One of religion’s goals is conversion and forcing the respective world view on others. The way our society is currently setup, religion will just about never cease to interfere or seek to impose itself on our daily lives. By it’s very nature, each religion needs to consider itself to be the sole correct path.
Some pre-christian polytheistic religions were not like that. Also there are exclusive non-religios views, like atheism. So the problem is not religion as such I think.
This can be seen as a strong positive statement of denying theism. This might be it, but this might be a lot. Religion is throughout human life (unfortunately, I think at least)
What’s important is that you deny this elephant giving you instructions on what’s right and even punishing you. This affects your behavior comparing to people who are convienced that elephant is real and consequential.
But really what I meant in the original comment is there are people who are happy with their shoulder elephant and don’t bother anyone else. But others impose their elephant on others.
Similarly, some people deny shoulder elephant existance and would make effort to spread this idea of elephant absence to others.
It’s true that the quoted religions are notable for evangelism in different forms. But what I am saying is that the more important opposition should be to these authoritharian world views, religious or not. And not so much to likely incorrect (or in some cases even certainly incorrect) shoulder elephant ideas.
Atheism is a lack of belief in a theistic diety- Buddhism can be considered athiest, yet also a religion. (IIRC, it depends on one’s particular brand of Buddhism.)
In any case it’s also more broadly considered to be a rejection of reiligousn(and possibly spiritual) beliefs.
I would not argue the spiritual does not exist. That is for “them” to conclusively prove. I am completely comfortable admitting I don’t understand things. Removing the need “comforting” myths about angry and vengeful gods to explain things that can’t be explained (but probably have a rational explanation,)
You’re not entirely wrong, but I don’t think it Buddhism or other practices without god(s) as atheist. Atheist seems to be more of a thing by itself while the other practices are non-theistic. It’s minor, but important distinction imo. Atheism calls a different set of ideas than spiritual practices.
Some of those polytheistic religions are still recognized today, but their following is much smaller than it used to be. I think you’re right. It’s not so much religion, but organized religion that is spoonfed to people who rarely/never read the actual text.
I don’t equate those to religion, more like a spirituality and philosophy blend. Religion as a word and concept has been tarnished by Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.
Right, so spirituality, philosophy, and other ways of thinking and making sense of the world, sometimes become authoritarian and evangelistic. Not unlike judeochristian religions.
One of religion’s goals is conversion and forcing the respective world view on others. The way our society is currently setup, religion will just about never cease to interfere or seek to impose itself on our daily lives. By it’s very nature, each religion needs to consider itself to be the sole correct path.
Some pre-christian polytheistic religions were not like that. Also there are exclusive non-religios views, like atheism. So the problem is not religion as such I think.
Atheism is literally a lack of theism. That’s it. Nothing else.
This can be seen as a strong positive statement of denying theism. This might be it, but this might be a lot. Religion is throughout human life (unfortunately, I think at least)
In the same way I “strongly deny” that there’s an invisible plaid talking elephant sitting on my right shoulder, sure.
What’s important is that you deny this elephant giving you instructions on what’s right and even punishing you. This affects your behavior comparing to people who are convienced that elephant is real and consequential. But really what I meant in the original comment is there are people who are happy with their shoulder elephant and don’t bother anyone else. But others impose their elephant on others. Similarly, some people deny shoulder elephant existance and would make effort to spread this idea of elephant absence to others.
It’s true that the quoted religions are notable for evangelism in different forms. But what I am saying is that the more important opposition should be to these authoritharian world views, religious or not. And not so much to likely incorrect (or in some cases even certainly incorrect) shoulder elephant ideas.
Atheism is a lack of belief in a theistic diety- Buddhism can be considered athiest, yet also a religion. (IIRC, it depends on one’s particular brand of Buddhism.)
In any case it’s also more broadly considered to be a rejection of reiligousn(and possibly spiritual) beliefs.
I would not argue the spiritual does not exist. That is for “them” to conclusively prove. I am completely comfortable admitting I don’t understand things. Removing the need “comforting” myths about angry and vengeful gods to explain things that can’t be explained (but probably have a rational explanation,)
You’re not entirely wrong, but I don’t think it Buddhism or other practices without god(s) as atheist. Atheist seems to be more of a thing by itself while the other practices are non-theistic. It’s minor, but important distinction imo. Atheism calls a different set of ideas than spiritual practices.
Some of those polytheistic religions are still recognized today, but their following is much smaller than it used to be. I think you’re right. It’s not so much religion, but organized religion that is spoonfed to people who rarely/never read the actual text.
I don’t equate those to religion, more like a spirituality and philosophy blend. Religion as a word and concept has been tarnished by Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.
Right, so spirituality, philosophy, and other ways of thinking and making sense of the world, sometimes become authoritarian and evangelistic. Not unlike judeochristian religions.