Christopher Hitchens (1949-2011)

[Brewtus]

I am for sure.

So what religion is someone who does not believe in Poseidon?

 

[AKAK]

So what religion is someone who does not believe in Poseidon?

Hackmanist.

 

[Brewtus]

Hackmanist.

All hail the almighty, Gene Hackman!

 

[buckeyegrad]

I would agree that atheism is not a religion, although there is a current militant strand that certainly is dogmatic in its views. However, atheism would be considered a faith.

I would bet that you are atheist towards thousands of gods that mankind has worshiped over history, are you saying that somehow you are part of some religious organization with regard to non-belief in those gods?

Interesting comment considering that Christians were once considered atheists due to their lack of belief in the Roman pantheon.

 

[buckeyegrad]

Actually, science is only viewed as "dogmatic and totalitarian" by people who either don't understand the meaning of the word, or simply choose to misuse it (often for religious and/or political purposes).

Am I the only one who finds this comment highly ironic considering Jake's crusade against scientists' claims on global warming?

 

[Brewtus]

I would agree that atheism is not a religion, although there is a current militant strand that certainly is dogmatic in its views. However, atheism would be considered a faith.

I don't agree with atheists who deny the existence of a god with 100% certainty. I don't see how anyone can be 100% certain about the non-existence (or existence) of anything. However, mainstream atheism is not a faith (belief without evidence) since it's not a belief in anything - it's lack of belief. No different than saying that not believing in fairies or Leprechauns would be considered a faith.

Interesting comment considering that Christians were once considered atheists due to their lack of belief in the Roman pantheon.

Roman ignorance about the definition of "atheist" doesn't make their claim true.

 

[MaxBuck]

Like any other word, the connotations associated with the word "atheism" are subject to interpretation.

In my experience, those who characterize themselves as "atheists" typically comport themselves similarly to those who characterize themselves as "Hasidic," "Pentacostal," or "Sunni." In other words, they have the One True Vision of Reality, including the identity of the Deity (or non-identity as it were). Many atheists seem to have an evangelical zeal comparable to most Christian fundamentalists. We may have observed this once or twice on this message board.

These behavior patterns speak to me of religion. You're free to disagree, but disagreement doesn't invalidate my point of view.

 

[Gatorubet]

You're free to disagree, but disagreement doesn't invalidate my point of view.

Don't tell us what not to invalidate.

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

I don't agree with atheists who deny the existence of a god with 100% certainty. I don't see how anyone can be 100% certain about the non-existence (or existence) of anything.

Depends on what you're denying. If you're denying the existence of a single, all-powerful, all-knowing, omni-present being who looks human, I don't see how someone couldn't deny that specific entity with 100% certainty if they chose to. On the other hand, denying the existence of any sort of entity that has been around essentially forever and will likely never perish can't reasonably be done with 100% certainty because it is too broad...

 

[jwinslow]

Depends on what you're denying. If you're denying the existence of a single, all-powerful, all-knowing, omni-present being who looks human, I don't see how someone couldn't deny that specific entity with 100% certainty if they chose to. On the other hand, denying the existence of any sort of entity that has been around essentially forever and will likely never perish can't reasonably be done with 100% certainty because it is too broad...

humans can convince themselves of many things they don't actually know. I don't see how either of those can be logically dismissed with absolute certainty.

conclusions can be made on the limited info we have, sure, but the near or complete certainty humans have about God? That doesn't come from indisputable facts.

 

[buckeyegrad]

However, mainstream atheism is not a faith (belief without evidence) since it's not a belief in anything - it's lack of belief. No different than saying that not believing in fairies or Leprechauns would be considered a faith.

Disagree very much with this statement.

No serious theologian or philosopher would agree with the definition of faith being belief without evidence. A much more common definition of faith is that it is the interpretive lens through which we understand our relationship to others and a center of values and/or power.

Atheism as a definition is only a lack of belief in god(s). Derived from a=without, theus=god. Thus, an atheist can believe in spiritual existence or transcendence of the physical; just not a personal deity. To deny the existence of anything spiritual would typically fall under the category of materialism or naturalism.

 

[Gatorubet]

Thus, an atheist can believe in spiritual existence or transcendence of the physical; just not a personal deity.
To deny the existence of anything spiritual would typically fall under the category of materialism or naturalism.

Mr. buckeyegrad...you use your tongue prettier than a twenty dollar whore.

 

[MaxBuck]

So what religion is someone who does not believe in Poseidon?

Isn't that one of the tenets of Spoonerism?

 

[greatwhitenorth]

Like any other word, the connotations associated with the word "atheism" are subject to interpretation.

In my experience, those who characterize themselves as "atheists" typically comport themselves similarly to those who characterize themselves as "Hasidic," "Pentacostal," or "Sunni." In other words, they have the One True Vision of Reality, including the identity of the Deity (or non-identity as it were). Many atheists seem to have an evangelical zeal comparable to most Christian fundamentalists. We may have observed this once or twice on this message board.

These behavior patterns speak to me of religion. You're free to disagree, but disagreement doesn't invalidate my point of view.

This assumption is based on what facts? Certainly people such as Hitchens and Dawkins would fit into your assumptions but thats the same as me assuming the Pat Robertsons, etc... represent the opinions and beliefs of all christians. Really anyone how becomes famous based on their beliefs system regarding the existence of god either way is dogmatic in their views and doesn't really reflect the exact views of the general population.

 

[AKAK]

Damn, I was clicking on this thread hoping to find the Hitchens had been resurrected, or at least zombified. That would be funny.