What is an Atheist ?

[modeller]

Buddhists by definition are Atheists but they support Buddhist principles.

Then I thought could you be a Christian Atheist, that is, not believe in God but support Christian principles ?
or a Muslim Atheist but support Muslim principles. ?

In all these cases it would indicate that Atheism is as diverse as Theism it boils down to the culture in which you grow up.

[rojash]

That would be self-contradictory. The fundamental principle of Christianity and of Islam is a belief in god.
It would also be pointless. Why would you want to define yourself as something that you were not?

[modeller]

I know a couple who led a very Christian like life . They supported all the local charities and the local community centre . I suppose you would describe them as Do-Gooders but to my surprise the husband who recently died had a very non religious funeral and at the funeral the wife told me they were both Atheists.
I would say they were practising what we consider Christian principles.
Why not ? Do you have to belong to a particular religion to lead a good life. ?

[doctordb]

Modeller, unless they believed in christ i wouldn't have thought them christians. What is a christian like life? Anyone can live like that regardless of belief.

[vetuste_ennemi]

If I were to be described as a Christian atheist (very unlikely) I would be rather miffed, though not, perhaps as much as any Christians standing around at the time. Using the term Christian to mean acting decently is a misuse of language and robs the word of its special connotations. A point made very eloquently by C. S. Lewis in Mere Christianity, a book I recommend to any Christian or atheist who hasn't read it..

[modeller]

I didn't say they were Christians ! The Muslims believe in the prophet Christ .
That doesn't make them Christians.

You might believe in the 10 commandments in the OT does that make you Jewish. ? My whole point you can have the high moral principles of any religion without the need of belonging to it or believing in a God.

[modeller]

vetuste #f I were to be described as a Christian atheist (very unlikely) I would be rather miffed,#

How would you describe yourself ?

[jomifl]

modeller, I remember from a previous thread that about 50% of Buddhists are atheists. I don't think Buddhism requires either belief or disbelief in a deity.

[jomifl]

Christians believe in god, theyhave to, else they go to hel....allegedly

[doctordb]

I wouldn't particularly look to religion or the religious for high moral principles.

[modeller]

I agree doctordb no religion could be used as a role model but within our UK culture we do have values of right and wrong , fair play etc.

[naomi24]

It would be more accurate to describe Buddhists as non-theists rather than atheists. Buddhists see no reason to believe in gods, whereas atheism equates to an absence of belief in any god. There is a subtle difference.

To the question. I don’t see how anyone could describe themselves as a Christian atheist or a Muslim atheist. Christianity not only requires belief in the God of Abraham, but in a messiah whose purpose is to bear the burden of the sins of humanity, thereby facilitating man’s only hope of salvation. In Islam an absence of belief in Allah as the one and only God is absolutely unforgiveable. Therefore no atheist could claim to be either Christian or Muslim.

Having said all that, if we’re talking about the alleged Christian philosophy of kindness, love, and forgiveness, I know many atheists who put their Christian neighbours to shame.

[modeller]

naomi I think your answer sums it up very nicely . I have looked on Google and seen interviews with the Dalai Llama and it appears a theist of other religions can also be a Buddhist at the same time. However Abrahamic religions say No Way ! We are right end of story. !

[naomi24]

//However Abrahamic religions say No Way ! We are right end of story. ! //

Odd isn't it? They're all different - but they're all right. Do you think the faithful ever think about that? I mean REALLY think about that?

[wildwood]

I think you might be getting confused between good manners and christian principles.

[Answerprancer]

Modeller - I hope you don't mind me asking but do you have a religeous 'hangup' ?

[Answerprancer]

oOOOooh ...get you ! Calm down our kid.
He asked, I answered. R&S isn't an exclusive club IN CASE YOU HADN'T NOTICED.

[Answerprancer]

...and FYI, I wouldn't find it offensive if someone asked me a similar question.

[modeller]

Answerprancer No one would ask you any question that requires some intellect to answer it.
I suggest you go back to using asterisks it must be quite a strain to compile a post without them.

[vetuste_ennemi]

<<How would you describe yourself ?>>
It depends what the question is, Modeller. If it's "where do you stand on religion?" the answer would be "atheist". If it's "what moral values do you subscribe to?" it would be "the same values of honesty and decency which most people subscribe to whether they think of themselves as Hindus, Muslims, or whatever. In modern Britain we have a rich cultural mix. This doesn't seem to stop us getting on reasonably well as neighbours and co-operating without friction in the workplace. I know what people mean by "Christian" values, but I dislike the coinage because it implies that qualities like honesty and kindness are exclusively Christian qualities, which is patently false. I'm for using the Christian, Muslim etc. in the sense in which they were first used - to describe a particular theological belief. For Christians it is that Jesus was the son of God and gave his blood to redeem us from sin and death through sin; for Muslims it is that the Koran is the final revelation God. Both of these assertions are blatantly absurd which is why I'd be miffed if I had either label attributed to me however kindly meant.