The Creed and Dogmas of an Atheist.

martinjudge73

I was in a discussion on another thread and someone didn't believe I was and Atheist because I held a certain view on a topic (not god or religion related). Started me thinking what are the Creed and Dogmas of an Atheist?

I don't believe in a life after this one or a God. Thats about it for me. Is there anything else that you must or must not believe to be an Atheist.

MrPudding

martinjudge73 wrote: »

I was in a discussion on another thread and someone didn't believe I was and Atheist because I held a certain view on a topic (not god or religion related). Started me thinking what are the Creed and Dogmas of an Atheist?

I don't believe in a life after this one or a God. Thats about it for me. Is there anything else that you must or must not believe to be an Atheist.

I am pretty sure that all that is required is a lack of belief in gods. I think that people that are atheists tend to hold similar views in other areas, not necessarily related directly to atheism.

Perhaps that is that the other person was on about?

MrP

Pherekydes

No creed; no dogmas.

Just a lack of belief in gods.

Peregrine

Creeds and dogmas imply an authority and organisation very much similar to religions.

Oxford dictionary:

Definition of atheist in English:
noun

A person who disbelieves or lacks belief in the existence of God or gods


Origin:

Late 16th century: from French athéisme, from Greek atheos, from a- 'without' + theos 'god'.

It really is that simple.

martinjudge73

Peregrine wrote: »

Creeds and dogmas imply an authority and organisation very much similar to religions.

Oxford dictionary:



It really is that simple.

Perfect. So there is not contradiction in being pro-life and also an Atheist.

GerB40

Evolution. If you don't believe in evolution you're an undercover theist trying to spy on our satanistic shenanigans...

Peregrine

martinjudge73 wrote: »

Perfect. So there is not contradiction in being pro-life and also an Atheist.

Not at all. The two are not mutually exclusive.

Pherekydes

martinjudge73 wrote: »

Perfect. So there is not contradiction in being pro-life and also an Atheist.

Well, I would certainly describe myself as pro-life. But it's not a dogma; I'm pro-choice.

The only substantive question regarding abortion is of choice: pro-choice or anti-choice?

GerB40

martinjudge73 wrote: »

Perfect. So there is not contradiction in being pro-life and also an Atheist.

The general expectation is that an atheist will also be fairly liberal and, by association, pro-choice. Personally I have liberal and conservative beliefs, I find it silly to have my mind made up on a subject before I hear it..

martinjudge73

GerB40 wrote: »

The general expectation is that an atheist will also be fairly liberal and, by association, pro-choice. Personally I have liberal and conservative beliefs, I find it silly to have my mind made up on a subject before I hear it..

Is general expectation another word for an unwritten creed?

recedite

Nope.

endacl

No polyester.

looksee

martinjudge73 wrote: »

Is general expectation another word for an unwritten creed?

It probably depends on who is doing the expecting. If it is non-atheists then it can't be a creed as the creed has to reflect the beliefs (or non-beliefs) of the person doing the believing (or not believing). If it is the expectations of atheists however...well it still can't be a creed because atheism is specifically not a belief system. Or something.

pauldla

The most important element of the Creed of Atheism is adherents must deposit a large sum of money in my bank account, in order to be UnSaved.

Other than that, anything goes.

Peregrinus

looksee wrote: »

It probably depends on who is doing the expecting. If it is non-atheists then it can't be a creed as the creed has to reflect the beliefs (or non-beliefs) of the person doing the believing (or not believing). If it is the expectations of atheists however...well it still can't be a creed because atheism is specifically not a belief system. Or something.

Atheism is not a belief system, but that doesn't mean that Atheists can't have beliefs or belief systems; they can and they do. Their beliefs or belief systems just can't include a belief in a god or gods, but they can include a belief in literally anything else.

So, if atheist A expects or demands or assumes that atheist B, because he is an atheist, takes a particular position in relation to, e.g., abortion, that's stereotyping. It may be motivated by Atheist A's belief system/creed/dogma/what have you. On the other hand it could be just a reflection of Atheist A's laziness, or lack of imagination, or limited social circle.

Daith

I think my LGBT Activist pledge overrides my Atheist obligations.

recedite

A creed is a common belief that everyone in the religion/club must espouse.
It typically starts off with a statement "I/We believe that..."
The whole point of it is that everyone must agree with this common belief.