Atheism vs. Antitheism

[Hopey]

[ QUOTE ]
No, I wouldn't say so. Most atheists are what I'd call apatheist. Like me. I really don't care, and if I go to heaven or end up as carbon, nitrogen and so on in the food chain, it's all okay by me. And you can believe what you like, as long as you don't hurt anyone else.


[/ QUOTE ]

This pretty sums up my attitude towards my own "spirituality" as well. The idea that you need organized religion in order to get to "heaven" is silly to me. If heaven exists, I believe that I'm more likely to get there by living a moral life (ie. by not harming others with my actions), rather than by following a bunch of arbitrary rules.

On the other hand, as others have stated, I wouldn't really care about those who delude themselves by following organized religon, if it wasn't for the fact that they're ruining our society with their backwards attitudes.

[samsonite2100]

I don't personally mind the name "antitheist." I am anti-religion, after all. I think religion is dangerous bullsh*t that reinforces and magnifies humanity's lingering and reflexive tribalism. I am not only anti-religious, but am anti-God, insofar as:

1) I find it impossible to square events on Earth with the presence of a benign creator and

2) belief in God inevitably leads to the advent of religions.

I wish I could be laidback about it, but I frankly find the musty, nonsensical, oppressive, and omnipresent imprint of religion on my daily life to be a real affront. So yeah, I'm not going door to door pamphleteering, but "antitheist" suits me just fine, thanks.

[samsonite2100]

Also, this "atheists are just the same as fundamentalists" argument is not only annoying, but obviously wrong, and makes its proponents look foolish. Is it the intensity of belief that's throwing you off? Intense belief in something that almost certainly doesn't exist and intense belief that that something doesn't exist, or an intense lack of belief in its existence are not the same, although I guess its a convenient argument for people unwilling or unable to choose a side in the battle of ancient desert mysticism vs. science/logic/reason.

[Skoob]

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2) belief in God inevitably leads to the advent of religions.

[/ QUOTE ]

I disagree with this statement. The belief in a supreme being, in and of itself, does not necessarily lend itself to, or spark the creation of, any religion.

[ QUOTE ]
Also, this "atheists are just the same as fundamentalists" argument is not only annoying, but obviously wrong, and makes its proponents look foolish.

[/ QUOTE ]

My arguement is not that atheists are the same as fundies. I'm asking what others think of my comparison of ANTItheists to fundies in that they are both attempting to force their beliefs on others.

[kurto]

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My arguement is not that atheists are the same as fundies. I'm asking what others think of my comparison of ANTItheists to fundies in that they are both attempting to force their beliefs on others.


[/ QUOTE ]

I've never had ANTITHEISTS come to my door to speak to me about atheism.

I've never had antitheists loudly preaching on a street corner to change your ways or you'll go to hell.

I've never had antitheists crying on the front steps of courthouses because they want symbols of their beliefs displayed everywhere.

I've never seen antitheists send out missionaries to other countries to indoctrinate tribesman in their beliefs.

I don't see antitheists starting "Atheist Camps" to indoctrinate children in their beliefs.

There's really no comparison.

[samsonite2100]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
2) belief in God inevitably leads to the advent of religions.

[/ QUOTE ]

I disagree with this statement. The belief in a supreme being, in and of itself, does not necessarily lend itself to, or spark the creation of, any religion.

[/ QUOTE ]

No, but belief in a supreme being is obviously a precondition for religions to exist. Which to me is a very good reason to be anti-supreme being.

[ QUOTE ]
Also, this "atheists are just the same as fundamentalists" argument is not only annoying, but obviously wrong, and makes its proponents look foolish.

[/ QUOTE ]

My arguement is not that atheists are the same as fundies. I'm asking what others think of my comparison of ANTItheists to fundies in that they are both attempting to force their beliefs on others.

[/ QUOTE ]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the OP basically labels vocal atheists as "anitheists," and then rhetorically asks how they're different from fundamentalists. Well, besides the fact that we're probably right, I'd say we also differ in that we have no elected officials in Congress and generally don't attempt to impose our will on anyone. I'm curious where you run into these rabid antitheistic types besides on message boards like 2+2.

[SNOWBALL]

If you're christian, then you're antitheistic against Zeus, Thor, Baal, etc. We just go a few steps further than you do.

[Skoob]

[ QUOTE ]
Correct me if I'm wrong, but the OP basically labels vocal atheists as "anitheists," and then rhetorically asks how they're different from fundamentalists. Well, besides the fact that we're probably right, I'd say we also differ in that we have no elected officials in Congress and generally don't attempt to impose our will on anyone. I'm curious where you run into these rabid antitheistic types besides on message boards like 2+2.

[/ QUOTE ]

FYI - I am the OP.

I'm not trying to lable vocal atheists as antitheists. I see the difference as, "I don't believe in a supreme being" vs. "I don't believe in a supreme being and you shouldn't believe in a supreme being either."

And, I'm not trying to level my comparison outside this forum either. As another poster has said, antitheists don't go door to door.

[Skoob]

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If you're christian, then you're antitheistic against Zeus, Thor, Baal, etc. We just go a few steps further than you do.

[/ QUOTE ]

FWIW, I'm not a christian and have no problem with anyone else's beliefs insomuch as they are willing to be respectful of mine.

The responses I've read thus far have pretty much answered my question. It seems the antitheists get fairly annoyed when compared to the fundies in this regard. Thou doth protest too much.

[arahant]

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If you're christian, then you're antitheistic against Zeus, Thor, Baal, etc. We just go a few steps further than you do.

[/ QUOTE ]

FWIW, I'm not a christian and have no problem with anyone else's beliefs insomuch as they are willing to be respectful of mine.


[/ QUOTE ] And there's the rub. Fundie christians are not respectful of my belief that everyone deserves respect. I believe that using a few hundred cells to save lives is a good thing. Fundies think god wants people to suffer.

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The responses I've read thus far have pretty much answered my question. It seems the antitheists get fairly annoyed when compared to the fundies in this regard. Thou doth protest too much.

[/ QUOTE ]

Which brings up another difference. Theists either can't read or can't reason.