Religion
Related: About this forumAtheism Is Not a Philosophy.
It is merely a statement: "I do not believe that any deity or deities exist."
From that statement, nothing follows. Atheists may adhere to any philosophical principles they wish, and they do exactly that. They have a full range of political beliefs, as well.
One can make no assumptions about atheists, since atheism is simply disbelief of the existence of deities. Beyond that, the label of atheism tells you virtually nothing about an individual atheist.
LakeArenal
(28,836 posts)People love explaining to me what I dont believe. Drives me crazy!
Simply: I dont believe in divinity. Thats it.
MineralMan
(146,325 posts)rurallib
(62,441 posts)And no set of beliefs flow from that statement, no matter how much believers want it so.
Believers seem to want atheists to fit in some box so they can attack them. Sorry folks - no can do.
MineralMan
(146,325 posts)TlalocW
(15,388 posts)Starts going off on evolution, big-bang, different moral systems, etc. It's fun to let them go for a while then ask them, "What does any of that have to do with atheism, which is just a rejection of claims that gods exist?" You can see it in their deflating faces that their arguments rely on putting an atheist into a box with x, y, and z characteristics.
TlalocW
Lordquinton
(7,886 posts)The political views one. Atheists are overwhelmingly liberal. In any poll having to deal with the intersection of religion and politics atheists are the biggest block the left has.
Of course if you listen to anyone talking about it we're mostly conservative MRA types, but you have to ignore any sort of real evidence to make that claim.
edhopper
(33,606 posts)and Humanist in philosophy.
They are also usually smart and good looking
But those characteristics are not integral to Atheism, which is just lack of belief.
Lordquinton
(7,886 posts)There aren't any true descriptors, but you can still make predictions. And we are far too often thrown under the bus when it comes to politics, so it's good to bring it up whenever possible.
edhopper
(33,606 posts)Lordquinton
(7,886 posts)( ^_^)b
MineralMan
(146,325 posts)Because Ayn Rand and many others. Certainly the atheists hanging around DU are liberals, at least most of them. It's possible that most atheists in the United States are liberals, but I don't know, really. However, I doubt that atheists are "overwhelmingly" liberal. It would be interesting to see some statistics on that, both in the US and globally.
Lordquinton
(7,886 posts)US based, political website, I was going from that angle. You can look at any research and find that the largest liberal voting block, by percentage, is atheists (or probably labeled nones, but that still counts!)
Once you get outside the US all the definitions break down.
Like I said above, lost in the semiotics.
Voltaire2
(13,119 posts)marylandblue
(12,344 posts)It's a conclusion you drew based on evidence or lack thereof, right? But how you think about that evidence is a consequence of your personal approach to life. I'd guess that most atheists put a lot of faith in the scientific method and the need for hard evidence before accepting something. They are less likely to accept arguments from authority or from popularity than the average. They are more likely to be skeptical in general. There could be other philosophical that make one more predisposed to atheism.
Voltaire2
(13,119 posts)But still it is simply the absence of belief in any gods.
MineralMan
(146,325 posts)it necessarily lead to any particular philosophical positions.
Major Nikon
(36,827 posts)All atheists reject the belief in deities. Thats all thats required to fit the definition.
Some atheists go one step farther and believe there are no deities, but that isnt the same thing.
I reject the belief in the abominable snowman. If someone comes up with convincing evidence I am certainly willing to change my mind based on new evidence. Until then I see no need to be convinced one way or another. I feel the same way about imaginary friends, magic zombies, holy poltergeists, and other abstract creations.
ollie10
(2,091 posts)what types of evidence would be acceptable new evidence to support the idea of a deity in your view?
Major Nikon
(36,827 posts)If multiple independent sources had confirmation of an intelligent supernatural being, that would do it.
ollie10
(2,091 posts)...would be acceptable?
Fix The Stupid
(948 posts)How about this for evidence?
Walking on water?
Raise the dead?
Turn water into wine?
Heal a blind person?
Control the weather??? (that jesus guy apparently could...)
How about that for evidence?