Do you think atheism is a faith-based position? If so, why? [Spirituality & Religion]
36-40, M
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MetalGreymon · 36-40, M
MetalGreymon · 36-40, M
SW-User
It can be. Atheism is interpreted in one of two main ways: 1) the belief that there is no god or 2) the lack of belief in one.
Belief concerns matters of truth. Something currently unprovable is either true or it is not. There is no in between, and that's where faith is required. To believe that there is no god is saying that there truly is no god despite us being able to definitively prove it. To lack belief in a god is not speaking to the veracity of either position, but rather abstaining from making a statement on it.
So it can be a matter of faith, but it depends on the interpretation
Belief concerns matters of truth. Something currently unprovable is either true or it is not. There is no in between, and that's where faith is required. To believe that there is no god is saying that there truly is no god despite us being able to definitively prove it. To lack belief in a god is not speaking to the veracity of either position, but rather abstaining from making a statement on it.
So it can be a matter of faith, but it depends on the interpretation
katielass · F
Wouldn't your second example, the can't say yea or nay, be considered agnostic?
SW-User
@Shattered: It's more nuanced than that. Agnosticism states that we cannot know or prove whether a god exists or not. It's not a matter of belief, but a matter of knowledge.
You can not know whether god exists, but have faith that one exists despite the lack of evidence. You can also not know whether god exists, but believe that one doesn't.
The second position under agnosticism would be that we cannot know whether god exists, but live as if one didn't because we can't prove it.
I liken it to the existence of aliens. Some believe they exist, others don't, and others don't make a decision one way or the other because to do so would be pure conjecture.
You can not know whether god exists, but have faith that one exists despite the lack of evidence. You can also not know whether god exists, but believe that one doesn't.
The second position under agnosticism would be that we cannot know whether god exists, but live as if one didn't because we can't prove it.
I liken it to the existence of aliens. Some believe they exist, others don't, and others don't make a decision one way or the other because to do so would be pure conjecture.
Tatsumi · 31-35, M
Hardcore atheism is. The kind where they say "I KNOW there is no God." It is a very ironic position, because they also lack proof. They insult religious people for stating they have absolute proof, then believe the same way.
Agnostic-atheism, however, admits that humans are fallible and dont know everything. So, they dont.
Agnostic-atheism, however, admits that humans are fallible and dont know everything. So, they dont.
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MetalGreymon · 36-40, M
@faefairy:
It seems to me to be a positive claim.
q: does god exist?
theist: yes
q: why?
theist: i have faith that he does
q: does god exist?
atheist: no
q: why?
atheist: i have no evidence that he does
Sin't one of those a positive claim?
It seems to me to be a positive claim.
q: does god exist?
theist: yes
q: why?
theist: i have faith that he does
q: does god exist?
atheist: no
q: why?
atheist: i have no evidence that he does
Sin't one of those a positive claim?
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MetalGreymon · 36-40, M
@faefairy:
Does god exist?
Wouldn't the rational answer from an unbiased person to that question be "i don't know, but there is no evidence that he does that is not faith-based." ?
Does god exist?
Wouldn't the rational answer from an unbiased person to that question be "i don't know, but there is no evidence that he does that is not faith-based." ?
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MetalGreymon · 36-40, M
@voyelle:
...you're against logic?
...you're against logic?
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PeanutsauntieP1982 · 41-45, F
I think so. Just as I have faith there is a Creator, and even my own proof, so too do atheist have a similar yet dissimilar faith that there is no Creator, and their own kind of proof to support that belief/lack of belief.
MetalGreymon · 36-40, M
Is a belief without evidence (theism) the same as a belief because of a lack of evidence (atheism) ?
PeanutsauntieP1982 · 41-45, F
MetalGreymon · 36-40, M
@PeanutsauntieP1982:
Well i know theists aren't stupid people
Well i know theists aren't stupid people
Xuan12 · 31-35, M
Not really no. If you take skepticism to be a faith-based position, then literally all positions are faith-based, and the term means nothing.
katielass · F
Yes, I suppose so. It's a belief that there is no god.
katielass · F
@UnparalleledMonster: Of course it's faith. If you believe something you can't prove, one way or the other, you are going on faith.
MetalGreymon · 36-40, M
@Shattered:
I disagree.
I can't prove dinosaurs aren't still alive just as i can't prove that god doesn't exist.
It's very hard to prove a negative.
I hold the provisional belief that dinosaurs no longer exist (not counting birds, obviously) because there is no compelling evidence that suggests that they do.
There is no compelling evidence that suggests that god exists.
I disagree.
I can't prove dinosaurs aren't still alive just as i can't prove that god doesn't exist.
It's very hard to prove a negative.
I hold the provisional belief that dinosaurs no longer exist (not counting birds, obviously) because there is no compelling evidence that suggests that they do.
There is no compelling evidence that suggests that god exists.
SW-User
No because it's based on empiricism and reason not faith.