Religion

marions ghost

(19,841 posts)

44. Intrinsic benefits to the adherant

Wed Mar 27, 2013, 01:50 PM

Mar 2013

--I think atheism has benefits for the atheist. It's not just Nihilism--ie. don't know, don't care." Athiesm is a clear decision to reject any and all notions of the metaphysical and live well anyway. That is not a default position--that is a way of life, a point of view, a bold perspective. It is one solution to the age old questions of existence. A solution to the questions of right and wrong, a personal set of ethics suited to some people and not others. Unless you want everyone to stop wondering "what IS this place?" which I don't think is possible, you have to see it as a conscious choice to go through this experience we call life without answers. Actually I think atheism might feel different to different people--we're all stuck in our own little perspectives in the end. So I don't see a need to reframe it unilaterally except to agree that it can have positive benefits for adherents. I see atheism as close in philosophy to Taoism, though without the teachings. Wordless acceptance of what is. It is life-affirming in the sense that if you could not affirm life (ie. "our common humanity and empathy&quot , psychologically speaking, you would die.

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so the GD thread got locked, but atheism as a religion? [View all] snooper2 Mar 2013 OP

my 2 cents GreenRanger Mar 2013 #1

Atheism is a religion under definition 2 Fortinbras Armstrong Mar 2013 #32

No it is not MattBaggins Mar 2013 #50

Please, spare us your uninformed "definition" of atheism skepticscott Mar 2013 #70

I was QUOTING the dictionary definition of religion given earlier Fortinbras Armstrong Mar 2013 #75

And when I say I don't believe there are unicorns or mermaids, is that a religion? djean111 Mar 2013 #76

Still at it, eh? skepticscott Mar 2013 #80

STILL waiting for you to link to that quote skepticscott Mar 2013 #88

Still trying to find that quote, eh? skepticscott Mar 2013 #108

Atheism is to religion, as barefoot is to shoes. immoderate Mar 2013 #2

No, it's not. But that doesn't stop believers from falsely equivocating it with one, seemingly to cleanhippie Mar 2013 #3

But then we have to have scripture and liturgy and dogma and clergy and sects and evangelism ... Fumesucker Mar 2013 #4

Religion is not just "millionaire hucksters ... in thousand dollar suits on TV" Fortinbras Armstrong Mar 2013 #33

you keep insulting and attacking atheists but not atheism. Phillip McCleod Mar 2013 #39

I highly, HIGHLY resent Brainstormy Mar 2013 #54

that's fine i never said they came from the internet Phillip McCleod Mar 2013 #60

You're the one Brainstormy Mar 2013 #74

BAAA BAAA Can you splain the need for an int'l organization of atheists corneliamcgillicutty Mar 2013 #61

Apparently you equate skepticscott Mar 2013 #67

Absolutely not! So non-believers getting together discussing corneliamcgillicutty Mar 2013 #81

I couldn't give a hoot what you consider skepticscott Mar 2013 #84

Touchy, touchy. I posed a legitimate corneliamcgillicutty Mar 2013 #89

Never saw a legitimate question skepticscott Mar 2013 #90

This is getting out of hand. I corneliamcgillicutty Mar 2013 #91

Teachers at a Lansing public middle school were handing out Chick Tracts to students Act_of_Reparation Mar 2013 #94

And your response was snide and snarky from the get-go skepticscott Mar 2013 #98

Interpret as you wish. Conciliatory--no way! Civil. corneliamcgillicutty Mar 2013 #101

The forum? Hardly skepticscott Mar 2013 #109

riiiigggghhhttt. you're not critical.. just.. curious. Phillip McCleod Mar 2013 #71

I suggest a weekly sacrament. backscatter712 Mar 2013 #5

Religion Without God - Ronald Dworkin Warren Stupidity Mar 2013 #6

Buddhism is an example Gore1FL Mar 2013 #12

Of course its not a religion funny how the thumpers always try to turn it into one...... bowens43 Mar 2013 #7

They want so badly to attack atheism.., Iggo Mar 2013 #11

Actually, atheism is just as easy to attack as theism is Fortinbras Armstrong Mar 2013 #34

That's attacking a person, not atheism. cleanhippie Mar 2013 #36

Is it as pompous as your pomposity? MattBaggins Mar 2013 #51

His pompotus comes from pure love. PassingFair Mar 2013 #124

How can something that is against religion have religion? Apophis Mar 2013 #8

That's what we are trying to figure out snooper2 Mar 2013 #9

Because saying "there is no God" is just as much an act of faith as saying there is a God. Fortinbras Armstrong Mar 2013 #35

Cool story, bro. cleanhippie Mar 2013 #37

Obviously, the one not listening is you. Fortinbras Armstrong Mar 2013 #40

When you respond to what people actually say instead of what you want to hear, I'll respond to cleanhippie Mar 2013 #42

militant atheists? RedstDem Mar 2013 #55

It's kind of a joke. Humblebum used to trot that nonsense out at every chance. cleanhippie Mar 2013 #58

I'm not sure why you care so much rbixby Mar 2013 #79

Can you give me a proof for the non existence of unicorns and leprechauns MattBaggins Mar 2013 #52

And is saying "There is no Santa Claus" an act of faith? skepticscott Mar 2013 #59

Great post and logic!!!! corneliamcgillicutty Mar 2013 #62

Four exclamation points usually means skepticscott Mar 2013 #69

NWAR!!!!!! Here's two more for ya. Have fun. corneliamcgillicutty Mar 2013 #83

Stick around skepticscott Mar 2013 #85

Back at ya(s)!!! corneliamcgillicutty Mar 2013 #87

Because Atheists religiously deny that there is no deity (God). BlueCaliDem Mar 2013 #102

Except I (or other atheists) don't have faith in our atheism. Apophis Mar 2013 #103

Oh, but you do have faith in your atheism. You have faith that there can't be a god BlueCaliDem Mar 2013 #104

You clearly don't understand what faith means. Apophis Mar 2013 #105

That's your take on it. I *do* know and fully understand what faith means. BlueCaliDem Mar 2013 #106

What you've shown here skepticscott Mar 2013 #107

Wrong. BlueCaliDem Mar 2013 #114

Nice try skepticscott Mar 2013 #121

You're turning science into nothing but faith. Apophis Mar 2013 #110

That's not at all what I'm doing here. BlueCaliDem Mar 2013 #111

There is scientific evidence supporting gravity. Apophis Mar 2013 #113

There is ZERO scientific evidence supporting gravity as real. BlueCaliDem Mar 2013 #115

Wow. Apophis Mar 2013 #116

Do you ever read the posts you respond to? BlueCaliDem Mar 2013 #117

Go back to high school and retake some science classes. Apophis Mar 2013 #118

So that's a no. Got it. eom BlueCaliDem Mar 2013 #120

This is one reason why some people like maths over physics goldent Mar 2013 #119

I know your tortured logic edhopper Mar 2013 #123

"But even though there is flimsy scientific evidence a Big Bang ever happened," edhopper Mar 2013 #122

Oh dear, not this nonsense yet again... mr blur Mar 2013 #10

just watch the pretty girl dance RedstDem Mar 2013 #56

Atheism is OK. I see atheism as marions ghost Mar 2013 #13

Oh please, not more horseshit about "scientism" skepticscott Mar 2013 #17

Could you be any more mean spirited? marions ghost Mar 2013 #19

Mean spirited? skepticscott Mar 2013 #20

I'll stick with the atheists I know marions ghost Mar 2013 #22

There you go again skepticscott Mar 2013 #30

-----this is so cool marions ghost Mar 2013 #45

Wow, for someone who's had their say skepticscott Mar 2013 #47

won't respond marions ghost Mar 2013 #65

This is some weird shit to read FYI snooper2 Mar 2013 #21

Sorry didn't read your manifesto marions ghost Mar 2013 #23

i think many atheists feel patronized by continuous reframing.. Phillip McCleod Mar 2013 #24

I don't know about this reframing marions ghost Mar 2013 #26

you ask if it's possible to reframe atheism as something more positive. Phillip McCleod Mar 2013 #38

Intrinsic benefits to the adherant marions ghost Mar 2013 #44

i happen to agree that there are philosophical implications of atheism.. Phillip McCleod Mar 2013 #64

ok interesting marions ghost Mar 2013 #73

we are all humans snooper2 Mar 2013 #25

So if I'm reading correctly marions ghost Mar 2013 #27

Okay.. snooper2 Mar 2013 #28

Good video marions ghost Mar 2013 #29

Atheism is skepticscott Mar 2013 #31

And what are the fundamental skepticscott Mar 2013 #48

There is part of the problem.. so called beliefs MattBaggins Mar 2013 #53

There is no belief in science. Apophis Mar 2013 #41

OK whatever marions ghost Mar 2013 #46

And now you're down to skepticscott Mar 2013 #49

You can see science. Apophis Mar 2013 #63

Matter and anti-matter marions ghost Mar 2013 #66

Woo and woo skepticscott Mar 2013 #68

Various Definitions of Religion struggle4progress Mar 2013 #14

Atheism and Agnosticism struggle4progress Mar 2013 #15

�Religious Freedom� for Atheists struggle4progress Mar 2013 #16

what's bothersome is that years go by and.. Phillip McCleod Mar 2013 #18

Complete bullshit, and what's with the blonde? Is she there to make it complete and udder bullshit? Dark n Stormy Knight Mar 2013 #43

Obviously you don't get sarcasm... rexcat Mar 2013 #78

Certainly Atheism is Not a Religion On the Road Mar 2013 #57

it's baaaaaaaaacccckk.. (the GD thread i mean..) Phillip McCleod Mar 2013 #72

Has any one ever had Atheists knock on their door and ... JoePhilly Mar 2013 #77

Only on DU. kwassa Mar 2013 #82

Oh...please...show us skepticscott Mar 2013 #86

You misunderstand kwassa Mar 2013 #95

I understand perfectly skepticscott Mar 2013 #97

No one is obligated to answer the knock on the door. kwassa Mar 2013 #99

So atheists on DU tried to protect JoePhilly Mar 2013 #92

No, they tried to convert me to atheism. kwassa Mar 2013 #96

In your face, electronically?? JoePhilly Mar 2013 #100

Hey, they're on my computer screen. MY PRIVATE PROPERTY COMPUTER SCREEN!!!???!!!! kwassa Mar 2013 #112

At least some Mormons have. deucemagnet Mar 2013 #93