Your views/opinion on Atheism?

Barr125

I'm doing research for a paper on Atheism and, as an atheist myself and for an objective, unbiased view, I need some Christian/religious viewpoint and I want your opinions on your understanding of atheism?

Do you understand what atheism defines?
Do you know the difference between secularism and atheism and/or agnosticism and atheism?
Why do you think someone becomes an atheist? etc.

You may ask any questions you wish, and I will answer to the best of my ability. (please no personal questions, I must be as objective as possible). Please feel free to reply to other posters and discuss among yourselves. Feel free to also add anything you wish.


*note*: Please do not troll/spout hateful comments, I will report you to the mods, this is purely an academic exercise. None of anything said here will be directly quoted in the paper, more generalized and I reserve the right to have the thread closed whenever I feel I have gotten what I need.

Festus

Barr125 wrote: »

Do you understand what atheism defines?

Does atheism define anything?

Barr125 wrote: »

Do you know the difference between secularism and atheism and/or agnosticism and atheism?

Yes and yes

Barr125 wrote: »

Why do you think someone becomes an atheist? etc.

The provide an answer to that, in addition to involving second guessing, would require being somewhat judgemental in regards to those who claim to be atheist so TMM no answer is possible from a Christian perspective.

Barr125

Festus wrote: »

Does atheism define anything?

Atheism- the rejection of belief in deities. I meant more the definition of atheism rather than what atheism itself defines.

Other than that, well reasoned answers Sir.

The provide an answer to that, in addition to involving second guessing, would require being somewhat judgemental in regards to those who claim to be atheist so TMM no answer is possible from a Christian perspective.

Unfortunately, does not stop most from doing it.

Onesimus

I'm doing research for a paper on Atheism and, as an atheist myself and for an objective, unbiased view, I need some Christian/religious viewpoint and I want your opinions on your understanding of atheism?

Atheism from the Christian viewpoint is a spiritual disability with the root cause of which would be ''Original sin'' in which man chooses his own way/path above that of God's. The following excerpts are taken from the Catechism of the Catholic Church. I hope this helps.


Atheism
2123 "Many . . . of our contemporaries either do not at all perceive, or explicitly reject, this intimate and vital bond of man to God. Atheism must therefore be regarded as one of the most serious problems of our time."58

2124 The name "atheism" covers many very different phenomena. One common form is the practical materialism which restricts its needs and aspirations to space and time. Atheistic humanism falsely considers man to be "an end to himself, and the sole maker, with supreme control, of his own history."59 Another form of contemporary atheism looks for the liberation of man through economic and social liberation. "It holds that religion, of its very nature, thwarts such emancipation by raising man's hopes in a future life, thus both deceiving him and discouraging him from working for a better form of life on earth."60


2125 Since it rejects or denies the existence of God, atheism is a sin against the virtue of religion.61 The imputability of this offense can be significantly diminished in virtue of the intentions and the circumstances. "Believers can have more than a little to do with the rise of atheism. To the extent that they are careless about their instruction in the faith, or present its teaching falsely, or even fail in their religious, moral, or social life, they must be said to conceal rather than to reveal the true nature of God and of religion."62


2126 Atheism is often based on a false conception of human autonomy, exaggerated to the point of refusing any dependence on God.63 Yet, "to acknowledge God is in no way to oppose the dignity of man, since such dignity is grounded and brought to perfection in God. . . . "64 "For the Church knows full well that her message is in harmony with the most secret desires of the human heart."65

Agnosticism


2127 Agnosticism assumes a number of forms. In certain cases the agnostic refrains from denying God; instead he postulates the existence of a transcendent being which is incapable of revealing itself, and about which nothing can be said. In other cases, the agnostic makes no judgment about God's existence, declaring it impossible to prove, or even to affirm or deny.


2128 Agnosticism can sometimes include a certain search for God, but it can equally express indifferentism, a flight from the ultimate question of existence, and a sluggish moral conscience. Agnosticism is all too often e

Benny_Cake

Barr125 wrote: »

I'm doing research for a paper on Atheism and, as an atheist myself and for an objective, unbiased view, I need some Christian/religious viewpoint and I want your opinions on your understanding of atheism?

Do you understand what atheism defines?
Do you know the difference between secularism and atheism and/or agnosticism and atheism?
Why do you think someone becomes an atheist? etc.

As I understand it atheism is the belief that no deity or deities existing or the absence of belief in deities. To me there isn't a whole lot of difference between these definitions but I've seen a lot of people get worked up about it.

Secularism is a much abused phrase - it tends to be used side by side with "athiest lately. Of course it is entirely possible to be a Christian and secular - personally I would believe in a secular society in which people of all beliefs and none can participate equally.

As to why someone becomes an atheist, I can't answer that one. For many I'm sure it just makes sense to them, for some it may be because they were hurt by religion. Probably as many reasons as there are atheists!

On a personal note I think there has been far too much heat and not enough light on this subject - from both sides. Best of luck with your paper and if you have any questions just shoot.

Benny_Cake

Benny_Cake wrote: »

As I understand it atheism is the belief that no deity or deities existing or the absence of belief in deities. To me there isn't a whole lot of difference between these definitions but I've seen a lot of people get worked up about it.

I think there is a significant difference when discussing the burden of proof and logic. One (the positive claim that no deities exist) has a burden of proof. The other (rejection of the claim that deities exist) has no burden of proof because it is the rejection of a positive claim which has not met its own burden of proof.

ISAW

see this post for some academic sources:
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=77102286&postcount=2285

as a general point I would go along with the notion that atheism contributes little or nothing to society and in fact atheistic regimes if anything contribute genocide and economic ruin.

But that is just my personal opinion. The sources above are not offered to back that opinion up. I havent readthem all yet.

Benny_Cake

coconutlulz wrote: »

Benny_Cake wrote: »

As I understand it atheism is the belief that no deity or deities existing or the absence of belief in deities. To me there isn't a whole lot of difference between these definitions but I've seen a lot of people get worked up about it.

I think there is a significant difference when discussing the burden of proof and logic. One (the positive claim that no deities exist) has a burden of proof. The other (rejection of the claim that deities exist) has no burden of proof because it is the rejection of a positive claim which has not met its own burden of proof.

Fair point, from a Christian perspective the difference probably wouldn't be particularly important - I'm quite sure that if I was an atheist I would feel that the distinction was quite important.

Plowman

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