Atheism as a historical philosophy and its relevance in...

Disbelief in the existence of God is an enduring, worldwide phenomenon that is quite possibly also one of the most misunderstood belief systems in the world. For many, the term â€Å"atheism† immediately spurs negative imagery inspired by years of indoctrination – churches proclaiming the sins of the infidels, and how questioning God’s infinite love will result in instant damnation. Atheists are perceived as dark, nihilistic, immoral, amoral, pessimistic, and even evil, because without God, clearly they are also without morality and goodness. But if this disbelief is so negative, why would nearly 1 billion people globally, and more than 16 percent of the American population identify themselves as â€Å"nonbelievers†? In fact, a survey published in†¦show more content†¦Many of atheism’s critics are quick to call the worldview invalid because they assume it wouldn’t exist without theism – without the idea of the Divine. In fact, some even go so far as to say that atheism is actually parasitic on religion. This is an incorrect statement. Without theism, the only part of atheism that wouldn’t exist is its name. Julian Baggini, the editor of The Philosophers’ Magazine, weaves this analogy in his book Atheism: In Scotland there is a deep lake called Loch Ness. Many people in Scotland – almost certainly the majority – believe that the lake is like other lochs in the country. Their beliefs about the lake are what we might call normal. But that is not to say they have no particular beliefs. It’s just that the beliefs they have are so ordinary that they do not require elucidation†¦However, some people believe that the loch contains a strange creature, known as the Loch Ness Monster. Many claim to have seen it, although no firm evidence of its existence has ever been presented. So far our story is simple fact. Now imagine how the story could develop The number of believers in the monster starts to grow. Soon, a word is coined to describe them: they are part-mockingly called ‘Nessies’. (Many names of religions started as mocking nicknames: Methodist, Quaker, and even Christian all started out this way.) However,Show MoreRelatedA Comparative Analysis of the Various Contemporary Theologies Presented by Paul Enns and Millard J. Erickson3614 Words   |  15 PagesComparative Analysis Of The Various Contemporary Theologies For Systematic Theology TH 200 This paper is an attempt to assemble a comparative analysis of the various contemporary theologies presented by Paul Enns and Millard J. Erickson. In order to do a comparison we first need to understand the individuals involved and how theology is defined by each of these individuals. Generally speaking the term theology comes to us from Greek words meaning â€Å"the study of God†. AccordingRead MoreWorld Religion5936 Words   |  24 Pagesin most religions? 4. Define what is meant by sacred in religion and give some examples of how sacred is understood? 5. Offer some examples of religious symbols and discuss their meaning. Group B 1. Discuss the goal of studying religion in the historical and comparative sense 2. Identify and describe the First Pattern of religion which deals with sacramental, prophetic, and mystical orientation. Explain how all three orientations might be found in the same religious tradition. 3. As described inRead MoreOne Significant Change That Has Occurred in the World Between 1900 and 2005. Explain the Impact This Change Has Made on Our Lives and Why It Is an Important Change.163893 Words   |  656 PagesSixties Made: Politics and Culture in Recent America Joanne Meyerowitz, ed., History and September 11th John McMillian and Paul Buhle, eds., The New Left Revisited David M. Scobey, Empire City: The Making and Meaning of the New York City Landscape Gerda Lerner, Fireweed: A Political Autobiography Allida M. Black, ed., Modern American Queer History Eric Sandweiss, St. Louis: The Evolution of an American Urban Landscape Sam Wineburg, Historical Thinking and Other Unnatural Acts: Charting the