Amazing it is that for some the above is not an obvious statement!
Despite an uncountable number of attempts by atheists and others here on N24 to explain the simple concept of atheism many of the local theists still do not understand the starting point of those they debate.
It’s as if belief is so ingrained in the mind and life of such theists the idea of not having any form of belief is incomprehensible.
‘You have to believe in something! You can’t go through life not believing there’s a reason for existence. If I reject my religion then, then aaahhhhh! I’d have to find my own reason to live life and I just couldn't do that’.
It’s laughable the way you don’t see these theists applying the same ‘logic’ to agnostics yet if you ask an agnostic what they believe in they'll reply along the lines of ‘Sorry, don’t have enough information to answer that’. Agnostics can’t be said to have theistic belief which is why atheism and agnosticism are not mutually exclusive.
The painfully obvious irony of course is that these theists are happy to be without belief when it comes to the claims of other religions and in doing so can be said to be atheist to these alternatives.
Have you ever considered another religion? Did you decide not to convert? It doesn't matter why you rejected it the simple effect is you don’t believe it.
You are free to not believe it.
You are free to be atheist to that religion.
You are free to be atheist to all religions.
Admittedly the block to seeing atheism for what it is is not restricted to just a selection of our N24 theists. Through the ages religious adherents have offered numerous explanations for the causes of atheism such as evil spirits, social rebellion, mental disabilities, conspiracies to take over the world and more recently contemporary Science.
Yet for all the debates concerning the detail of these apparent ‘causes’ all that’s required to be atheist to a religious claim is to not believe it.
The assertion that there is no god is anti-theist.
Do you reject the claims of the existence of the god/s of someone else’s religion? Yes?
Then welcome to the effect, atheism.
Hasta La Pasta.
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