Can atheism exist independently of theism?

[Dr. Diana Hardy]

And if not, does it bother atheists that their worldview is dependent on the very notion of God they reject? What say ye?

[mojomojo]

Hi,
To deny the reality of it,
Instantly, gives it, it's existence.
To say there is no GOD, instantly, gives acknowledgement, to something there is not. 
If I take the definition of atheism as the rejection of belief in the existence of GOD or GODS, coupled with a belief in the non existence of source, or life energy, then from a mental prospective, one lives independent of theism.
If, we take it, that source or life energy is all encompassing, that GOD is all, and everything is GOD, nothing exists, that does not have the essence of GOD contained within, then nothing can exist independent, the possibility cannot arise.
One can live, without the mental belief, but not independent of. Not been an atheist, I can not put forth their argument, but from what I have read, I'am left with the impression, that they feel it is up to the theist, to prove the existence of GOD, and not for the atheist to prove the contrary, in my humble opinion, Robert.

[gruntal]

I think atheists are just rejecting the definition of G*d especially as regards religion. Oddly atheists are very much incongruent with Satan worshipers and atheists often go to some extent to prove they have benevolence sans piety.

If every atheist was required to define what it is that they reject they might actually have a lot in common with the others. They also have the advantage of not being hypercritical in worshipping a G*d - very badly!

Unfortunately atheists may have an inordinate faith in other things like political systems and rely on them for their salvation. Assuming anybody needs to be saved. Or controlled. Or sheltered. For their own good.

[tribunalofmercy]

I like the fact that gruntal has commented to the fact that atheists do not feel they are Missing anything, nor do they Appear to be missing anything in that way...

Mojo said,
"To deny the reality of it,
Instantly, gives it, it's existence.
To say there is no GOD, instantly, gives acknowledgement, to something there is not. "


I'm not an atheist either, lol, so perhaps we should Hear from one I agree with Both of the above as quoted, though, because together they present a broader view of looking at the Same Thing.

Our definitions of words, terms, whether concrete or abstract in nature, reveal limitations of our understanding of the very Nature of duality in this way; from my perspective, I see it as exactly That: perspective.

Atheists and theists may rationalize their understanding of All things by developing Natures according to their Experience of the whole, whether they perceive to Believe something or not; to See something or not. Creationists and evolutionists feel their views are mutually exclusive, but then again, imagine a person with a Very short life span who views the moon only for the week before, and day of, its fullness...

If that person were to end up Teaching others about the moon he/she might describe a more Complete moon than, say, someone whose short life span only emcompassed that week of a new moon. Because both would feel themselves Correct they would feel their views were Mutually exclusive and could Both not be true....

This is a Human quality - and I am not atheist, lol; therefore I see our own life spans as Quite short in relation to the age of All things, and All deeper understanding of what our short-term "Words" created to clarify Timeless concepts, truly Mean.


To Be (God), or Not to be (God); That, is the question.

[donq]

Hi Diana,

Welcome to our forum. Hope you will share more about your invaluable life experience with our friends here. We also have our ROM (read only members) who love to read but always are still too shy to join. But this forum could not go on without them. So they are very precious. :-)

I’ve come across the following photo on the internet before I wrote this post and would like to share it here:



You raised the tough question. Besides, you used your real name, too. The only way to show my respect for you is to give you my honestest answer, no matter how serious it might sound. And I apologize in advance if it's too blunt.

My answer is, “No, atheism cannot exist independently of theism”.

Anyway, as I used to die once (already told it many times here, so let me skip it), after that theism AND atheism lost their meanings to me. Let’s face it, how many people had/have been kill in the name of theism, just because they believed in different theism? (This is very sensitive issue but we all already know from the history of religion). Also, how many had/have been kill in the name of atheism? This is more easy to give an example. lol. It was said that Hitler read and misinterpreted Nietzsche’s Sprach Zarathustra. He mistook Nietzsche’s “Übermensch” (higher-person/higher-Being) for superman (super-human). And we already knew how tragedy of killing happened.

So, I believe the problem is not about atheism or theism, but killing, right?

Also I think it’s about the point of reference, as Mary Anne already mentioned. When we are talking about duality, we need the point of reference or everything will go roundabout like chicken and egg’s puzzle. Yes, the point of view of relativity is a must. Even so, sometimes, (maybe most of time), it doesn’t work. As there’s also a metaphor in Buddhism: how could a turtle explain about the sky, bird, tree, mountain etc. to a fish in the pond? And whenever a fish goes on land, he would die. (Ok, except some kind of fish, mudskipper etc. hahaha).

My point is maybe atheists have to protect themselves at all cost jut because they can never know the truth or they would die if they accept it? And to be fair, is that the same with theists?

So, again, as for me, theism and atheism are not the real problem. But the killing (etc.) are. Always are.

[lionl]

Oct 28, 2014 8:34:56 GMT Dr. Diana Hardy said:

Can atheism exist independently of theism?
And if not, does it bother atheists that their worldview is dependent on the very notion of God they reject? What say ye?

Hello Doctor.

Can a disbelief in a seventeen headed pixie who controls David Cameron, Vladimir Putin and Barak Obama exist unless others do believe in it?  The answer is yes.  Nobody (as far as I know!) does believe in this seventeen headed pixie.

Actually, in replying to your post I have come to agree with it!  There is no such thing as ' anti-17-headed-pixie-ism', even though I don't believe in one.  In order for there to be such a disbelief there must also be a 'pro-17-headed-pixie-ist' set of beliefs.

Therefore, atheism cannot exist without theism.  Would it bother an atheist?  No.  I was one for 30 years and it never bothered me one bit.

Thank you for clarifying this in my mind Doctor. 


Welcome to the forum. 

[xan]

To add my point of view... Atheism and theism are both "isms", meaning they are collections of beliefs. What has significance for each person is giving attention into what they may discover and experience beyond the mind of beliefs, in the realm of silent unboundaried being. Once experiencing this one person may call it "God" and another "no-God". Becoming simply aware in This makes all the difference.

[aceofcups]

Both words, atheism and theism.. both have THE and IS within them... both celebrate the ISNESS of BEING whatever belief is attached to them.