Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Proxima Centauri · 01-06-2003, 11:27 AM

Gemma Therese, in your personal profile you site as one of your interests, "the psychology of atheism".
If you seriously want to study what we are like you could start here with The Atheism Web.
This will tell you about atheists and agnostics.

Wyz_sub10 · 01-06-2003, 02:36 PM

What's to understand. Atheists do not believe in a being that is completely intangible. There is nothing mysterious about it.

The *real* question re: the "psychology of atheism" is how atheists can come to this position through a fog of theism that seems to permeate throughout society.

Not believing in something you cannot see, hear or feel is, in itself, not a difficult thing to understand.

Amie · 01-06-2003, 03:28 PM

Hi Wyz

Quote:

Originally posted by Wyz_sub10
The *real* question re: the "psychology of atheism" is how atheists can come to this position through a fog of theism that seems to permeate throughout society.

I agree.

Quote:

Not believing in something you cannot see, hear or feel is, in itself, not a difficult thing to understand.

Not difficult to understand just a different belief. Like Gemma, I too am interested in what leads people the conclusions they come to...

Gemma I started a couple of threads in Secular Lifestyle asking questions. I think thats really the best way to gain an understanding of anyone...
take care of yourself at school...
Much love
Amie

happyboy · 01-06-2003, 04:19 PM

oh, come on. maybe it's time we all just admitted to the Evil Atheist Conspiracy(tm) and just get it over with! maybe the time for covert actions and secrecy is over.......

let's just manifest satan on earth and rule the world openly. who's with me?

happyboy, eager initiate of satan

Family Man · 01-06-2003, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by happyboy
oh, come on. maybe it's time we all just admitted to the Evil Atheist Conspiracy(tm) and just get it over with! maybe the time for covert actions and secrecy is over.......

let's just manifest satan on earth and rule the world openly. who's with me?

happyboy, eager initiate of satan

Shhh, we're not quite ready yet

The Admiral · 01-06-2003, 04:50 PM

They might mistake us for Christians.

Strawberry · 01-06-2003, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by The Admiral
They might mistake us for Christians.

LOL!! :notworthy :notworthy :notworthy :notworthy

Infinity Lover · 01-07-2003, 05:26 AM

The basic thing, as already pointed out, is that atheism is a lack of the element theism, and not so much a replacement for it.

I think the main source of confusion, is that a theist believes there is a God the atheist doesn't believe in, while the atheist doesn't.

The following misconception comes about, when a person, once confronted with theism, (and only then becoming aware of their a-theism), has aledgedly been informed about God, even though that person has only met with someone holding the god-belief.

Meeting with a great number of believers, ultimately only changes the number of believers you've met with... that in itself doesn't make God any more real. For the person who subsequently remains an atheist, it takes something more substantial than that to become a theist: a compelling reason to start believing as well.

As odd as it may sound to the believer, you can't really say we don't believe in God, because we don't even believe there is a deity to not-believe in. A better way of putting it, is that we don't share the theist's religious convictions.

Ronin · 01-07-2003, 05:39 AM

Religious Conviction

Religious Conviction

I don't share either religious conviction ~ and take a proactive stand against promoting such a nonsensical view of reality...for the good of a healthy society.

These claims should be challenged and refuted as often as possible.

Any animosity directed toward my position by any theist is to be expected.

Infinity Lover · 01-07-2003, 06:02 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ronin
Religious Conviction

Religious Conviction

I don't share either religious conviction ~ and take a proactive stand against promoting such a nonsensical view of reality...for the good of a healthy society.

These claims should be challenged and refuted as often as possible.

Any animosity directed toward my position by any theist is to be expected.

And I respect your position, but...
Was this thread about the political agenda of anti-theism, or about the psychology of atheism?

01-06-2003, 11:27 AM	#1
Proxima Centauri Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: England, the EU. Posts: 2,403	helping Gemma Therese understand the psychology of atheism. Gemma Therese, in your personal profile you site as one of your interests, "the psychology of atheism". If you seriously want to study what we are like you could start here with The Atheism Web. This will tell you about atheists and agnostics.

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01-06-2003, 02:36 PM	#2
Wyz_sub10 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: In the land of two boys and no sleep. Posts: 9,890	What's to understand. Atheists do not believe in a being that is completely intangible. There is nothing mysterious about it. The real question re: the "psychology of atheism" is how atheists can come to this position through a fog of theism that seems to permeate throughout society. Not believing in something you cannot see, hear or feel is, in itself, not a difficult thing to understand.

01-06-2003, 04:19 PM	#4
happyboy Regular Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: on the border between here and there, WV Posts: 373	oh, come on. maybe it's time we all just admitted to the Evil Atheist Conspiracy(tm) and just get it over with! maybe the time for covert actions and secrecy is over....... let's just manifest satan on earth and rule the world openly. who's with me? happyboy, eager initiate of satan

01-06-2003, 04:50 PM	#6
The Admiral Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Racine, Wi. USA Posts: 768	They might mistake us for Christians.

01-07-2003, 05:26 AM	#8
Infinity Lover Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,047	The basic thing, as already pointed out, is that atheism is a lack of the element theism, and not so much a replacement for it. I think the main source of confusion, is that a theist believes there is a God the atheist doesn't believe in, while the atheist doesn't. The following misconception comes about, when a person, once confronted with theism, (and only then becoming aware of their a-theism), has aledgedly been informed about God, even though that person has only met with someone holding the god-belief. Meeting with a great number of believers, ultimately only changes the number of believers you've met with... that in itself doesn't make God any more real. For the person who subsequently remains an atheist, it takes something more substantial than that to become a theist: a compelling reason to start believing as well. As odd as it may sound to the believer, you can't really say we don't believe in God, because we don't even believe there is a deity to not-believe in. A better way of putting it, is that we don't share the theist's religious convictions.

01-07-2003, 05:39 AM	#9
Ronin Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Mississippi Posts: 5,047	Religious Conviction Religious Conviction I don't share either religious conviction ~ and take a proactive stand against promoting such a nonsensical view of reality...for the good of a healthy society. These claims should be challenged and refuted as often as possible. Any animosity directed toward my position by any theist is to be expected.

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