Atheism vs. Antitheism

Skoob · #1 01-11-2007, 02:16 PM

Many of you so called atheists are really antitheists.

An antitheist would be someone that believes there is no god and doesn't want anyone else to believe in god either, thus introducing arguement upon arguement trying to convince the theists that they are wrong.

I would like to hear from the antitheists how their approach to faith (or antifaith) is any different than the religious fundies. The fundies try to argue that others beliefs are wrong if they aren't aligned with theirs. How is this different than the antitheists trying to convince others their theistic views are wrong?

Xhad · #2 01-11-2007, 02:33 PM

So, basically if we're not religious we're just supposed to keep our beliefs to ourselves? Even in a philosophy forum, whose ostensible purpose is to share/compare/justify belief systems?

To more directly answer your question, I wouldn't care so much about what Christians believe if they stopped voting.

revots33 · #3 01-11-2007, 02:37 PM

This is an internet forum for debate, no? It's not like the athiests on this board go door to door in their spare time trying to convert random Christians. At least I doubt it.

CallMeIshmael · #4 01-11-2007, 02:42 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Many of you so called atheists are really antitheists.

An antitheist would be someone that believes there is no god and doesn't want anyone else to believe in god either, thus introducing arguement upon arguement trying to convince the theists that they are wrong.

[/ QUOTE ]

I believe this is wrong. I think many 2p2ers "do not believe in God", not "believe there is no God"

Also, just a thought on your question:

"I believe in gravity. I believe all macroscopic objects near the earth's surface will fall towards the earth. I believe anyone who doesnt agree with me is wrong"

"I believe in Jesus Christ. I believe he is the son of God, born of a virgin, and His body was taken to heaven after he died. I believe anyone who doesnt believe this is wrong, and will be punished in hell"

Do you believe the first is comparable to the second? If not, do you concede that some statements in the form "I believe X, and argue that anyone who disagrees is wrong" might not be created equal?

Phil153 · #5 01-11-2007, 02:59 PM

[ QUOTE ]
I would like to hear from the antitheists how their approach to faith (or antifaith) is any different than the religious fundies.

[/ QUOTE ]
The religious fundies are trying to convince people of the truth of a bizarre supernatural story. Antitheists, as you call them, are trying to convince people that this story is lacking in evidence, and not consistent with what we've discovered about the universe.

See the difference?

BTW, I am a great believer in faith as being a positive in human affairs. I have no problems with faith, or with people believing in some kind of "higher power".

What I am against is people placing that faith in bizarre stories like Scientology or Christianity or Islam. It lessens the human race as a whole - especially when these people suffer indoctrination as children, and end up doing the same to THEIR kids.

You only have to look at someone like BluffTHIS (who ironically, is a Catholic and not a Muslim or Hindu or Scientologist - I wonder where he was brought up, and where he went to school, and what religion his parents had?) to see the harm that religious indoctrination does to people. The poor bastard will never have a free thought in his life.

Skoob · #6 01-11-2007, 03:44 PM

The primary reason I pose this question is that it seems to me the biggest beef of many athestists is the fundies trying to force their beliefs on them.

I hear/read it time and again. Something to the effect of, "I don't care what you believe or don't believe, just be respectful of my beliefs."

Anyone else see the irony here?

I'm all for healthy debate on the topic. And as some have said, that's what this forum is about.

I just haven't seen that many intelligent arguements. It's all finger pointing and, "you're wrong," or "prove this, if you can't then your point is invalid," etc.

Xhad · #7 01-11-2007, 04:26 PM

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"prove this, if you can't then your point is invalid,"

[/ QUOTE ]

If you think this is oppressive behavior, you're basically against argument in general.

luckyme · #8 01-11-2007, 04:29 PM

[ QUOTE ]

The primary reason I pose this question is that it seems to me the biggest beef of many athestists is the fundies trying to force their beliefs on them.

[/ QUOTE ]

No. By far the commonest beef is not with the belief but the actions it causes some theists to take. Stem-cell research, abortian, biology texts, science teaching, books in government book stores explaining how Grand Canyon was caused by Noah's flood, death penalty, religious laws in court, same sex issues, women's rights, childrens rights, etc.

Since the bulk of the 14th century ideas that fundies are trying to foist on society stem from their religion, reasonable people ( and this often includes other theists) attempt to prevent the spread of the disease by attacking the source. It's preventative even though it looks reactive.

luckyme

revots33 · #9 01-11-2007, 05:04 PM

[ QUOTE ]
No. By far the commonest beef is not with the belief but the actions it causes some theists to take. Stem-cell research, abortian, biology texts, science teaching, books in government book stores explaining how Grand Canyon was caused by Noah's flood, death penalty, religious laws in court, same sex issues, women's rights, childrens rights, etc.

[/ QUOTE ]

Exactly. If it was just a harmless delusion why would anyone care? Athiests could quite easily ignore them just as they would a child talking to an imaginary friend.

But as it is we have a government that wants to take away my right to play poker online, and at least part of the reason is that they think their imaginary friend disapproves of gambling.

vhawk01 · #10 01-11-2007, 05:14 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Many of you so called atheists are really antitheists.

An antitheist would be someone that believes there is no god and doesn't want anyone else to believe in god either, thus introducing arguement upon arguement trying to convince the theists that they are wrong.

I would like to hear from the antitheists how their approach to faith (or antifaith) is any different than the religious fundies. The fundies try to argue that others beliefs are wrong if they aren't aligned with theirs. How is this different than the antitheists trying to convince others their theistic views are wrong?

[/ QUOTE ]

Because the fundies are wrong? Seriously, the difference is quite obvious. The fundies argue that the other religious groups are wrong FOR THE SAME REASON that their own beliefs are right.