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#1 2014-10-27 06:45:45

Agnishom
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From: Riemann Sphere
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Atheism Study

Atheism is the lack of belief in deities. This thread is for discussion on this subject.


'And fun? If maths is fun, then getting a tooth extraction is fun. A viral infection is fun. Rabies shots are fun.'
'God exists because Mathematics is consistent, and the devil exists because we cannot prove it'
I'm not crazy, my mother had me tested.

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#2 2014-10-27 07:45:53

Olinguito
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Re: Atheism Study

Is a Buddhist an atheist? A Buddhist has a religion but does not believe in deities.


Bassaricyon neblina

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#3 2014-10-27 12:02:40

Agnishom
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Re: Atheism Study

That is correct.

Buddha never made a comment about the existence of deities. When he was asked the question, he always remained silent.

Atheism is not a religion. It is just the lack of belief in a deity. So you see they are not mutually exclusive. One can be an atheist being religious (Buddhists as you pointed out) or not an atheist even though not religious (me).


'And fun? If maths is fun, then getting a tooth extraction is fun. A viral infection is fun. Rabies shots are fun.'
'God exists because Mathematics is consistent, and the devil exists because we cannot prove it'
I'm not crazy, my mother had me tested.

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#4 2014-10-28 00:51:39

Olinguito
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Re: Atheism Study

I mention this because a lot of people I come across seem to equate atheism with non-belief in a religion. This is not true – as in the case of Buddhism. Yet in debates between science and religion the confusion with the term is all too prevalent. sad In fact such debates tend to bracket all people into just two cetegories: “Christians” and “atheists”. If you’re religious you’re a “Christian”, if you’re not religious you’re an “atheist”. Ridiculous! down


Bassaricyon neblina

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#5 2014-10-28 03:29:20

Agnishom
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Re: Atheism Study

Personally, I am not an atheist but I do not like any religion.

I am neither religious, nor an atheist.


'And fun? If maths is fun, then getting a tooth extraction is fun. A viral infection is fun. Rabies shots are fun.'
'God exists because Mathematics is consistent, and the devil exists because we cannot prove it'
I'm not crazy, my mother had me tested.

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#6 2014-10-28 04:29:49

ShivamS
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Posts: 3,648

Re: Atheism Study

I used to think I was an atheist, but as soon as I deeply analysed prominent religions (along with reading their texts), I realized how logical they are. Along with that, it is immensely pacifying to read through it.

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#7 2014-10-28 04:35:53

Agnishom
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Re: Atheism Study

Most of religious texts are pacifying. Not all parts, though.


'And fun? If maths is fun, then getting a tooth extraction is fun. A viral infection is fun. Rabies shots are fun.'
'God exists because Mathematics is consistent, and the devil exists because we cannot prove it'
I'm not crazy, my mother had me tested.

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#8 2014-10-28 04:37:42

ShivamS
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Re: Atheism Study

Agnishom wrote:

Most of religious texts are pacifying. Not all parts, though.

Although practically all parts help in understanding an important moral value.

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#9 2014-10-28 04:39:22

Agnishom
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Re: Atheism Study

Okay.

What has religious texts got to do with atheism?


'And fun? If maths is fun, then getting a tooth extraction is fun. A viral infection is fun. Rabies shots are fun.'
'God exists because Mathematics is consistent, and the devil exists because we cannot prove it'
I'm not crazy, my mother had me tested.

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#10 2014-10-28 04:40:59

ShivamS
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Posts: 3,648

Re: Atheism Study

Agnishom wrote:

Okay.

What has religious texts got to do with atheism?

Nothing, in this context. It was just a small part of my original post.

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#11 2014-10-28 06:35:32

ElainaVW
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Registered: 2013-04-29
Posts: 580

Re: Atheism Study

Along with that, it is immensely pacifying to read through it.

That is true.

There seems to be some misconceptions in this thread, many Buddhists believe in God, I know this for a fact. Buddhism doesn't seem to forbid you but they generally don't pray to him. This is a high concept.

The Buddhist scholar B. Alan Wallace has also indicated (as shown above) that saying that Buddhism as a whole is "non-theistic" may be an over-simplification. Wallace discerns similarities between some forms of Vajrayana Buddhism and notions of a divine "ground of being" and creation. He writes: "a careful analysis of Vajrayana Buddhist cosmogony, specifically as presented in the Atiyoga tradition of Indo-Tibetan Buddhism, which presents itself as the culmination of all Buddhist teachings, reveals a theory of a transcendent ground of being and a process of creation that bear remarkable similarities with views presented in Vedanta and Neoplatonic Western Christian theories of creation."[41] In fact, Wallace sees these views as so similar that they seem almost to be different manifestations of the same theory. He further comments: "Vajrayana Buddhism, Vedanta, and Neoplatonic Christianity have so much in common that they could almost be regarded as varying interpretations of a single theory.

At the outset, let me state that Buddhism is not atheistic as the term is ordinarily understood. It has certainly a God, the highest reality and truth, through which and in which this universe exists. However, the followers of Buddhism usually avoid the term God, for it savors so much of Christianity, whose spirit is not always exactly in accord with the Buddhist interpretation of religious experience ... To define more exactly the Buddhist notion of the highest being, it may be convenient to borrow the term very happily coined by a modern German scholar, 'panentheism', according to which God is ... all and one and more than the totality of existence .... As I mentioned before, Buddhists do not make use of the term God, which characteristically belongs to Christian terminology. An equivalent most commonly used is Dharmakaya ... When the Dharmakaya is most concretely conceived it becomes the Buddha, or Tathagata ...

Buddha was loathe to speak much but it's said that he came to the concept of God through his own development.

Rather the idea that they don't have a deity has been fostered by the western misunderstanding that in a mystery school you don't study God, you don't even mention him. It is unproductive and confusing to analyze him.

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#12 2014-10-28 12:05:31

Agnishom
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Re: Atheism Study

I will analyse Tigeree instead.

There was originally no concept of Theism (or Atheism) in Buddha's own idea. Buddhism was modified in several ways, later. However, that might be wrong because:
a. I am an idiot
b. I am not good looking
c. I am not an expert on Buddhism

Elaina, I will read those quotes a little later. I just got up and have to prepare for other stuff. No offense.


'And fun? If maths is fun, then getting a tooth extraction is fun. A viral infection is fun. Rabies shots are fun.'
'God exists because Mathematics is consistent, and the devil exists because we cannot prove it'
I'm not crazy, my mother had me tested.

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#13 2015-05-20 04:50:07

David
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From: Bumpkinland
Registered: 2014-04-23
Posts: 3,164

Re: Atheism Study

The Buddhists do not have God in their teachings. Buddha remained silent for a reason. Buddha believed that religious ideas and especially the god idea have their origins in fear. The Buddha says: Gripped by fear people go to sacred mountains, sacred groves, sacred trees and shrines. However, Buddha did not experienced the love of God, he knew not God.


His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed.

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#14 2015-05-20 05:37:34

Agnishom
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From: Riemann Sphere
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Re: Atheism Study

I find the /r/atheism faq fascinating


'And fun? If maths is fun, then getting a tooth extraction is fun. A viral infection is fun. Rabies shots are fun.'
'God exists because Mathematics is consistent, and the devil exists because we cannot prove it'
I'm not crazy, my mother had me tested.

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#15 2015-05-20 20:52:41

Tigeree
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Registered: 2005-11-19
Posts: 13,883

Re: Atheism Study

Agnishom wrote:

I will analyse Tigeree instead.

In what way, and why am I relevant?


People don't notice whether it's winter or summer when they're happy.
~ Anton Chekhov
Cheer up, emo kid.

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#16 2015-05-20 21:00:25

bobbym
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From: Bumpkinland
Registered: 2009-04-12
Posts: 109,606

Re: Atheism Study

David wrote:

The Buddhists do not have God in their teachings.

That does not mean they do not believe in one. They do not mention God in mathematics classes either but many mathematicians know of him. In some schools of thought you do not even mention his name because you are not allowed to utter it.


In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

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#17 2015-05-21 02:30:04

Agnishom
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From: Riemann Sphere
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Re: Atheism Study

I never thought Tigeree will come back to see this.

They might or might not believe in a God, but that is not what David is telling.


'And fun? If maths is fun, then getting a tooth extraction is fun. A viral infection is fun. Rabies shots are fun.'
'God exists because Mathematics is consistent, and the devil exists because we cannot prove it'
I'm not crazy, my mother had me tested.

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#18 2015-05-25 00:21:27

Tigeree
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Registered: 2005-11-19
Posts: 13,883

Re: Atheism Study

If you want to analyse me then you have my permission.

I can start you off. Today I was thinking that maybe I'm an atheist because I'm not sure I know what faith feels like... I'm not sure I've ever truly experienced it, and hence have nothing to put it into.


People don't notice whether it's winter or summer when they're happy.
~ Anton Chekhov
Cheer up, emo kid.

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#19 2015-05-25 00:50:05

David
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From: Bumpkinland
Registered: 2014-04-23
Posts: 3,164

Re: Atheism Study

You are an atheist when you believe God or gods does not exist.


His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed.

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#20 2015-05-25 01:37:58

Agnishom
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From: Riemann Sphere
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Posts: 24,974
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Re: Atheism Study

Hi;

I apologize analysing you. It was a joke.

That's great. I like the idea of atheism and think of it to be more natural.

I am not an atheist though


'And fun? If maths is fun, then getting a tooth extraction is fun. A viral infection is fun. Rabies shots are fun.'
'God exists because Mathematics is consistent, and the devil exists because we cannot prove it'
I'm not crazy, my mother had me tested.

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#21 2015-05-25 01:53:20

bobbym
bumpkin
From: Bumpkinland
Registered: 2009-04-12
Posts: 109,606

Re: Atheism Study

I would choose c.


In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

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#22 2015-05-25 02:05:39

Agnishom
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From: Riemann Sphere
Registered: 2011-01-29
Posts: 24,974
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Re: Atheism Study

What are the options?


'And fun? If maths is fun, then getting a tooth extraction is fun. A viral infection is fun. Rabies shots are fun.'
'God exists because Mathematics is consistent, and the devil exists because we cannot prove it'
I'm not crazy, my mother had me tested.

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#23 2015-05-25 02:07:39

bobbym
bumpkin
From: Bumpkinland
Registered: 2009-04-12
Posts: 109,606

Re: Atheism Study

a. I am an idiot
b. I am not good looking
c. I am not an expert on Buddhism


In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

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#24 2015-05-25 02:17:15

Agnishom
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From: Riemann Sphere
Registered: 2011-01-29
Posts: 24,974
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Re: Atheism Study

I do not think I am wrong though.


'And fun? If maths is fun, then getting a tooth extraction is fun. A viral infection is fun. Rabies shots are fun.'
'God exists because Mathematics is consistent, and the devil exists because we cannot prove it'
I'm not crazy, my mother had me tested.

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#25 2015-05-25 02:19:44

bobbym
bumpkin
From: Bumpkinland
Registered: 2009-04-12
Posts: 109,606

Re: Atheism Study

c is correct. I do not know much about it either, but I know something about Siddhārtha Gautama Shakyamuni.


In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

Offline

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