Religion in Decline? Shifting Religious Identities

[hipeter924]

Re: Religion in Decline? Shifting Religious Identities

I am glad that religion is weakening in America, why? I hate religious fundamentalists and extremeists who are too close to power in the United States. They are insane perhaps more dangerous than 10 Osama Bin ladens on drugs.

I mean seriously if religious fundamentalists and extremists in America such as Christian evangelicals got near the nukes they would try to fire as many as possible in order to cause Armageddon in the hope it would cause end of the world so Jesus can return to earth.

[KanadaHye]

Re: Religion in Decline? Shifting Religious Identities

Well, that becomes a tricky game of semantics. Technically, anyone without a believe in a deity is an atheist. Basically, it goes down like this. The prefix "a" means without, so....

Theist = Belief in a deity
Atheist = Without belief in a deity
Gnostic = Possession of esoteric knowledge about the existence of a deity
Agnostic = Without possession of esoteric knowledge about the existence of a deity

So a gnostic theist is a believer in a deity who claims to have esoteric knowledge of that deity's existence. A gnostic atheist lacks a belief in a deity, and claims to know that one doesn't exist. An agnostic atheist is one who lacks a belief, but does not claim to know with certainty one doesn't exist, and so on. So basically, yes, it kind of boils down to what you were saying about the distinctions between a "strong", or "weak" atheist. People chose to call themselves agnostic out of either a lack of understanding what the word means in its true form, or because they think it sounds better, or more "open minded" than atheist.

I believe everyone is nuts.... myself included

[Crimson Glow]

Re: Religion in Decline? Shifting Religious Identities

Well, that becomes a tricky game of semantics. Technically, anyone without a believe in a deity is an atheist. Basically, it goes down like this. The prefix "a" means without, so....

Theist = Belief in a deity
Atheist = Without belief in a deity
Gnostic = Possession of esoteric knowledge about the existence of a deity
Agnostic = Without possession of esoteric knowledge about the existence of a deity

So a gnostic theist is a believer in a deity who claims to have esoteric knowledge of that deity's existence. A gnostic atheist lacks a belief in a deity, and claims to know that one doesn't exist. An agnostic atheist is one who lacks a belief, but does not claim to know with certainty one doesn't exist, and so on. So basically, yes, it kind of boils down to what you were saying about the distinctions between a "strong", or "weak" atheist. People chose to call themselves agnostic out of either a lack of understanding what the word means in its true form, or because they think it sounds better, or more "open minded" than atheist.

[yerazhishda]

Re: Religion in Decline? Shifting Religious Identities

There is no code. The only requirement to be an atheist is to LACK a belief in a deity (not the same as believing there ISN'T a deity). And as you said, a huge misconception people have is that religion/god establishes morals, when in all reality, the morals of any given culture/society establishes and shapes religion. Think of it as the oldest form of government, were a supernatural being is the judge and jury, and delivers the ultimate punishment to those who disobey "the law".

I thought that this was agnosticism? Or is this just the difference between strong and weak atheism?

[KanadaHye]

Re: Religion in Decline? Shifting Religious Identities

Religion is a form of self governance. Can't govern yourself, someone else will do it for you. A decline in religion allows power to be shifted from the individual to the government. It's really not rocket science.

[hrai]

Re: Religion in Decline? Shifting Religious Identities

Ok I'm waiting for someone to say Atheism is a religion.

It's just not organised yet.

[Crimson Glow]

Re: Religion in Decline? Shifting Religious Identities

I really was referring to our values (Code of conduct in my limited ancient mentality)…….but come to think of it, if I am not wrong, our values come from our culture which is much older than religion. That is for sure.

There is no code. The only requirement to be an atheist is to LACK a belief in a deity (not the same as believing there ISN'T a deity). And as you said, a huge misconception people have is that religion/god establishes morals, when in all reality, the morals of any given culture/society establishes and shapes religion. Think of it as the oldest form of government, were a supernatural being is the judge and jury, and delivers the ultimate punishment to those who disobey "the law".

[ara87]

Re: Religion in Decline? Shifting Religious Identities

Who knew the south had so many non believers? even the Midwest is a surprise, 14% of Utah's people are not religious. If we could only increase the number in the south to 20-30% or a least switch out the baptists for some more easy going protestants, the US would be such a better place

[Eddo211]

Re: Religion in Decline? Shifting Religious Identities

I'm not being defensive. What did you mean by rules/codes then?

I really was referring to our values (Code of conduct in my limited ancient mentality)…….but come to think of it, if I am not wrong, our values come from our culture which is much older than religion. That is for sure.

[Sip]

Re: Religion in Decline? Shifting Religious Identities

Ok I'm waiting for someone to say Atheism is a religion.