what is an atheist?

[countryboy]

there seems to be some confusions here about the nature of being an atheist, let me defines it for those who dont know:



"
An Atheist loves himself and his fellow man instead of a god.
An Atheist accepts that heaven is something for which we should work now – here on earth – for all men together to enjoy.
An Atheist accepts that he can get no help through prayer, but that he must find in himself the inner conviction and strength to meet life, to grapple with it, to subdue it and to enjoy it.
An Atheist accepts that only in a knowledge of himself and a knowledge of his fellow man can he find the understanding that will help to a life of fulfillment."

there u go.

[master_g]

i think an Atheist is a person who does not believe in the existence of God and would rather believe in the theory of evolution or darwinism. some also seem to believe they themselves are a god. wheather they are good or bad by worldly standards is down to them. i accept that some have the qualities shown above but not all. maybe your describing yourself. but the bible says an evil man will do good for those he loves, were as a TRUE follower of Jesus should do good to those who love and hate him, so simply being able to do a little good here and there is nothing to boast about really. (i dont mean boast in a negative way)

because of this, when a atheist dies, they are removed from the presence of God as you so desired on earth. and that place were God keeps his presence from is hel, the place you consciously chose.

The bible says everybody will be rewarded at judgment, the saved and the unsaved. if you chose to live your tiny mortal life without God then your eternal life will be without God too.

[kdotc]

how come u used HE only lol...there some feminist on this forum

atheist don't believe in god

this forum is getting more and more religious

[smallrinilady]

well you can say those views, according to people who are religious of who they view the atheist are




but to an atheist, they are a person who does not believe in religion

[master_g]

People may FOLLOW a particular religion but its not the religion you believe in, its God. with this in mind, an atheist is an atheist becuase he/she doesnt believe in God.

[ab289]

so master_g, let me ask you something. Correct me if I'm wrong here, Muslims believe Muhammad as the son of God as much as the Christians believe Jesus as the son of God.

so, who's the real deal? I think that's what they have been fighting about for centuries in places like Israel.

this is probably in the wrong thread. hehe ...

[master_g]

muslims believe mohamed is the prophet of God not the son of God.

They have been fighting because the muslim scriptures command muslims to kill Jews and christians.

[hiake]

there seems to be some confusions here about the nature of being an atheist, let me defines it for those who dont know:



"
An Atheist loves himself and his fellow man instead of a god.
An Atheist accepts that heaven is something for which we should work now – here on earth – for all men together to enjoy.
An Atheist accepts that he can get no help through prayer, but that he must find in himself the inner conviction and strength to meet life, to grapple with it, to subdue it and to enjoy it.
An Atheist accepts that only in a knowledge of himself and a knowledge of his fellow man can he find the understanding that will help to a life of fulfillment."

there u go.

Well, I wouldn't so far as to say I "love" myself and my fellow man (and women). It's just that I do not give the name of God to the higher power I believe exists -- I do not prescribe to a religious view of the higher power -- since most "Gods", strangely enough, take form of human, is omnipotent, omnipresent and omnibenevolent. That in itself is very suspicious to me -- thus I don't believe in the religious scripture of the "God".
I guess to me, an atheist is someone who is not a retreatist -- one who believes in the power and will of oneself, instead of seeking the reassurance of something less than concrete.

It is far too easy to want to let the burden of responsibility be shifted to faith -- hey, afterall, if a challenge is a challenge from God, I need not succeed since He would know I tried my best -- thus justifying a less than perfect result. If anything went well, it's a reward for one's good deeds -- I personally believe it's just chance, life has its ups and downs regardless of one's belief and the good deeds.

In short, I think an atheist is who doesn't prescribe to religions. One may believe in higher power, but there is no religious scripture which parallels one's conception of such higher power -- thus not prescribe to any religion -- one will still be an atheist.

[melroseddl1]

what type of people in todays society believe in atheist?

[master_g]

beleive in atheist, do you mean what type of people are atheist?

[Yo itz Trong]

Uhmm...i apologize if I'm wrong. If GOD says that we should love our fellow men/women as stated above, then why were they killing other people in the first place? if muslims and christians believe in god, then why do muslims have to kill christians and jews? and also, isn't jesus a jew? so christians are followers of a jewish man. can someone make it straight for me? If something good happens you praise God. If something bad happens, he works in a very mysterious way. how so?

As for myself, religion is more of a philosophy. What's more to life then doing the right thing? give spare change to the poor, donate money to charity funds, holding the door for old people. that's my religion. with a god or without a god, god or gods, it really doesn't matter to me.

[Lilydream]

Well, I wouldn't so far as to say I "love" myself and my fellow man (and women). It's just that I do not give the name of God to the higher power I believe exists -- I do not prescribe to a religious view of the higher power -- since most "Gods", strangely enough, take form of human, is omnipotent, omnipresent and omnibenevolent. That in itself is very suspicious to me -- thus I don't believe in the religious scripture of the "God".
I guess to me, an atheist is someone who is not a retreatist -- one who believes in the power and will of oneself, instead of seeking the reassurance of something less than concrete.

It is far too easy to want to let the burden of responsibility be shifted to faith -- hey, afterall, if a challenge is a challenge from God, I need not succeed since He would know I tried my best -- thus justifying a less than perfect result. If anything went well, it's a reward for one's good deeds -- I personally believe it's just chance, life has its ups and downs regardless of one's belief and the good deeds.

In short, I think an atheist is who doesn't prescribe to religions. One may believe in higher power, but there is no religious scripture which parallels one's conception of such higher power -- thus not prescribe to any religion -- one will still be an atheist.

wow in what u say u give the definition of what is an atheist...

but well, being an atheist is sometimes better than believe in god..because believe in god mean that we accept the fact it have someone who is here to say what we have to do or not and khnow everything we do..but how come is possible? how come is possible to have someone who can do that with all the ppl that count this earth?.. this is just a hard question that can't find an answer..but well i khnow that some of u will say that this is possible because god is the best of the best person in this world...and he get that power..but still if u take this problem and try to explain it with science.. it's just -noclue
and then be an atheist doesn't mean that this person don't believe in nothing..it's just that this person is more independant and don't need to put all his conviction in something that can't be prove...:D

[Ecko]

how come u used HE only lol...there some feminist on this forum

atheist don't believe in god

this forum is getting more and more religious

lol for reals.. HallelujaH!!! hahhahha.... I have reasons to believe God did not speak English.. why's it yah n not Jah!! O_o;

I guess I'm not really Atheist... I'm jus non-religious... -lol

[master_g]

Uhmm...i apologize if I'm wrong. If GOD says that we should love our fellow men/women as stated above, then why were they killing other people in the first place? if muslims and christians believe in god, then why do muslims have to kill christians and jews? and also, isn't jesus a jew? so christians are followers of a jewish man. can someone make it straight for me? If something good happens you praise God. If something bad happens, he works in a very mysterious way. how so?

As for myself, religion is more of a philosophy. What's more to life then doing the right thing? give spare change to the poor, donate money to charity funds, holding the door for old people. that's my religion. with a god or without a god, god or gods, it really doesn't matter to me.

yeah the quaran says to kill christians (by religion) and jews (by nationality), islam and christianity/ judaism are 2 different religions. they have NOTHING in common. most muslims do not follow the quaran to that degree though, most of my friends and one of my best friends are muslim. but that is the main reason for the constant war in the middle east (excluding the so called war on terror thing). To be honest the whole conflict between christians/jews and muslims was fortold in the bible long before it started.

also good things and bad things happen to us while on earth, its life. i give God thanks for everything that happens to me regardless of whether its good or bad cus every trial that comes my way will only make me stronger. If you want a good example of something good and something bad happening to a person and reasons behind it then read the book of Job (proving u aint read it already), u can even read it on the internet. that will cover what you asked conserning good and bad things hapening.

if you have any more questions, ill be more than happy to anwer them.

[robsh]

i think i'm one of this person what descibed on the first post

is it bad? i dont think so,

i believe what my brain is believing

[hiake]

People may FOLLOW a particular religion but its not the religion you believe in, its God. with this in mind, an atheist is an atheist becuase he/she doesnt believe in God.

But if the "higher power" I believe in is not what religion(s) describe THEIR God, I am still an atheist. Since the name "God" comes with a string of attributes, not all of them my conception of "higher power" has.

In short, not-"God" = atheist.

[countryboy]

interesting...hmmm
the definition, I posted, is from the "Atheist" organization of America.
and can you all tell I am a boy, so I am pretty bias on HE/HIS/HIM...hehehe.


for those who believe in God created everything read the following:

http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?chanId=sa003&articleId=000D4FEC-7D5B-1D07-8E49809EC588EEDF


actually, it's good for everyone to read all 15 reasons for Godless-ness.

[hiake]

Wow, an article from SciAm, how did you dig that up from the archive?

It is a lovely article, but it will not be fruitful in stopping the misleading arguments from creationists -- since those who will make the argument in the first place will not cite this article, and those who will be convinced (by creationist) had not read this article.

My favourite part: "How does one disprove the existence of omnipotent intelligences?" -- one doesn't, it (the omnipotent intelligence) is there to be believed, not proved. <One ought not to insult Him in such ungratituous manner.> I added the middle part and the last quote is a live quote from an acquintance of mine :P

[kapo123]

Atheist is some one who does not beileve it God

[The_Jelly]

how come u used HE only lol...there some feminist on this forum

atheist don't believe in god

this forum is getting more and more religious
^What he said?

[master_g]

hehe :)

[smallrinilady]

Uhmm...i apologize if I'm wrong. If GOD says that we should love our fellow men/women as stated above, then why were they killing other people in the first place? if muslims and christians believe in god, then why do muslims have to kill christians and jews? and also, isn't jesus a jew? so christians are followers of a jewish man. can someone make it straight for me? If something good happens you praise God. If something bad happens, he works in a very mysterious way. how so?




this always confused me

fight your battles for the honor of god

huh? what does that mean
the bible is full of stories of war
war in the name of God

one of the many contraditinos of the bible

[chiehc87]

^ i don't understand your question ... or is there even a question?


anyways, for me a definition of an atheist is simple.

'a person that refutes the existence of a 'Higher Being' that has the ability to control the presence of human development and civilization.'

i find it amusing that many 'atheist' has come to the conclusion that there isn't a God. when simply, there isn't any proof that God doesn't exist. and yes, there isn't any 'physical' proof (at least to be found to date) of the existence of God. However, the atheist are all accusing the 'creatists', where's you proof of God. when in reality, what are you (atheists) using to disprove our God?

and don't say, evolution is the proof that there isn't God. total bs (pardon me). read Darwin's Theory of Evolution again, thoroughly please ... and you will see that he is not disproving the existence of God. but simply evulating the link between generation of different species.

[hiake]

^ i don't understand your question ... or is there even a question?


anyways, for me a definition of an atheist is simple.

'a person that refutes the existence of a 'Higher Being' that has the ability to control the presence of human development and civilization.'

i find it amusing that many 'atheist' has come to the conclusion that there isn't a God. when simply, there isn't any proof that God doesn't exist. and yes, there isn't any 'physical' proof (at least to be found to date) of the existence of God. However, the atheist are all accusing the 'creatists', where's you proof of God. when in reality, what are you (atheists) using to disprove our God?

and don't say, evolution is the proof that there isn't God. total bs (pardon me). read Darwin's Theory of Evolution again, thoroughly please ... and you will see that he is not disproving the existence of God. but simply evulating the link between generation of different species.

It's just sad that I prophesized the behaviour not long ago in that this message:

It is a lovely article, but it will not be fruitful in stopping the misleading arguments from creationists -- since those who will make the argument in the first place will not cite this article, and those who will be convinced (by creationist) had not read this article.

My favourite part: "How does one disprove the existence of omnipotent intelligences?" -- one doesn't, it (the omnipotent intelligence) is there to be believed, not proved. <One ought not to insult Him in such ungratituous manner.> I added the middle part and the last quote is a live quote from an acquintance of mine :P

This message was a reply to the below message with an attached SciAm link, probably you didn't read the article from SciAm? Otherwise you won't just repeat the so-called questions or convincing arguments mentioned in the article, go read, it's worth your God-praising time. To save you time, I quoted the message with the SciAm article in it below -->

interesting...hmmm
the definition, I posted, is from the "Atheist" organization of America.
and can you all tell I am a boy, so I am pretty bias on HE/HIS/HIM...hehehe.


for those who believe in God created everything read the following:

http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?chanId=sa003&articleId=000D4FEC-7D5B-1D07-8E49809EC588EEDF


actually, it's good for everyone to read all 15 reasons for Godless-ness.

[NewAzNSensation]

an atheist is someone who masturbates (self lovin' homies)

[無得頂]

I define an atheist as someone who does not believe a higher superior being exists.

[BabyRain]

an atheist is someone who masturbates (self lovin' homies)

Just so you know.. there are some of us who believe in God and still do that OK? <_<

[master_g]

there is people who believe in God and do ALL types of things..

[hiake]

OMG I just rediscovered this thread... NewAzNSensation's post was kind of silly @_@b

But I guess he/she has a point since Christianity (at least the one sect practiced in most parts of the states) is all over abstinence... Maybe masturbation counts as perpetration of the abstinence rule? I don't know... -unsure

[BabyRain]

Oh well.. Lust is afterall part of the 7 sins... -rotfl
But without Lust; where is the passion?!

[BabyRain]

I posted this article in my Analysis thread in relation to Taxloss' question and I thought it's somehow suitable to be in this thread too...
"God would be An Atheist: Make Me a Buddhist"
By © Martin Foreman

I have always been attracted to Buddhism. When I was drifting in and out of my there-must-be-something-more-to-life phase in my twenties and early thirties, the eastern religion offered several advantages over Christianity.

Firstly, it was relatively uncomplicated. Instead of the God whose personality and form mutated from the Old to the New Testament, Buddhism offered no God at all.

Secondly, Buddhism was peaceful. Like Jesus, but unlike Jehovah, Siddhartha Gautama both preached and practised non-violence. And unlike Jesus, his life ended in wise and comfortable old age, not tortured on the cross.

Thirdly, Buddhism offered hope, not fear. Christianity’s message was obey all the rules during your one and only life or you’ll suffer torments throughout eternity. Buddhism merely said if you don’t get it right, come back and try again.

I was never devout. I skipped through books about Buddhism rather than studied the original texts. I could never remember the difference between Samsara, Nirvana and other states of being or non-being. I read and promptly forgot about the differences between Hinayana, Mahayana and the various other sects.

And while I was aware that there were Bodhisattvas – enlightened beings who had postponed their own stage of Buddhahood in order to help benighted beings like myself to reincarnate to a better life – I was sure that none were living in my neck of the woods.

Because I wasn’t ready for sexual abstinence, total vegetarianism and being nice to everyone 24-7, I kept postponing the moment when I would sit down and learn by heart the Four Noble Truths or the Eightfold Path. A would-be Augustine, I suggested to the God-who-didn’t-exist to make me Buddhist, just not yet.

Instead I took up meditation, In London and, several years later in Los Angeles, week after week I sat crossed-legged and eyes closed in a Buddhist center, beckoning Peace and Tranquility. Neither state came; instead, the enforced leisure heightened my physical and emotional energy and I needed half a day to recover from the stress of doing nothing.

Of course I had Doubts. Just how old did Buddhism say the earth was? Nor was I convinced by the idea of reincarnation, particularly as the earth’s population kept growing, And where did demons and spirits they fit into the picture?

But the idea that I could work out salvation at my own pace and still be guaranteed a pleasant afterlife swept such Doubts aside. Perhaps it was best not to look to closely at Buddhism, in case its foundation proved weak.

I stayed in that semi-believing state for several years, until my growing disgust at the immorality of fundamentalist Christianity and Islam prompted me to try and distinguish between “good” and “bad” religion.

The inevitable occurred. All religion proved itself an illusion and I was forced to recognize that Buddhist theology was as absurd as that of monotheism.

And yet… It depends on how Buddhism is defined. It grew out of Hinduism, a polytheistic religion with all the bells and whistles of reincarnation. It succeeded in demoting the Hindu gods and demolishing the idea of a Supreme Creator; perhaps 2,500 years ago it was too soon to abolish all the other supernatural trappings.

Or, equally likely, Siddhartha expected us to do that for ourselves. In the essential elements of Buddhism that he gave us – the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path – he made no reference to God or an afterlife.

Unlike Christianity and Islam, where we have to humor a deity, Buddhism's central message is that our moral and spiritual responsibility is to ourselves. At the end of our existence, our reward for living well is not submission to our capricious creator, but the final extinction of our consciousness.

How do we do live well? By recognizing that the conflict in our lives – conflict which spills over into our relations with others – stems from our egos. We commit acts of folly and crime for many reasons, but underlying them all is the desire to control events around us and the fear of being ignored.

Extinguish the ego and morality automatically ensues. With no ego, we have no desire. We cannot be offended, we cannot be hurt. Sin – however you define it – comes to an end.

This is morality and psychology, not faith. At heart, Siddhartha has more in common with Freud than with Christ and he leaves Mohammed far behind.

The religious aspect of Buddhism remains ingrained in the cultures of Asia. Even my most educated Thai friends believe in spirits and the afterlife. But for those who come to Siddhartha late in life, particularly through Zen and Zazen meditation, there is no contradiction in calling themselves atheist.

One day I may indeed become Buddhist. But give up meat and sex? I still don’t want it to happen yet...

http://www.godwouldbeanatheist.com/cols2006/060702.htm