Difference between revisions of "Atheist worldview"
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*[http://www.rzim.eu/the-scandanavian-sceptic-or-why-atheism-is-a-belief-system The Scandanavian Sceptic (or Why Atheism Is a Belief System)] by [[Ravi Zacharias|Ravi Zacharias International Ministries]] | *[http://www.rzim.eu/the-scandanavian-sceptic-or-why-atheism-is-a-belief-system The Scandanavian Sceptic (or Why Atheism Is a Belief System)] by [[Ravi Zacharias|Ravi Zacharias International Ministries]] | ||
</ref> | </ref> | ||
| + | |||
| + | == The atheist mindset == | ||
The functional [[psychology]] of the atheist worldview is rooted in the [http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/hide-and-seek/201205/the-10-personality-disorders character defect or personality disorder] of [[narcissism]] on one end of the behavioral spectrum to [[avoidant personality disorder|avoidantism]] on the other.<ref>See [http://psychcentral.com/disorders/avoidant-personality-disorder-symptoms/ Avoidant personality disorder]</ref> | The functional [[psychology]] of the atheist worldview is rooted in the [http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/hide-and-seek/201205/the-10-personality-disorders character defect or personality disorder] of [[narcissism]] on one end of the behavioral spectrum to [[avoidant personality disorder|avoidantism]] on the other.<ref>See [http://psychcentral.com/disorders/avoidant-personality-disorder-symptoms/ Avoidant personality disorder]</ref> | ||
| + | |||
| + | === Narcissism === | ||
The arrogance and defiant attitude of the ordinary atheist finds its most extreme pathological expression in manifestations of [[Narcissistic personality disorder]]s.<ref>[http://psychcentral.com/disorders/narcissistic-personality-disorder-symptoms/ Narcissistic personality disorder symptoms] (psychcentral.com)<br/>[http://samvak.tripod.com/personalitydisorders22.html Codependence and the Dependent Personality Disorder]</ref> | The arrogance and defiant attitude of the ordinary atheist finds its most extreme pathological expression in manifestations of [[Narcissistic personality disorder]]s.<ref>[http://psychcentral.com/disorders/narcissistic-personality-disorder-symptoms/ Narcissistic personality disorder symptoms] (psychcentral.com)<br/>[http://samvak.tripod.com/personalitydisorders22.html Codependence and the Dependent Personality Disorder]</ref> | ||
| − | A persistently (insistently) depressed, distrustful or futile outlook in general also manifests an atheistic worldview having no hope for the future, no expectation of aid from a power greater than oneself, and in one who has a living conscience, a feeling of generalized guilt that no one can forgive, "''having no hope, and without God in the world''" (See [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ephesians%202:12&version=KJV Ephesians 2:12]) They can be angry and depressed at life in general for not meeting their expectations. Traditionally, the sin of "[[sloth]]" is not simply laziness and indolence, but a hatred of making the effort to seek what is good, to avoid what is bad, unwillingness to do what is good and wholesome and necessary for the benefit of others, and unwillingness to change.<ref>[http://www.beliefnet.com/Faiths/2002/08/The-Spiritual-Side-Of-Sloth.aspx# The Spiritual Side of Sloth: Four views]</ref> It also includes being too busy to think about death and the real purpose of life, a "workaholic".<ref>[http://www.catholic.com/magazine/articles/the-sin-of-sloth The sin of Sloth]</ref> Many atheists manifest a lack of motivation which finds its more extreme manifestation in various forms of homelessness or vagrancy by choice. Statistically the teenage suicide rate is highest among those who live as practicing atheists, having no professed religious affiliation.<ref>[http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/doi/abs/10.1176/appi.ajp.161.12.2303 ''American Journal of Psychiatry:'' "Religious Affiliation and Suicide Attempt." Kanita Dervic, M.D.; Maria A. Oquendo, M.D.; Michael F. Grunebaum, M.D.; Steve Ellis, Ph.D.; Ainsley K. Burke, Ph.D.; J. John Mann, M.D.]</ref> | + | === Avoidantism === |
| + | |||
| + | A persistently (insistently) depressed, distrustful or futile outlook in general also manifests an atheistic worldview having no hope for the future, no expectation of aid from a power greater than oneself, and in one who has a living conscience, a feeling of generalized guilt that no one can forgive, "''having no hope, and without God in the world''" (See [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ephesians%202:12&version=KJV Ephesians 2:12]) They can be angry and depressed at life in general for not meeting their expectations. | ||
| + | |||
| + | === Sloth === | ||
| + | |||
| + | Traditionally, the sin of "[[sloth]]" is not simply laziness and indolence, but a hatred of making the effort to seek what is good, to avoid what is bad, unwillingness to do what is good and wholesome and necessary for the benefit of others, and unwillingness to change.<ref>[http://www.beliefnet.com/Faiths/2002/08/The-Spiritual-Side-Of-Sloth.aspx# The Spiritual Side of Sloth: Four views]</ref> It also includes being too busy to think about death and the real purpose of life, a "workaholic".<ref>[http://www.catholic.com/magazine/articles/the-sin-of-sloth The sin of Sloth]</ref> Many atheists manifest a lack of motivation which finds its more extreme manifestation in various forms of homelessness or vagrancy by choice. | ||
| + | |||
| + | === Suicide === | ||
| + | |||
| + | Statistically the teenage suicide rate is highest among those who live as practicing atheists, having no professed religious affiliation.<ref>[http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/doi/abs/10.1176/appi.ajp.161.12.2303 ''American Journal of Psychiatry:'' "Religious Affiliation and Suicide Attempt." Kanita Dervic, M.D.; Maria A. Oquendo, M.D.; Michael F. Grunebaum, M.D.; Steve Ellis, Ph.D.; Ainsley K. Burke, Ph.D.; J. John Mann, M.D.]</ref> | ||
| + | |||
| + | === Pride: presumption and despair === | ||
Both ends of this spectrum of human behavior along with all the forms of ordinary (and pathological extremes of) atheistic human behavior in between are rooted in what the Bible calls the sin of [[pride]]: [[presumption]] and [[despair]], of seeing no need for God, and of refusal to believe that there is a God of any kind to appeal to for help and rescue (salvation) from final futility and destruction.<ref>See [http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p3s2c1a1.htm Catechism of the Catholic Church number 2091 sins against hope: despair and presumption.]</ref> | Both ends of this spectrum of human behavior along with all the forms of ordinary (and pathological extremes of) atheistic human behavior in between are rooted in what the Bible calls the sin of [[pride]]: [[presumption]] and [[despair]], of seeing no need for God, and of refusal to believe that there is a God of any kind to appeal to for help and rescue (salvation) from final futility and destruction.<ref>See [http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p3s2c1a1.htm Catechism of the Catholic Church number 2091 sins against hope: despair and presumption.]</ref> | ||
| − | The atheist worldview embraces only the physical universe, the world of human society, money, family and work, one's own personal needs and enjoyments, if any are available, lack of time, also accident, circumstance and misfortune ("simply rotten bad luck"), and finally pain, disease, disability, deformity and death, perceived by the atheist as things no one can do anything at all about changing, "so why bother?". The atheist is faced with the problem of evil, and crime and violence prevention, but does not attribute the cause of evil to the devil or to human sin, only to the mystery of human [[behavioral psychology]] and [[genetics]].<ref>[http://www.beliefnet.com/Faiths/Facing-Evil.aspx Facing Evil: Why Christians and Atheists Need Each Other (beliefnet.com}</ref> Atheists who are scientifically and socially active support [[genetic engineering]], [[human cloning]], [[psychological manipulation]] of individuals and of [[demagogue|whole populations]], the atheistic religion of [[Secular humanism|Secular Humanism]]<ref>[https://www.secularhumanism.org/ What is Secular Humanism?] (secularhumanism.org)</ref> and the [https://www.princeton.edu/~achaney/tmve/wiki100k/docs/Human_Potential_Movement.html Human Potential Movement]. | + | == The atheist's world and religion == |
| + | |||
| + | The atheist worldview embraces only the physical universe, the world of human society, money, family and work, one's own personal needs and enjoyments, if any are available, lack of time, also accident, circumstance and misfortune ("simply rotten bad luck"), and finally pain, disease, disability, deformity and death, perceived by the atheist as things no one can do anything at all about changing, "so why bother?". | ||
| + | |||
| + | === ''Theodicy:'' the problem of evil === | ||
| + | |||
| + | The atheist is faced with the problem of evil, and crime and violence prevention, but does not attribute the cause of evil to the devil or to human sin, only to the mystery of human [[behavioral psychology]] and [[genetics]].<ref>[http://www.beliefnet.com/Faiths/Facing-Evil.aspx Facing Evil: Why Christians and Atheists Need Each Other] (beliefnet.com}</ref> | ||
| + | |||
| + | === Social action === | ||
| + | |||
| + | Atheists who are scientifically and socially active support [[genetic engineering]], [[human cloning]], [[psychological manipulation]] of individuals and of [[demagogue|whole populations]], the atheistic religion of [[Secular humanism|Secular Humanism]]<ref>[https://www.secularhumanism.org/ What is Secular Humanism?] (secularhumanism.org)</ref> and the [https://www.princeton.edu/~achaney/tmve/wiki100k/docs/Human_Potential_Movement.html Human Potential Movement]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | === View of death === | ||
The atheist sees only [http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/extinction oblivion] and personal extinction in death: ''cessation of existence, no knowledge, no pain, no pleasure, no activity, '''nothing:''''' no heaven, no hell, no punishment for being evil, no reward for being holy.<ref>See definition [http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/nirvana nirvana (Buddhist term)] (oxforddictionaries.com)</ref>See [http://biblehub.com/multi/revelation/22-11.htm Revelation 22:11].) Significantly, the medical profession has found that the two groups who face death with the least degree of anguish are devout Christians and absolute Atheists.<ref>[http://www.atheist-community.org/library/newsletters/2010-01.pdf Perspectives on Death and Dying by an Atheist Nurse] (atheist-community.org)</ref> | The atheist sees only [http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/extinction oblivion] and personal extinction in death: ''cessation of existence, no knowledge, no pain, no pleasure, no activity, '''nothing:''''' no heaven, no hell, no punishment for being evil, no reward for being holy.<ref>See definition [http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/nirvana nirvana (Buddhist term)] (oxforddictionaries.com)</ref>See [http://biblehub.com/multi/revelation/22-11.htm Revelation 22:11].) Significantly, the medical profession has found that the two groups who face death with the least degree of anguish are devout Christians and absolute Atheists.<ref>[http://www.atheist-community.org/library/newsletters/2010-01.pdf Perspectives on Death and Dying by an Atheist Nurse] (atheist-community.org)</ref> | ||
| + | |||
| + | == More information sources == | ||
For more information please see: | For more information please see: | ||
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*[[Attempts to dilute the definition of atheism]] | *[[Attempts to dilute the definition of atheism]] | ||
*[[Atheism and beliefs]] | *[[Atheism and beliefs]] | ||
| − | *[[Christian In Name Only]] '''XINO''', an example of [http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/virtual "virtual"] | + | *[[Christian In Name Only]] '''XINO''', an example of [http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/virtual "virtual" atheism]<br/>"''having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof''". [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=romans%201:28-32&version=KJV see Romans 1:28-32], [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2timothy%203:2-5&version=KJV 2 Timothy 3:2-5] and [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=wisdom%202&version=DRA Wisdom 2] |
== See also == | == See also == | ||
| Line 81: | Line 111: | ||
*[http://creation.com/atheism-no-objective-morality Atheism—no objective morality?] | *[http://creation.com/atheism-no-objective-morality Atheism—no objective morality?] | ||
*[http://coldcasechristianity.com/2014/the-inevitable-consequence-of-an-atheistic-worldview/ The Inevitable Consequence of An Atheistic Worldview] | *[http://coldcasechristianity.com/2014/the-inevitable-consequence-of-an-atheistic-worldview/ The Inevitable Consequence of An Atheistic Worldview] | ||
| − | *[http://americanhumanist.org/humanism/I_Was_an_Atheist_in_a_Foxhole I Was An Atheist In A Foxhole | + | *[http://americanhumanist.org/humanism/I_Was_an_Atheist_in_a_Foxhole I Was An Atheist In A Foxhole] |
==References== | ==References== | ||
Revision as of 08:22, December 4, 2014
Atheism, as defined by the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, the Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy, and other philosophy reference works, is the denial of the existence of God.[1]
Although many atheists deny that atheism is a worldview, atheists commonly share a number of beliefs such as naturalism, belief in evolution and abiogenesis.[2]
The atheist mindset
The functional psychology of the atheist worldview is rooted in the character defect or personality disorder of narcissism on one end of the behavioral spectrum to avoidantism on the other.[3]
Narcissism
The arrogance and defiant attitude of the ordinary atheist finds its most extreme pathological expression in manifestations of Narcissistic personality disorders.[4]
Avoidantism
A persistently (insistently) depressed, distrustful or futile outlook in general also manifests an atheistic worldview having no hope for the future, no expectation of aid from a power greater than oneself, and in one who has a living conscience, a feeling of generalized guilt that no one can forgive, "having no hope, and without God in the world" (See Ephesians 2:12) They can be angry and depressed at life in general for not meeting their expectations.
Sloth
Traditionally, the sin of "sloth" is not simply laziness and indolence, but a hatred of making the effort to seek what is good, to avoid what is bad, unwillingness to do what is good and wholesome and necessary for the benefit of others, and unwillingness to change.[5] It also includes being too busy to think about death and the real purpose of life, a "workaholic".[6] Many atheists manifest a lack of motivation which finds its more extreme manifestation in various forms of homelessness or vagrancy by choice.
Suicide
Statistically the teenage suicide rate is highest among those who live as practicing atheists, having no professed religious affiliation.[7]
Pride: presumption and despair
Both ends of this spectrum of human behavior along with all the forms of ordinary (and pathological extremes of) atheistic human behavior in between are rooted in what the Bible calls the sin of pride: presumption and despair, of seeing no need for God, and of refusal to believe that there is a God of any kind to appeal to for help and rescue (salvation) from final futility and destruction.[8]
The atheist's world and religion
The atheist worldview embraces only the physical universe, the world of human society, money, family and work, one's own personal needs and enjoyments, if any are available, lack of time, also accident, circumstance and misfortune ("simply rotten bad luck"), and finally pain, disease, disability, deformity and death, perceived by the atheist as things no one can do anything at all about changing, "so why bother?".
Theodicy: the problem of evil
The atheist is faced with the problem of evil, and crime and violence prevention, but does not attribute the cause of evil to the devil or to human sin, only to the mystery of human behavioral psychology and genetics.[9]
Social action
Atheists who are scientifically and socially active support genetic engineering, human cloning, psychological manipulation of individuals and of whole populations, the atheistic religion of Secular Humanism[10] and the Human Potential Movement.
View of death
The atheist sees only oblivion and personal extinction in death: cessation of existence, no knowledge, no pain, no pleasure, no activity, nothing: no heaven, no hell, no punishment for being evil, no reward for being holy.[11]See Revelation 22:11.) Significantly, the medical profession has found that the two groups who face death with the least degree of anguish are devout Christians and absolute Atheists.[12]
More information sources
For more information please see:
- Attempts to dilute the definition of atheism
- Atheism and beliefs
- Christian In Name Only XINO, an example of "virtual" atheism
"having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof". see Romans 1:28-32, 2 Timothy 3:2-5 and Wisdom 2
See also
- Atheism and belief
- Atheism and depression
- Atheism and hedonism
- Atheist hypocrisy
- Evolution
- Hedonism
- Hypocrisy
- Liberal hedonism
- Naturalism (philosophy)
- Origin of life
- Pragmatism
- Suicide
- Utilitarianism
Atheism is a religion:
Commonly raised issues relating to the atheist worldview:
- Evidence for Christianity
- Atheism and morality
- List of the moral failings of the atheist community
- Atheism and irrationality
- Atheism and the problem of evil
- Atheist worldview, nature and futility
- Hopelessness of atheism
- Atheism and death
Causes of atheism:
Arguments against atheism:
External links
- Is atheism a worldview? by Matt Slick of CARM
- The Christian Worldview, the Atheist Worldview, and Logic by Matt Sliok
- Is Matt Dillahunty’s Atheism a Worldview? by Rob Lundberg
- Defining Worldviews -- Atheistic Versus Theistic
- Atheism: An irrational worldview by Dr. Jason Lisle
- The Scandanavian Sceptic (or Why Atheism Is a Belief System) by Ravi Zacharias International Ministries
- Atheism—no objective morality?
- The Inevitable Consequence of An Atheistic Worldview
- I Was An Atheist In A Foxhole
References
- ↑ Multiple references:
- Smart, J. J. C. (August 8, 2011). "Atheism and agnosticism". The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Spring 2013 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.). Retrieved July 17, 2014.
- Sarfati, Jonathan, Ph.D. (23 June 2007). "Atheism is more rational?". Retrieved July 17, 2014. See Creation Ministries International, Jonathan Sarfati.
- Day, Donn R. (2007). "Atheism - etymology". Retrieved July 15, 2014.
- ↑
- ↑ See Avoidant personality disorder
- ↑ Narcissistic personality disorder symptoms (psychcentral.com)
Codependence and the Dependent Personality Disorder - ↑ The Spiritual Side of Sloth: Four views
- ↑ The sin of Sloth
- ↑ American Journal of Psychiatry: "Religious Affiliation and Suicide Attempt." Kanita Dervic, M.D.; Maria A. Oquendo, M.D.; Michael F. Grunebaum, M.D.; Steve Ellis, Ph.D.; Ainsley K. Burke, Ph.D.; J. John Mann, M.D.
- ↑ See Catechism of the Catholic Church number 2091 sins against hope: despair and presumption.
- ↑ Facing Evil: Why Christians and Atheists Need Each Other (beliefnet.com}
- ↑ What is Secular Humanism? (secularhumanism.org)
- ↑ See definition nirvana (Buddhist term) (oxforddictionaries.com)
- ↑ Perspectives on Death and Dying by an Atheist Nurse (atheist-community.org)