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Forums - General - To the Atheist members of vgchartz

Andrespetmonkey on 11 February 2013
TheLastStarFighter said:
Andrespetmonkey 4 minutes ago
TheLastStarFighter said:
Fascinating. A conversation with a devout atheist about said atheism is the same as a conversation with a devout person of any belief or other faith in an ideal. I learn so much from this site every day!

If this is referring to me, please don't label me a "devout" atheist. I've not labelled you once, and you have no clue what the full extent of my beliefs are. No need to get personal.

Are you an atheist?

Yeah... but I'm by no means devout about it. 

Look, I don't mind continuing the discussion but if you aren't going to participate and instead make vague, slightly condescending comments I'd rather we stop.



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Jay520 on 11 February 2013

I don't think I ever fully believed in Christianity. I believed in the basic things like there being a God, that Jesus lived, etc. But stories such as Noah's arch or Adam & Eve. I thought were just made up to teach people to be good. Eventually I started questioning some actions of the Christian God considering his supposed characteristics. Whenever I asked someone about my questions, I was always met with the "God works in mysterious ways" bullshit. I never thought too deeply about this stuff though because I thought God would punish me lol.

My faith in Christianity decreased more and more until I eventually disassociated myself from Christianity altogether as it made absolutely no sense. The same goes for all man-made religions. I still believed in some sort of higher power, but one that humans had no knowledge of it. Then I just lost belief in a higher power altogether after I realized there was no reason to believe in any of this stuff.



DanneSandin on 11 February 2013
Andrespetmonkey said:
TheLastStarFighter said:
Andrespetmonkey 4 minutes ago
TheLastStarFighter said:
Fascinating. A conversation with a devout atheist about said atheism is the same as a conversation with a devout person of any belief or other faith in an ideal. I learn so much from this site every day!

If this is referring to me, please don't label me a "devout" atheist. I've not labelled you once, and you have no clue what the full extent of my beliefs are. No need to get personal.

Are you an atheist?

Yeah... but I'm by no means devout about it. 

Look, I don't mind continuing the discussion but if you aren't going to participate and instead make vague, slightly condescending comments I'd rather we stop.

How can anybody be a DEVOUT atheist? that sounds pretty stupid... atheism is all but devoution



I'm on Twitter @DanneSandin!

Furthermore, I think VGChartz should add a "Like"-button.

Jay520 on 11 February 2013

 

Some people need to understand what atheism is 

Atheism/theism is completely different spectrum from agnostic/gnostic. Atheism and theism deals with what a person believes. Agnosticism deals with what a person knows (or at least what s/he think he knows). If you believe in God, then you are a theist. If you don't, then you are an atheist (which doesn't necessarily mean you believe God doesn't exist). If you believe you know whether God exist or doesn't exist, then you are gnostic. If you believe it's impossible to know, then you are agnostic.

Agnosticism isn't some middle ground be atheism and theism. Agnosticism is compatible with both atheism and theism. With that said, there are four categories that a person can fall into:

  • Gnostic Theist - A person who thinks there is enough information to know that at least one deity exists.
  • Agnostic Theist - A person who believes that at least one deity exists, but accepts that thre isn't enough information to know.
  • Agnostic Atheist - A person who does not believe in a deity, but accepts that there isn't enough information to know.
  • Explicit Atheist - A person who believes in the inexistance of a deity, but accepts that there isn't enough information to know.
  • Gnostic Atheist - A person who thinks there is enough information to know that no deity exists (This group is composed solely of explicit atheists). 

There's two types of atheists. One, those who explicitly assert that no deity exist. And then there's everyone else, those who simply do not believe in a God. 

To describe all atheists, the only definition acceptable is "those who lack a belief in a deity". Once you start referring to people who explicitly believe in the lack of a deity, then you're talking about a specific group of atheists who DO NOT represent all atheists. 


 



TheLastStarFighter on 11 February 2013
Andrespetmonkey 8 minutes ago
TheLastStarFighter said:
Andrespetmonkey 4 minutes ago
TheLastStarFighter said:
Fascinating. A conversation with a devout atheist about said atheism is the same as a conversation with a devout person of any belief or other faith in an ideal. I learn so much from this site every day!

If this is referring to me, please don't label me a "devout" atheist. I've not labelled you once, and you have no clue what the full extent of my beliefs are. No need to get personal.

Are you an atheist?

Yeah... but I'm by no means devout about it.

Look, I don't mind continuing the discussion but if you aren't going to participate and instead make vague, slightly condescending comments I'd rather we stop.

 

My statement was slightly condescending, yes.  But you are an atheist, and you believe the atheist mindset is the default mindset. It is the same for all who hold certain values, that they believe that their point of view is right.  Not just right for them, but right for all.  You have not made any nasty comments to people of other beliefs, but you have stated that your beliefs are the default, the natural.  You should be aware how similar this can look to an outsider to someone of Islamic faith claiming that the world is an Islamic world and others occupying are infadels, or a Christain preacher on Sunday saying that sinners on MTV are going to burn in hell in rapture.  I am not condemning anyone's views, least of all yours, but it is closed minded and unfounded to say that your belief is the default belief for all.  You can only know yourself, you can't see into the mind and hearts of others, espeically at birth.



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Faxanadu on 11 February 2013

Have been born and raised atheist. I generally do not talk about this part of personality as I do not really have an opinion on it. To each their own I guess. I just find people that try to convince others on this a bit strange. Fortunately, being from a western European country I have never met anyone trying to convince me otherwise.

Also, I am married to a catholic and this doesnt really pose a problem, as I let her do her thing on going to church (almost never) and praying (only when she is in a church worth it, e.g. visiting the church in Assisi, Saint Peters basilica, or Saint Pauls catherdral).



Any message from Faxanadu is written in good faith but shall neither be binding nor construed as constituting a commitment by Faxanadu except where provided for in a written agreement signed by an authorized representative of Faxanadu. This message is intended for the use of the forum members only.

The views expressed here may be personal and/or offensive and are not necessarily the views of Faxanadu.

Jay520 on 11 February 2013

People aren't born with any philosophical beliefs.
Belief in God is a philosophical belief.
People are born without a belief in God.
Atheism is the lack of belief in God.
Thus, people are born atheists.
Atheism is the default position for everyone.



DanneSandin on 11 February 2013
Jay520 said:

 

Some people need to understand what atheism is 

Atheism/theism is completely different spectrum from agnostic/gnostic. Atheism and theism deals with what a person believes. Agnosticism deals with what a person knows (or at least what s/he think he knows). If you believe in God, then you are a theist. If you don't, then you are an atheist (which doesn't necessarily mean you believe God doesn't exist). If you believe you know whether God exist or doesn't exist, then you are gnostic. If you believe it's impossible to know, then you are agnostic.

Agnosticism isn't some middle ground be atheism and theism. Agnosticism is compatible with both atheism and theism. With that said, there are four categories that a person can fall into:

  • Gnostic Theist - A person who thinks there is enough information to know that at least one deity exists.
  • Agnostic Theist - A person who believes that at least one deity exists, but accepts that thre isn't enough information to know.
  • Agnostic Atheist - A person who does not believe in a deity, but accepts that there isn't enough information to know.
  • Explicit Atheist - A person who believes in the inexistance of a deity, but accepts that there isn't enough information to know.
  • Gnostic Atheist - A person who thinks there is enough information to know that no deity exists (This group is composed solely of explicit atheists). 

There's two types of atheists. One, those who explicitly assert that no deity exist. And then there's everyone else, those who simply do not believe in a God. 

To describe all atheists, the only definition acceptable is "those who lack a belief in a deity". Once you start referring to people who explicitly believe in the lack of a deity, then you're talking about a specific group of atheists who DO NOT represent all atheists. 


 

A truly great post that really explains it all very well!



I'm on Twitter @DanneSandin!

Furthermore, I think VGChartz should add a "Like"-button.

DanneSandin on 11 February 2013
Jay520 said:
People aren't born with any philosophical beliefs.
Belief in God is a philosophical belief.
People are born without a belief in God.
Atheism is the lack of belief in God.
Thus, people are born atheists.
Atheism is the default position for everyone.

You should have quoted starfighter with this so he sees it. Yet again a great post. You're on fire!



I'm on Twitter @DanneSandin!

Furthermore, I think VGChartz should add a "Like"-button.

Faxanadu on 11 February 2013
Runa216 said:
I grew up. When I was ...

Proof or it didnt happen.



Any message from Faxanadu is written in good faith but shall neither be binding nor construed as constituting a commitment by Faxanadu except where provided for in a written agreement signed by an authorized representative of Faxanadu. This message is intended for the use of the forum members only.

The views expressed here may be personal and/or offensive and are not necessarily the views of Faxanadu.