Atheism & Worship: Do Atheists Worship Anything?
Monday October 13, 2008
This myth runs along lines very similar to the claim that all atheists have faith like theists, and sometimes this idea is also expressed by claiming that 'atheism is a religion.' Since some theists cannot imagine living their life without worshipping their god, they also cannot imagine atheists living without worshipping something, like money or themselves.
Read Article: Atheism & Worship: Do Atheists Worship Anything?
Comments
I think you are very deluded to think that you don’t live by faith, and that you pay homage to something, but I guess that’s what makes you an atheist??
Or maybe you just don’t know me as well as you’re trying to presume that you do. If you are going to tell a complete stranger that they “live by faith’ and “pay homage to something,” perhaps you should try making an argument to support those assertions. Perhaps you should also consider reading the article which this post links to — an article explaining and refuting the popular myth that atheists worship something — and provide some sort of counter-argument.
No, what makes me an atheist is that I don’t believe in any gods — nothing more, nothing less. To suggest otherwise simply reveals your own total ignorance of atheism as well as of atheists. Forming negative opinions on the basis of such ignorance, as you have been doing here, is indicative of personal animus and bigotry.
If you mean by “faith” that we have
“faith” that the Sun will rise tomorrow once again - you are right. We also have habits which we have faith in as well.
However, few thinkers have faith in something that can only exist from ignorance.
I wonder if people like this Mike Gunn actually come back to this site again, or do they shoot and scoot? Comments like his don’t contain enquiry, so the writer must think that his comments will in some way change an atheist’s opinions, or will offer encouragement to other theists. Such comments being here may actually be useful, in letting more intelligent theists more easily see the contrast between such modes of thought and those of Austin and the other rational thinkers on the site. Cheers.
Good point, Drew. It’s precisely this sort of comment that I need to be able to concisely rebuff. I love reading the logical replies you guys give.
Recently visiting a relative, the conversation strayed onto religion (I usually avoid it like the plague) - who said “even atheists believe in something… everybody believes in SOMETHING…” - I just gritted my teeth and said nothing.
Pretty much every anti-atheist comment I ever hear from the lips of a religious person is said with an air of finality and phrased in such a way that it does my head in trying to think of how to disagree!
Actually I just went and read the whole article… I sometimes just read the blog entry… I’m glad I did as the disinction Austin makes between real worship and the focus on something important is a very useful one indeed.
So …
“Atheists worship something… you’ve just replaced God with Football”.
“Oh, so God is the same to you as football is to me?”
….”No, you’ve replaced your love for God with love for Football.”
“Er. Well, I don’t feel any gratitude for my existance to the football team.”
…”Of course not”
“And I don’t think the coach gave up his life for my benefit.”
…”Well no that would be stupid.”
“And I wouldn’t give my life rather than follow Manchester United.”
…”Well it’s only football…”
“SO, in what way exactly, is my love of football like your love of God? And if a Christian is a keen football fan, does that mean they are seeking a replacement for God…?”
….”Um…..”
I am tending to agree with one of the points made. Just because you don’t believe in God does not mean you don’t worship something. Here’s a thought: define worship. Anything you place over God (I know you are an atheist) you are idolizing, so therefore you are worshiping something.
no, I don’t place anything ‘over’ god, there is no god to place anything over.
I’d prefer the OED definition, but since I don’t have one, dictionary.com:
1. reverent honor and homage paid to God or a sacred personage, or to any object regarded as sacred.
and sacred meaning:
1. devoted or dedicated to a deity or to some religious purpose; consecrated.
2. entitled to veneration or religious respect by association with divinity or divine things; holy.
so since I don’t regard anything as consecrated for religous purpose of any sort, no, you can’t say I worship anything.
Playing games with circular meanings or picking similar-but-different meanings of the words you are using, depending on context, is just semantics and doesn’t prove your point at all.
So let’s get down to reality.
Do I get down on my knees and thank someone or something for my existence? No. Do I wave my hands in the air and sing songs about the wonderful things they do? No. Do I credit someone or something with ’saving’ me from ’sin’? No. Do I ask someone to ‘forgive’ me for something? No.
Some of the feelings that you experience in worship, such as gratitude or enjoyment or regret are things that I experience in other ways. I’m glad I’m alive, but I don’t have anyone other than my parents to thank for that. (ok, and modern medicine.) I’m sorry for hurting others, but I apologize to them (or not). I sometimes act out of sync with my desire to be a good human being, but that discord is something I live with or attempt to mend for myself.
When I stand in the garden with the sun on my face, I feel awed by the wonder of the universe, and glad to be part of it. But I don’t worship it. It just IS. I am. It is. That simple.
Can you provide any actual evidence of an atheist worshipping something?
That was done in the article. Did you read it?
1. Since I don’t believe in any gods, then I don’t place anything “over” then any more than I place anything “over” fairies or elves.
2. Placing something “over” something else doesn’t entail idolizing it.
3. Idolizing something isn’t the same as worshipping it.