Thread: Is everyone an atheist?

I came accross this one on a blog somewhere, so I thought I'd air it on here for comments:

If you believe in any religion, you must (by definition) not believe in other the hundreds of other faiths scattered around the planet. Therefore, no matter what you believe, you are an atheist by the estimate of the other faiths. For example, if you believe in the Christian god, then you cannot be a buddhist. Therefore the buddhist could call you an unbeliever, and vice versa.

So are we all atheists?

Is this a teenager's blog? Linky please..

According to a TD poll conducted earlier this month, very few here are willing to admit to being a member of any faith.

There were two distinct groups represented in the poll:
1. Posters who checked ALL available choices (there were 10).
2. Posters who claimed no faith.

In my opinion, personal faith is not a popular topic for discussion among Teak Door members. Disparaging others' faith without divulging your own, however, receives higher interest.

So only someone who believes in nothing can be a proper theist?

Why the blue face, tp?

Originally Posted by bkkmadness

Is this a teenager's blog? Linky please..

Found it - it wasn't a blog - it's from a quote by Richard Dawkins: http://www.quotationspage.com/quote/38909.html

He's a bit old to be a teenager.


Texpat: I am an atheist myself - no belief in any god at all.

Originally Posted by Texpat

In my opinion, personal faith is not a popular topic for discussion among Teak Door members.

Cos we know we're all going to hell........

Which is why I don't usually post in this area.

Religions just seem too creepy to me. All the robes and rituals and recitals are just hocus-pocus. And I spent a fair share of time in a similarly ritualistic environment (military).

The main difference I guess is that religion is based largely on unknowns -- blind faith. It's not my bag.

Military ceremony and silly traditions of promotions and change-of-command and formal parties is more of the same. Sort of enforcing desired behavior and emphasizing discipline. I never participated unless I absolutely had to, and only then because they paid me to do it.

I don't consider myself atheist or agnostic or anything. Just non-religious.

Of course someone who believes in (any) god, is not an atheist.

But most people believe most others follow a false belief.

Similar to the fact that everybody is a foreigner almost everywhere. This does not mean we are all foreigners.

Originally Posted by zedhex

I came accross this one on a blog somewhere, so I thought I'd air it on here for comments:

If you believe in any religion, you must (by definition) not believe in other the hundreds of other faiths scattered around the planet. Therefore, no matter what you believe, you are an atheist by the estimate of the other faiths. For example, if you believe in the Christian god, then you cannot be a buddhist. Therefore the buddhist could call you an unbeliever, and vice versa.

So are we all atheists?

At first I thought your question was a joke or just stirring the pot. But I now realize that you are serious.
I feel like you've totally missed the point to religion.
Religious people feel that there is more out there than just what you can perceive with your senses. Many feel that this implies that there is therefore a "God". (This does not include the "Philosophy" of Buddhism, since it doesn't address religious issues of creation and God etc... Although for convenience it is called a religion)
Religious people agree to follow a creed of morality because they believe that there is more to life than merely animalistic behavior and that there is something after-life.
Everyone has a slightly different view of "God" or "allah" or "Vishnu" or "PraOng" or "Elvis Prestley" or "Oprah".
Just because one person thinks that their God is the "Real God" and that all the others are false Gods doesn't make someone an athiest. An Athiest doesn't believe that any "God" exists. A "Thiest" is defined as someone who believes in the existence of God even if that God is viewed as false by everyone else. Most people on this forum are agnostic because they wisely and humbly admit they just aren't sure and haven't been convinced one way or the other. I can respect that.

Personally, I feel that I have encountered enough evidence to make me comfortable with the existence of a "God".
Clearly what people find confusing is separating the "Belief" with its "followers." Many people have met wackos of every religious pursuation and that is a real turn off. But I think that seekers of truth often find lots of ground that they can agree on.
Personally, I agree with what I've found in the Christian Bible but I am grateful for everyone who has a different opinion and can openly discuss it without blowing you up in the name of their "God."
Sooooo... I'll try to keep an open mind about the premise of this thread which seems like a "false belief system" to me.

Originally Posted by wandering

Personally, I feel that I have encountered enough evidence to make me comfortable with the existence of a "God".

Have you also had close encounters with aliens?

Anyone who believes in 'God' is lonely.

Religion killed god.

Originally Posted by Norton

Exactly. Beliefs are personal and I don't need to join a club with a lot of dogma and ritual to express it. It needs to be done via my actions not a bunch of talk.

Much better to be Christ like than a Christian, or Buddha like than a Buddhist, or whatever. They all have a common root.

One does not have to believe in a god or supreme power to be a righteous individual.

Well Said!

^ but you're evil

only because I'm better at it than being good.

^ excellent

Originally Posted by wandering

Personally, I feel that I have encountered enough evidence to make me comfortable with the existence of a "God".

Excellent, evidence of the existence of God, the world has been waiting thousand of years for this and now it appears a teakdoor poster has it. Please, please, please share your evidence with us, this could completely change the world. Ayatollahs, epopts, rabbis and high priests everywhere are eagerly awaiting your reply.

Originally Posted by DrB0b

Quote:
Originally Posted by wandering

Personally, I feel that I have encountered enough evidence to make me comfortable with the existence of a "God".
Excellent, evidence of the existence of God, the world has been waiting thousand of years for this and now it appears a teakdoor poster has it. Please, please, please share your evidence with us, this could completely change the world. Ayatollahs, epopts, rabbis and high priests everywhere are eagerly awaiting your reply.

He was behind the couch the whole time is what I heard.

Originally Posted by Rattanaburi

Anyone who believes in 'God' is lonely.

as are the nonbelievers.

Originally Posted by DrB0b

Originally Posted by wandering

Personally, I feel that I have encountered enough evidence to make me comfortable with the existence of a "God".

Excellent, evidence of the existence of God, the world has been waiting thousand of years for this and now it appears a teakdoor poster has it. Please, please, please share your evidence with us, this could completely change the world. Ayatollahs, epopts, rabbis and high priests everywhere are eagerly awaiting your reply.

I am sure that there are millions of people out there who could respond to you the way that I will. My experiences are personal. You might consider my respnse to be urban legend and unverifiable. That's fine by me. I know what I've seen. I have seen things that can only be explained as "miracles". I realize that you will scoff at this. That's ok. Your experiences have been different. Let me suggest that you "give God a chance to prove Himself personally to you."
First select something that you want that would be utterly impossible but within reason. Don't just say I want peace in the Middle East or I want a Ferrari. I mean tell God that you don't want cancer anymore and bug "God" about this every day. Or whatever. Who knows, you might just back me up next year about your very coincidentially positive experiences with prayer. I, and many people I know, have experienced lots and lots of things so wonderfully improbable that I can only attribute to "something?" "God" that is beyond what is readily observable with the senses. Have fun mocking. But try it out anyway.

Originally Posted by wandering

Originally Posted by DrB0b

Originally Posted by wandering

Personally, I feel that I have encountered enough evidence to make me comfortable with the existence of a "God".

Excellent, evidence of the existence of God, the world has been waiting thousand of years for this and now it appears a teakdoor poster has it. Please, please, please share your evidence with us, this could completely change the world. Ayatollahs, epopts, rabbis and high priests everywhere are eagerly awaiting your reply.

I am sure that there are millions of people out there who could respond to you the way that I will. My experiences are personal. You might consider my respnse to be urban legend and unverifiable. That's fine by me. I know what I've seen. I have seen things that can only be explained as "miracles". I realize that you will scoff at this. That's ok. Your experiences have been different. Let me suggest that you "give God a chance to prove Himself personally to you."
First select something that you want that would be utterly impossible but within reason. Don't just say I want peace in the Middle East or I want a Ferrari. I mean tell God that you don't want cancer anymore and bug "God" about this every day. Or whatever. Who knows, you might just back me up next year about your very coincidentially positive experiences with prayer. I, and many people I know, have experienced lots and lots of things so wonderfully improbable that I can only attribute to "something?" "God" that is beyond what is readily observable with the senses. Have fun mocking. But try it out anyway.

That's very nice but it's not evidence, is it? Not in any sense normally contained in the word "evidence" anyway. I said nothing about my experiences, by the way. Is your assumption that you know something about me based on the same kind of "evidence" as you claimed for the existence of God?

Originally Posted by DrB0b

That's very nice but it's not evidence, is it? Not in any sense normally contained in the word "evidence" anyway. I said nothing about my experiences, by the way. Is your assumption that you know something about me based on the same kind of "evidence" as you claimed for the existence of God?

I obviously don't know anything about you. That's not my point. I am trying to say that I can assume that all humans on earth have had different experiences which may impact on their views of the world.
And you are right that my experience is not "scientific evidence." What I said is that it was personal evidence to me in the same way that it is evident to me that you are more interested in fighting than dialoguing. In fact, your hostile style of writing is similarly rhetorical to that of an imman or a televangelist wanting to pick a fight.