Remarkable!!!!
And I suppose that those Atheists define themselves by the dictionary definition and then leave it there? NO! They don't!
They make definitions about themselves in addition to that all the time here on Yahoo!Answers!
They give links to places that explain those other definitions, they attempt to draw in Christians and others into their 'fold' by appealing to this supposed superior mentality, they come here faithfully to do so. A religious section, mind you.
So look at every Atheist who said that your friend was wrong to redefine what he is; every single one of them are the personification of what a hypocrite is.
Really, that might be giving them too much credit. The ones who come here tend to be the shallowest of thinkers, they just don't think that far ahead.
2007-10-10 04:24:36 · answer #6 · answered by Christian Sinner 7 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Atheism is the lack of belief in gods or deities.Anything else is irrelevent.
There are many atheists on here who consider themselves spiritual that doesn't make them any less of an atheist.
2007-10-10 03:58:32 · answer #7 · answered by darwinsfriend AM 5 · 6⤊ 0⤋
This is how you can identify a true Atheist, they have no axe to grind against any religion and it causes them no anxiety.
The pseudo-atheist on the other hand is not like this,they are just angry people who use Atheism as an umbrella and platform to sound off.
I think that genuine Atheists would agree with this answer but the angry brigade will react with their usual degree of anger.
2007-10-10 04:01:54 · answer #8 · answered by Sentinel 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
There are different degrees of atheism. There are no true or untrue atheists, however. There are no set of guidelines or morals that one must abide by to be considered an atheist. All one must do is not believe in the gods of this world.
2007-10-10 03:58:35 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
He's talking out of his butt. Atheist just means one who doesn't believe in a God(s). Strict empiricist naturalists don't believe in souls, miracles etc. Many atheists are both, but not all of us are.
2007-10-10 03:58:30 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 0⤋