Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Amelia on January 30, 2011 at 4:49pm

I'm not sure how to put it, how do you view atheism? Do you look at it as a way of life, a mindset, a conclusion from evidence you have viewed etc . . .

Just interested =)

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Permalink Reply by Dustin on January 30, 2011 at 5:00pm

Sure you can attempt to criticize Atheism.  No person and no belief or lack of belief should ever be special in that regard.  The way to a mature understanding of the world is through questioning and debate and opposing viewpoints.  

 

So with that said I am also interested in knowing how one may criticize Atheism.  One could say we are too skeptical and or we tear the inspiration out of Love when we materialize it ... but to me that is not important because I would rather something be true and not care what the consequence is. I think most atheists would agree with certain things like skepticism and materialism , etc if not more categories of philosophy / thought.  

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Permalink Reply by Amelia on January 30, 2011 at 5:18pm

Maybe religious people would be more open to new ideas or even lose their religion if they criticised it, even just a little. Or if they criticised religious organisations "this is what is wrong, so lets try and fix it-" Rather then defending it so fervently, progress could be made and people would recognize it.

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Permalink Reply by Kris Feenstra on January 30, 2011 at 5:05pm

caveat: my working definition of 'belief' in this post is simply a proposition one holds to be true or the viewpoint one espouses.  

 

My answer is 'sort of'.  Atheism isn't intrinsically a belief, but almost every atheist has beliefs surrounding and supporting it.  For instance, my atheism is the byproduct of my philosophical world view.  My world view is certainly something that is open to criticism, therefore, in connection to it, my atheism is also open to criticism.

 

But really, the same can be said for any thinking person, regardless of their religious or philosophical beliefs.  Every individual person's beliefs can be criticized.  The problem arises when you try to look at beliefs apart from the individuals that hold them.

 

If we take Christianity as an example, the central tenets and mythology are contained in the Bible.  There are central figures who authoritatively represent the religion (and it's various denominations).  Sure, not all Christians agree on everything (actually, it seems Christians hardly agree on anything universally), but the religion of Christianity itself makes codified claims that are open to criticism. 

 

So what of atheism?  What are its central tenets?  What is the codified belief structure?  There isn't such a thing.  It's open for every person to be an atheist for the reasons that appeal to them in the manner that appeals to them.  If one disagrees with Dawkins' views on atheism, one is essentially disagreeing with Dawkins and those that agree with his beliefs, not atheism itself.

 

More to the point, any atheistic world view is as much fair game for criticism as any other world view, but when it comes to atheism itself as a standalone belief, there is no tangible belief structure there to criticize.

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Permalink Reply by Amelia on January 30, 2011 at 5:22pm

well there you go folks!

great comment

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Permalink Reply by Becca on January 30, 2011 at 6:03pm

*Like*

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Permalink Reply by Julien on January 31, 2011 at 2:37pm

Until I'm going to be able to come up with such great words, I'm just going to agree with Kris.

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Permalink Reply by Hope on January 30, 2011 at 5:52pm

*Atheists/Theists

Atheists know more about religious than theists.. theists can criticize and beat each others beliefs. BUT when it came to atheism, they will absolutely fail and science will always win.

 

*Atheists/Atheists

Strong Atheists can criticize the weak ones.

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Permalink Reply by Richmond on January 30, 2011 at 6:40pm

Anything can be criticized.

 

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Permalink Reply by Bryan B on January 30, 2011 at 6:55pm

You can't criticize atheism itself but maybe the reasons for it. Atheism on its own is a void, a lack of belief in God. You really can't criticize something that just isn't there. However, you can criticize the reasons for it. For example you really shouldn't be an atheist just because your wife ran off with a minister. But the atheism itself is a bit like criticizing zero for being too much or too little.

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Permalink Reply by Jon Heim on January 30, 2011 at 11:21pm

there isn't much to criticize when we only have one thing in common. and that's the lack of belief in a god. it's the complete default stance on the issue..

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Permalink Reply by Bryan B on January 31, 2011 at 4:27am

No its not sacred, in fact, it's not anything. It's a void; a lack of belief in God. The reasons for that lack of belief are open to criticism but the atheism itself is not.

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