Just wondering. It seems to me that it should be an option.
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well because if you are an anti-theist you don't believe in god or gods and that is the same as atheist.
I don't like to be labeled according to my disbelief in myths and gods. I say they made up "atheist" when they made up their god. Being labeled for what should be normal gives too much credence to theism. Theist were the ones altered. You aren't born a theist. You have to be brainwashed to believe in a god. It's called institutional indoctrination.
So I suggest not complaining too much about being called an atheist instead of an anti-theist. They are both just unnecessary labels that describe the same thing.
But I don't see any of you activly trying to get rid of religion.
I try not to tilt at windmills.
Sorry, guys. My idiot cousin go a hold of my phone. Non of that above was me.
Actually, according to the definitions as I understand them, you don't have to be an atheist to be an anti-theist.
Some people are in the situation where they recognize the harm that religion is doing, but have various degrees of beliefs in a god or gods.
But as far as the "angry theist" is concerned, the distinction between such words wont matter much. They seldom know the definition of any of the words.
I see the harm in religion but I know it is impractical to get rid of it. I don't bother getting rid of something that is a myth. I let people believe what they want to believe. I also know that the majority is almost always wrong about everything.
"Actually, according to the definitions as I understand them, you don't have to be an atheist to be an anti-theist."
Yep
Atheist is the lack of belief in a theistic type of god.
Anti-theist is the opinion/belief that theism does more harm then good to the world in general.
You might also be an atheist and not be an anti-theist.
You might be indifferent or not knowing the harm theism does or that even theism exists.
Also imprtant here is the distinction between theism and the theist.
We are adressing the harm of the theology not of the person influenced by such a theology.
Exampe:
We anti-theists recognize that a totalitarian belief system is evil and harmfull thus we are against it.
Therefore we are anti-theists.
Against the crusades and such are not an anti-theistic concepts but actions, thus those are results influenced by theism and not theistic concepts themselves.
Anti-theism is an opinion against the theistic concepts since they do more harm then good.
You do not need to take any action to be an anti-theist but just be of that opinion.
Thank you, Jeff, for pointing that out
wecome
Okay I get it atheist is an opinion and anti-theist is one whom acts upon that opinion. So at times I am just an atheist and at other times I am anti-theist.
Atheist is not an opinion, it is state of being. It is the neutral position before you have an opinion on something.
Anti-theist is an opinion and you cannot be sometimes in it, you either are against indoctrination, undecided or for it.
If at some point you started to see indoctrination as a good thing, then you stopped being an anti-theist(or undecided).
An Anti-theist means a person which is Against-theism
Anti-something means against-something.
Anti-theism means against the theistic concepts and claims put forward.
The concept of a totalitarian belief system
The concept of indoctrination as a good thing
The concept of divine command theory.
etc...
If you are against ANY of those concepts you have anti-theistic principles.
Jeff, the steamroller.
Big difference, actually.
The atheist doesn't show malice. The anti-theist is all about malice towards the theist topic in a general sense. Atheism avoids any attempt at coherent, purposeful discussion on the topic of theism because it bears no fruit. Anti-theism goes out of its way to conflict with theism because the fruit is the intrinsic value of the the conflict itself. They are wholly different in thought and behavior towards the topic.
Atheism is simply a stance on theism; a declaration of denouncement followed by no further heed, nor expense of thought nor effort on the topic.
Anti-theism is a declaration of active dissidence and overt counter-activity seeking theism's demise.
That's why anti-theism is not an option. It isn't at all aligned with a true atheist's psyche on the topic of theism. To disagree with this is to admit a lack of understanding of the defining nature of the two schools of thought. They can and often do co-mingle in a person's psyche, blurring the line between the two, but in reality one is either an atheist or an anti-theist only after some sincere introspection.
I'm an atheist. I'd rather not bash religions or gods anymore. I'd rather make a study of their make-up and origins. I find it fascinating to reveal the timeline, events and architecture of religious thought and redacted doctrines. The more it's revealed and published, the more common it will become associated with myth until such time that its one and only true revelation will be it's own undoing and dismissal. And, when that happens and everyone realizes their lives have no higher purpose, man will initiate self-annihilation if he hasn't distracted himself by the creation of a noble purpose by then.
"They are wholly different in thought and behavior towards the topic."
We agree, the atheist is indifferent while the anti-theist actually cares for the well being of humanity.
"Anti-theism is a declaration of active dissidence and overt counter-activity seeking theism's demise."
What is wrong in seeking the demise of mind control?
The demise of discrimination that theism brings with it?
The anti-gay movement is a faith based initiative and we anti-theist are proud to be against it.
Actually pitar you should be ashamed to even suggest that anti-theism " is not an option."
Shame on you.
"It isn't at all aligned with a true atheist's psyche on the topic of theism."
"To disagree with this is to admit a lack of understanding of the defining nature of the two schools of thought."
I read bullshit before, but this one was thick and smelly.
Please explain to me how would you go to support your claim when you clearly demonstrated that you don't have a clue what anti-theism means?
"I'd rather not bash religions or gods anymore."
That is your arrogant and egoistic choice but there are more decent people that wish to give gays their rights and free us from dogmatic beliefs that imprison innocent children from child brainwashing and such.
Just because you are enjoying yourself, it does not mean that other people, including innocent children are not currently suffering because of religions.
"And, when that happens and everyone realizes their lives have no higher purpose, man will initiate self-annihilation if he hasn't distracted himself by the creation of a noble purpose by then."
Man seriously get a hold of your arrogance for a moment and just learn history.
Nothing gets done without a type of fight, the guys who actually gave Americans their constitution had anti-theistic principles that wanted freedom form religious influence in matters of the state.
Do you really think everyone agreed with that? That they had your attitude?
You really think that if you do not fight for what is right, everyone will just do it for you?
"The more it's revealed and published, the more common it will become associated with myth"
You seem to not know that its anti-theism that puts the effort for that to happen.
It's anti-theism that explains to people that a person that punishes an innocent for the mistakes of others is immoral.
It is anti-theism that tries to let people know about morality and not let theism make a monopoly on it.
etc...
How old are you? because you are reasoning as a child that does not understand the reality around him.
To give gays their right anti-theists had to get out there and debate it with hard headed pricks that wanted to treat other human beings as inferior to them(theists) risking their reputation and sometimes their lives.
Yes the people who were anti-theists(some deists/atheist/theists) did that, not because they were atheists.
The atheist as so you well pointed out is just" a declaration of denouncement followed by no further heed, nor expense of thought nor effort on the topic."
So don't sprout nonsense and insults at the people who fought for your rights because it was the right thing to do.
OP question:
Anti-theism cannot be a profile option since theists can also be anti-theists.
Profile labels shows what you label yourself as, not what your current opinions are.
Pitar, your definition is not the be all end all. Malice? No. Opposition/ actively trying to get rid of religion. Yes.
I don't think it is possible to get rid of religion. You might be able to discredit religion A to the point where people start to abandon it, but they will just run to religion B and C. It seems that many (if not most) people want to believe they are special snowflakes and there is no limit to the garbage they will accept to achieve this.
Then we will just have to discredit all of them, even if it takes 10,000 years.
***************DOUBLE POST***************
Well, I don't think humanity is in need to actually get rid of any and all religion. I think we can make an enormous amount of progress towards peace, tolerance and justice, without eradicating it.
What we need is legislation to:
- Implement separation of religion from state.
- Prohibit religiously motivated wielding of power from all positions of power over others.
- Remove tax exemption for religious organizations and all other exceptions from the law (like child care).
- Remove the opportunity for greedy and ruthless people to trick gullible people out of their money, by means of religion and superstition (like TV preachers and psychics).
...and probably a few more I couldn't think of right now.
I suppose.