Atheism Is Not a Philosophy.

[MineralMan]

It is merely a statement: "I do not believe that any deity or deities exist."

From that statement, nothing follows. Atheists may adhere to any philosophical principles they wish, and they do exactly that. They have a full range of political beliefs, as well.

One can make no assumptions about atheists, since atheism is simply disbelief of the existence of deities. Beyond that, the label of atheism tells you virtually nothing about an individual atheist.

[LakeArenal]

1. You got that right!!

People love explaining to me what I don’t believe. Drives me crazy!

Simply: I don’t believe in divinity. That’s it.

[MineralMan]

2. Yup. I just wanted to make that clear.

[rurallib]

3. yeppers - not a religion, not a philosophy. Just a statement on one thing

And no set of beliefs flow from that statement, no matter how much believers want it so.
Believers seem to want atheists to fit in some box so they can attack them. Sorry folks - no can do.

[MineralMan]

4. Exactly.

[TlalocW]

5. I get into a lot of discussions (arguments) where the other side

Starts going off on evolution, big-bang, different moral systems, etc. It's fun to let them go for a while then ask them, "What does any of that have to do with atheism, which is just a rejection of claims that gods exist?" You can see it in their deflating faces that their arguments rely on putting an atheist into a box with x, y, and z characteristics.

TlalocW

[Lordquinton]

6. I take issue with only one point

The political views one. Atheists are overwhelmingly liberal. In any poll having to deal with the intersection of religion and politics atheists are the biggest block the left has.

Of course if you listen to anyone talking about it we're mostly conservative MRA types, but you have to ignore any sort of real evidence to make that claim.

[edhopper]

7. Atheist are often liberal

and Humanist in philosophy.

They are also usually smart and good looking

But those characteristics are not integral to Atheism, which is just lack of belief.

[Lordquinton]

8. Getting lost in the semiotics

There aren't any true descriptors, but you can still make predictions. And we are far too often thrown under the bus when it comes to politics, so it's good to bring it up whenever possible.

[edhopper]

9. I get your point.

[Lordquinton]

10. And I yours

( ^_^)b

[MineralMan]

14. I'm not entirely sure that's true.

Because Ayn Rand and many others. Certainly the atheists hanging around DU are liberals, at least most of them. It's possible that most atheists in the United States are liberals, but I don't know, really. However, I doubt that atheists are "overwhelmingly" liberal. It would be interesting to see some statistics on that, both in the US and globally.

[Lordquinton]

16. Given the focus of the group

US based, political website, I was going from that angle. You can look at any research and find that the largest liberal voting block, by percentage, is atheists (or probably labeled nones, but that still counts!)

Once you get outside the US all the definitions break down.

Like I said above, lost in the semiotics.

[Voltaire2]

11. Off is my favorite tv channel.

[marylandblue]

12. Atheism could be a consequence of a philosophy

It's a conclusion you drew based on evidence or lack thereof, right? But how you think about that evidence is a consequence of your personal approach to life. I'd guess that most atheists put a lot of faith in the scientific method and the need for hard evidence before accepting something. They are less likely to accept arguments from authority or from popularity than the average. They are more likely to be skeptical in general. There could be other philosophical that make one more predisposed to atheism.

[Voltaire2]

13. Sure. It is frequently a quality of a philosophy.

But still it is simply the absence of belief in any gods.

[MineralMan]

15. Sure. But atheism, itself, is not a philosophy, nor does

it necessarily lead to any particular philosophical positions.

[Major Nikon]

17. It's not even that

All atheists reject the belief in deities. That’s all that’s required to fit the definition.

Some atheists go one step farther and believe there are no deities, but that isn’t the same thing.

I reject the belief in the abominable snowman. If someone comes up with convincing evidence I am certainly willing to change my mind based on new evidence. Until then I see no need to be convinced one way or another. I feel the same way about imaginary friends, magic zombies, holy poltergeists, and other abstract creations.

[ollie10]

18. If I might ask

what types of evidence would be acceptable new evidence to support the idea of a deity in your view?

[Major Nikon]

19. Pretty much the same as the abdominal snowman

If multiple independent sources had confirmation of an intelligent supernatural being, that would do it.

[ollie10]

20. Well, what type of evidence that these independent sources would confirm...

...would be acceptable?

[Fix The Stupid]

21. Oh...I know this one! (raises hand)

How about this for evidence?

Walking on water?
Raise the dead?
Turn water into wine?
Heal a blind person?
Control the weather??? (that jesus guy apparently could...)

How about that for evidence?

[Major Nikon]

23. I'd be satisfied with turning MD 20/20 into George T. Stagg

[uriel1972]

22. Abdominal?