Does atheism offer a better 'messsage' than religion?

stevejazzx

I was thinking about this the other day after I read some rubbish statement from nut on some thread which went (I'm paraphrasing but only lightly!)

"although you're not a Christian we will still treat you with respect and kindness although you should really be making an effort to 'christianise' yourself because this is a Christian land and Christianity is the true religion".

Now I never used to think of atheism as something which offered a message but recently in the company of some very positive atheist friends I realised that it does and one which is far more real, honest and open than anything religion could ever offer. What to you think, does atheism offer a message?

Hivemind187

I would have thought that the only "message" atheism was trying to get across was "There is no god".

Anything after that, good, bad or indifferent is going to be a personal slant on the topic.

Its unlikely that my personal message (that talking to your imaginary friend does not give you any special status outside of those who also talk their imaginary friends) is going to be percieved as being a wholely positive thing but yet I would still be an atheist with the same core belief as every other atheist - That there is no god.

Zillah

Depends on the religion and the atheist, really.

One thing that I dislike most about Christianity of late is this pervasive belief that we are inherently flawed and unworthy, and that by merely existing we are deserving of divine judgement and punishment. I vomit upon this ten thousand times, and shake my head in pity at anyone who has such a pitiful view of themselves.

Islam is hardly any better. This powerful demand for total submission to God freaks me the hell out, and is probably one the three most socially dangerous systems of thought we've seen in the last century or two. Want to guess which three?


I think secular humanism offers a far nicer message than either of these, but that is something quite different from pure atheism.

Charlie3dan

I think atheism offers a great message; this life is the only one you've got, make the most of it.

Nodin

stevejazzx wrote: »

I was thinking about this the other day after I read some rubbish statement from nut on some thread which went (I'm paraphrasing but only lightly!)

"although you're not a Christian we will still treat you with respect and kindness although you should really be making an effort to 'christianise' yourself because this is a Christian land and Christianity is the true religion".

Now I never used to think of atheism as something which offered a message but recently in the company of some very positive atheist friends I realised that it does and one which is far more real, honest and open than anything religion could ever offer. What to you think, does atheism offer a message?

What the other guy said really. With regards to 'social awareness' and political leanings, it varys a lot. Quite a few of the American athiests that I used be on a board with were right wing, including registered Republicans. Some were quite socially conservative, others were like meself and more liberal.....

Secular Humanism is maybe what you're thinking of.

Gurgle

Charlie3dan wrote: »

I think atheism offers a great message; this life is the only one you've got, make the most of it.

I think the same, only more so.
You are responsible for your own actions, there is no God or Devil to blame, defer to or ask forgiveness from. You are responsible for your own morals, your own decisions, your own choices. Death is final, what you leave behind on earth is the sum of all that you do, so do it right.

Húrin

I suppose it depends on who you are. Marx wrote that religion is an opium of the people, giving a heart to a heartless world. Others (will edit in when I remember names) have written that atheism is an opiate also, granting a level of personal autonomy that religion would not provide. It seems thus that religion tends to be an opiate for the poor who have little control over their lives, while atheism tends to be an opiate for the rich or powerful, who have that control.

Galvasean

I don't think its fair to say that atheism offers a better or worse message than any religion, considering it doesn't really offer one.

pts

Basically OP, stop worrying and enjoy your life....

bnt

I would be hard-pressed to find any real message in atheism at all. The way I see it, atheism is neither prescriptive nor proscriptive; it is descriptive. I look elsewhere for guidance e.g. ethical considerations come whenever I engage with other people.

NothingMan

Gurgle wrote: »

I think the same, only more so.
You are responsible for your own actions, there is no God or Devil to blame, defer to or ask forgiveness from. You are responsible for your own morals, your own decisions, your own choices. Death is final, what you leave behind on earth is the sum of all that you do, so do it right.

I do agree that you only get one chance at life so make the most of it, however I disagree that death is final.
If we are all just the sum of atoms that make up our body then when we die those atoms are still hanging around. Hopefully in a donated organ to help someone else but if not then maybe just fertilizer.
Personally I want to be stuffed and mounted over the fire place that way i'll live forever.

eoin5

Húrin wrote: »

I suppose it depends on who you are. Marx wrote that religion is an opium of the people, giving a heart to a heartless world. Others (will edit in when I remember names) have written that atheism is an opiate also, granting a level of personal autonomy that religion would not provide. It seems thus that religion tends to be an opiate for the poor who have little control over their lives, while atheism tends to be an opiate for the rich or powerful, who have that control.

That seems like needless duality being placed on a situation that has far more mitigating factors such as access to education and services, ease of living, where support comes from etc. I would say religion has a far more opiate like effect than non-religion.

Goduznt Xzst

stevejazzx wrote: »

I realised that it does and one which is far more real, honest and open than anything religion could ever offer. What to you think, does atheism offer a message?

I think you are looking at it wrong. Consider an alcoholic. Now this person may prescribe to Beer, and think that Wine drinkers are clearly wrong in their tipple of choice.

However, after some time spent cold turkey, he finally breaks his alcohol dependence. Then at an AA meeting stands up and asks, now that he has given up Beer, what is the name of the Alcohol that is the act of not drinking Alcohol.

The question doesn't make sense, he has stopped drinking Alcohol. The feeling of freedom one gets from breaking an addiction is no different to the feeling of freedom one gets from breaking out of the dogma of a Religion (curiously similar is the fact that in both cases, the individuals addicted are rarely aware of it). Now this feeling of freedom may feel similar to the comfort and happiness that individual got when drinking Alcohol. But the feeling itself is not a type of Alcohol itself.

In this way, Atheism can be a positive influence on an individuals life because it offers no message at all.

stevejazzx

I don't want to say that atheism has to offer something more, it's clear it doesn't - what I am suggesting is that something more can be derived from it because it does kind of lend its support more naturally to certain moral and social positions. I think it'd be horrible to have an official atheist message, that would kind of torpedo the main idea but I equally can't believe that being an atheist predisposes one to nothing more than a non belief in deities. Perhaps I mean that atheism comes with (and I say this in a very broad general sense of course) some nice baggage, which if assimilated correctly, makes one a better person.

Flamed Diving

I can't wait for Jakktime to come in here with his offering. Always such useful contributions made by that poster...

Dave!

bnt wrote: »

I would be hard-pressed to find any real message in atheism at all. The way I see it, atheism is neither prescriptive nor proscriptive; it is descriptive. I look elsewhere for guidance e.g. ethical considerations come whenever I engage with other people.

Yes, that's the correct answer