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Does Atheism Inherently Endorse Nihilism?

Andy said:
Your statement is correct, and I would like to direct you to one thing I said earlier:

A moral code does help form a bedrock for the formation of society, but, I ask, does that give your or my life meaning, does it create significance? Purpose? Sure, morals might help run society, but that doesn't validate our existence, as I've said, it only serves to help you and I fall asleep at night.
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First to answer your questions, absolutely not.
Morals as you say, help us to sleep better at night in not doing to the best of our knowledge harm to others or in hurting others.
As for a purpose in life however, that is up to each individual - whatever purpose the individual sets in their life is then the meaning of their existence. As to what that purpose is? It's up to the individual to discover that for themselves - aka enlightenment.
 
jfuh said:
First to answer your questions, absolutely not.
Morals as you say, help us to sleep better at night in not doing to the best of our knowledge harm to others or in hurting others.
As for a purpose in life however, that is up to each individual - whatever purpose the individual sets in their life is then the meaning of their existence. As to what that purpose is? It's up to the individual to discover that for themselves - aka enlightenment.
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Of course that raises the question, is the enlightenment those individuals achieve real? Or is it just another tool our brains use to protect the conscience from the abyss of truth?
 
Andy said:
Of course that raises the question, is the enlightenment those individuals achieve real? Or is it just another tool our brains use to protect the conscience from the abyss of truth?
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abyss of truth?
It's real enough for the individual which is all that really matters.

I mean if you really want to get into it, define real.
 
By that definition and philosophy, nihilism couldn't be more than a idea, since, as humans, even the worst of the lot have some sort of 'value system', albeit a self-centered and skewed one. For instance, Nietzche. Even believing in nothing is a belief, thereby setting up a personal belief system. I don't think humans are capable of the truest sense of nihilism; seems more an animalistic trait.
 
Felicity said:
...and Taaa-Daaa! Again! :mrgreen: :mrgreen:


(remember I told tecoyah to take his assertion about an atheistc god and reverse it to find a "true" atheist..)

"not G.O.D...but rather, D.O.G....."

http://www.debatepolitics.com/438636-post35.html


By George! The lights are coming on!!!
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But I don't find a single commonality between atheism and nihilism at all. It's apples and oranges.
Atheism simply is the nonacceptance of a supreme being or beings and whatever those beings represent.
Nihilism is the complete lack of emotionally or morally based deed or thought, including any beliefs.
As the creatures we are, we're simply not programmed to act or behave strictly on instinctual non-thinking criteria.
Your view that atheism in its truest sense could support the theory of nihilism just isnt' so. The very fact that atheism exists supports a thought process.
 
ngdawg said:
But I don't find a single commonality between atheism and nihilism at all. It's apples and oranges.
Atheism simply is the nonacceptance of a supreme being or beings and whatever those beings represent.
Nihilism is the complete lack of emotionally or morally based deed or thought, including any beliefs.
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Yeah...the practice of atheism is as you describ...the REALITY of what that means ultimately leads to the big "N." They are not the "same," but they are relatives.

As the creatures we are, we're simply not programmed to act or behave strictly on instinctual non-thinking criteria.
Your view that atheism in its truest sense could support the theory of nihilism just isnt' so. The very fact that atheism exists supports a thought process.
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Right, with regard to the human practice of something they call atheism. The reality of "no God" actually does lead to Nihilism. You mentioned Nietzche....Andy pointed out that he was indeed an Atheist in the truest sense and look where that took him!
 
Even an animal exhibits all the characteristics of fear... Could it be that the fear of lawful repercussion be primarily that which deters a nihilist. I don't think that we are talking in terms of all atheists... Likely more a gateway for some... Weaker minds... And likely a time evolved process... Even in relation/rooted from mental disorders..?
 
jfuh said:
And you missed the boat all together.
Defining what is real is far from nihilism. So try again kiddo
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In as much as your saying makes you feel some kinda victorious... I am still trying to conceptualize what actual nihilism is altogether. Before this thread I was not even familiar with the term. Unlike you I don't pretend to know all.
I don't have too.
Sail away.
 
Apostle13 said:
In as much as your saying makes you feel some kinda victorious... I am still trying to conceptualize what actual nihilism is altogether. Before this thread I was not even familiar with the term. Unlike you I don't pretend to know all.
I don't have too.
Sail away.
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The perhaps you should look into what you are getting into and what it is you are arguing about before you even begin the participation and ignorantly argue against or for anything.
But as with all those whom have no idea of the matter and have nothing left to argue but the argument itself you must result to a barrage attacks on the other poster.
Thus far you have shown ignorance to nihilism, circular reasoning by citing the bible to prove the bible and then finally self-victimization so as to seem taking the high road when it's nothing more than personal attacks.
Let me know when you are ready to talk about the topics as opposed to saying how I'm going to burn in hell.
By the way, whatever happened to what god told you? Seems you've backed out of that blasphemy. Has god forgiven you now?
 
Felicity said:
Yeah...the practice of atheism is as you describ...the REALITY of what that means ultimately leads to the big "N." They are not the "same," but they are relatives.
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Again, ignorance. They are not the same regardless of how many times you say they are. In simpleton terms, if they were the same, why bother with another vocabulary?

Felicity said:
Right, with regard to the human practice of something they call atheism. The reality of "no God" actually does lead to Nihilism. You mentioned Nietzche....Andy pointed out that he was indeed an Atheist in the truest sense and look where that took him!
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Again, show that atheism leads to nihilism - you've said this over and over yet never once providing the least bit of rational to support your claim. The only instance you even came close to providing proof was when you took a single word from a sentence from the atheist website completely out of context - both deceitful and dishonest - I thought your christian values taught you better than that.
 
Apostle13 said:
In as much as your saying makes you feel some kinda victorious... I am still trying to conceptualize what actual nihilism is altogether. Before this thread I was not even familiar with the term.
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So you admit you were talking about something you knew nothing about. You know sometimes its "wise" to just sit back and learn a thing or two, instead of talking so much without ever saying anything.

Apostle13 said:
Unlike you I don't pretend to know all.
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Coming from the self proclaimed "Wisdom Warrior" :roll:

Apostle13 said:
I don't have too.
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:rofl Riiiiight, because you've got the bible, and god for a personal side-kick.

Apostle13 said:
Sail away.
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WTF?
 
Felicity said:
Yeah...the practice of atheism is as you describ...the REALITY of what that means ultimately leads to the big "N." They are not the "same," but they are relatives.

Right, with regard to the human practice of something they call atheism. The reality of "no God" actually does lead to Nihilism. You mentioned Nietzche....Andy pointed out that he was indeed an Atheist in the truest sense and look where that took him!
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I think you have it backwards. In order for someone to be totally nihilistic, one must be athiest, but one who is atheist is not necessarily nihilistic and in all probability, unless they were raised by wolves, could not be.
In other words, apples are always fruit, but fruit is not always apples....
 
ngdawg said:
I think you have it backwards. In order for someone to be totally nihilistic, one must be athiest, but one who is atheist is not necessarily nihilistic and in all probability, unless they were raised by wolves, could not be.
In other words, apples are always fruit, but fruit is not always apples....
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I think that's what I said....:confused: Note.."leads to" and Nietzche was atheist and "look where that took him.."

Amazingly--I actualy think we are in agreement here.;)
 
Felicity said:
I think that's what I said.... Note.."leads to" and Nietzche was atheist and "look where that took him.."

Amazingly--I actualy think we are in agreement here.
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Atheism to "lead to" nihilism you actually have to prove that atheism teaches or endorses nihilism. By stating that one leads to the other you are stating that the ultimate goal of atheists is to become nihilistic - all fruits strive to be apples. And that's hardly the case by far.
No, atheism does not lead to nihilism just like christianity does not lead to satanism.
 
jfuh said:
Atheism to "lead to" nihilism you actually have to prove that atheism teaches or endorses nihilism. By stating that one leads to the other you are stating that the ultimate goal of atheists is to become nihilistic - all fruits strive to be apples. And that's hardly the case by far.
No, atheism does not lead to nihilism just like christianity does not lead to satanism.
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Do you actually make sense?:confused:
 
Felicity said:
go back a few posts and you "try reading" and then tell us if your statements are relevant.
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Try reading - if you've read you would understand the relevance.
 
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