Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Jayjay · 01-17-2003, 07:55 AM

Are Raelians atheists, or theists? They explicitly deny the existence of supernatural gods, but this is because they heard it from space aliens who created and watch over mankind, and essentially do whatever gods do in other religions... But technically, Raelians are atheists. Right?

If they are indeed atheists, are they strong or weak ones?

seesaw · 01-17-2003, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jayjay
Are Raelians atheists, or theists? They explicitly deny the existence of supernatural gods, but this is because they heard it from space aliens who created and watch over mankind, and essentially do whatever gods do in other religions... But technically, Raelians are atheists. Right?

If they are indeed atheists, are they strong or weak ones?

I don't see them as atheists because they still believe in a god like creator. They see the aliens as there gods in the same way Christians see Jesus as there god.

Psycho Economist · 01-17-2003, 08:33 AM

Are the Elohim deities to the Raelans? No. They stipulate that they are natural beings who used mundane methods to do their work. They might revere these supposed aliens, even worship and make sacrifices to them when no one is looking, but being supernatural is an important part of godhood.

seesaw · 01-17-2003, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Psycho Economist
Are the Elohim deities to the Raelans? No. They stipulate that they are natural beings who used mundane methods to do their work. They might revere these supposed aliens, even worship and make sacrifices to them when no one is looking, but being supernatural is an important part of godhood.

The "so called aliens" might not be supernatural but the Raelians still see them as there gods/creators. So IMO they aren't atheists.

Eudaimonist · 01-17-2003, 08:42 AM

Atheists are not people "without worship", but rather "without belief in divine beings". Worship does not make the Raelians any less atheistic. They are atheists, as much as we might not want them in our club.

seesaw · 01-17-2003, 08:49 AM

Quote:

They are atheists, as much as we might not want them in our club.

Hehe, alright I guess they're atheists. Can we vote them out of our club?

penumbra · 01-17-2003, 09:03 AM

"They are atheists, as much as we might not want them in our club."

Ooooo....oooo.....oooo.....can we have official atheist denominations, just like the xians do?????? Need some names.

(hey, it's friday and my brain is completely shot!)

Jayjay · 01-17-2003, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by penumbra
Ooooo....oooo.....oooo.....can we have official atheist denominations, just like the xians do?????? Need some names.

How about...

"Non-church of nobody in particular of latter-day regular people?"

Aww, somehow it's just not the same...

seesaw · 01-17-2003, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jayjay
How about...

"Non-church of nobody in particular of latter-day regular people?"

Aww, somehow it's just not the same...

lol

Selsaral · 01-17-2003, 09:32 AM

So if I claim that my god does all his tricks with technology instead of 'magic', i am not a theist but actually an aetheist (like scientologists)? What about the type of god who IS the universe? Since it isn't supernatural, it's everything, someone who believes in it is still an atheist? What if I claim that all my god's supernatural activity are fact, and therefore not 'supernatural' at all, because since his activities are verifiable facts of the natural world they cannot be 'supernatural'? What if I claim that what you call 'supernatural' is actually a verifiable part of the natural world that our science simply isn't sophisticated enough to detect or describe? What if I claim that my god used to be a living, natural creature, but has evolved through natural means to become omnipotent and omniscient? All these still makes me an atheist?

Doesn't belief in wacky things like vampires, gods, fairies, space aliens giving anal probes (or clones, or anal probing clones), bigfoot, etc. all fall under the same umbrella of belief type? Replacing god with 'space alien' changes things that much?

01-17-2003, 07:55 AM	#1
Jayjay Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Finland Posts: 6,261	Are Raelians atheists? Are Raelians atheists, or theists? They explicitly deny the existence of supernatural gods, but this is because they heard it from space aliens who created and watch over mankind, and essentially do whatever gods do in other religions... But technically, Raelians are atheists. Right? If they are indeed atheists, are they strong or weak ones?

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01-17-2003, 08:33 AM	#3
Psycho Economist Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Peoria, IL Posts: 854	Are the Elohim deities to the Raelans? No. They stipulate that they are natural beings who used mundane methods to do their work. They might revere these supposed aliens, even worship and make sacrifices to them when no one is looking, but being supernatural is an important part of godhood.

01-17-2003, 08:42 AM	#5
Eudaimonist Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Sundsvall, Sweden Posts: 3,159	Atheists are not people "without worship", but rather "without belief in divine beings". Worship does not make the Raelians any less atheistic. They are atheists, as much as we might not want them in our club.

01-17-2003, 09:03 AM	#7
penumbra Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 1,938	"They are atheists, as much as we might not want them in our club." Ooooo....oooo.....oooo.....can we have official atheist denominations, just like the xians do?????? Need some names. (hey, it's friday and my brain is completely shot!)

01-17-2003, 09:32 AM	#10
Selsaral Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan Posts: 3,095	So if I claim that my god does all his tricks with technology instead of 'magic', i am not a theist but actually an aetheist (like scientologists)? What about the type of god who IS the universe? Since it isn't supernatural, it's everything, someone who believes in it is still an atheist? What if I claim that all my god's supernatural activity are fact, and therefore not 'supernatural' at all, because since his activities are verifiable facts of the natural world they cannot be 'supernatural'? What if I claim that what you call 'supernatural' is actually a verifiable part of the natural world that our science simply isn't sophisticated enough to detect or describe? What if I claim that my god used to be a living, natural creature, but has evolved through natural means to become omnipotent and omniscient? All these still makes me an atheist? Doesn't belief in wacky things like vampires, gods, fairies, space aliens giving anal probes (or clones, or anal probing clones), bigfoot, etc. all fall under the same umbrella of belief type? Replacing god with 'space alien' changes things that much?

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