Are atheists fanatical enough for it to be considered a "religious" experience?

1. 76

   ParadigmEnactedposted 11 years ago

   Are atheists fanatical enough for it to be considered a "religious" experience?
   
   Aren't they just supplanting the belief in one savior with others.
   
   

   replyreport
2. 69

   cbunch11posted 11 years ago

   I guess it depends on your definition of "Religious Experience", Paradigm. I am an atheist, but I do not consider my beliefs an experience; they are just beliefs. I never find myself passionate enough about a topic to fully occupy my mind, but I do get perturbed when I read articles and stories about people of any culture who are persecuted because of the beliefs of the majority. I think every human should have the right to believe in what they want and allow the same freedom to others.

   replyreport
   1. 76

      ParadigmEnactedposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      So no argument, discourse, or debate is permitted. It's ok to challenge ideas, beliefs, and preconceptions. Then if something doesn't hold water, a person should reconsider or change.

      replyreport
3. 38

   Borsiaposted 11 years ago

   Atheist don't recognize any savior so I'm not sure what you mean.
   To make it really simple; atheism consists of 3 words "no gods exist". There is no great experience about it, it is just how we see the world.
   That's it, nothing more. Any beliefs beyond that are specific to the individual.
   Believers have a very hard time grasping that we simply don't have any thoughts of gods.
   Believers don't understand that we don't have the god gene.
   The only time gods or atheism pass through my thoughts is when I am blogging and answering questions. It simply doesn't matter to me. I certainly don't care what others chose to believe so long as the aren't trying to inflict their beliefs into my life.

   replyreport
   1. 76

      ParadigmEnactedposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Many if not most atheists are quick to laud things like science and space exploration with the same zeal as religious people look to God. It's clearly idol worship, and it happens because all humans are wired to seek out a higher power by any name.

      replyreport
   2. 38

      Borsiaposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Really? I'm not looking for any higher power nor have I ever wanted to.
      Science is nothing more than study by trial & error to test the validity of a theory, no real zeal going on just cause & result. Space is interesting simply because its t

      replyreport
   3. 0

      jonnycomelatelyposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Paradygm, your question and this answer tells us more about you that it might tell you about me.   It sounds to me like you have a narrow mind that can't shake off the god bit.

      replyreport
   4. 76

      ParadigmEnactedposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      JCL, nobody is interested in your "I know you are but what am I," schoolyard psychology. Be man and either answer the question on merit, or pass it by. I shouldn't have to tell you that.

      replyreport
4. 79

   M. T. Dremerposted 11 years ago

   Without rituals, deities or places of worship, there isn't much to bind atheists together. We share one belief, that there are no gods, and that's about it. How we all came to that belief can vary wildly. Some may have come to it because of scientific evidence, while others may have come to it because they have been treated poorly by religion. My own atheism was reinforced by my study of fiction and it's influence on human history. While I would say that there are some atheists who try to spread atheism for the betterment of everyone, I wouldn't say they do it with the same fanaticism as religion.

   replyreport
   1. 76

      ParadigmEnactedposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      The very existence of many atheists center around arguments about God. It creates a religious like fervor. I'm not talking about ideology and belief, I'm talking about the buzz they get from it which is clearly why they invest the time.

      replyreport
   2. 79

      M. T. Dremerposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      A fanatical atheist would not burn down a church to make a point, where as fanatically religious have been known to commit such extreme acts. The only reason anything an atheist says is fanatical is because of the extreme reaction by the religious.

      replyreport
   3. 76

      ParadigmEnactedposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Not the fact that they are hopelessly obsessed with God and insist on discussing it. Lives consumed by the very thing they don't believe in...why? Because they need the buzz. It isn't ideology like you say, they need that little something extra.

      replyreport
   4. 90

      IslandBitesposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I'm not obsessed with God, nor I spend most of my time discussing it. So my live is not consumed by it. Other people's beliefs are not my concern. But, if someone ask something and want to debate an issue, I might as well give my opinion.

      replyreport
5. 60

   Dantex460posted 11 years ago

   Atheist is not a belief, it is a lack of belief. Humans default setting from when we are born is atheist, it's just some turn to one of the religions. So i would say it is not in any way a religious experience anymore than being yourself is.

   replyreport
   1. 76

      ParadigmEnactedposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      It is a belief. There is no knowledge or conclusive evidence that there is no God. You might think the evidence is sufficient, but it is not.

      replyreport
   2. 38

      Borsiaposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Well no, no belief and belief differ in that we don't actively not believe.
      There are no meetings or study groups on how to better not do something.
      Believers want desperately to think that we struggle at not believing but it never crosses our minds.

      replyreport
   3. 76

      ParadigmEnactedposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Borsia, who is this "we" that you refer to. I'm going case by case. In fact, many non-believers are very animated about it and have a stake in the direction of discourse. I'm talking about atheists who are clearly zealots.

      replyreport
   4. 38

      Borsiaposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      The we I speak of is pretty much every atheist I know or have known over 59 years. I grew up with and have known hundreds who's opinions, according to the media, represents thousands if not millions.

      replyreport
6. 0

   JThomp42posted 11 years ago

   No. Because they do not believe in the existence of any God or higher power. Although, my experiences on here do prove that some atheists are fanatical about being right and cannot stand the thought of being wrong. I think this is because of ego, not wanting to think anything has power over them except themselves.

   replyreport