Is Atheism Wrong?

thanks, and thanks for adding me as a friend.

I agree with Anakata, the wrong is push their views on other people. And that is what my religion (Islam) taught actually. Cannot force others to follow us, and that what was said in the Quran. We just can tell (da'wah), but we cannot force others to follow us, Islam is a very tolerance religion, only many of its followers that don;t follow this point :-( "To you be your way and to me mine" QS 109:6 Peace and justice for all :-)

Ah, it sounds to me like you may have been more of an agnostic theist, according to my definition of the terms. You certainly seem to be the type of theist who I can respect, even if we disagree. Draven the Respectful Atheist http://dravenwriter.blogspot.com

Heh, oops. Sorry, talking neutrally is habit by now ^.^ I try not to take sides or offend anyone in conversation usually so I end up speaking like that..though according to your article I fall under the theistic agnostic category. I'm Pagan to specific =) Heh, I wish the my neutral speaking worked in this current few discussions I'm in with a christian fanatic currently..but I don't reckon she has any interest in what I have to say.

Yes, a pagan belief system could be a good example of agnostic theism. The key that defines agnosticism is whether or not you believe 100% that your belief is fact. If you believe in a pagan god, "The Great Spirit", etc. and also feel that it is not right for others to feel differently and they are certainly wrong, you could be an explicit theist, or explicit pagan, etc. Draven the Respectful Atheist http://dravenwriter.blogspot.com

You speak in the third person as if you belong to none of the groups you describe. I invite you to take a look at the following article, which contains my definitions of agnosticism, atheism, and theism: http://www.helium.com/tm/196152 I would be interested to know which camp you find yourself in. Draven the Respectful Atheist http://dravenwriter.blogspot.com

It sounds to me as if you are an agnostic atheist. The two terms are wholly separate from each other, and there are many agnostic theists out there as well. I broke down how I define all these terms in this article: http://www.helium.com/tm/196152 Take a read, and please let me know if it makes sense to you, and which camp you place yourself in. Draven the Respectful Atheist http://dravenwriter.blogspot.com

Thank you for the kind comment on my posts too! I hope my discussions and comments are quality and provide value to people. Draven the Respectful Atheist http://dravenwriter.blogspot.com

While I am not fond of labelig myself, (I think it limits my capacity extremely), I would not mind you calling me an agnostic atheist or whatever. However, quoting you, agnostic atheist does acknowledge that the non-existence of a superpower is just a belief not a fact. I would like to disagree. Although, there is no way to prove the non-existence of god, saying that there probably is God is equivilant to assuming that something is there until it is proven not, which does not make sense to me. So, until God's existence is proven, I will take "God does not exist" as a FACT. That being said, I would never want to deny the right of others to "believe" that God does exist. I would try to argue with them though, when and if they try to present it as FACT rather than FAITH. That's what lacks in me. Belief. Is it not what atheism is, the lack of belief (or faith)?

I respectfully disagree with your positions on atheism, plumwish07. The assumption that we had to be created by someone, and I take it you mean an intelligent being, is faulty in my opinion. I don't mind you assuming this for yourself, but let me share my beliefs. To me, a happy accident is much more likely to have caused the genesis of life than any deity we conceive of. The chances of it happening at least a few times in the universe are actually fairly good from what I know of science. I am a little insulted by your assertion that atheists secretly accept theism as truth but do not understand it. I can only speak for myself, but I have completely dispelled theism as something for me to pursue and believe through countless hours and effort. When I was young, I went from church to church in search of something that made sense to me, and never found it. I have immersed myself in 6 various sects of Christianity, read the Bible and even the Book of Mormon. What I found in all these places was something too outlandish for me to believe personally, and so much human influence, segregation, and selective interpretations of scripture as to yield the whole lot suspect. I met many great people and some not so great people, but I was searching for meaning and found it. The meaning I found was within myself. The process I have been through in my life has solidified an internal locus of control by which I am responsible for all things within my power, and the range of what I can impact is greatly increased. It increases each day due to my ability to take utter responsibility for myself. I also found meaning in my friends and family. Altruism brings me great meaning, and does not require religion. In fact, I believe true altruism occurs more naturally outside of religious institutions. I give of myself because it feels good to help other people, period. I do good because it feels great and it is completely illogical to act immorally. I have no theory X manager as God looming above me in the heavens with the stick and carrot, damnation or salvation. I need no such external inspiration. Immoral behavior almost always leads to personal pain. I lead a moral life helpful to myself and others of my own volition. I hope this helps shed a little light. Draven the Respectful Atheist http://dravenwriter.blogspot.com

Actually, most of us Christians believe not because it's written down, but because we have in some way or another experienced the influence and the presence of God in our lives. Please don't assume that you understand why we believe what we believe when you clearly don't even understand the basics of what we believe. I would never assume that I know why a Wiccan believes what they do.

Yes, Bungirl, I would agree with you. I have known, loved and served my loving heavenly Father for 48 of my 70 years and have the REALITY of an EXPERIENCE with Him. I do not believe "what is written in a book" because it is written there, but because my experience has proven so much of it to be true, and NONE of it to be wrong. When it comes to any issue, I would rather base my actions on the Book which has proven to be most reliable for 48 years. I believe it to be the Word of God because, even with deep study, I have never found any contradiction or anything false. On the contrary I have found so much in history, archaeology, science, and most importantly experience to prove its truth.

In other words, not believing what you believe in? Draven the Respectful Atheist http://dravenwriter.blogspot.com

Live and let live. I like your tolerance edujccz. Draven the Respectful Atheist http://dravenwriter.blogspot.com

Interesting points. I am curious, where would you rate yourself on a scale of tolerance towards theists? Let's use 1 to 10 with 1 being least tolerant and 10 being most tolerant. Personally, I believe I'm a 9 or 10 on theism itself, although I hold different beliefs. When it comes to explicit theists who impose themselves and like to tell you that you are going to hell unless you are born again, etc. I'm more like a 1 or 2. Draven the Respectful Atheist http://dravenwriter.blogspot.com

My grandchildren are all in Catholic school, and I see nothing at all wrong with that. A little religious teaching never hurts anyone, even atheists. Most theists are quiet about their religion and I am quite tolerant at about a 9. However, there are those few who need to be horsewhipped for their bigotry and intolerance towards others.I'd rate those at a 1

Not all people in a religion strap bombs to themselves in the name of their God nor do they condemn other people. I believe that every person is capable of doing evil and religion shouldn't be used to justify those acts...

So it appears you are an explicit theist, in the sense that you present your views as the absolute truth with little tolerance for others? The questions you posed are not answered by your religion in any way more complete or sufficient than the answers I have for them. You too answer these questions for yourself as I do, except you them yourself through religious experience and worship. I am an atheist, and I do not lead a miserable existence, or "live it up" (in which you seem to have suggested atheism leads to immorality inherently). Religion is not prerequisite to finding purpose in life or living morally. Some people find it helpful. I've found both purpose and a moral lifestyle fully explained, believed, and developed through my own investigations. My purpose and morality do not require god, only myself and my brothers and sisters in life. I act morally because it is who I have become, not because of any threat of punishment or promise of reward in an afterlife. Draven the Respectful Atheist http://dravenwriter.blogspot.com

To act morally without expecting whatsoever in return is the highest form of morality.

Well said DeaXyza. I agree, although I have a question. In your response you seem to refer to a willful choice in believing or not believing. Is it really that way for you? For me, my beliefs are the culmination of my life experiences, although they only became solidified and clear when I chose to investigate them. Draven the Respectful Atheist http://dravenwriter.blogspot.com

not wilful when I was younger my parents did try to make me believe in God. But at that time I totally freaked out and lets say did not sleep with my pillow in that direction, I refused to be coerced into anything it is only as I grew up started noticing things and my own beliefs took shape only much later in life ( when I was a year shy of graduating from College). It is then I started to read some of the religious scriptures ( not all of them, my religion is too old, too vast for any common man to read and understand in one lifetime) I also started saying prayers and believed in those prayers, when I was younger I used to pray everyday sometime twice a day but never understood them but just accepted them blindly 'cos I was trying to please my parents, now I pray whenever I feel like conversing with God, I talk freely with God and they are not always about wants and wishes, I thank God for all he has bestowed me with and many a time they are just conversations leading to nowhere. But I can not call myself a total pious person 'cos when diplomacy calls I do say a few white lies and I also am not the type that prays everyday religiously, but I have faith in my prayers and even if they are not answered I do not feel frustrated or angry, I feel God most probably is helping someone else who is in much more need than me! My beliefs are mine only I have experienced God in small things which I could never explain away ever, they were miracles if you ask me and that made me really think about God and miracles and also finally made me believe in God. But these are my own experiences and I do not expect anyone to believe me but some people feel that some of my experiences were just coincidences, but for me they are miracles and they shall forever be till the other person can prove otherwise ( not just come up with coincidental theories ). My choices in my adult life are rerely wilful they are of my own free will.

oh by the way I like your Catchphrase " Draven the respectful Atheist".

Excellent response, hello_cancer. Very insightful, and it appears you an I think on this subject in much the same manner. Draven the Respectful Atheist http://dravenwriter.blogspot.com

You are right, going to hell, is a choice you make.