The belief that everything in the universe, all we see and all we have yet to see is the creation (by-product) of random acts of coincidence with foundations solely in pure science and rationale mixed with generous doses of cause and effect and trial and error.
True atheists do not believe in any form of God, or God related creation, including any form of morale standard that would indicate the existence of right versus wrong. Although atheists may one day be able to explain all matters and conditions of the universe, they will never be able to rationalize questions like: Why is there a universe? Why does it go on as it does? or Has it any meaning? (see C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity)
True atheists also agree that belief in pure science and a belief in God cannot be reconciled. Although many of history's greatest scientists (Einstein), inventors (Benjamin Franklin) and mathematicians (Blaise Pascal) were believers in God. See example below.
True atheists do not believe in any form of God, or God related creation, including any form of morale standard that would indicate the existence of right versus wrong. Although atheists may one day be able to explain all matters and conditions of the universe, they will never be able to rationalize questions like: Why is there a universe? Why does it go on as it does? or Has it any meaning? (see C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity)
True atheists also agree that belief in pure science and a belief in God cannot be reconciled. Although many of history's greatest scientists (Einstein), inventors (Benjamin Franklin) and mathematicians (Blaise Pascal) were believers in God. See example below.
Einstein is probably the best known and most highly revered scientist of the twentieth century, and is associated with major revolutions in our thinking about time, gravity, and the conversion of matter to energy (E=mc2). Although never coming to belief in a personal God, he recognized the impossibility of a non-created universe. The Encyclopedia Britannica says of him: "Firmly denying atheism, Einstein expressed a belief in "Spinoza's God who reveals himself in the harmony of what exists." This actually motivated his interest in science, as he once remarked to a young physicist: "I want to know how God created this world, I am not interested in this or that phenomenon, in the spectrum of this or that element. I want to know His thoughts, the rest are details." Einstein's famous epithet on the "uncertainty principle" was "God does not play dice" - and to him this was a real statement about a God in whom he believed. A famous saying of his was "Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind."
by psbwthu December 14, 2009
The lack of belief in a deity or deities. Just that. Nothing else.
Atheism doesn't hold any answers to life's big questions. It won't tell you the meaning of life and it won't tell you how it all started. It's not a religion, not a philosophy, not a way of life. Atheism is quite simply *non-belief*.
Atheism doesn't hold any answers to life's big questions. It won't tell you the meaning of life and it won't tell you how it all started. It's not a religion, not a philosophy, not a way of life. Atheism is quite simply *non-belief*.
#1: "I heard you're an atheist and don't believe in God, #2. If that's true then how did the universe begin?"
#2: "I don't know for sure. The leading scientific theory right now is the Big Bang theory, but that has a few problems and might not be correct."
#1: "If there's no God then where do we know right from wrong from?"
#2: "Again, I don't know for sure, but the general theory is that we evolved this feature because social creatures do better if unit cohesion isn't hindered by constant murdering."
Atheism isn't about answers. It's not really about anything, actually.
#2: "I don't know for sure. The leading scientific theory right now is the Big Bang theory, but that has a few problems and might not be correct."
#1: "If there's no God then where do we know right from wrong from?"
#2: "Again, I don't know for sure, but the general theory is that we evolved this feature because social creatures do better if unit cohesion isn't hindered by constant murdering."
Atheism isn't about answers. It's not really about anything, actually.
by mrbogart December 27, 2010
Atheism is absence of belief in god(s). It is not necessarily belief that no god(s) exist. Just as asexual is absence of sex in reproduction, not opposition to sex or asymmetrical is absence of symmetry, not opposition to symmetry. Atheism is simple absence of theism.
Frequently people confuse the theism vs atheism question with the gnostic vs agnostic question. The word gnostic means pertaining to knowledge. It is a question about whether a person is certain or "knows".
Everybody is either theist or atheist and everybody is either gnostic or agnostic. There are agnostic theists. They believe god(s) exist, but don't claim to know for sure personally. There are gnostic theists. They believe and claim to know for sure that god(s) exist. There are agnostic atheists. They do not believe in god(s), but do not claim to know with certainty that no god exists. There are also gnostic atheists who claim to know that no god exists. It possible and quite common among atheists to not have been convinced of the hypothesis that god(s) exist without taking the position that no god exists.
Frequently people confuse the theism vs atheism question with the gnostic vs agnostic question. The word gnostic means pertaining to knowledge. It is a question about whether a person is certain or "knows".
Everybody is either theist or atheist and everybody is either gnostic or agnostic. There are agnostic theists. They believe god(s) exist, but don't claim to know for sure personally. There are gnostic theists. They believe and claim to know for sure that god(s) exist. There are agnostic atheists. They do not believe in god(s), but do not claim to know with certainty that no god exists. There are also gnostic atheists who claim to know that no god exists. It possible and quite common among atheists to not have been convinced of the hypothesis that god(s) exist without taking the position that no god exists.
by AllmanBros July 29, 2015
A non-prophet organisation
by Archolas April 27, 2011
Atheism, in fact, has NOTHING to do with Satanism. We do not all hate Christians. We're not all evil.
Besides, just by being intolerant and judgemental of Atheists, you are sinning. :)
Besides, just by being intolerant and judgemental of Atheists, you are sinning. :)
" 'To be godless is probably the first step towards innocence,' he said, 'to lose the sense of sin and subordination, the false grief for things supposed to be lost.'
'So by innocence you mean not an absense of experience, but an absense of illusions.'
'An absense of need for illusions,' he said. 'A love of and respect for what is right before your eyes.' "
-Anne Rice, The Vampire Lestat.
'So by innocence you mean not an absense of experience, but an absense of illusions.'
'An absense of need for illusions,' he said. 'A love of and respect for what is right before your eyes.' "
-Anne Rice, The Vampire Lestat.
by KP15 August 23, 2005
The idea that there is no god. That's it.
Distance yourself from r/Atheism and the stereotype all atheists are whiny intolerant assholes who poke fun at innocent theists. Yes, there are some atheists that act like that, but the average atheist (think next door neighbour) is not like that.
Atheism is often associated with Nihilism. In some ways they are very similar, such as the rejection of religion. But there are other philosophical paths that do not involve religion, just as good as each other.
Distance yourself from r/Atheism and the stereotype all atheists are whiny intolerant assholes who poke fun at innocent theists. Yes, there are some atheists that act like that, but the average atheist (think next door neighbour) is not like that.
Atheism is often associated with Nihilism. In some ways they are very similar, such as the rejection of religion. But there are other philosophical paths that do not involve religion, just as good as each other.
by \_(0_0)_/ December 03, 2016
Atheism is simply the opposite of theism. The prefix A means "without" or "not", so Atheism is simply a lack of belief in god(s). It is not a religion, just like theism is not a religion. Atheists are usually quite fond of life, since it is the only one we have.Theists if you think about it, need a god to make their existance make sense and to make them respect life.
That dog is an atheist. A new-born baby is an atheist. Most of the smartest people in the world are atheists. Coincidence?
by Nycto Achluo March 21, 2004