Is there anybody out there?

[StepAwayFromCake]

Or am I the only apatheist on Mumsnet?

Since you can't prove the non-existence of Gods (in the same as you can't prove existence), I'm with you on this one!

*Since you can't prove the non-existence of Gods
*
Anything else this "logic" works with, out of interest?

Apatheist? Is this something I haven't heard of or just a typo?
(Typo hopefully. Don't want to the myself up in new knots)

Not sure why you bothered posting here if that is your stance.

I know plenty in RL, and I suspect many on Mumsnet, but by their very nature they are not going to post in this section.

It's more along the lines that it does not matter whether or not god exists.

Doesn't mean that you can't be interested in philosophy or in the way people think/live/function!

I'm leaning towards apatheism gradually as I work through my devangelism.

Devangelism? As in trying to convert people away from a religion, rather than to get them to join a religion? Or am I misunderstanding?

Ha. I I've ever changed anyone's mind. No, my devangelism of myself. As in a conversion in reverse.

I genuinely can't understand why it "doesn't matter" whether a god/gods exist.

Given the effect religion is having on innocent humans every day, I think it matters rather a lot. Not to mention the fact that it's profoundly interesting - as is anything to do with the existence of our universe and how it operates.

But maybe "Ah, well...who gives a shit" is fashionable these days?

I agree that it's profoundly interesting, but 'it' for me is not whether deity exists, but how people behave.

What people do in the name of religion says more IMO about people than about deity.

So basically you can't be bothered, no curiosity, no passion, that's pretty

Well, that's not really true. For many, many people their behaviour is informed by what their holy book says. Maybe not so much in this country, but certainly elsewhere.

And the two issues are not mutually exclusive. Most atheists are more interested in people and how they behave because they know there's no god.

I think the word "apatheist" is silly and pretentious.

You're an atheist. That's it. The word doesn't convey any need to behave or think in a certain way so what's the point of inventing a new one?

Yes, I can't be bothered trying to persuade someone that there is no god.

But no curiousity, no passion? Absolutely not the case! Why should the same things drive our curiosity and passion?

The term 'atheist', as I hear it used, discards millennia of human experience and philosophy. 'Atheism' appears to require complete rejection of any faith-based belief/morality/society/community. Many professed atheists appear to be ignorant of how their modern, secular morality has been framed by religion.

I maintain that you can be connected with a religion, embrace its philosophy, be guided by its ethics, be part of its community, without blindly accepting the existence of its deity. I don't need to believe in deity. I need to act as a decent human being. I don't need deity to tell me how to behave. Perhaps the concept of deity helped structure human society and its development. Perhaps we no longer need that concept. Perhaps some people still need it.

Nobody is special because they believe in a deity, not because they disbelieve.

Some people are just arrogant/violent/controlling bastards. Some of them use god as an excuse or justification. That doesn't mean theism is the root of all evil.

I don't feel the need to prove or disprove the existence of deity.

Yes, I can't be bothered trying to persuade someone that there is no god. I'm not sure why you'd be trying in the first place.

Because so many atheists do.

The term 'atheist', as I hear it used, discards millennia of human experience and philosophy. 'Atheism' appears to require complete rejection of any faith-based belief/morality/society/community. Many professed atheists appear to be ignorant of how their modern, secular morality has been framed by religion

Atheism means "lacks belief in a god". Nothing else.

But I think your position is factually wrong.

Modern, secular morality emerged from the enlightenment when faith, religion and dogma were shrugged off in favour of reason and science.

The secular morality we all enjoy exists in spite of religion, not because of it. Virtually every Christian commandment has been completely abandoned. It always makes me laugh when I hear that our laws are based on Christian teachings. Erm, no.

Sounds to me like you don't believe in god but want to distance yourself from those of us discussing religion and it's effects - and shoe horn in a bit of moral superiority for yourself while you're at it.

I maintain that you can be connected with a religion, embrace its philosophy, be guided by its ethics, be part of its community, without blindly accepting the existence of its deity.

You can, but it's a bit odd and unnecessary. No doubt this all stems from some kind of "All Jesus said was love each other" which (since you used the word first) is actually rather ignorant of his teachings. Apart from that, there's literally nothing "nice" in Christianity that didn't exist as an idea before it and wouldn't exist if Paul/Saul hadn't invented it.

No, OP. Discussing religion and the existence of god is not "trying to persuade"'people not to believe...most of us realise, in any event, that that's a pointless waste of time.

But if you need a special word for yourself, fine.

Because so many atheists do. I think whether someone believes or not, trying to persuade someone one way or another is a waste of time. Discuss these matters great, but trying to change someones point of view, nah, they have to do their own seeking if they feel the need.

What is an aparheist?

Do you mean atheist? I'm an atheist.
You don't have to believe or follow the faith of religion to be able to discuss it.

Why do you assume a Christianocentric position?

I do not mean atheist. Apatheism takes the view that the existence or otherwise of god is irrelevant.

Why do you assume a Christianocentric position? It's very presumptuous isn't it.

Assuming you're British, that's almost certainly the religion that is most relevant here. But, I could say exactly the same thing about any religion....it's just that that's the most familiar for the sake of this discussion.