@Elessar I don't have time to give an answer worthy of your response this morning, Elessar, I have to take my dad to have heart surgery early today. I will get back to you and @DocSavage later on today, hopefully.



https://pathwaymachine.com/secular/atheism.php

@Elessar The burden of proof is on you. Whether faith or science. Because ultimately it is your responsibility, not science or religion. It most certainly is not the burden of faith or science to supply you with anything. So, let's look at some misconceptions. Always fun stuff.

Onus probandi incumbit ei qui dicit, non ei qui negat – the burden of proof lies with the one who speaks, not the one who denies. If one speaks the factually incorrect statement that there is no gods, it is their burden of proof. Proof isn't necessary for the faithful. Perhaps that is one of the most common fallacies of atheism. Do you know why faith is more important than science?

Let's say you were a very wealthy young person looking for a faithful companion and all of the people in your circle were aware of the fact that you were very wealthy and so only apply for monetary incentive. You have to 'advertise' so to speak, outside your circle without letting potential candidates know about your wealth. That way you can get to know who are genuine candidates. The Bible talks about Jesus not wanting the unbelievers to be saved, which is why he taught to them in parables they couldn't get to understand. God only wants people who are genuine. Not the unfaithful looking for a ticket to heaven or paradise. God wants you to want him.

So, you have to consider the very real possibility that no religion has presented itself to you in any real way because you would rather it wouldn't. And that's actually a great aspect of faith in my example above. You don't want a religion and you don't need one. the existence of the universe is irrelevant. Your knowing where it might have came from wouldn't likely change your position because that position is right for you presently.

@MoveAlong This makes sense to me. God is only a word that means venerated. In the English before Christianity the word was used by the pagans. A lot of people, atheists and theists, think that God is a name for the being in the Bible, Jehovah, who claims to have made life, the universe and everything. Many don't believe in the Bible and therefore one of it's many gods (Jehovah, Jesus, Moses, Satan, Dagon, Baal, etc.) Being a theist doesn't mean you venerate all of those gods. You can venerate just one. The writers of the Bible were henotheistic. Since a god can be anything or anyone venerated the likelihood of there being any true atheist is slim. Money is the most common God, but sex would, historically, give that a run for its money. Pun intended.

@PathwayMachine God is not a name.. It's a descriptor.. Jehovah is God.. Like the Sun is a Star..

God is like Star a descriptor not a name..

@Adstar Correct. That was my point. God is a word meaning to pour, libate.

Edit To Add: God is a title, like lord. God in English means literally libate, pour, in Hebrew it means mighty/strong. Lord means having authority, usually, but not always granted. Landlord. Jehovah is a spirit being. Supernatural. The Bible calls him God and Lord. Jesus was a mortal man, and he is called god and lord. Moses was called God by Jehovah, as were the judges of Israel. Jesus wasn't supernatural. I often use the term King, which was also used to describe Jesus and Jehovah. Charles is a king, but not my King. He is King of the Brits. So, though he isn't my king he is still a King.

Saying there are no gods is like saying there are no lords or kings. It's just silly.

@Bumbles A god doesn't have to be metaphysical. Or supernatural. Or controlling anything. Or a creator. A god only has to be worshipped. A god can be any of those things, but it doesn't have to be anything other than worshipped. It doesn't have to exist.

@PathwayMachine Like worshipping a great pizza. Okay, good point.

@Bumbles Correct. Like Paul said at Philippians 3:19: They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth. As I said earlier, the most common gods historically have been money and sex. The Christian cross, for example. Jesus didn't die on a Roman cross like we see the Christians carry. That is a Roman phallic symbol. A fertility symbol. A false idol. A god.

https://biblehub.com/philippians/3-19.htm

@AdmiralPrune What about atheistic religions like Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism?

@hippyjoe1955 I agree atheism is a religion in the sense that a religion is defined, not only by Webster but also Oxford, as "a pursuit or interest followed with great devotion." Most people don't think that way though because they have an ideological proclivity either towards a simplified atheistic or theistic paradigm.

@PathwayMachine In the not too distant past atheism was more evangelical than most Christian. It has tamed down a bit since it can't offer any meaningful explanations about the big questions in life but it is still very very common.

@DocSavage You didn't answer the question. Is theism a point of view. These are theisms. Monotheism, polytheism, henotheism, atheism etc.

@PathwayMachine
You have a a choice . Science and nature, or magic and faith. Which is more reliable? Science has been proven the more consistent.
It is POINT OF VIEW Which you use to determine what is the correct answer.
I know, several people who insist on creationism, And insist evolution is false, despite what actual evidence says.their point of view demands faith over facts.

@GeistInTheMachine Not sure of the reference or its significance.

@Adstar Everything is foolishness. We have only foolishness to choose from.

@Matt85 That’s okay, you’re allowed to have fun. More people should.

It’s just accident it happened on a post that gives people the wrong impression.

@AdmiralPrune its a blank transaction with me and anyone i meet, yes inlcuding same sex oriented people. be nice to me and i will be nice back. :)

@AdmiralPrune Why is gaytheism the wrong impression to have given? As a formerly practicing homosexual I can attest to the fact that homosexuals are more often inclined to the spiritual than heterosexuals.

@PathwayMachine Ignorance and superstition have definitely influenced human history, unfortunately. As to the rest of what you say, it's pretty meaningless.

@ChipmunkErnie It's ironic that you mention ignorance and superstition in the past tense.

@PathwayMachine I was speaking historically, but, yes, ignorance and superstition are still VERY much with us an an active influence around the world.

@BlueSkyKing Because atheism, without the idealism, simply means without gods. You can believe in gods and be without them. Similar to my not believing in politicians but being apolitical. I don't believe in politicians, though I know they literally exist and therefor I have no political affiliation. You have faith? Swell, but the demons know and yet shudder.

@MasterLee Respectfully - nonsense.

@jshm2 That is propaganda, I think, jshm; your opinion is as unscientific as flat earth or anti-vaccine.