Bland theism vs religion (question for atheists)?

Question

Do you ever confuse the two? As an atheist I see myself doing this sometimes. There is a big difference between saying "there is a creator, but just because he created the universe doesn't necessarily mean he's omnipotent, omniscient, or omnibenevolent, just that he's capable of creating" and saying "there is a god whom I have a personal relationship with, he looks out for me and talks to me, and he wants me to praise him"

The first one is almost reasonable, although I still don't believe it, and the second one (IMO) is baseless and arrogant. The first one isn't really enough to build a religion off of because it's so bland that there's really no point in worshipping this entity.

I think atheists are doing ourselves a disservice when we blur the distinction between the two and someone who takes the more bland approach will justifiably get defensive when we do.

Can this bland approach exist without religion? What reason other than faith can one have to suspect a creator?

Yes the first one is essentially deism.

I know it's a fairy tale and that's exacly the point. What reason, other than the end result of indoctrination that begins when you are but a baby, can one have to believe there is a creative intelligence? I'm not so sure there is one.

Answer 1

I definitely see the difference between deism and theism. I don't have a problem with deists, chiefly because they tend to NOT try to force their beliefs on others, condemn others for their beliefs, or institute their beliefs as governmental policies or laws.

As for reasons other than faith - I suppose a person being unable to accept "the gaps" (those we refer to when we talk about "the god of the gaps") might choose deism. I've known a few deists and I never pushed the issue, but based on conversations with them, that seemed to be their reason for believing as they did.

It's a good idea for a person who has a hard time with "the gaps" to read books such as Climbing Mount Improbable by Richard Dawkins - it really helps you to understand that "gaps" aren't really that wide.

Answer 2

I'm not atheist - but I found your question interesting.

There's some things that happen in life that IMHO Science can't answer... Don't get me wrong - I love science, and all it does for humanity - and I feel I'm a very logical person - I'm a programmer, and logic and reason are things I value.

I just feel that there is a spiritual nature to us all - something there that isn't quite physical.

It's hard for me to swallow that jews, muslims, christians, buddhists, hindus, etc... all across the world are all just wasting time by feeling there is a supreme force, god, etc...

However you picture this force or god in your mind is personal.... spiritual. When I mediate or pray - I do feel something. There is evidence. There is reason. I can't prove it with current scientific rules, but I can't dismiss the spiritual evidence I feel.

Why are so many saying I'm believing in a fairy tale just because I can't prove it scientifically? I totally see the atheist point of view... it's quite logical actually - but I don't agree with it. Why can't I get the same respect and benefit of the doubt that I do have reasons to believe in God?

Answer 3

Perhaps, but I'm not really concerned with religion per say, but I am concerned when religion tries to affect how society is or what is taught as science or reality.

I guess the point is, I don't care what you believe, bland or not, but I do care if your beliefs become the foundation for irrational hatred, "moral" laws, or ignorance passed off as knowledge.

Answer 4

I have always been of the opinion that there must be a "supreme" being in the known universe. That does not necessarily mean he made the univers though. I don't know iif the Universe was made or not, but this I do know, regardless of that, creation does not merit worship.

Answer 5

it quite is much less ask your self than ask your self and problem. they're stressful individuals to 3 volume: they see people who can function, and overall performance properly, without faith. Even the bare threat diminishes the magnitude of their ideals, because of the fact it skill that faith isn't genuinely had to stay. It opens the door to the unsightly threat that, perhaps, faith is invalid. fairly some non secular people entertain the thought that without faith, or, without the thought in a god, existence could desire to be bleak, hopeless and desperate. whilst they're confronted with the actual incorrectness of this thought, they sense form of robbed. in spite of everything, faith, regardless of its advantages, does contain a cost. You do resign a piece of freedom. it may desire to be the kind of freedom you do no longer desire or perhaps desire, yet people instinctively dislike any dilemma to their own freedom of action. Atheists have not got any theoretical barriers. None in any respect. basically functional ones. properly, and those placed upon us by applying billions of years of evolution interior the kind of social instinct and precis intelligence. The scariest awareness for a non secular guy or woman whilst confronted with an atheist could be, i think of, that there quite isn't that a good number of a difference. properly, in certainty, it form of feels there's a difference. Japan, that's practically fullyyt functionally atheistic (maximum persons are the two Shintoists or Buddhists, or the two, yet no longer fanatically so; approximately 2 per cent of the eastern are Christians, and, I think of, no longer fanatically so), has a plenty decrease crime fee (approximately 4 to 5 cases decrease as regards violent crimes) than the united states of a, the place 3 quarters of the inhabitants claims to be Christian. even although the inhabitants density is plenty greater in Japan. One is compelled to end from this that the two the eastern persons are innately plenty, plenty greater advantageous people than US electorate, being some distance much less probably to devote against the regulation regardless of being atheists, or Christianity has no longer precisely made US electorate greater regulation-abiding. this could desire to be tremendously stunning to a believer. So, i think they instinctively shrink far off from atheists.

Answer 6

The scope of the fairy tale does not make it any less of a fairy tale. If someone believes in a simple fairy tale versus a very complex one, does not change the fact that they are believing in fiction instead of reality.

Answer 7

The first one is deist, isn't it? I agree, the distinction is important.

I've asked deists about their views on ID, but all I get are Fundies chiming in.

Answer 8

Do you mean bland or blind?

Answer 9

ATHEISTS CAN GO SUCK THEIR SOCKS!