An Aetheist "Bible"
What do people think about the possibility of creating an Aetheist Bible? Explaining the true core beliefs of aetheism, mainly non-belief and the commitment to sticking to physical reality and rejecting spirituality?
Would such a thing be productive to create? Could we even get 2 aetheists to agree on what that might look like? Or is it a silly idea? Has someone already done this? Or is it super stupid because aetheists are like free thinkers and "joining" or coming together around any kind of monolithic set of ideas, even as a framework, is completely antithetical to aetheism (because it almost seems like organized religion)?
I myself am conflicted, but curious to hear the thoughts of others, and maybe learn something.
Core 'beliefs'? How do you prove a negative?
Maybe core 'unbeliefs'? Are you going to list all the 4000+ gods atheists don't believe in?
No, we don't need organizing, a play book, or a bible. They will lead to leaders. Positions that attract the control freaks and narcissists. Before you know it, atheism will be just like a religion. NO!!!
Some atheists get silly just like most believers. An atheist bible is a silly idea.
We are all only human after all
What would we do with this Buybull anyhows, atheists don’t do church…..
"buybull" haha - I like it
Hopefully whoever writes this buybull will know how to spell “atheist”…..
[en.m.wikipedia.org]
Haha! After getting roasted for it several times after this post, I don't think I can ever forget it.
We don't have that kind of belief system like religions, Every matter will be accepted by scientific backup and proofs.
But if you're looking for some kind of analogy from a believer's perspective, as highlights we can go like this :
Points like these are the reason, Believers are just suckers against Atheism and have No Logical Arguments. perhaps they can go a bit with philosophy and fallacies.
One of my "habits" is to see how many logical fallacies per sentence I can identify in each piece of Christian apologetics.
Well, maybe we can find some anti-science or anti-intellectual atheists somewhere? Surely not here among us fine people. I was tempted to outline something like you did, and it was helpful to read your thoughts. Thanks!
@Diaco What about those who do not believe in anything, but find benefit in community? In other words how many people that sometimes attend religious gatherings are actually atheists with a high tolerance for bullshit? (Me personally, after I was 18, I couldn't do it anymore and refused to go. Even attending a religious wedding ceremony in my twenties was tough to get through.)
@foolmeonce Question A :
The key question is; what's the motivation to reject an ancient topic like GOD?! which was involved with human life for millennials!!!
Possibilities could be :
1- Backed by knowledge and logical perspective.
2- Copying others and W/O any argument.
3- Just because of hatred of religions as the only motive.
4- from an anarchy, anti-social or anti-system view.
5- someone is dumb enough to be unable to follow any system/manner.
You can say all of them are Atheists. But are they the same?! Simply NO!
#1: That's our Hero!
#2: Worth nothing!
#3: Worth nothing! ( kinda it's understandable! )
#4, #5: That's a Sick person!
Question B :
As humans and social beings, We have to tolerate and respect each other to keep social bonds asurvive. Why not! we can enjoy human cultural gatherings together with tolerance!
Atheism in general isn't a radical anti-religion view, but for sure you can see extremism among atheists in some rare cases. and that came from damages humanity experienced throughout history and happening even today by religions.
We could call them scientific textbooks that delve into matters of fact.
Atheists share only one idea, the rejection of belief in a theist god, they really have no central dogma beyond that.
Just as there are many theist religions, there are also many different belief systems which contain atheism as a tenant. Such as, some forms of Buddhism, Communism, Animism, Materialism, Absurdism, arguably Deism and perhaps the nearest to pure atheism, Humanism. Though you don't have to consider yourself any of those to be an atheist. So finding an atheist bible would be difficult perhaps, rather like finding a single holy book for Hindus, Christians, Mohammedans, Odinists and Jews.
However racocn8 below list some interesting reads, to which I would only add that Epicurus is worth a look, though strictly agnostic, not atheist. Sadly his original writings are lost, but Lucretius recorded them, and there is a good short introduction in, Alain De Botton, "The consolations of philosophy". There is also a modern Epicurian society [newepicurean.com] not to be confused with a lot of eating and drinking societies, which use his name, based on a misconception of his ideas.
I really loved reading your detailed response! Thank you! I guess I wasn't thinking of a single unified belief system (or non belief statement) for all atheists - just a single one. But this gives me many jumping off points to go research. Thanks again!
Pray with one hand and shit in the other, see which one gets filled first! I don't believe in any deity, there's over, 5,000 deities and which one is the one that whatever deity is real will let us in this so called heaven. Doesn't make sense to me at all.
No argument here! Haha. And that was a great joke. I am definitely stealing it - love it!
The atheist Bible is the communist manifesto
Somehow I doubt all atheists are communists. There might be some overlap. But did you know that in communist countries they are slowly allowing back religion after a long ban? So I think this will also change over time.
Who says atheists are not spiritual anyway? That they don't have beliefs? Met plenty of atheists right into crystals for instance, get fortune told etc.
One person's superstitions are another's beliefs I suppose. Good reminder that atheism and belief systems are not mutually exclusive! It's just that specifically atheists do not believe in any deity or subscribe to a religion.
Been done with those Satan worshipers. As you may see here, you can't get atheists to agree on much. It would be like herding cats. Plus, many leave religion because of binding doctrine, so why create a doctrine for ourselves?
Yes, that's true. The biggest creators of atheists are bad religious institutions and experiences (and the ability to think independently and arrive at your own conclusions being probably as big).
To indoctrinate people into atheism may be hypocritical then?
@foolmeonce All we have to teach kids is we have two opposing things; Belief and knowledge.
If you are interested in belief's there are many, known as religions to guide you. Belief cannot be known. (that's why there's so many). Beware those that say they know belief because they tell bullshit. If it was known, we call it knowledge.
If you are interested in knowledge, then science is a good place to look because it can prove whatever it claims to you. But even science does not know everything, but it does not claim to.
Do science kiddies eg observe, measure, test and test again.
@puff That makes sense. I was certainly blown away and confused the first time I heard "beliefs are beliefs BECAUSE you don't have evidence". Don't remember when that was haha.
Science is a good tool to pursue knowledge for sure. I think critically examining personal experience (sometimes with distance) is good too. And talking about it with others for a variety of points of view.
I have had an Atheist's Bible for years. try amazon
There’a also Skeptic's Annotated Bible. I guess the author is still kickin’:
[skepticsannotatedbible.com]
Thanks - found some pretty interesting stuff!
There is no "belief system". No belief means...information that can not be verified is easily dismissed. Atheist = Lack of belief in deities.
@Drank_Spear It may be real for them. I am not compelled to believe a story without the right to seek verification.
There is swampland for sale, really cheap. Should I trust that you believe my statement?
@Betty So, is there anything than just "non-believer" then to describe someone with no beliefs at all? Someone that only goes with their own experience and information that can be verified by others after intense scrutiny?
@foolmeonce May I ask what it is you are looking for and why?
@Betty I'm not really sure. I've been agnostic for quite some time, and atheist most recently. And I certainly don't believe in anything anymore. I feel like beliefs in general are stupid - I prefer knowing to any kind of faith. Maybe I'm looking for community?
@foolmeonce You will have many different personalities to interact with, each with their own unique stories. Some you will click with and others...well...not so much. If you have an open mind then you should be able to enjoy this site. Explore, jump in conversations and see where it goes. You could do worse.
It would make more sense to compile an aetherist bible. Bringing aetheists together on most anything is like herding cats. First Council of Nicaea would never have happened due to disagreement over shape and height of tables and whether snacks should be exclusively vegan. Coffee and tea factions would fight.
(Atheist) does not equal a belief system. There is no right or wrong way to be an Atheist. There are no rules, standards, or shared creed.
This site has been important to me. I did not feel I was joining something. I do feel I am participating in budding friendships. I hope it continues that way.
It is trivial to observe that nobody has ever produced any falsifiable evidence to support the existence claim of any god in the last 5,000 years.
The phrase "true core beliefs" as an absurdity, as it assumes that that there are truths that are distinct from personal truths. (And I hold that all truths are personal truths. I also hold that all God Mobsters who regard it as true that the God of the Bible exists are themselves mentally incompetent.)
I am not disputing the non-existence of any deity - that really doesn't have to do with my post. I'm assuming there are no deities and proposing an idea of a text that provides an agreement amongst atheists. I am learning that is a difficult proposition haha
@foolmeonce Agreed, it is a difficult proposition!
I'm sure a number of documents do what you're describing. Here's a couple of links to provide context:
thanks! that helps a lot
Why do you keep spelling atheist like that?
Perhaps it is aesthetically pleasing?
I didn't even realize I was doing that! Haha sorry