Do Atheists need a church of their own?

[Keith P]

Interesting article I found:

http://nymag.com/news/features/46214/

[Keith P]

Before the argument is made, non-believers aren't trying to swap "worship" in the intangible for something tangible.

I think it is a good argument to make that we need some sort of commune though. Those of us outside progressive and coastal cities see very little of that. A national group with more organization and funding could provide that.

[MC Twinkie]

Atheism, as an explicit position, can be either the affirmation of the nonexistence of gods, or the rejection of theism.

I think one of the reasons people reject religion is because often organized religion becomes corrupt. So really if atheist went to their own church it would be more organized religion.

I didn't read the artical but I think the premis is stupid.

[Sinner]

I think it takes just as much faith to say there isn't a God as it takes to say there is one... However, I don't think they need their own church.

[Keith P]

Originally Posted by MicahB

I think it takes just as much faith to say there isn't a God as it takes to say there is one.

The rejection of faith doesn't require faith. Fucking ridiculous argument.

[charlie brown]

atheists already have a church - it's called school

[Deff Gordon]

Originally Posted by Keith P

The rejection of faith doesn't require faith. Fucking ridiculous argument.

just like religious people have faith that something is out there... atheists have the same faith that there isn't.

[BradH]

Originally Posted by matias

atheists already have a church - it's called school

<3 meaty

for some people, that isn't enough.

But I am glad to see: "The fastest growing faith in America is no faith at all."

Originally Posted by Deff Gordon

just like religious people have faith that something is out there... atheists have the same faith that there isn't.

I don't have 'faith' there isn't some omnipresent creator being living above the stars. Faith is belief not based on proof. No proof something like that exists = no need for faith. Just logic.

[MC Twinkie]

Originally Posted by Keith P

The rejection of faith doesn't require faith. Fucking ridiculous argument.

Actually I think micah is on to something there. I think a lot of people are to insecure to understand how insignificant and meaningless there life is. So they make up some religion to boost their self esteem.

In other news I saw that there is an atheist organisation. It looks a lot like a religion. I bet they ask for money, just like religion.
http://www.atheists.org/

Some people don't have a need to be apart of something. They dont have a need for understanding. I think that is what you don't understand.

[Keith P]

Originally Posted by clay donkey

Actually I think micah is on to something there. I think a lot of people are to insecure to understand how insignificant and meaningless there life is.

Atheism doesn't suggest that by default. That notion exists out of prejudice or ignorance.

[Keith P]

Originally Posted by clay donkey

Some people don't have a need to be apart of something. They dont have a need for understanding. I think that is what you don't understand.

What I don't think you understand is that Atheism is rooted in the need for enlightenment not the rejection of knowledge.

One must understand the precepts of religion or the conceived nature of god in order to reject it. Choosing to do so w/o understanding what you oppose is equally as suspect as blind faith. It's something the four horsemen and other prominent minds in the article speak against constantly.

[Keith P]

Originally Posted by BradH

<3 meaty

for some people, that isn't enough.

I don't think it is. Secular society needs a social fulcrum that isn't based in commercialism.

Granted that might exist in the arts or education but those tend to be personal endeavors rather than communal ones.

[charlie brown]

if school isn't enough for some people that's their problem

[MC Twinkie]

Originally Posted by Keith P

What I don't think you understand is that Atheism is rooted in the need for enlightenment not the rejection of knowledge.

One must understand the precepts of religion or the conceived nature of god in order to reject it. Choosing to do so w/o understanding what you oppose is equally as suspect as blind faith. It's something the four horsemen and other prominent minds in the article speak against constantly.

I disagree. There have to have been civilizations that did not have a concept of religion. Secondly, I have never done crack. I dont have to have tried or understand crack to reject it. Your arguement is flawed because some people have a need for a belief. But with atheism, there is no need. Some people do need a system of belief or disbelief, maybe you... Think of it more in terms of what you choose to do, because the things you don't do are not always a choice.

Atheism is not a belief system that god cant exist because there is not scientific way to call him up on the cellphone. You dont have to have a desire to be educated. Religion is not the persuit of ignornace (unless you are baptist). atheism is just a lack of a lack of belief in a higher power. It has nothing to do with learning.

[charlie brown]

atheism has everything to do with learning - without the scientific process we'd still be in the dark ages believing the world was not only flat but also the center of the universe