Is atheism a religion[W:711:831]

VanceMack said:

No...I wont be answering your silly question. If however you would like to stay on topic and ask questions that are relevant, that will be fine. All of the commonly accepted definitions are very clear. Atheists dont believe in a God or religion. Agnostics dont know. So...what are you?

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Cephus said:

I don't care what they say, I care about what they can prove. They can say they "KNOW" that aliens are running the government, that doesn't make that claim of knowledge credible. No matter how strong one's faith happens to be, that doesn't mean that they have any actual knowledge, otherwise it wouldn't require faith. I don't see very many people claiming that they *KNOW* that there are no gods anywhere, although there are certainly some gods we can know don't exist because they are logically contradictory.

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SmokeAndMirrors said:

Ah, I see. So you get that, but you magically stop getting it when I switch out the nouns?

Like I said, your entire presentation of this is based around your desire to make atheism fit your own needs: wanting to pretend as though it's as baseless a position as religion to make yourself feel better and less ridiculous when you're in a debate about it.

I'm an atheist. The real kind, not the imaginary straw man you've invented.

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VanceMack said:

Atheism IS a baseless position. Its a rather foolish position to boot. You dont believe in God. Fine What DO you believe in? What is your foundation of faith (theory) on the origin of the cosmos and the creation of all things?

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VanceMack said:

Atheism IS a baseless position. Its a rather foolish position to boot. You dont believe in God. Fine What DO you believe in? What is your foundation of faith (theory) on the origin of the cosmos and the creation of all things?

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Manc Skipper said:

Not believing in gods is a tiny absence in an atheist's rich and wonderful life of freedom from superstition. Not having a god to believe in doesn't equate to believing in nothing.

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Cephus said:

Sure it is. Not believing in unicorns is a baseless proposition too, but there aren't roving gangs of unicorn-believers wandering around trying to get their beliefs legislated into law, to get their beliefs extra rights, etc. If there were, you'd have lots of vocal a-unicornists out there doing the same thing atheists are.

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VanceMack said:

Great. I couldnt give half a damn if you believe in God. That wasnt the question. the question then is what DO you believe in? What is your foundation of faith (theory) that drives your belief system

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VanceMack said:

Same response. Postulating about what you DONT believe in doesnt get any closer to what you DO believe in.

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Cephus said:

Because in this case it's entirely irrelevant. I don't believe in gods. I don't believe in the supernatural. I don't believe in the irrational. What's your point?

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Manc Skipper said:

Why do you assume that everyone must have a "belief system"?

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VanceMack said:

Always truly inspirational to see what people dont believe. Its very...powerful. Awesome. And so well articulated.

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Cephus said:

Meaning you had no point. Nobody is surprised.

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VanceMack said:

Continued nice dodge...

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VanceMack said:

Why cant you answer such a basic and direct question?

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Manc Skipper said:

Clumsy dodge. Try to think outside your box.

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OldWorldOrder said:

I've noticed some atheists get REAL squirrely about if they believe that there is no god.

Jesus, guys, it's your own opinion and you can't even verbalize (as it were, on an internet forum) it?

Here's mine: I BELIEVE THAT I DON'T KNOW OR CARE ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THERE'S A GOD.

Is it a religious belief, in that it's a belief about religion that isn't demographical? Sure.

See how easy it was?

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VanceMack said:

Says the guy that refuses to answer a direct question. Oh wait...I should say...ANOTHER guy that refuses to answer a direct question.

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Cephus said:

Of course, that's not the question you asked.

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You're the one who is desperately trying to squirrel around the issue.

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The question at hand is "do you believe in a god?" Belief is an active state. You cannot inactively believe in something.

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The question is not "do you believe or do you disbelieve in a god?"

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So answer the question that is actually being asked. Do you believe in a god? If you do not actively believe in a god, then you do not believe in a god. Stop trying to weasel your way out of the actual answer to the actual question that is being asked.

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Manc Skipper said:

Define "belief system".

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Nynaeve Meara said:

Sure it would and I'd happy to join said church.

When you have Unitarian humanistic socialist churches just about any culture with sufficient believers could be considered a religion. There has to be something to believe in however; thus boobs and juice. (Very tangible I might add, an excellent choice)

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OldWorldOrder said:

I KNOW YOU ARE BUT WHAT AM I

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Uhhh...yes you can. I don't believe in unicorns.

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Cephus said:

Immature?

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Fine. Do you believe unicorns don't exist? If so, where's your evidence.

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VanceMack said:

Oh, it runs the gamut. Origins of the cosmos, all manner of plant animal and minerals, known and not yet discovered elements, moral compass (foundation of right and wrong). We know you don't believe in God and good on you. Now...what DO you believe? What theory do you put faith in?

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