Are you open about being an atheist or are you in the closet?

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Permalink Reply by TNT666 on May 1, 2012 at 2:15pm

well put!

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Permalink Reply by Matt--Lukin on July 23, 2012 at 12:22am

The agnosticism vs. atheism thing is one that has many misconception surrounding it. Neil Tyson had a take on it, and I'll post the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzSMC5rWvos

I used to take the same position as Tyson, which is "empirical agnosticism." And you're right, faith is irrelevant to empirical agnosticism, because the empirical agnostic does not adhere to faith nor a lack thereof faith. Faith is, as you said, entirely irrelevant. Empirical agnosticism ultimately says, "We do not know if there is a God, but perhaps one day we can know." So, if you don't know, you don't go around saying "I believe" or "I disbelieve," likewise, you wouldn't say, "I have faith," nor would you say "I don't have faith." If you do not believe or if you do not have faith, then you'd be an atheist.

So, as Tyson points out in that YouTube clip, he wouldn't categorize himself as "atheist," as he takes the stand-alone position of "empirical agnosticism."

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Permalink Reply by Joan Denoo on July 23, 2012 at 3:25pm

Matt, faith as the foundation for there being a god is not enough for me. Furthermore, the Christian right wing fundamentalists have a great deal of influence over a great many people politically and economically. I vehemently speak up to  disagree with their stand and attempt to match volume and intensity by firmly  proclaiming I see no evidence to believe in the "young earth," creation as described by those who have faith in the bible and teachings, tradition and dogma. The virgin birth, resurrection and transcendence make no sense. When I watch debates between atheists and christian apologeticists, I perceive nothing more than "faith," "belief," "feel good," "the bible says so," "god is the author of the bible," and such nonsense defenses. 

When Intelligent Design or Creationism tries to put it's head in the school science department, I will be there to block them. If they want to have comparative religion, I am able and willing to teach it. 

I was a let-every-person-think-for-him-or-her-self person, but no longer. In my opinion, yahweh, god, allah, and any other mystical character are creation from human imagination and served a purpose that no long needs such tales.

When tribal wars defending one or another religion and they had rocks and bows and arrows it was one thing. Today we have the capacity to destroy all that is good and beautiful and delicious and inspiring. We, homo sapiens, need to grow up, look at reality, put beliefs to a test for validity and figure out a way to get along.
Drones? high powered rifles? bombs? bullets? poisons? They are the stuff that requires wise and honorable people. We have not reached that level of development, yet. We continue to think as a cave person. 

, 

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Permalink Reply by Matt--Lukin on July 23, 2012 at 5:56pm

While I agree that the major religions practiced in places like America, Australia, or the U.K. have a great effect and influence on people's lives in ways that significantly inhibit their freedom, for me it hasn't taken away to the deeper mysteries of religion. I mean, I get the whole Greta Christina-esque rant, why some atheists choose to be "active atheists" or "non-theists," so on and so forth... You mentioned that we have to figure out a way to "get along," I don't think taking the anti-theist position is the way to go, even if it's veiled through secularism or some other euphemistic synonym that people use for atheism, it still carries connotations of contentiousness. Just as Satan in Christianity represents a pure evil where no good could ever come about, a kind of "eternal enemy," and how do you resolve that?

 

All the Greta-esque fury and wrath aside, I still think agnosticism holds as a very conservative and skeptical position. You mentioned comparative religion. I've been studying comparative religion for about 4 years now, and you know, when you actually take the time to study eastern religion, low and behold, you find a religion completely compatible with things like evolution, The Big Bang, M-Theory, etc.

 

I used to hold the position of empirical agnosticism, but then when I came across the work of certain philosophers such as Alan Watts and Terence McKenna, I came to find a whole new perspective that sheds light on a lot of the confusion that people encounter in many of the major religions around the word, including Christianity, Buddhism, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Taoism, etc. 

You opined that yahweh, God, Allah, and any other "mystical character" are all creations from the human imagination and served a purpose that no longer needs such tales. Well, if I may offer an entirely different take on this opinion of yours where God is not thought up, conjured, or imagined, but rather interpreted through a kind of afflatus. I'll link you to a thread I've recently introduced this idea to, just search "Perennial Philosophy."

 

Btw, it's just something to consider! I'm not trying to sell you on this point of view, I'd simply like for you to consider it.

 

http://www.atheistnexus.org/forum/topics/how-much-proof-is-enough?c...

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Permalink Reply by William McQuesten on July 31, 2011 at 12:31pm

Me too.  On Facebook I say I'm a Secular Humanist (not atheist).  Make 'em look it up; they'll get the drift!

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Permalink Reply by Astroslav on August 2, 2011 at 1:40am

I'm an open Atheist except for one relative of mine who is 90 years old, I don't really know what his views are, but I wouldn't discuss my disbelief with him. I try not to brag about it, but if anyone asks, sure, I'll let them know what I know to be true. I have a decent good grasp on Astrophysics, Biology and Physical Anthropology (Human Evolution) so when anyone wants to argue that "there's just so much we don't understand, blah blah blah, there must be a higher power, blah blah" I can reply with certainty that my claims represent reality.

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Permalink Reply by William McQuesten on August 2, 2011 at 2:17am

The ask and tell policy.  Yes, that's my way as well.  I live in France and have a lot of company when it comes to non-theists here, so I never hide my non-belief.  I post atheist related articles or videos on my Facebook page (I especially like Sam Harris' material).  I haven't been asked if I'm an atheist, but I did answer in the negative the question:  Do you believe in god?

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Permalink Reply by lucas sabata on August 4, 2011 at 1:38am

In places like South Africa especially in the black communities when you come out of the closet and say you are a full blown Atheist they start deserting you and telling each other that you are satanic and got possessed by forces of the dark.. Worse part, I only listen to heavymetal rock and have posters of Slayer and Black Sabbath on my bedroom wall.. And yeah, after going through that process of being named Luciferian, I decided its better if I keep my thoughts a secret..

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Permalink Reply by Shipwreck on August 4, 2011 at 4:29am

Before I let my religious fam know my views I had the worst visions of what it would be like. I let it eat at me for 10 yrs. I finally hit rock bottom during my divorce and told everyone.  I went to church every sun before. When I told my preacher he asked me if I thought he was full of crap lol. I told him the only reason he is a Christian is because he was born in America where it is dominant. If he was born in china he would likely be Buddhist. But I told him I still loved him and I don't have any malice towards him. It was hard. BUT once it was over with it was a huge weight off my chest and I realized that it wasn't even close to the hardest thing I've been through. You'll find the strength.

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Permalink Reply by Atheist Andrea on August 22, 2011 at 10:41pm

Talk about a shock to the system! I think I am content being like this as long as I have you guys.  :)

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Permalink Reply by Cheryl on August 22, 2011 at 10:32pm

I'm pretty much out of the closet with friends and family.  However, I googled my name and found my Atheist Nexus website page.  That freaked me out, so I changed to just using my first name.  When you fill out the Profile page, it asks for your Full Name, so I had just given it without a thought.  I guess I'm not so far out of the closet that I want just anyone looking me up to find out.

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Permalink Reply by Atheist Andrea on August 22, 2011 at 10:40pm

I googled my name after registering here and changed my name also.

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