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Philosophy/religion

Any other atheists around?

308 replies

GuybrushThreepwoodMP · 01/11/2013 22:18

Is there a group for us atheists to discuss ideas of faith, morality, life, the universe and everything (42!)?
Note: I would not want this to become about dissing people of faith and would truly welcome discussion with anyone. This isn't about ridiculing anyone. I would be particularly interested in sharing ideas and discussing the social, anthropological, philosophical, political and psychological aspects of religion from an atheist point of view. Anyone else? I can provide Brew and Biscuit and Wine .

OP posts:
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SunshineSuperNova · 02/11/2013 01:24

I don't know if there's a group, but I'm an atheist interested in discussing what you've mentioned. And Brew, Wine and Cake are always welcome :)

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LoopaDaLoopa · 02/11/2013 01:27

I think most of us are atheists, surely?

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curlew · 02/11/2013 01:30

I don't think we need a special group, do we? Don't we have as much right to post on the religion/philosophy boards as anyone else?

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DioneTheDiabolist · 02/11/2013 13:04

Of course you do Curlew, but I think the OP was suggesting a discussion about athiest thinking in much the same way as the Muslim Tearoom threads.

I am a deist OP, but I think the thread that you have described would be really interesting.Smile

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sashh · 06/11/2013 09:26

I'm happy to join. I don't have wine but can bring a cat.

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holmessweetholmes · 07/11/2013 13:30

I read a really fascinating book recently called 'Religion for Atheists' by Alain de Botton. It articulated lots of things which really resonated with me about the human needs which led people to invent gods/religion in the first place. It then made various suggestions about ways in which society could fulfil those needs in non-religious ways - how we can satisfy our 'spiritual' (for want of a better word!) side and our need for community, nurture, awe etc through non-religious things. Really interesting book.

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CraftyBuddhist · 07/11/2013 16:17

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holmessweetholmes · 07/11/2013 17:14

I've always liked the idea of Buddhism. I've read quite a bit about it as I'm interested in mindfulness and meditation. A religion without a god seems like a great improvement to me Grin.

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CraftyBuddhist · 07/11/2013 19:03

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holmessweetholmes · 08/11/2013 07:45

It kind of helped save mine too! The problem is that I'm not so good at keeping doing it when things are going well. I know it would benefit me to do it regularly but life gets in the way! The other book which I have found amazing is The Compassionate Mind by Paul Gilbert. I keep recommending it on anxiety/depression threads because I think it would be really life-changingly helpful.

Sorry OP - we seem to have gone off-topic a bit!

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CraftyBuddhist · 08/11/2013 08:32

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GuybrushThreepwoodMP · 08/11/2013 08:43

Another book recommendation is Bertrand Russell's Why I Am Not A Christian- it's a pleasure to read. I find Dawkins so self-important and self-righteous in comparison.

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msmiggins · 08/11/2013 17:22

Hi, I an an athiest but also a practicing witch. I also practice mindfullness.

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GuybrushThreepwoodMP · 09/11/2013 09:55

What does 'practising witch' mean? Genuine question- I truly have no idea!

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msmiggins · 09/11/2013 15:11

I practice magic.

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YoniRotten · 09/11/2013 15:16

I'm an atheist (or a nothing, if you agree with this post: whywontgodhealamputees.com/no-atheists.htm) :)

msmiggins, magic like what?

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Weegiemum · 09/11/2013 15:20

I'm totally not an atheist but it would be fascinating to read your discussions.

I'm a Christian who also practices mindfulness (need more practice, though!) and was recommended the Paul Gilbert book by my clinical psychologist when being treated for depression, it's excellent.

Have fun

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msmiggins · 09/11/2013 15:26

Yonirotten- magic as in rituals, spells etc.

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holmessweetholmes · 10/11/2013 16:27

Msmiggins - I don't quite know how to respond to that... I imagine that most of us atheists don't actually believe in magic, just like we don't believe in a god. In fact I've never met any adult (atheist or religious, for that matter) who did believe in it. Although I'm a big Harry Potter fan, which sometimes makes me wish it were real!

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CraftyBuddhist · 10/11/2013 16:44

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HettiePetal · 10/11/2013 16:50

Sam Harris says a similar thing about the atheism issue, Yoni

It is worth noting that no one ever needs to identify himself as a non-astrologer or a non-alchemist. Consequently, we do not have words for people who deny the validity of these pseudo-disciplines. Likewise, atheism is a term that should not even exist. Atheism is nothing more than the noises reasonable people make when in the presence of religious dogma

I agree with him.

Have also never met an atheist that believes in magic, Msmiggins. Can you tell us more?

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CraftyBuddhist · 10/11/2013 17:11

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HettiePetal · 10/11/2013 17:16

Yes, I know what you mean.

But if I say, "I don't believe in God" I'm referencing the concept that I know lots of other people have. A bit like saying, "I don't believe in Superman".

Although, honestly, I tend to say, "I don't believe your God exists" which pisses people off no end, for some reason.

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BackOnlyBriefly · 10/11/2013 17:27

I like the Sam Harris quote. An atheist can join groups that campaign against religion and so on and that can be a good thing, but that is not required to be an atheist. We are simply those people who do not believe.

I sometimes remind christians that I am atheist for all beliefs not just theirs. I don't believe in Jesus, Allah or Jehovah. I don't believe in crystal healing or that the number 13 is unlucky. And when people say things like:

"if you dream you are falling and don't wake up in time you will die in your sleep"

I think "..and how would you know that? Who has come back to report?" :)

Can't see the point in accepting something as true without at least some evidence.

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YoniRotten · 10/11/2013 23:22

msmiggins, but do these spells actually make anything happen?

Hettie, that is a good Sam Harris quote. Indeed!

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