This is why many non-believers do not accept biblical prophecies as evidence for God or the inerrancy of the Bible.
Prophecy - Iron Chariots Wiki
Prophecy - Iron Chariots Wiki
Ask an Atheist
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if you don't believe there is anyone to thank,
how can you ever say you are "thankful" for anything that's not the direct result of the action of another human?
can you enjoy Thanksgiving dinner with your tongue in your cheek the whole time? doesn't it cause problems properly chewing your food? just sayin...
how can you ever say you are "thankful" for anything that's not the direct result of the action of another human?
can you enjoy Thanksgiving dinner with your tongue in your cheek the whole time? doesn't it cause problems properly chewing your food? just sayin...
A
Indeed. Atheism IS a metaphysical worldview that posits metaphysical assertions of belief concerned with explaining the fundamental nature of being and the world that encompasses it.
Atheism is NOT neutral.
Many atheists proselyte in the world for new adherents to their metaphysical worldview just as many religious proselyte in the world for new adherents for their metaphysical worldview.
All metaphysical worldviews result in consequences when their core assertions are implemented in the world.
The statement that atheism is "not a religion" or "not a belief system" is thus logically self-defeating when used as a cop out to try and excuse themselves from assuming the requisite responsibility related to the metaphysical worldview they adhere to and its consequences when implemented in the world as we saw horribly manifest last century under state atheism.
What About Atrocities That Have Been Done in the Name of Religion
Atheism is NOT neutral.
Many atheists proselyte in the world for new adherents to their metaphysical worldview just as many religious proselyte in the world for new adherents for their metaphysical worldview.
All metaphysical worldviews result in consequences when their core assertions are implemented in the world.
The statement that atheism is "not a religion" or "not a belief system" is thus logically self-defeating when used as a cop out to try and excuse themselves from assuming the requisite responsibility related to the metaphysical worldview they adhere to and its consequences when implemented in the world as we saw horribly manifest last century under state atheism.
What About Atrocities That Have Been Done in the Name of Religion
A
Yes, let's restrict our definition to whatever makes you feel comfortable... lol.
The New Catholic Encylopedia states:
"An atheist is a person who lives without God. If they persist in this state, atheism truly becomes a way of life. It is not possible to formulate a single, comprehensive definition of atheism that will cover all cases equally and adequately."
"Atheism. A system of belief that asserts categorically that there is no God. Atheism usually affirms as well that the only form of existence is the material universe and that the universe is merely the product of chance or fate." -Grenz, S., Guretzki, D., & Nordling, C. F. (1999). Pocket dictionary of theological terms (17). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
"Atheism. The philosophical position that denies the reality of the God of theism or other divine beings." -Evans, C. S. (2002). Pocket dictionary of apologetics & philosophy of religion (13). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
"In the broadest terms, atheism denotes the denial of the existence of God. Broadly also, it is to be distinguished from agnosticism, the belief that to know whether or not God exists is impossible." -Concise Encyclopedia of the Philosophy of Religion.
"Atheism: the doctrine or belief that there is no God." -Dictionary.com
"Atheism is, in a broad sense, the rejection of belief in the existence of deities.[1][2] In a narrower sense, atheism is specifically the position that there are no deities. Most inclusively, atheism is the absence of belief that any deities exist." -Wikipedia.
Etc...
The point is that atheists posit beliefs that correspond around their core assertion (e.g. the rejection of God/gods). In fact, I've never talked to an atheist in my life that did not express a system of beliefs which they had cobbled together for themselves with that at the core and you are not an exception.
This is why it is disingenuous of atheists to pretend that atheism is solely a rejection of God/gods.
You have beliefs that correspond and therefore you have a personalized belief system or system of belief: Belief system - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Not every belief in your belief system is false; however, because your core assertion that God does not exist is a patently false assertion and many of your other beliefs are dependent to that false assertion: your belief system when taken as a whole constitutes a false worldview.
The New Catholic Encylopedia states:
"An atheist is a person who lives without God. If they persist in this state, atheism truly becomes a way of life. It is not possible to formulate a single, comprehensive definition of atheism that will cover all cases equally and adequately."
"Atheism. A system of belief that asserts categorically that there is no God. Atheism usually affirms as well that the only form of existence is the material universe and that the universe is merely the product of chance or fate." -Grenz, S., Guretzki, D., & Nordling, C. F. (1999). Pocket dictionary of theological terms (17). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
"Atheism. The philosophical position that denies the reality of the God of theism or other divine beings." -Evans, C. S. (2002). Pocket dictionary of apologetics & philosophy of religion (13). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
"In the broadest terms, atheism denotes the denial of the existence of God. Broadly also, it is to be distinguished from agnosticism, the belief that to know whether or not God exists is impossible." -Concise Encyclopedia of the Philosophy of Religion.
"Atheism: the doctrine or belief that there is no God." -Dictionary.com
"Atheism is, in a broad sense, the rejection of belief in the existence of deities.[1][2] In a narrower sense, atheism is specifically the position that there are no deities. Most inclusively, atheism is the absence of belief that any deities exist." -Wikipedia.
Etc...
The point is that atheists posit beliefs that correspond around their core assertion (e.g. the rejection of God/gods). In fact, I've never talked to an atheist in my life that did not express a system of beliefs which they had cobbled together for themselves with that at the core and you are not an exception.
This is why it is disingenuous of atheists to pretend that atheism is solely a rejection of God/gods.
You have beliefs that correspond and therefore you have a personalized belief system or system of belief: Belief system - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Not every belief in your belief system is false; however, because your core assertion that God does not exist is a patently false assertion and many of your other beliefs are dependent to that false assertion: your belief system when taken as a whole constitutes a false worldview.
An atheist is simply a person who holds no beliefs in any gods. That is where the definition ends and that's all there is to it. It is not someone who believes there is no god, or one who believes in evolution. Just the lack of belief in gods.
This definition does not speak volumes about anything else an atheist believes. So really aside from a god an atheist can believe in anything. An atheist can believe in evolution or not, that vaccines are bad or not, they can be pro choice or pro life, anything.
Atheists do not know there is a god. We don't believe in any so how would we know one exists? We also don't claim god doesn't exist. We're just not convinced is all. When a person claims atheists know God is real and just deny it that is blatantly absurd and quite offensive. How would you feel if I went up to you and told you that you KNOW Zeus is the real god and you just deny it. You'd think I'm nuts and have no right telling you what you belive.
This definition does not speak volumes about anything else an atheist believes. So really aside from a god an atheist can believe in anything. An atheist can believe in evolution or not, that vaccines are bad or not, they can be pro choice or pro life, anything.
Atheists do not know there is a god. We don't believe in any so how would we know one exists? We also don't claim god doesn't exist. We're just not convinced is all. When a person claims atheists know God is real and just deny it that is blatantly absurd and quite offensive. How would you feel if I went up to you and told you that you KNOW Zeus is the real god and you just deny it. You'd think I'm nuts and have no right telling you what you belive.
Prove it.
Wrong. Atheism makes zero positive claims whatsoever. It does not claim that God does not exist, it describes those who lack belief in gods. It is not a belief system it's not even a single belief, it is a description of a state of disbelief. Atheism also does not say anything about the universe at all. That is a belief separate from atheism. Sure it's one most atheists would probably agree with but it is in no way linked to the term atheism.
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Wrong. Atheism makes zero positive claims whatsoever. It does not claim that God does not exist, it describes those who lack belief in gods. It is not a belief system it's not even a single belief, it is a description of a state of disbelief. Atheism also does not say anything about the universe at all. That is a belief separate from atheism. Sure it's one most atheists would probably agree with but it is in no way linked to the term atheism.
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Ok lets settle on wikipedia's version.
Now there are atheists who believe in witches, magic, ghosts, an afterlife, reincarnation etc.
Do they share my belief system? no...thus atheism in of itself is not a belief system.
You are correct though that one's belief system is ultimately founded on either theism or atheism.
Also all assertions should be considered false unless valid arguments and evidence can show otherwise.
Now there are atheists who believe in witches, magic, ghosts, an afterlife, reincarnation etc.
Do they share my belief system? no...thus atheism in of itself is not a belief system.
You are correct though that one's belief system is ultimately founded on either theism or atheism.
Also all assertions should be considered false unless valid arguments and evidence can show otherwise.
Why would I need to be directly thanking an entity at all? Its not dependent on a god to recognize and reflect on everything that you're thankful for without actually physically thanking a god. Most of the things were thankful for are in fact the result of the actions of others who can be thanked directly however for the things that can't "giving thanks" is just the act of recognizing your gratitude for something. It is in no way constringent on a god to give the thanks to. I can enjoy my food just fine.
Whats wrong with having "plain" views if they're honest views? What do my views not have enough juju magic for you? Sorry to disappoint. And have you payed attention to anything ive said? I explicitly explained that I don't believe in aliens in the cooky spaceship Sci fi sense. I believe that alien (as in not from earth) life probably exists elsewhere in the universe based on clear evidence not no evidence. Such evidence being the sheer probability of it from what we know about the number of galaxies, suns, and planets in the universe, and that we've already spotted thousands of potential candidates in our own local part of the galaxy. Put those two together and it's no stretch at all and takes no faith to believe that life probably exists in some form elsewhere.
Why the false dichotomy? I'm happy to say I'm neither. I don't find joy I'm poking fun at Christians or any other belief set. And I do understand it better than most so I'm not ignorant. I'm also not an atheist by choice. My will had nothing to do with it because belief is an unconscious anomaly. I became unconvinced god exists over time and thus I came to a realization that therfore I'm an atheist. Just as you didn't choose to stop believing I'm santa or the tooth fairy. Not that I'm comparing those to your religion to disrespect you but you see what I mean? It'd be silly to ask you when you chose to stop believing in anything.
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