You can be anything else. You can even believe in an afterlife (one with no gods responsible). All it is is a lack of belief in a god or gods.

TlalocW

over time. Institutionally and personally!

must hold beliefs that are just as goofy as belief in gods.

And as atheism is nothing more than a lack of belief in any gods, there are all sorts of atheists who believe in lots of goofy shit. But those beliefs, unlike theistic beliefs, are not entailed by atheism.

And I'm not "desperate" for anything!

You keep saying "Let's have a serious argument" don't you?

you play it very well in this forum.

I don't want anyone to get the notion that ALL Democrats are anti-religious and support exclusionary divisiveness.

We are a REALLY Big Tent! And we need EVERYONE of us unquestionably!

After all, we absolutely do support the First Amendment!

Is this an attack on all theists?

I suppose it might depend on which deity or deities the individual believes in , and the reasons for that belief. It may be that belief in some deities is goofier than belief in others. Also, regardless of the level of goofiness of the actual beliefs, we know that plenty of people believe in deities for goofy reasons.

See if you can figure out the difference.

The adjective “goofy” is modifying which noun that sentence:

A) beliefs
B) we
C) “that one”

It is simply a difference of opinion.

It is not literally saying that anyone who believes in a deity is goofy as far as holding that belief, but the inference cannot be avoided.

Last edited Tue Apr 17, 2018, 11:47 PM - Edit history (1)

You are a person, not a set of beliefs. If you are too fused in your mind with your beliefs, then yes it will feel like an attack. But if you can separate yourself from your beliefs, and look at your beliefs as something you hold and use like a tool, then there is no attack at all, it is simply a discussion of the tool in your hand, not about you as a person.

The American Atheists organization does not represent atheism for any but the minority of atheists who belong to that organization and agree with those statements.

As far as I know, none of the atheists who post in this group are members of that organization. Certainly, I am not.

Please stop using a group's definition for atheism. Atheists have their own definitions and there is absolutely no official atheist doctrine. Pay attention to what atheists here are telling you, and you'll have a better understanding of each of our understandings of what atheism is.

Just like the blanket critiques of Roman Catholics are targeted just at the Roman Catholics who post here?

You have read their posts. You are familiar with them. You quoted from one atheist, who was murdered many years ago.

Who are those "some" atheists, to whom you refer. Living ones. Actual ones. Ones you know.

as this is posted at their website.

They even acknowledge the evolution of their "word play" to distinguish themselves from "religion."

Now - I'm not going to argue with you about what YOU believe - that's entirely up to you and is your right.

I just don't know how valid it is to argue that Atheists believe in nothing, that's all.

the group cited is in fact a group of atheists. So if this group wishes to define their beliefs as a system of beliefs, that is their right.

But it is not a religion as we define that term. It is simply a belief system.

at the same time they are telling them "We don't believe in anything?"

Ironic is that it is used with no conception of where it truly applies.

rights just because they don't have a belief in God.

That must be so difficult for you.

Please help me.

to the beliefs of the Democratic Party, whichnis also not a belief system.

Is it truly so hard to grasp the difference?

and they are things that the founder and presumably the members actually believe, yes, it is difficult for me to grasp the issue.

I believe in one person, one vote and I belief in a God?

You don't see the difference?

How about "I believe I will have pasta for dinner" and I believe Jesus is my savior?

No difference?

And using "I believe" is idiomatic usage.

As to "one person and one vote", that is an idiomatic expression of a political position.

As to "I believe in a god", that requires faith.

Therefore you can see the "believes" in the OP are not the same as religious beliefs.

You are making progress.

It clearly states lack of belief. Atheist have no belief in any God. They don't believe there is no God.

The other quotes are about philosophical ideas, like Democrats believe in helping the poor. NOT about belief as in faith. Saying I believe the Mets will be in the World Series is not ghe same as your belief in a diety.

Your post is a disingenuous total failure.

No discussion here!

it has been explained ad nauseum how Atheism is not about faith.

Yet believers like you want to keep trying Gotcha posts like this to claim it is.

it is logical and reasonable NOT to believe in a god or gods, and this will add some kind of value or quality to one's life?

"If it walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck..."

Once you come to understand that someone is trying to confuse you, that that is actually the goal, things make much more sense.

here, I think it's plain old talking past someone.

This particular tactic, the dishonest false question "Are you not trying to [do something you never did]?" is pretty popular with a few posters here.

but here it didn't seem to fit the post he responded to.

I felt maybe that was a reply to a different post, which happens with multiple sub threads.

So I just let it end.

Not to worry, I am sure dawg and I will pick it up elsewhete.

in the context of religion is a legal area, not one of faith.
Atheism should not be a reason for discrimination, and that right is protected by the Construction.
Similarly many Atheist groups fight to keep the separation of Church and State. Still a Magesteria overlapping with religion, but not about personal faith.

and for separation of church and state?

Then we have no argument, just agreement!

discuss aspects of religion as a subject and it's effect on people and society.

But, yes that to. The recent Right Wing agenda to allow discrimination based on religious beliefs is frightening.

"I reckon that a deed must be done...". Or, if you prefer, "I feel...", "I think...", "I consider...", etc.

That does not make atheists "reckoners".

It does not make atheism a "reckoning system", "a feeling system", and so on.