Does Atheism Offer As Much Comfort in Death As Religion?

WHY should atheists be talking to believers about death?!?!?

This newfangled evangelical fundimentalist atheism is getting annoying. BTW, atheism DOES have a central dogma: There is no god. I would like to see an atheist deviate from that and still be accepted as an atheist.

Oh for fuck's sake. Regardless of what faith you hold (or lack thereof) if you're still afraid of dying you're only playing games.

The question is moot. Atheism is a religion, too.

That's the way I feel too. But then, perhaps religious people do also. Whether or not it will be the last thing my body and mind experience, I cannot say. Will I ever know for sure? Can't say that either! But at least I won't have to fear at the end – about going to hell for instance. (never touched drugs – self-righteous ass that I am!)

You're ignoring “activist atheism”, which is a brand of atheism that sounds fairly evangelical, and a particular “gang” of atheists that took out bus ads in Britain that read “there is no god, now stop worrying and enjoy your life”. Perhaps you've truly never witnessed atheists getting together en masse to do something, but that certainly doesn't mean it isn't happening.

The argument on wether or not atheism is a religion depends more on your description of religion, really, although the label “atheist” does seem to carry more connotations as atheist writers get more vocal and more persistent that their attitudes are the correct ones.

Says you! I live in Korea, and when I find a dog collar in my soup I just pretend it's a very thick noodle. With a brass name-tag. And a family that misses it.

What is it that people fear about death? I don’t get it.

I understand the fear of the unknown, but since death is a certainty it’s very much known.

I understand the fear of dying, and the possible pain associated with it, but as someone who takes responsibility for my life and my own actions in life, I also take responsibility for my death. I die when and where and how I choose to die.

True I could possibly die in a freak accident, but the odds are I won’t. I will most likely die when I choose, either through my own actions or my own inactions.

Death is not a mystery. So what’s to fear?

So, for many millennium the religious have spouted their doctrines and mythology, and influenced the people of the world. Indeed, I find them a bore, self-righteous and obnoxious. But the minute atheists start sounding like them….it's OK for them but not for us. Hypocritical and laughable.

Athists come out with a bus sticker – big deal! OH, WOW! Evil incarnate is it? How many bumper stickers and other such nonsense have religious folk forced into the public view. We've lived with it – now they can live with us. Everyone is entitled to their own point of view. We do not say that our attitude is the “correct” one. Those are your words, not ours. We say only that it is the correct one for us. Christians say their belief is the *only* correct one and denigrate those who do not believe. That is their choice. I don't want to fight over my beliefs, just my right to have them. I also respect the rights of Christians to have their own beliefs. Will never go to war over this! No need.

what does the Atheist think about Metaphysics? Schopenhuer? the Pali texts of early Buddhism. What is reality? How do you explain BEING? pure chance? natural science by chance is elegant and Beautiful? I say take the path of Most resistance. what is comfort? if we are all No thing isnt that comfortable or would we rather be uniform nothing or is this the same thing. What accounts for self awareness in natural science? an accident? what does the self reflection of the scientist mean? because he cant demonstrate the reality of his dreams, does that make them not real?
I say use reason dear atheist but don't forget your self. look in far.
Death happens at every moment kill your inner preconceived notions and be born into Gnowing and then you wont be afraid. be afraid of comfort, complacency, and ease. seek and ye shall find.

LOL.

I think you're on the right track theophany… but most Atheists tend to be stark materialists, even though by proxy, by claiming that materialism is the end all, be all, they are making a metaphysical statement.

But you'll just end up confusing most of them…..

See! People understand whatever they want to from the written word on the internet. Written words on the spur of the moment do not transmit the exact “idea”. For example, I said Christian, but since we are talking about religion in general, I meant religion in general.
So……Oh, absolutely Christians and almost all religions believe they have the answer. To say otherwise, is not wise!

God gave the tablets to Moses. Mary was a virgin. Jesus rose from the dead. Jonah was swallowed by a whale. Some go to heaven. Some go to hell. Good angels. Bad angels. The myths are endless and fun to read. God and Zeus are one and the same. Both are figments of man's fertile imagination. And a good thing too, stories with a moral and ethics are often told, but then again so is violence condoned and even incited when read as “truth” or “Bible truth” with no other options.

But we, humans, who invented those stories many millennium ago, have learned a lot. We now live in the twenty first century are far away from explaining natural phenomenon and science by some otherworldly being of which there is no proof, and who must be followed on blind faith alone. Or else….Satan!

And for the record, I have no opinion at all on god because he does not exist…for me. I have no problem with that, but others sure seem to. I have no problem with others believing in God. I do my best with what I have without making any concerted effort to put others down. (except I don't suffer fools lightly when they try to put me down – that's one of my many human attributes.)

The issue isn't as simple as you're making it out to be, unfortunately–sure, for millennia religions have spouted doctrines, but the fact of the matter is religion was (is) a part of our culture, our society. A part of every culture, actually. One would not have arisen without the other. Your post belies a tendency toward generalizations, evidenced by the line “we do not say that our attitude is the 'correct' one” (as an aside, several noted atheist authors have, rather, insisted that the religious perspective is not only incorrect but actually harmful to society, and when they have set up the problem as “Us” against “Them”, then modus tollens would suggest that they are in fact saying that their attitude is the correct one) whereas “christians”, which is too large and diverse a group of people to lump together under one term, “denigrate” those who do not believe. These are generalizations, and they are not helpful to any sort of real discussion. Simply put, not all christians believe these things. In fact, I would say that it's a minority of people who self-identify as christians actually act the way you're describing.

Re: the bus stickers, if you believe that religious advertising in the public arena is obnoxious, why isn't it obnoxious when atheists are doing it? Also, it's not just the message, it's the condescending tone that gets most people upset.

“While I have a great interest in reading about all the list you mention above, and find them very interesting, I have used my reading, taken what I like and find useful and true, to form my own opinions which are just as valid as all the authors, philosophers and pundits of this world.”

This is a common misconception. Also it contradicts your later statement that your thoughts are your own.

Your point of philosophy (there is no god) is usually defined as strong atheism. Atheism is usually defined as a person who does not have a belief in a god. Agnosticism is also a subset of this definition of atheism.

Atheism is like saying “not yes”. This allows the possibility of “no” and “I don't know.”
Strong atheism is like saying “no”.
Agnosticism is like saying “I don't know”.

Personally, I would call myself an agnostic atheist. Of course, using these definitions, atheist is redundant.

Saying that something affects something else is not the same as saying it determines it.

I happen to not especially believe in free will, but my thoughts are not only determined by the authors, philosophers and pundits of the world. They are determined by plenty of random things, too. How my parents disciplined me. Discussions with friends.

You can use other sources for deciding things. Thinking for yourself just means THINK-don't just “Do X because Y says so.” By that, you can consider what a philosopher says wise, and use it because of that, but you will likely sometimes reject what he says because it doesn't work in a certain circumstance.

The wind blowing outside my window. Of course, I can't tell the difference between having free will and having an illusion of free will, so my lack of belief is kind of irrelevant.

When stating that something is a misconception, it is good to say why. Otherwise, why would anyone care about your opinion?

Apologies, I had thought it seemed fairly obvious. It's always tempting to believe that because you have invested thought in a subject that your opinion is as valid as anyone else's. Take the Bible, for instance. Having been raised in a religious environment, during my life I've run into several people who were very interested in the Bible, it's history, themes and ideas, and have done research here and there on those subjects. This by no means made their opinion as valid as, say, Elaine Pagels or Barrie Wilson. Politics is another example. Just because someone watches the news doesn't make their opinion as valid as someone who has a much more intimate knowledge of how the government functions or its limitations and responsibilities.

If you are Zen you are not close to anything or anyone, only everything.

Well, I try to be Zen. Even Zen priests are married. Hearing my old Sensei talk about his dead sister made me pretty sad. Hearing him talk about his high sex drive made me laugh(he's married). I think you'd have trouble convincing him he isn't close to them.

Why argue against believers? To convince others that believers are vectors of serious mental illnesses.

Their vices, especially in judaism xianity, and islam, sicken the entire planet:

1. Effort wasted — time, money, energy both psychological and physical — on nihilistic action pushed by religious functionaries. (Did you think “God” has anything do with it?)

2. Poor mental habits learned — illogical arguments, denial of well verified scientific truths, psychological projection of hatred, mindless praise of ignorance — as part of apologetics.

3. Diseased psychological predispositions fostered — denial of death, glorification of suffering, wallowing in “sin,” degrading the “world,” unhealthy views about sex and gender — by the big-3 monster theisms.

4. Arrogant moral and political absolutism demanded — misogyny, androcentrism, paternalism, pro-natalism, intolerance of ideological differences, theo-political drive to overthrow secular governments — as part of “mission” to “overcome” the world.

You need no longer wonder why the US — soon to be a xian Ameristan — threatens its own people and the entire planet.

the anti_supernaturalist

Does Atheism Offer As Much Comfort in Death As Religion? I'll let you know next time I die……….

Furthermore, if I write a book, I will become an expert! LOL!

No. Your definition of an atheist is really that of a “non-theist”.
The answer to the god question is always “no” from an atheist, otherwise they aren't atheist!

This guy's problem is just with western religious ideas of God… If he'd just spend a bit of time in the world religion section of the book store he'll find all kinds of ideas and philosophies and ways of looking at the world that have nothing to do with God… Most of these books are from the East… Zen, Tao and Buddhism don't really have any Gods or much concern with the afterlife… And I would say the Buddha was one of the biggest atheists in history… It's like this guy hasn't even looked into it…