Atheists officially outnumber Christians for the 1st time
Discussion
REALIST123 said:
TwigtheWonderkid said:
Just because you tick the "no religion" box, doesn't qualify you as an atheist. Most people I know have no religion, but have replaced it with a kind of airy fairy new age nonsense.
They believe in some "higher power" or something "out there bigger than us", in karma, or feng sui, healing crystals, mystics, homeopathy and no end of other hocus pocus and supernatural claptrap.
I wouldn't class them as atheists at all.
At least they aren't building churches. Yet. They believe in some "higher power" or something "out there bigger than us", in karma, or feng sui, healing crystals, mystics, homeopathy and no end of other hocus pocus and supernatural claptrap.
I wouldn't class them as atheists at all.
Good point, Twig.
Esseesse said:
NinjaPower said:
Einion Yrth said:
This canard again; atheism isn't a belief, it's a lack of belief, and it requires no effort whatsoever.
Yes.I was going say the same.
Jockman said:
TwigtheWonderkid said:
A decline in Christianity in the UK in isolation with no decline in rival nonsense probably won't play out well. A decline in religious belief across the world would play out brilliantly I think.
The former is happening. Unfortunately, the latter is not.
Fast forward 20/50 years - the Saudis wil be pleased.
REALIST123 said:
TwigtheWonderkid said:
Just because you tick the "no religion" box, doesn't qualify you as an atheist. Most people I know have no religion, but have replaced it with a kind of airy fairy new age nonsense.
They believe in some "higher power" or something "out there bigger than us", in karma, or feng sui, healing crystals, mystics, homeopathy and no end of other hocus pocus and supernatural claptrap.
I wouldn't class them as atheists at all.
At least they aren't building churches. Yet. They believe in some "higher power" or something "out there bigger than us", in karma, or feng sui, healing crystals, mystics, homeopathy and no end of other hocus pocus and supernatural claptrap.
I wouldn't class them as atheists at all.
ks. They've shoved atheists and agnostics into one bucket and labeled them atheists. The Beeb were making the distinction when they were reporting this story earlier this morning. Although an atheist myself, the decline of moderate, sane, reflective and questioning religion does concern me, because that type of religion brings people together regularly to think about personal morality, the needs of others and, most importantly, it doesn't stop at thinking - they get off their arses and contribute enormously to their communities.
Our society hasn't found any replacement for that yet.
Einion Yrth said:
Esseesse said:
NinjaPower said:
Einion Yrth said:
This canard again; atheism isn't a belief, it's a lack of belief, and it requires no effort whatsoever.
Yes.I was going say the same.
And is entirely compatible with agnosticism, the belief that the state of existence or non-existence of gods is unknowable. "I can't be sure that there aren't any gods, but I don't believe in any" is an agnostic atheist position.
I believe in 'god', not as a being, but as a concept. The closest I can find to a modern description of that concept , a replacement word for god is 'natural science', a concept which has a number of rules which, if paid attention to, should lead to ongoing survival of my species and in particular my bloodline.
I think that most religions started out with a similar idea which got lost in translation somewhere along the centuries and adopted the idea that 'God' was a supreme being.
Does that make me an aetheist? Or just another nutter?
I think that most religions started out with a similar idea which got lost in translation somewhere along the centuries and adopted the idea that 'God' was a supreme being.
Does that make me an aetheist? Or just another nutter?
generally speaking, for 99% of the population, people need to have a belief.
The move from christianity to atheism is not just a removal of this need for a belief, the belief has changed to science.
Most people that say religion is nonsense will put their faith in scientific laws and theories of which they have no concept, and are just as alien to them as the idea of a divine ruler.
Therefore science has just become another religion. people need to believe in something. The only problem is that science does not inherently come with a nice moral rulebook, of which the major religions did come with, no matter how badly they were interpreted/implemented.
The point being... I do not think for the vast majority of people you can remove religion. It needs to be replaced with something else. Another religion.
In attempting to remove it, you will bolster the arguement and push towards something else.
The move from christianity to atheism is not just a removal of this need for a belief, the belief has changed to science.
Most people that say religion is nonsense will put their faith in scientific laws and theories of which they have no concept, and are just as alien to them as the idea of a divine ruler.
Therefore science has just become another religion. people need to believe in something. The only problem is that science does not inherently come with a nice moral rulebook, of which the major religions did come with, no matter how badly they were interpreted/implemented.
The point being... I do not think for the vast majority of people you can remove religion. It needs to be replaced with something else. Another religion.
In attempting to remove it, you will bolster the arguement and push towards something else.
Efbe said:
generally speaking, for 99% of the population, people need to have a belief.
The move from christianity to atheism is not just a removal of this need for a belief, the belief has changed to science.
Most people that say religion is nonsense will put their faith in scientific laws and theories of which they have no concept, and are just as alien to them as the idea of a divine ruler.
Therefore science has just become another religion. people need to believe in something. The only problem is that science does not inherently come with a nice moral rulebook, of which the major religions did come with, no matter how badly they were interpreted/implemented.
With the greatest of respect; that's utter horsecrap.The move from christianity to atheism is not just a removal of this need for a belief, the belief has changed to science.
Most people that say religion is nonsense will put their faith in scientific laws and theories of which they have no concept, and are just as alien to them as the idea of a divine ruler.
Therefore science has just become another religion. people need to believe in something. The only problem is that science does not inherently come with a nice moral rulebook, of which the major religions did come with, no matter how badly they were interpreted/implemented.
daddy cool said:
Jockman said:
daddy cool said:
Esseesse said:
sadly I think the decline in Christianity will not play out well for us.
How can the belief in things that dont exist being reduced be anything other than a good thing?Environmentalism is going to be the next big religion led by the whole CO2 nonsense as it already has all the core ingredients. Belief in something that can't be seen or proved, original sin of which every last one of us is guilty, salvation through living a humble life, for those who don't wish to live a humble life indulgences in the form of carbon credits can be easily bought and most importantly scorn for anyone who disagrees with you. It's basically Catholicism for the 21st century. A religion for those who think they are too smart for religion.
jurbie said:
Environmentalism is going to be the next big religion led by the whole CO2 nonsense as it already has all the core ingredients. Belief in something that can't be seen or proved, original sin of which every last one of us is guilty, salvation through living a humble life, for those who don't wish to live a humble life indulgences in the form of carbon credits can be easily bought and most importantly scorn for anyone who disagrees with you. It's basically Catholicism for the 21st century. A religion for those who think they are too smart for religion.
I call it the God of green.
Jockman said:
daddy cool said:
Jockman said:
daddy cool said:
Esseesse said:
sadly I think the decline in Christianity will not play out well for us.
How can the belief in things that dont exist being reduced be anything other than a good thing?If there is, then lets keep religion as the lesser or two evils. But otherwise lets let humanity progress in this vacuum.
daddy cool said:
Jockman said:
daddy cool said:
Jockman said:
daddy cool said:
Esseesse said:
sadly I think the decline in Christianity will not play out well for us.
How can the belief in things that dont exist being reduced be anything other than a good thing?If there is, then lets keep religion as the lesser or two evils. But otherwise lets let humanity progress in this vacuum.
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