Atheism is a religion based upon not believing in God, a religion none the less. Thus it is based upon God as well. The problem is that God is not a single belief and beyond understanding. How can one not believe in something that is not understood? If the non-belief is of a Judeao-Christian white bearded, anthropomorphic being, then this does not address other belief systems such as Hinduism and Buddhism which posit God as Atman/Brahman or a manifestation of consciousness and of the collective unconscious. If atheists don’t believe in God but place their faith in the observable world and science, they will be surprised that the state of the art conclusions of physics and quantum mechanics finds reality to be very close to Buddhist intuitions. As religion and science merge, what is left to not believe in?
First of all, atheism is NOT a religion. Had you looked up the definition and the close description of the term “religion”, and afterwards the term “atheism”, you would have seen that your claim about “atheism being a religion” is false at it’s best.
Secondly, it is common for uneducated people – or simply those who just wish to deceive others – to twist and turn the whole problem in order to make it sound the way they want it to. And more important, to gain a completely different context – the one which suits them at the moment.
You see, the question is not whether we understand “god” or not, but whether such a thing exists at all.
Atheism simply bases itself on not believing anything which is not proven. Just like when you have trouble with the law, and somebody sues you, in most countries of the world there is a law which says that everyone is guilty until proven innocence. Therefore, until you prove that “god” exists – which is a story you made up, not the other way around – no atheist will believe in “god”. The very moment you prove the existence of “god”, atheists will believe. At least the real atheists.
It’s funny you should mention Buddhism, since this is a religion which also doesn’t believe in the existence of “god”; they believe in humanity, not supreme beings. Wise people indeed.
And yes, Einstein WAS an atheist. If any of you religious guys spent any time and effort (REAL effort) to read any of his books (REAL books, not quotes on the internet taken *out of context* by mischievous religious leaders, or fanatics who don’t have a clue) which cover any branch of philosophy or personal views, you wouldn’t even think about claiming him to be Jewish, let alone Christian.
It is common that many religious zealots claim Einstein to be a non-atheist when they see this picture. The reason for this is simple and well tested in practice – you merely lack the education or common knowledge to recognize ANY of the other faces here. Tested on several forums, and the results were alarming – majority of people didn’t recognize Richard Dawkins, Mark Twain, Ernest Hemingway OR Abraham Lincoln. You should really look up these names.
The “Einstein” was a Christian debate is polluted with lots of misinformation, with both sides trying to “claim” him. Truth be told, I’d say, based on letters and documented witness accounts, he was more of an agnostic than a pure atheist. He definitely did not believe in the Christian God but was open to the fact that a deity cannot be disproven scientifically. That’s still a long way from being a believer.
@warren goff: atheism is by no means a religion. The distinction isn’t even subtle, a smidge of rationality and common sense will allow you to make the difference between atheism and any religion.
@acosinus – hmm, I think you’ve confused Richard Dawkins with Carl Sagan. Fair enough though, they look and speak rather similar at times
In Einstein’s own words: “You may call me an agnostic, but I do not share the crusading spirit of the professional atheist…” – letter to Guy H. Raner Jr., Sept. 28, 1949, quoted by Michael R. Gilmore in Skeptic, Vol. 5, No. 2
He belonged to neither camp. So stop claiming him. Same goes for the many other historical figures both sides claim as their own.
It is too easy to take parts of quotes and use them to affirm your own viewpoint. So & so used the word “God” so he must be a Christian like us…or so & so said she does not believe in the God of Abraham so she must be an atheist like me! Seriously folks, both sides are filled with fanatics. I know atheists loathe being compared to the “other side” but walk like a duck…I’m seeing more and more preachy atheists every day. You guys are getting to be about as annoying as the Evangelists.
Einstein wasn’t an Atheist…
Yes indeed – Einstein was NOT an Atheist.
Atheism is a religion based upon not believing in God, a religion none the less. Thus it is based upon God as well. The problem is that God is not a single belief and beyond understanding. How can one not believe in something that is not understood? If the non-belief is of a Judeao-Christian white bearded, anthropomorphic being, then this does not address other belief systems such as Hinduism and Buddhism which posit God as Atman/Brahman or a manifestation of consciousness and of the collective unconscious. If atheists don’t believe in God but place their faith in the observable world and science, they will be surprised that the state of the art conclusions of physics and quantum mechanics finds reality to be very close to Buddhist intuitions. As religion and science merge, what is left to not believe in?
Ben Franklin and Thomas Jefferson were not Atheists either. Franklin was a Deist, while Jefferson was a Protestant Influenced by English Deism.
First of all, atheism is NOT a religion. Had you looked up the definition and the close description of the term “religion”, and afterwards the term “atheism”, you would have seen that your claim about “atheism being a religion” is false at it’s best.
Secondly, it is common for uneducated people – or simply those who just wish to deceive others – to twist and turn the whole problem in order to make it sound the way they want it to. And more important, to gain a completely different context – the one which suits them at the moment.
You see, the question is not whether we understand “god” or not, but whether such a thing exists at all.
Atheism simply bases itself on not believing anything which is not proven. Just like when you have trouble with the law, and somebody sues you, in most countries of the world there is a law which says that everyone is guilty until proven innocence. Therefore, until you prove that “god” exists – which is a story you made up, not the other way around – no atheist will believe in “god”. The very moment you prove the existence of “god”, atheists will believe. At least the real atheists.
It’s funny you should mention Buddhism, since this is a religion which also doesn’t believe in the existence of “god”; they believe in humanity, not supreme beings. Wise people indeed.
And yes, Einstein WAS an atheist. If any of you religious guys spent any time and effort (REAL effort) to read any of his books (REAL books, not quotes on the internet taken *out of context* by mischievous religious leaders, or fanatics who don’t have a clue) which cover any branch of philosophy or personal views, you wouldn’t even think about claiming him to be Jewish, let alone Christian.
It is common that many religious zealots claim Einstein to be a non-atheist when they see this picture. The reason for this is simple and well tested in practice – you merely lack the education or common knowledge to recognize ANY of the other faces here. Tested on several forums, and the results were alarming – majority of people didn’t recognize Richard Dawkins, Mark Twain, Ernest Hemingway OR Abraham Lincoln. You should really look up these names.
And actually, I think warren goff is trolling.
“Atheism is a religion like not-collecting stamps is a hobby.” -Ross Blocher
Einstein was probably the biggest Atheist of them all. Do your research.
Well – it is probably more accurate to say Einstein was an atheist. He isn’t one anymore.
Because he is dead obviously.
The “Einstein” was a Christian debate is polluted with lots of misinformation, with both sides trying to “claim” him. Truth be told, I’d say, based on letters and documented witness accounts, he was more of an agnostic than a pure atheist. He definitely did not believe in the Christian God but was open to the fact that a deity cannot be disproven scientifically. That’s still a long way from being a believer.
@warren goff: atheism is by no means a religion. The distinction isn’t even subtle, a smidge of rationality and common sense will allow you to make the difference between atheism and any religion.
@acosinus – hmm, I think you’ve confused Richard Dawkins with Carl Sagan. Fair enough though, they look and speak rather similar at times
In Einstein’s own words: “You may call me an agnostic, but I do not share the crusading spirit of the professional atheist…” – letter to Guy H. Raner Jr., Sept. 28, 1949, quoted by Michael R. Gilmore in Skeptic, Vol. 5, No. 2
He belonged to neither camp. So stop claiming him. Same goes for the many other historical figures both sides claim as their own.
It is too easy to take parts of quotes and use them to affirm your own viewpoint. So & so used the word “God” so he must be a Christian like us…or so & so said she does not believe in the God of Abraham so she must be an atheist like me! Seriously folks, both sides are filled with fanatics. I know atheists loathe being compared to the “other side” but walk like a duck…I’m seeing more and more preachy atheists every day. You guys are getting to be about as annoying as the Evangelists.