Can atheism coexist with religion?

Discussion in 'Religion & Philosophy' started by kazenatsu, May 6, 2018.

  1. kazenatsu

    kazenatsu Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    Apparently there are still parts of the country where atheists are experiencing discrimination.
    But there are also other parts of the country where Christians are experiencing discrimination in predominantly atheist-populated environments.

    Can atheism coexist with Christianity (to say nothing of Islam) without these misgivings between the different groups that seem to inevitably arise?
     
    Last edited: May 6, 2018
  2. kazenatsu

    kazenatsu Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    Bernie Sanders doesn't want to confirm a nominee because of his religious views:



    The man, Russell Vought, was being appointed Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget.

    Bernie Sanders does come from the state with the highest percentage of atheists (Vermont, 56.3% non-religious).
     
    Last edited: May 6, 2018
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  3. Anobsitar

    Anobsitar Banned

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    Wrong idea. Atheism is belief, the only absolute belief in itself. Christians for example are able to doubt in god; an atheist is not able to doubt in atheism. A paradox of this belief is for example that atheists believe not to believe. The problem is: Is the world able to live with the belief atheism? It's not a real question that a culture of death is not able to live. This explains the lots of warnings in case of "unbelievers". But is atheism able to become a part of the culture of life? If so, how? On what inner reason?

     
    Last edited: May 6, 2018
  4. delade

    delade Well-Known Member

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    Are you asking if non believers can co exist with GOD?
     
  5. it's just me

    it's just me Well-Known Member

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    You're asking the wrong question. The real question is "How long can the people who call themselves atheists continue to be jerks before the rest of the population denounces them for what they are?"

    I have heard too much of the "flying spaghetti monster/zombie Jesus/Sky Daddy" crap to take these guys seriously any more. They are no different from mouthy teenage boys.
     
    Last edited: May 6, 2018
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  6. Maquiscat

    Maquiscat Well-Known Member

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    Speaking as a Christian, the answer is absolutely. As one who has Wiccan spouses and siblings, and friends of many different religions as well as atheists and agnostics, there is nothing inherant in any of the beliefs, in general, to prevent such peace and harmony.

    The issue comes not from any given belief system (and for the sake of argument I am including atheism as a belief system. Whether or not it actually is, is the topic of another thread. So let's leave it there.) but from a given individual's inability to allow for others to hold beliefs different than their own.

    Just as there are Christians who insist on pushing their brand of Christianity on others, even Christians of a different denomination, so too are there "Evangelical Atheists" who push their ideas of atheism on others and do so with a fervor worthy of Pat Robbinson.

    The problem isn't the religions, it's people.
     
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  7. tecoyah

    tecoyah Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    I can only speak for myself as an Atheist but, I couldn't care much less about religions and pretty much ignore them until shoved in my face. I easily co exists with Christians and everyone else but apparently some religious folks do not wish to co exist with ME.
     
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  8. it's just me

    it's just me Well-Known Member

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    Right, that's why you hang out here.
     
  9. tecoyah

    tecoyah Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    It's strange but, I get these little notices when someone replies to me like I just did. I also joined an internet forum that focuses on debate in multiple areas I find interesting which often compels me to engage in discussion, even with individuals I find obnoxious or disagree with. Sometimes I even reply to trolling BS commentary from members who have nothing of value to contribute just to give them back a bit of their own blather because it's kinda fun to make them feel like the idiots they are even if they are not bright enough to understand what I am doing....it is a bit of a game for me.
    On occasion a uniquely ignorant and borderline retarded individual presents particular entertainment value compelling me to focus somewhat on the target they place in front of me, I then feel a certain level of excitement at the prospect of making them the fool while expressing the obvious disparity of our intellectual match up.
     
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  10. Xman379

    Xman379 Active Member

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    Can atheism coexist with religion?

    Has it NOT been already?
     
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  11. help3434

    help3434 Member

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    What are you talking about? The vast majority of atheists are agnostics. The Bible on the other had portrays doubt as a negative. According the the theology of many Christians if someone dies with doubt instead of firm faith they go to hell.
     
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  12. yguy

    yguy Well-Known Member

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    No. Either Christians begin to act according to their profession and win over the decent atheists while the rest die off, or they continue their devolution towards de facto atheism until eventually it's 1917 all over again.
     
  13. Diablo

    Diablo Well-Known Member

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    Atheism is spreading and will at some point become the norm. Then the theists can keep attending their silly rituals while the rest laugh at them.
     
  14. Max Rockatansky

    Max Rockatansky Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    History has proved that it's more difficult for religion to exist under atheism. Stalin and Mao murdered millions in attempts to stomp out religion.

    On this forum, most people with religious faiths don't care if you or anyone else is in an atheist, yet members here have seen a lot of religion-bashing by the atheists. Yourself included.

    Example:
     
    Last edited: May 6, 2018
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  15. Giftedone

    Giftedone Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    This is a strange and illogical perspective. It is not a "black vs white" issue.

    The fact that folks who were atheist did some evil things does not make all atheists evil.

    The fact that folks who were religious did some evil things does not make all religious folks evil.
     
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  16. Max Rockatansky

    Max Rockatansky Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    An excellent point in which you and I can agree. Next would be discussing why atheists believe in evil.
     
  17. Giftedone

    Giftedone Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    I'm sure that some Atheists do believe in the existence of evil ... same as Religious folk.
     
  18. it's just me

    it's just me Well-Known Member

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    Ah, so there are atheists with enormous egos, too. What a surprise...
     
    Last edited: May 6, 2018
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  19. tecoyah

    tecoyah Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    WOW....the level of wit and comprehensive dialogue you present is astounding in its limitations. Seldom does one encounter such a pathetically weak attempt at humor outside certain institutions.
     
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  20. it's just me

    it's just me Well-Known Member

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    And the amazing ego you present is likewise astounding. Tell me, is this what's supposed to pass for argument and intelligence in your universe.

    I'm laughing at the "superior intelligence".
     
  21. Anobsitar

    Anobsitar Banned

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    If you like to balance over a rope then doubt about that you can do so without very good instructions and a long hard training - but if someone is yet balancing on the rope while idiots attack him then it's good not to doubt to be able to reach the other side of this bridge and to be able to enter the land where milk and honey flows.

    Dawkinian atheists from the English speaking world call themselves often "agnostics". But this is without substance or essence. They see in the idea empirical science a kind of god which has to dominate all forms of human cognitive faculty, that's all. Lots of people believe in "gold" instead to believe in "god", that's nothing new. To say "I believe in god" makes for example every Christian automatically to an agnostics.

    And your problem with heaven or hell I am not able to see. In the most simple form good deeds lead to heaven and evil deeds lead to hell. Also here on Earth within our concrete societies. That's why we make laws to protect us all. But not always it's in this way. Sometimes our self made laws are also only crimes. In this world here dominates only justice if we all take care with good laws - and even in this case justice is not perfect, sometimes even a disaster. Unborn human beings are for example nearly never protected from laws. The Pharaos of the civilization of death like to keep us in the slavery of death - but life is our aim and to live our way.

     
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  22. Durandal

    Durandal Well-Known Member Donor

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    It all comes down to human nature. Some are tolerant, others not. Generally, and for as long as humanity has existed, different religious groups and non-religious groups have managed to coexist to some extent. It's just that some individuals and groups are less tolerant than others. It would obviously be a mistake to generalize based on their actions.

    The short answer is yes, just not without the occasional exceptional issue. At least in today's secular environments. It's more problematic for one group or another where the secular powers are controlled by one or the other.
     
  23. Pisa

    Pisa Well-Known Member

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    The problem you raised regarding atheist communists has less to do with the atheism vs. religions debate, and everything to do with eliminating the competition. Any totalitarian ideology, claiming to hold the absolute and ultimate truth - regardless of its secular or religious nature - is intolerant and exclusive. Communism is such an ideology.

    Not all atheists are communists, though.

    You should expect atheists on the forum to be more aggressive, because the anonymity provided by forums makes it easier to vent frustrations online. Besides, it's a place to debate, to prove how smart "I" am and how wrong "you" are, and how many people would reject such a golden opportunity?

    A Christian once told me, on another forum, that my people should just die for the world to become a better place. Should I just assume that all Christians are like him?
     
  24. Max Rockatansky

    Max Rockatansky Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    Nonetheless, most atheists on these forums are very, very angry and seek to eliminate religion, even with violence.

    Once Christian idiot on "another forum" is just one idiot. If most of them were like that then I'd submit there is something wrong.
     
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  25. Thought Criminal

    Thought Criminal Well-Known Member Donor

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    I'm sorry that you've had bad experiences with leftist athiests.

    Try to consider that we are not all jerks. It's only the clown car occupants who are. It doesn't really have anything to do with their lack of religious belief. It's all about who they are as people.

    <Mod Edit- Rule 2>
     
    Last edited by a moderator: May 7, 2018

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