Irenaeus, Siteadmin, Check users, oversight, Administrators
351,972
edits
Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Line 1:
Line 1: − + − − == Types of atheism == − ''See also: [[Strong atheism]], [[Weak atheism]].'' − − Atheism is often divided into a number of different types. Jacques Maritain, a theist, distinguished several types in an article he wrote in 1949. He defined "positive atheism" as "the active struggle against everything that reminds us of God," and negative atheism as "the merely negative or destructive process of casting aside the idea of God, which is replaced only with a void." <ref>Jacques Maritain, ''On the Meaning of Contemporary Atheism'', The Review of Politics, Vol. 11, No. 3, pp. 267-280, July, 1949.[http://www2.nd.edu/Departments/Maritain/jm3303.htm]</ref> − − In recent years, the terms "strong" and "weak" atheism have come into use to describe the same distinction. However, the difference is articulated in more [[epistemology|epistemological]] terms than those of Mr. Maritain. Specifically, [[strong atheism]] is defined as the position that there is positive evidence to prove that God does not exist, while [[weak atheism]] is defined as a position that the theist bears the [[burden of proof]], and that theists have not met their burden.<ref>[http://www.allaboutphilosophy.org/atheism.htm]</ref> − Line 22:
Line 14: + + + + − − −
no edit summary
[[Image:Nogod.jpg|right|200px]]
[[Image:Nogod.jpg|right|200px]]
'''Atheism''', as defined by the ''Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy'' and the ''Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy'', is the denial of the existence of any [[God]].<ref>http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/atheism-agnosticism/</ref><ref>http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/1998</ref>
'''Atheism''', as defined by the ''Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy'' and the ''Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy'', is the denial of the existence of any [[God]].<ref>http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/atheism-agnosticism/</ref><ref>http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/1998</ref>
== Biblical Statements Regarding Atheism ==
== Biblical Statements Regarding Atheism ==
[[Image:134t.gif|thumb|150px|left|The psalmist [[David]] wrote: "The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God."]]
[[Image:134t.gif|thumb|150px|left|The psalmist [[David]] wrote: "The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God."]]
"For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, [even] his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse..." - Romans 1:20 (KJV)
"For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, [even] his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse..." - Romans 1:20 (KJV)
==Attempts to Dilute the Definition of Atheism==
''See also: [[Strong atheism]], [[Weak atheism]].''
Since 1979 proponents of atheism have often been attempting to dilute the definition of atheism to mean a mere lack of belief there is a God or gods.<ref>http://www.thedivineconspiracy.org/athart3.htm</ref> One of the reasons why some proponents of atheism have been attempting to dilute the definition of the term atheism is to shift the burden of proof regarding the existence of God.<ref>http://www.thedivineconspiracy.org/athart3.htm</ref> In the article, ''Is Atheism Presumptuous''?, atheist [[Jeffery Jay Lowder]], a founder of [[Internet Infidels]], states that "I agree [with Copan] that anyone who claims, "God does not exist," must shoulder a burden of proof just as much as anyone who claims, "God exists." <ref>http://www.thedivineconspiracy.org/athart3.htm</ref>In short, the attempt to redefine atheism is a merely an attempt to make no assertions so no facts need be offered.<ref>http://www.thedivineconspiracy.org/athart3.htm</ref> The attempt to redefine atheism, however, is not in accordance with the standard definitions of atheism that encyclopedias of philosophy employ which is that atheism is a denial of the existence of God or gods.<ref>http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/atheism-agnosticism/</ref><ref>http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/1998</ref><ref>http://www.thedivineconspiracy.org/athart3.htm</ref> The standard definition of atheism given by encyclopedias of philosophy which is the denial of the existence of God is a definition in accordance with the biblical view of atheism. Specifically, the Bible teaches that the creation clearly testifies of God and shows the glory of God. However, the Bible also states that men suppress the truth in unrightousness. (Romans 1:19-20; Psalm 19:10). In short, those who do not acknowledge God are in a active state of denying what is clearly shown by nature.
==Atheism and [[Communism]] ==
==Atheism and [[Communism]] ==
[[Karl Marx]] coined the saying "[Religion] is the opium of the people".<ref>http://www3.baylor.edu/~Scott_Moore/texts/Marx_Opium.html</ref> Karl Marx also wrote: "Communism begins from the outset (Owen) with atheism; but atheism is at first far from being communism; indeed, that atheism is still mostly an abstraction."<ref>http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1844/manuscripts/comm.htm</ref>
[[Karl Marx]] coined the saying "[Religion] is the opium of the people".<ref>http://www3.baylor.edu/~Scott_Moore/texts/Marx_Opium.html</ref> Karl Marx also wrote: "Communism begins from the outset (Owen) with atheism; but atheism is at first far from being communism; indeed, that atheism is still mostly an abstraction."<ref>http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1844/manuscripts/comm.htm</ref>
[[Vladimir Lenin]] similarly wrote: "A Marxist must be a materialist, i. e., an enemy of religion, but a dialectical materialist, i. e., one who treats the struggle against religion not in an abstract way, not on the basis of remote, purely theoretical, never varying preaching, but in a concrete way, on the basis of the class struggle which is going on in practice and is educating the masses more and better than anything else could."<ref>http://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1909/may/13.htm</ref>
[[Vladimir Lenin]] similarly wrote: "A Marxist must be a materialist, i. e., an enemy of religion, but a dialectical materialist, i. e., one who treats the struggle against religion not in an abstract way, not on the basis of remote, purely theoretical, never varying preaching, but in a concrete way, on the basis of the class struggle which is going on in practice and is educating the masses more and better than anything else could."<ref>http://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1909/may/13.htm</ref>
==Criticism==
==Criticism==
===Atheism is Illogical===
===Atheism is Illogical===