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Can Atheists Be Called Hypocrites.
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Occasionally some ABer posts accuse atheists of hypocrisy. How valid is that statement. ?
Atheism is not a belief. There is no book of rules to be hypocritical about.
An atheist may have a whole range of other beliefs from Fascism to Marxism. They may attend weddings, funerals or even go to church to please friends or relatives.
All that is irrelevant . There is only one thing they all have in common 'they don't believe in a god'.
Atheism is not a belief. There is no book of rules to be hypocritical about.
An atheist may have a whole range of other beliefs from Fascism to Marxism. They may attend weddings, funerals or even go to church to please friends or relatives.
All that is irrelevant . There is only one thing they all have in common 'they don't believe in a god'.
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Oh easy!
There are a number of atheists who treat their position in a religious manner, and that nothing, no degree of proof would disuade them.
So they'd be accusing theists of sticking to dogma on the word of some authority whilst doing exactly the same to the scientific narrative.
Of course the key to this is to realise that your position must never be set in stone and to agree that you would become a theist if evidence supported it. Then challenge the theist to what evidence would convince them of the non-existance of God.
Naturally they're then caught as faith in face of any evidence is the key feature of a religous belief
There are a number of atheists who treat their position in a religious manner, and that nothing, no degree of proof would disuade them.
So they'd be accusing theists of sticking to dogma on the word of some authority whilst doing exactly the same to the scientific narrative.
Of course the key to this is to realise that your position must never be set in stone and to agree that you would become a theist if evidence supported it. Then challenge the theist to what evidence would convince them of the non-existance of God.
Naturally they're then caught as faith in face of any evidence is the key feature of a religous belief
Well we get into rather pointless terminological circles that way.
Yes technically you could claim Budhists can be atheists etc. and you could use the term emiprical rationalist instead of atheist but the vast majority of atheists do not have any time for Gods or religion .
Words are defined by their use not their structure and to pick apart a word and say it means something because of its structure despite its use is to majorly miss the point
Yes technically you could claim Budhists can be atheists etc. and you could use the term emiprical rationalist instead of atheist but the vast majority of atheists do not have any time for Gods or religion .
Words are defined by their use not their structure and to pick apart a word and say it means something because of its structure despite its use is to majorly miss the point
An atheist, like anyone, can be considered hypocritical.
Were an atheist to deride and criticise and mock a person of faith who refused to change their faith when they are presented with incontrovertible evidence to the contrary, that self- same atheist would be hypocritical if they in turn would admit of or recognise no phenomenon, evidence or observation that would prompt them to change their opinion and give them cause to believe in a god
This tends to be one of the fundamental differences between those with a religious belief, and those with a lack of belief,ie atheists. The latter can posit a standard of evidence or observation or phenomenon that would persuade them that their lack of belief was false; Those who have a faith in religion either cannot or,more likely, will not.
And regarding your point about atheism not being a belief modeller ,I agree entirely - but several contributors here, and many in the wider world outside of AB, would disagree.
For them, the definition of atheism is a positive choice to disbelieve in gods.Atheists would disagree - A positive choice to disbelieve in gods, to reject the supernatural, should more properly be termed anti- theist :)
Atheism is very simple - a lack of belief in a god or gods.
Were an atheist to deride and criticise and mock a person of faith who refused to change their faith when they are presented with incontrovertible evidence to the contrary, that self- same atheist would be hypocritical if they in turn would admit of or recognise no phenomenon, evidence or observation that would prompt them to change their opinion and give them cause to believe in a god
This tends to be one of the fundamental differences between those with a religious belief, and those with a lack of belief,ie atheists. The latter can posit a standard of evidence or observation or phenomenon that would persuade them that their lack of belief was false; Those who have a faith in religion either cannot or,more likely, will not.
And regarding your point about atheism not being a belief modeller ,I agree entirely - but several contributors here, and many in the wider world outside of AB, would disagree.
For them, the definition of atheism is a positive choice to disbelieve in gods.Atheists would disagree - A positive choice to disbelieve in gods, to reject the supernatural, should more properly be termed anti- theist :)
Atheism is very simple - a lack of belief in a god or gods.
How are we defining hypocrisy? An atheist who refuses to admit the possibility that some compelling evidence may come to light to how that God exists, isn't a hypocrite, he's just not being sensible or scientific.
I suppose that an atheist who chose to be buried in accordance with Christian rite was being hypocritical when he asked for it, but even that is doubtful. He might direct that because his family would want it.
I suppose that an atheist who chose to be buried in accordance with Christian rite was being hypocritical when he asked for it, but even that is doubtful. He might direct that because his family would want it.
I had a friend who was an atheist in that he didn't believe that god exists
on the other hand he chose to be buried in a Woodland Burial Ground because he believed in the immortal soul. A sort of agnostic I suppose.
There was no service, we all wore bright summer clothes and there was a festive atmosphere with lots to eat and drink. One or two of his theist friends didn't attend because it was not religous.
on the other hand he chose to be buried in a Woodland Burial Ground because he believed in the immortal soul. A sort of agnostic I suppose.
There was no service, we all wore bright summer clothes and there was a festive atmosphere with lots to eat and drink. One or two of his theist friends didn't attend because it was not religous.
If an atheist castigates someone of faith for not being willing to change their position based upon evidence and observation, then that atheist is being hypocritical if they too admit of no evidence that might persuade them of the existence of a god.
And the definition of atheism continues to highlight differences. Atheism is a lack of belief in god or gods. Some may positively choose to believe that their are no gods, others may simply not believe until they see the evidence. Both are valid descriptors for atheism.
And the definition of atheism continues to highlight differences. Atheism is a lack of belief in god or gods. Some may positively choose to believe that their are no gods, others may simply not believe until they see the evidence. Both are valid descriptors for atheism.
//Can Atheists Be Called Hypocrites//
It depends upon the subject under discussion. Anyone can be called a hypocrite for a variety of reasons. If an atheist attends a religious funeral or wedding, it’s not because he’s a hypocrite – it’s because he lives in a society where such ceremonies are the norm - and unless he turns his back on his family and friends in loss or celebration - which most, I imagine, wouldn't want to do - he has no option but to attend. That doesn't make him a hypocrite - it makes him a caring human being.
Atheism equates to an absence of belief. Therefore, if the question of belief was never raised, it would never cross an atheist’s mind. It’s simply not in his remit.
It depends upon the subject under discussion. Anyone can be called a hypocrite for a variety of reasons. If an atheist attends a religious funeral or wedding, it’s not because he’s a hypocrite – it’s because he lives in a society where such ceremonies are the norm - and unless he turns his back on his family and friends in loss or celebration - which most, I imagine, wouldn't want to do - he has no option but to attend. That doesn't make him a hypocrite - it makes him a caring human being.
Atheism equates to an absence of belief. Therefore, if the question of belief was never raised, it would never cross an atheist’s mind. It’s simply not in his remit.
For me atheism is not a belief at all. Surely the argument that an atheist should use is as follows:
Currently no reasons exist which would lead one to believe in the existence of a god - full stop. So why invent one?
In the past knowledge was so limited that arguing that a god must exist was a much more plausible explanation of the world.
Currently no reasons exist which would lead one to believe in the existence of a god - full stop. So why invent one?
In the past knowledge was so limited that arguing that a god must exist was a much more plausible explanation of the world.
I find myself equally irritated by militant theists and militant atheists, they're both a pain in the a7se with their insistance that they are 'right' and the other side is wrong and both are usually rude beyond belief.
you can sum it up with this that someone sent me:-
Both can be and are usually at some point hypocritical.
you can sum it up with this that someone sent me:-
Both can be and are usually at some point hypocritical.
ratter has it right. Atheism doesn't exist in any formal shape or form.
We don't have a special word to describe people that don't believe in fairies, or ghosts, in the same was that we lack a term for people who DON'T believe that the moon is made of Green Cheese.
Why can't people just use their common sense ?
We don't have a special word to describe people that don't believe in fairies, or ghosts, in the same was that we lack a term for people who DON'T believe that the moon is made of Green Cheese.
Why can't people just use their common sense ?
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