| Topic: |
Religions > Atheism |
| User: |
"Bear" |
| Date: |
02 Dec 2005 09:14:09 AM |
| Object: |
Significance of Atheism: Making Atheism Matter 2 |
"Broad encouragement of the wider use of reason and logic in all areas of
life does have a chance of creating changes for the better. Encouraging
other people to get into a habit of being skeptical may eventually get them
to approach their religious beliefs in a more critical manner, even if
religion and theism are never actually discussed.
"Thus, an atheism which is both morally and intellectually significant is
not mere atheism, but rather an atheism which is deeply enmeshed in a
skeptical world view and which is part of a program of promoting skeptical
thinking and critical inquiry in all areas of life. Part of this promotion
will have to be through setting a good example.
"Atheists must make every attempt to be the best model of reasonableness
possible. This isn't always easy, I know - but it is a goal which we should
all strive for. If we cannot lead by example, we'll never lead at all. For
this reason, a rational atheist must always be ready and willing to call
into question whatever happens to pass for "conventional wisdom" at the
time.
"An atheist who questions popular religious assumptions, but not popular
political or consumer assumptions, is not really a freethinker and not
someone who has truly adopted a "habit of reasonableness." It is clear,
then, that a logically and morally consistent atheist necessarily be a bit
of a "radical" in their society, calling into question many popular or
common ideas.
"What this means is that a morally and intellectually significant atheism is
one which can tend to be socially subversive - and this may be one reason
why atheism has always been treated with suspicion and distrust. If an
atheist would go so far as to stop believing in God, what else might he or
she call into question?
"To reiterate: the difference between atheism and theism has no great moral
or intellectual significance. What is significant, however, is the
methodological difference between the use of skepticism, reason, logic, and
science on the one hand and fantasy, intuition, and tradition on the other.
Atheists do not necessarily rely upon the former; those who don't are no
better, morally or intellectually, than fundamentalists who also don't rely
upon the former methodology." (Austin Cline; Significance of Atheism: Making
Atheism Matter)
--
Bear
There but for circumstances go I.
Being an atheist isn't a choice or act of will - like theism; it's a
consequence of what one knows and how one reasons.
.
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| User: "" |
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| Title: Re: Significance of Atheism: Making Atheism Matter 2 |
02 Dec 2005 11:07:48 AM |
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Bear are you implying that atheism is just a reslt of
1. skepticism
2. logic
3. science
?
In my paritcular case that wa not enough,
I had to overcome the wish for someone or something that would help
good prevail over evil. Only when I realized that morality is a product
of evolution, I could do so.
I don't know about others.
It seems to me there are many who are simply angry at their previous
religion,
and others that were never mad to believe in a God and had no problem
with that.
Also this NG proves that there are atheist, who are
1. Not very sceptical
2. Not very logical
3. Not very scientific.
Even when the theist coming to this NG, are - for a great deal - a lot
worse
I actually know only two who were it not for their theism, might become
freethinkers.
Best to you
Peter van Velzen
December 2005
Amstelveen
The Netherlands
.
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| User: "Bear" |
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| Title: Re: Significance of Atheism: Making Atheism Matter 2 |
02 Dec 2005 01:48:01 PM |
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pbamvv wrote
: Bear are you implying that atheism is just a reslt of
: 1. skepticism
: 2. logic
: 3. science
: ?
No.
: In my paritcular case that wa not enough,
: I had to overcome the wish for someone or something that would help
: good prevail over evil. Only when I realized that morality is a product
: of evolution, I could do so.
:
: I don't know about others.
:
: It seems to me there are many who are simply angry at their previous
: religion,
: and others that were never mad to believe in a God and had no problem
: with that.
: Also this NG proves that there are atheists, who are
: 1. Not very sceptical
: 2. Not very logical
: 3. Not very scientific.
Agreed!
: Even when the theist coming to this NG, are - for a great deal - a lot
: worse
: I actually know only two who were it not for their theism, might become
: freethinkers.
Understood.
--
Bear
There but for circumstances go I.
Being an atheist isn't a choice or act of will - like theism; it's a
consequence of what one knows and how one reasons.
.
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