Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Religion

rug

(82,333 posts)

5. Depends on whether you believe karma is divine.

Reply to cleanhippie (Reply #3)

Mon Dec 26, 2011, 01:56 PM

Dec 2011

Given the narrow definition of atheism, i.e., a simple lack of belief in god(s) (which necessarily is independent of a reference to science), reincarnation is not incompatible with atheism, provided the belief in reincarnation is not predicated on a belief in god(s).

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

43 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Geocentrism? Really? Galileo not yet forgiven by *all* Catholics. [View all] Silent3 Dec 2011 OP

If you say you have faith and then don't follow up with deeds Angry Dragon Dec 2011 #1

And then, there are atheists who beieve in reincarnation. rug Dec 2011 #2

Does reincarnation require a deity? cleanhippie Dec 2011 #3

It requires a supernatural explanation. Skinner Dec 2011 #4

There is nothing supernatural about a blow fly's eggs, larva, pupa, and adult which.. MarkCharles Dec 2011 #6

But reincarnation, by definition, applies to the soul or spirit of something. cbayer Dec 2011 #7

If one looks at the root of that word, ... MarkCharles Dec 2011 #9

Now do a search for reincarnate and see if you can find a definition that cbayer Dec 2011 #10

OKAY! Let's look together! MarkCharles Dec 2011 #11

Interesting. The same site gives a different definition when used as a noun. cbayer Dec 2011 #12

Hey look! You are BOTH right! cleanhippie Dec 2011 #15

What is your definition of the word "reincarnation"? cbayer Dec 2011 #16

Does it matter? Unless you are stating that one needs a deity for reincarnation... cleanhippie Dec 2011 #19

It only matters insofar as I am interested in whether cbayer Dec 2011 #21

Me personally? I don't believe any such thing exists at all. cleanhippie Dec 2011 #22

Thanks for that reply. I would also be interested in the views cbayer Dec 2011 #23

Buddhist view on rebirth: tama Dec 2011 #43

While recycling of biomaterials... Silent3 Dec 2011 #27

Haster bin readin' "On Ilkla Moor Baht 'at"? Starboard Tack Dec 2011 #41

Belief in the supernatural has nothing to do with atheism. cleanhippie Dec 2011 #8

Not at all. mr blur Dec 2011 #13

Most, but not all, atheists are skeptics about the supernatural Silent3 Dec 2011 #26

Depends on whether you believe karma is divine. rug Dec 2011 #5

I concur Starboard Tack Dec 2011 #42

The bible is "proof" of nothing. nt mr blur Dec 2011 #14

Well, its "proof" if you are able to use your "other ways of knowing"!!! cleanhippie Dec 2011 #17

That must be the same proof for reincarnation. rug Dec 2011 #18

Agreed, but I'm not seeing your point. cleanhippie Dec 2011 #20

That "proof" has no essential relevance to belief ot nonbelief. rug Dec 2011 #24

Atheism is typically, even if not by definition... Silent3 Dec 2011 #28

No it isn't. rug Dec 2011 #30

A rejection based upon logic, or? MarkCharles Dec 2011 #32

It's a rejection based on a logical conundrum. rug Dec 2011 #33

It is a rejection of *a* God concept... Silent3 Dec 2011 #40

Nothing in science or rational inquiry skepticscott Dec 2011 #29

That's obviously true. rug Dec 2011 #31

That's only true skepticscott Dec 2011 #35

The topic is the relevance, or irrelevance, of science to atheism and theism. rug Dec 2011 #36

Uh, this old argument, for one skepticscott Dec 2011 #38

I remember that well, although what your post had to do with it eludes me. rug Dec 2011 #39

"We cannot teach people anything; we can only... MarkCharles Dec 2011 #25

I wonder his thoughts on the number pi... Taverner Dec 2011 #34

Doubtless irrational. rug Dec 2011 #37