Agnosticism and Atheism
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Atheists are a very diverse group of people - all they really have in common is not believing in the existence of any gods. Atheists and agnostics come from different religious backgrounds, they have different political opinions, and they have different philosophies about life and the universe.
What Kinds of Music Do Atheists Like?
The only thing all atheists have in common is their disbelief in the existence of any gods. That doesn't mean,
however, that there might not be some trends in what kinds of music atheists prefer to listen to. Not all kinds
of music are listed here, but maybe the results will be interesting.
What Sorts of Books Do Atheists Read?
The only thing all atheists have in common is their disbelief in the existence of any gods. Many atheists,
however, seem to enjoy science fiction. I wonder if there are similar trends with other types of books,
fiction and nonfiction.
Do You Believe Any Paranormal or Supernatural Claims?
Just because a person is an atheist doesn't mean that they don't believe in things like astrology, reincarnation,
ghosts, psychics, and similar things. There are a lot of things supernatural and paranormal that a person can
believe without also believing in any gods. Do you believe in any of these things?
Would You Marry a Theist? Are you Married to a Theist?
One of the questions which often comes up is whether relationships between atheists and theists can every
work out or even lead to marriage. A lot depends upon the willingness of those involved to try to make it
work. Would you be willing to make a marriage with a theist work?
What Would Cause You to Stop Being an Atheist?
Is there anything that might cause you to stop being an atheist and start believing in some sort of god, even
if you didn't convert to a specific religion? Many theists ask this question and it can reveal something interesting
about what a person thinks about the question of gods' existence.
What Caused You to Doubt and Reject Theism?
There are many different reasons why a person might come to doubt and even reject theism, becoming an
atheist. Some reasons are better than others and while every atheist takes a different path, there are some
major commonalities. Do any of the ones listed below apply to you?
What is the Definition of Agnosticism?
As with atheism, I encounter a lot of misunderstandings about the nature and definition of agnosticism. Some
treat it like a middle ground between atheism and theism. Some argue that it is just a label for fence sitting -
people who cannot commit. What do you think about the nature and definition of agnosticism?
What is the Definition of Atheism?
I encounter a lot of misunderstandings about the nature and definition of atheism. Some treat it like a religion,
others treat it like a philosophy. Some evangelicals claim that atheism is the denial of God and some even
say that atheism doesn't really exist. What do you think about the nature and definition of atheism?
What is Modern Writing on Atheism Like?
I have heard from more than one person that much of the writing today on atheism and skepticism tends to
be dry, bogged down in details, and even a bit elitist. They don't feel that the authors have anything to say
to them, only to scholars and more sophisticated atheists. Is this true? What do you think?
Where Do You Go With Questions About Atheism?
There is a lot of good information about atheism, skepticism, freethought, the separation of church and
state, and related subjects on the internet. There are also many good books on these issues - but finding
the right book can take longer than finding the right web sight. Where do you look first with your questions?
Will the Internet Promote Skepticism and Atheism?
Atheists are a minority, but on the internet they can voice their ideas and thereby expose many more people
to skeptical, critical atheism than would otherwise be possible. Will this promote skepticism and atheism in
the long run, or will arguments on the internet only lead to worse misunderstandings and distrust?
As An Atheist, Which Labels Apply to You?
An atheist is never just an atheist. Atheism is simply the lack of belief in gods, but no one can be fully
described by that label alone. Atheists may also be skeptics, humanists, existentialists, objectivists, etc.
What other words describe you philosophy and beliefs?
As An Atheist, Which Label Do You Use?
There are a lot of different labels that atheists use - atheist, nontheist, freethinker, skeptic, bright, etc. Many
use more than one label but most tend to use a single label most of the time. Each label communicates
something slightly different about the person using it. Which do you prefer?
Are you an atheist who is 'out of the closet'?
Atheism isn't very widely accepted or thought of very well by large numbers of people, especially in the
United States. Because of that, many atheists feel compelled to keep their atheism a secret, not telling
anyone they don't trust. Do you hide your atheism, or are you 'out of the closet' and open about things?
As an atheist, what is your political orientation?
The only thing all atheists have in common is the absence of belief in gods - nothing more, nothing less.
Beyond that, atheists can have all sorts of beliefs when it comes to philosophy, metaphysics, ethics, and
politics. What are your political beliefs - where in the political spectrum do you fall?
Atheist Demographics: Will Atheists' Numbers Grow?
The demographics of atheists is that they are a minority in most places they live. There may be more
atheists than people realize, but there are still fewer than of other groups. Is this something that will
continue, or is it possible that the numbers of atheists will increase in the future?
Atheists Participating in Religious Traditions
Religious traditions are very important to structuring a religion's beliefs, doctrines, and even membership.
Unfortunately, when a person leaves a religion, they also leave behind much of what might have
structured their life - and that isn't easy. If you are an atheist, do you still follow any religious traditions?
Do you celebrate any holidays?
Holidays are an integral part of many religions - and when an atheist leaves a religion, they frequently
leave behind the holidays as well, which means leaving behind an important aspect of their social and
family lives. Some atheists, though, continue to celibrate religious holidays - do you?
What do you do when people say grace?
Many families have a tradition of saying grace a meals. This is a ritual which occurs in many different
religions. Atheists, however, can frequently feel uncomfortable participating in a religious ritual like this,
especially when it involves their own family. What do you do when faced with such a situation?
Do You Attend Church on Religious Holidays?
Many families have a tradition of attending church services on religious holidays - even if they never go to
church at any other time. When a person becomes an atheist, they may not want to keep going with their
family. Is family tradition important enough to go to church on a religious holiday?
Does it Matter if God Exists?
Theists tend to regard the question of their god's existence as being supremely important - but atheists
don't necessarily share that premise. Just because a god exists doesn't automatically mean that we
should care, does it? Perhaps that depends upon what sort of god we are talking about.
Should Atheists Create Secular Holidays?
Many atheists stop following the traditional, religious holidays observed by religious people and theists.
Others still observe them, but they have lost their former meaning. Some atheists have tried to create new,
secular holidays as replacements - like Solstice and Darwin Day. Is this a good idea?
What Religion Did You Once Follow?
Most atheists and agnostics were not raised that way - they were, instead, raised in religious households.
Although most were probably raised in Christian environments, not all were - many were raised Jews,
Muslims, Hindus, and so forth. If you weren't raised a Christian, what is your religious background?
What Kind of Christian Were You?
Most atheists and agnostics were not raised that way - they were, instead, raised in religious households.
Among them, most were raised in Christian environments - Protestant, Catholic, Orthodox, Pentecostal -
the entire spectrum of Christianity. If you were Christian once, what sort was it?
Disposal of One's Body After Death
Most religions have specific rituals and standards for how the body of a deceased person should be dealt
with. Some recommend cremation, some forbid it. Most bury a body, some leave it out for the vultures.
But what about atheists? What do you want done with your body after you die?
Voting for Politicians Prejudiced Against Atheists?
There is a lot of prejudice and bigotry against atheists in America - so naturally quite a few politicians will
reflect the same attitudes. Is that, however, enough of a reason to vote for an opponent? What if you agree
with that politicians positions and philosophy - is bigotry enough of a reason to withdraw support?
Can Marriage Between Atheists & Theists Work?
There are more theists in the world than there are atheists - so it's only natural that when an atheist gets
involved in an intimate relationship with someone, it's more likely that that person will be a theist than
an atheist. But can such relationships really work, or will the disagreements pull them apart?
What Do You Think About the 'Bright' Label?
Recently some non-believers have started promoting the use of the label 'Bright' to describe atheists who
adopt a naturalistic outlook on life. This has annoyed some - including some atheists - because it
sounds arrogant. Others, however, revel in the implication that theists are 'dim'.
What is Your Position on Agnosticism & Atheism?
When it comes to atheism, theism, and agnosticism, there are four general positions: agnostic atheism
(don't know that any gods do or don't exist, but don't believe), strong ('gnostic') atheism (don't believe in
any gods and are certain they don't exist), agnostic theism (don't know for sure that a god exists, but
believe anyway), and strong ('gnostic') theism (believe in a god and are certain that one exists).
Should Atheists Evangelize their Atheism?
Some atheists are very active in promoting or 'evangelizing' their atheism - they want to spread the word
about atheism and get others to become atheists as well. But are such atheists no different from religious
people who are always bugging others about their religion?
Do People Know You are an Agnostic or Atheist?
There are a lot of agnostics and atheists out there - mor than most people probably realize because most
of them don't really make a point of publicizing their agnosticism and atheism in the same way that people
publicize their religion. In some cases, it's because they are actually afraid to let others know.
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