What Is Atheism

Atheism is, etymologically speaking, a completely rational term. Atheism is to theism what apolitical is to politics. The terms mean not interested in or a part of theism or politics. Atheism is the antithesis of theism.

Rationally atheism is understandable. It isn't easy to wrap one's mind around the creator, Jehovah God. Such a belief requires faith.

By definition atheism is nonsensical. A god can be anyone or anything. Natural, supernatural, person, place or thing, wood, stone, flesh and bone. Even, as Paul said, ones own belly can be a god. There are countless gods. It doesn't require belief, veneration or worship on your part. I don't believe in Zeus; I don't believe he ever existed; I don't venerate or worship Zeus, and yet Zeus is a god.

The definition of atheism as disbelief or lack of belief in the existence of God or gods. That's nonsensical.

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DDonde · 31-35, M

Atheists understand that Zeus is a god, but they don't believe that he is a real god. All other gods get the same treatment.

AkioTsukino · M

@DDonde That's an interesting but not entirely accurate assessment. Zeus is the same to me and you. He is a god, meaning that someone attributed a might to him greater than their own.

Well, let me make it simple. If someone picks up a stick or a rock and says this is my god, then it is a god, just not yours or mine. A god is in the eyes of the beholder, so to speak. So, Jehovah wasn't God until there were other beings for him to be God to. Jehovah became, or would prove to be, the god of Israel. The word for god in ancient Hebrew is el. Israel means to contend, wrestle, or grapple with god.

So, yes, to an atheist all gods are rejected but that doesn't mean that none exist, nor in fact that it is necessary for a god to exist in the first place, making it a moot point. Read the definition of atheism.

ninalanyon · 61-69, T

@AkioTsukino [quote]Zeus is the same to me and you[/quote]
So you are an atheist too!

Kowabunga · 51-55, M

In my opinion atheists would not recognise Zeus as god, with atheism, by its very definition, implying there are no gods?
@DDonde

DDonde · 31-35, M

@Kowabunga They recognize that Zeus is a god but not that Zeus is real.

There's a lot of semantics nonsense going on in this thread

Kowabunga · 51-55, M

I would say that by not recognising the existence of ANY gods would make them doubt the existence of Zeus anyway. Therefore, they couldn’t consider Zeus to be a god, even if they agreed that Zeus existed in the first place 😀@DDonde