Are Christians and Muslims idolaters?

[Cavebear]

That is what happens when, most if not all the time, people idolize their belief systems.

All become recalcitrant.

Regards
DL

Atheism is a belief system like bald is a hair color.  That bears repetition.  Too many people confuse lack of belief in a claim for a version of the claim they don't like.

[Greatest I am]

Atheism is a belief system like bald is a hair color.  That bears repetition.  Too many people confuse lack of belief in a claim for a version of the claim they don't like.

If atheism is not a belief system or ideology, what does it mean to label ones self an atheist?

Regards
DL

[Gilgamesh]

If atheism is not a belief system or ideology, what does it mean to label ones self an atheist?

Regards
DL

That they lack belief in a god.

[Cavebear]

That they lack belief in a god.

"Lack" implies a failure.  I wouldn't put it that way.

Rather, we atheists simply do not have unprovable thoughts.  Like, I don't believe in unicorns, leprachauns, or hobbits.

[Unbeliever]

We simply have no need of that hypothesis.

[Cavebear]

Oh, I think I get it.  If I "reply", there are no "likes" right?  Tell me if I'm wrong though please...

[Mike Cl]

If atheism is not a belief system or ideology, what does it mean to label ones self an atheist?

Regards
DL

The reason I use that label is for clarity and honesty.  I don't find any reason to think that a god(s) (or anything supernatural) is real.  I have found no data or reasons to support the 'belief' that god(s) exist.  Atheism is not an ideology for me either, for it is simply a statement that lets others know that I don't think anything supernatural exists.  being atheist does not come with a set of ways to think or what to think.  If I know a person is atheistic then I know they don't think god(s) exist, but that's all.  Cavebear is atheistic but that does not inform me as to any stances he has on any other subject.

[Cavebear]

If atheism is not a belief system or ideology, what does it mean to label ones self an atheist?

Regards
DL

That seems easy enough.  I label myself an "atheist" because I have no "theist" views".   In ancient Greek, "a" meant "not" (apolitical, agnosticetc),

Without theisms, there would by no atheists.  We didn't create the idea.  Until some damned fool idiot got the first idea of some natural deity, EVERYONE was an atheist, but there was no need for the label as there was no "theism" before then.  Like, are you an  abrogismist"?  Of course not, so long as there re no brogismists.   Only WHEN there are active proponents of "broglism" can there be people who aren't. 

They didn't go around thinking "I'm a abroglimist" before then  It was only when someone said they were a "broglimist" and someone else said "well I don't think I am one" that there were "abroglimists".

Same with atheists and theists.  Atheists didn't start the idea of NOT being theists.  Someone else had the idea of beings "theists" and some other people just weren't.  So they were (after) hot-theists (ie, "atheists").

And, for that reason, thereby hangs the tail of "proof".  Theism was the new idea, and therefore the burden of proof of the idea is on the theists.  As an atheist, I don't have to prove a thing, just as the broglimists would have to give proof t the people who were not broglamists that their new idea was true.

So, prove your "Broglism" idea...  It's not my burden to disprove it.



Does that make sense, or do I need to use shorter words?

[Unbeliever]

"The atheist does not say," There is no God", but he says, "I know not what you mean by God"; the word God is to me a sound conveying no clear or distinct affirmation."
Charles Bradlaugh

The word "God" can mean so many different things that it really means nothing at all.

[Cavebear]

"The atheist does not say," There is no God", but he says, "I know not what you mean by God"; the word God is to me a sound conveying no clear or distinct affirmation."
Charles Bradlaugh

The word "God" can mean so many different things that it really means nothing at all.

That's a reason I refer to "deities".  "God" is too specific to many theists.  Make sense now?

[trdsf]

If atheism is not a belief system or ideology, what does it mean to label ones self an atheist?

It means that the individual who self-labels as an atheist does not find claims that there exists any sort of divine or supernatural power, entity, or authority, in the singular or plural to be convincing.  No more, no less.

It's not an ideology: there are liberal atheists, conservative atheists, socialist atheists, capitalist atheists, monarchist atheists, anarchist atheists, social libertarian atheists, economic libertarian atheists, and apolitical atheists.

It's not a belief system, unless you happen to think that not collecting coins is as much a hobby as collecting coins, and that celibacy is a sex position like missionary, 69, and reverse cowgirl (or boy, as the case may be).

It's the simple statement that the burden of proof for claims of any deity has not been met.  Not that they cannot be met under any circumstances, but that so far they have not been met, and that the individual is until then under no obligation to even tentatively accept the claim.

I mean, it's pretty straightforward.

[Baruch]

That they lack belief in a god.

I lack 4 arms ... only got 2, but I don't think I am special.

[Baruch]

That is what happens when, most if not all the time, people idolize their belief systems.

All become recalcitrant.

Regards
DL

But atheists don't believe in gods, they are not nihilists, who believe in nothing.  They are just on the path to becoming nihilists.

[Baruch]

We simply have no need of that hypothesis.

Innumerates have no need of hypotenuses either.

[Baruch]

It means that the individual who self-labels as an atheist does not find claims that there exists any sort of divine or supernatural power, entity, or authority, in the singular or plural to be convincing.  No more, no less.

It's not an ideology: there are liberal atheists, conservative atheists, socialist atheists, capitalist atheists, monarchist atheists, anarchist atheists, social libertarian atheists, economic libertarian atheists, and apolitical atheists.

It's not a belief system, unless you happen to think that not collecting coins is as much a hobby as collecting coins, and that celibacy is a sex position like missionary, 69, and reverse cowgirl (or boy, as the case may be).

It's the simple statement that the burden of proof for claims of any deity has not been met.  Not that they cannot be met under any circumstances, but that so far they have not been met, and that the individual is until then under no obligation to even tentatively accept the claim.

I mean, it's pretty straightforward.

Anarchists don't believe governments exist.  If I don't believe cars exist, should I be careful crossing the street?