...Mackenzie Wade Nielsen. Atheism. Waechtler. Encyclopedia Britannica: Atheism. Jan. 2013. Web. 6 Sept. 2014. ‹http://www.britannica.com.ezproxy1.lib.asu.edu/EBchecked/topic/40634/atheism› According to The Encyclopedia Britannica, predominantly written by Kai E. Nielsen, atheism, in general, is the assessment and denial of metaphysical beliefs in gods or spiritual beings. Nielsen states atheism, in its simplest form, is defined as an overall disbelief in or denial of godly or spiritual beliefs and beings, however, Nielsen clarifies that all atheists do not wholeheartedly or similarly reject the existence of said godly or spiritual beliefs and beings. Atheism branches into three major subcategories: fallibilistic atheism, aprioristic atheism, and dogmatic atheism. Fallibilistic atheists believe their knowledge and beliefs concerning godly or spiritual beings could be mistaken. Fallibilistic atheists are usually deemed as agnostics, however, they are distinguished by the fact they presently do not believe in any godly or spiritual being. They remain conscious they may, at some point in the future, be presented with evidence which may alter their beliefs. Fallibilistic atheists are often considered empiricists—those whom believe that knowledge comes only or primarily from sensory experience—for they need to be presented with clear evidence in order to believe in any godly or spiritual beings. Aprioristic atheists do not believe in any godly or spiritual being due to their logical...
Words: 3271 - Pages: 14
...Mohammad Khan October 15, 2013 Define Atheism The term atheism created from the Greek word “atheos” which means "without god(s)." This term is used to those who thought to reject the gods revered by the bigger culture. We are going through the world, where we have freedom of thought and speech, and scientific development, which increase in criticism of religion. The first individuals to identify themselves using the word "atheist" lived in the 18th century. Atheism can be defined in two ways- in a broad sense, the rejection of belief in the existence of deities. In a narrower sense, atheism is definitely the perception that there are no deities. Atheism is basically the lack of faith that any deities exist. Atheism is distinguished with theism, which in its most universal form is the faith that minimum one deity exists. Disagreements for atheism vary from the philosophical to social and historical methodologies. Excuses for not having faith in in any supernatural deity comprise the lack of observed sign of god, tricks of sinful object, disagreement from inconsistent exposures, denial of thoughts which cannot be fabricated, and the dispute from atheism. Many atheists claim that atheism is more prudent view than theism. As a result, the liability to disprove the existence of God does not go on the atheists, but on the theists to make available a justification for theism. New Atheism is the term specified to a drive of some early-21st-century atheist writers...
Words: 581 - Pages: 3
...The Influence of Social Institutions: Family, Religion and Education Elizabeth Bouer SOC/100 May 30, 2016 Dr. Karly Way Schauwecker The Influence of Social Institutions: Family, Religion and Education Early philosopher and originator of Functionalism theory, Herbert Spence (1820-1903), compared parallels between the function of the human anatomy and society. “He argued that just as the various organs of the body work together to keep the body functioning, the various parts of society work together to keep society functioning” (OpenStax CNX, 2015, p.15 ). Just as the body has organs that help it to exist and thrive, society also has key components which attribute to its overall success. These essential parts of the successful and fluid existence of a society are referred to as social institutions. Social institutions are structures of principles or conducts, focused on achieving social needs. Six critically significant, outlines of social institutions are: government, education, family, healthcare, religion and the economy (CNX, 2015). Government has its benefits, in that it helps to structure, regulate and organize a society. Healthcare is an essential component, not only for the continuity of existence, but as well as for continuance of reaching full/highest human potential. The economy (more specifically its success), is a critical element for a society’s ability to endure, succeed and grow. However, for many, out of the six institutions,...
Words: 1850 - Pages: 8
...Atheism will eventually become more prominent than religious belief Atheism is a state that is characterized by absence or rejection of existence of religious beliefs. It arises where a group of people or an individual convinces one or a certain group about the inexistence of the belief they hold. The rise of atheism has come into the increased in the recent past. This is mainly due to the failure of the Bible and the religious groups to prove some current occurrences in the world. These are mainly the natural calamities like earthquakes and some occurring celestial bodies such as the meteors that have come into the earth. The failure of their religions to give them religious solutions make them to move to the world with no believes. Different understanding and interpretation of the bible among the Christians has led to the emergence of many churches. In the process of the emergence of the churches, some of the people who do not fit at any groups end up being atheists. Such people end up without any of their believes due to the failure of the bible to provide them with necessary interpretation of the same. For instance, one Kenyan has been pursuing people especially from his community to join him in the atheist world. He tells them of the kind of life one enjoys when he is in a in believe world. The has also embraced the media in his campaign for what he believes is true. It sounds absurd to some people but some people tend to think that maybe he has something to say. World...
Words: 423 - Pages: 2
...Ex-Muslim atheists are becoming more outspoken, but tolerance is still rare Nov 24th 2012 A MOB attacked Alexander Aan even before an Indonesian court in June jailed him for two and a half years for “inciting religious hatred”. His crime was to write “God does not exist” on a Facebook group he had founded for atheists in Minang, a province of the world’s most populous Muslim nation. Like most non-believers in Islamic regions, he was brought up as a Muslim. And like many who profess godlessness openly, he has been punished. In a handful of majority-Muslim countries atheists can live safely, if quietly; Turkey is one example, Lebanon another. None makes atheism a specific crime. But none gives atheists legal protection or recognition. Indonesia, for example, demands that people declare themselves as one of six religions; atheism and agnosticism do not count. Egypt’s draft constitution makes room for only three faiths: Christianity, Judaism and Islam. Sharia law, which covers only Muslims unless incorporated into national law, assumes people are born into their parents’ religion. Thus ex-Muslim atheists are guilty of apostasy—a hudud crime against God, like adultery and drinking alcohol. Potential sanctions can be severe: eight states, including Iran, Saudi Arabia, Mauritania and Sudan have the death penalty on their statute books for such offences. In reality such punishments are rarely meted out. Most atheists are prosecuted for blasphemy or for inciting hatred. (Atheists born...
Words: 1160 - Pages: 5
...Is Buddhism an Atheistic religion? Responding this question is really difficult as its answer may be different depending on who is replying it. The answer depends on the definition one gives to certain words. Words like religion, theism, atheism and god. So to answer this question, these words must first be defined. Religion is defined in the World Encyclopedia as “A code of beliefs and practices formulated in response to a spiritual awareness of existence. It may involve either faith in a state of existence after earthly death, or a desire for union with an omnipotent spiritual being, or a combination of the two.” Another definition is found in Émile Durkheim’s book The Elementary Forms of the Religious Life, Book 1. He states: "Religion is a unified system of beliefs and practices relative to sacred things which unite into one single moral community called a church, all those who adhere to them." The definition provided by the World Encyclopedia points out that the code of beliefs we understand as religion, has to do with a supreme being/God or in a state of existence after earthly life, this state of existence is in some religions called Heaven. In contrast, Durkheim avoids references to the supernatural or God in his description. There is controversy in the subject, as there are many scholars who’s definition of religion has a relation with a supreme being or god and other scholars who argue that religions do not involve a belief in a God or in nothing related to the...
Words: 2245 - Pages: 9
...Religious Philosophers and Speculative Atheists Interpretations of Hume's philosophy of religion are often made against the background of more general interpretations of his philosophical intentions. From this perspective, it is not unusual to view Hume's views on religion in terms of the skepticism and naturalism that features prominently in his Treatise of Human Nature (1739-40), his first and most ambitious philosophical work. According to the account that is now widely accepted in the scholarly literature, Hume removed almost all the material in the Treatise that was concerned with religion because he was anxious to avoid causing any “offence” among the orthodox. In his later works, beginning with an Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding (1748), Hume began to present his views on this subject in a more substantial and direct manner. This culminates in his Natural History of Religion (1757) and Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion (1779; published posthumously) – both of which are entirely taken up with philosophical issues in religion. The linkage between these various works, on this account, is that the later writings on religion are simply an extension and application of the sceptical and naturalistic principles that Hume developed in his earlier writings. While it is certainly true that there is an intimate connection between Hume's scepticism and naturalism and his irreligious objectives and orientation, it is not evident that this relationship should be understood...
Words: 1814 - Pages: 8
...embedded into the structure of the capitalist economic system is the notion that the worker is miserable, and the person who performs the labor does not reap the reward of that labor. The result of this phenomenon is the division and estrangement of labor, and the rise in power of private property. Marx concludes that this cannot be true to the essence of human beings, who are estranged not only from the product and process of their labor, but also their own nature. Capitalism, which is the first negation of man, thus abolishes the possibility of real...
Words: 2047 - Pages: 9
...Faith Philosophy has had a powerful influence on human beliefs and reason. It asks questions about the meaning of life and the purpose that humans have in the world. These philosophical ideas have carried much interest regarding religion and the underlying concept of God. Faith and reason have played a fundamental role in advocating religious beliefs for people of all different religions. There are various distinct religious beliefs around the world, but there are also people such as Atheists, who do not believe in the existence of a higher power. Religion has been a pivotal topic of discussion for individuals such as Kierkegaard, who used his faith to prove the existence of God as opposed to atheists such as Sigmund Freud, who denied the existence of any religion or belief in a higher power. To begin with, Kierkegaard proclaimed that faith was an essential factor in his belief of God. Faith is such a powerful force for religions who believe in a higher power that is far beyond our human understanding. Many philosophers find so much uncertainty in religious advocates of Christianity because there is so much question and uncertainty in proving that God does exist. In class, Professor Embree stated, “The issues of religion and philosophy are highly overlapping. Philosophy focuses on questions. Religion is based on faith. Faith is sometimes antagonistic to philosophy. Don’t question it, you will lose your faith” (February 6, 2014). What humans believe will influence everything...
Words: 606 - Pages: 3
...Philosophy and Religion PHI 200 Angela Lohr Ashford University Abstract Philosophy and Religion have always been a source of contention between people. In the following pages we ask ourselves and discuss if humans need to prove the existence of god and if it is necessary? What the strongest argument for the existence of God is and what are the foundations of the universe. These are all important questions that we need to ask ourselves. In the end, no matter what your beliefs are, as long as you are happy with your life that is all that matters. God affects the lives of people differently and has certainly been a contentious subject for hundreds of years. Despite the antiquity of this question, new aspects of this debate have arisen recently, partly because of developments in science and philosophy. Big Bang cosmology is the best-known example, but each year brings new results of research into the origins of life and of our universe. Craig, W. Lane, Sinnott A. Walter (2004). Some people go through their entire lives and fully believe that there is a greater all powerful being somehow surrounding them and watching them. Others believe that there is nothing out there and that when you die that there is nothing in the universe that is going to judge you and condemn you to a life of pain and suffering, you just return to the earth and that’s it. So back to the question, is proof for the existence of god necessary. Clearly the answer to this question is...
Words: 2137 - Pages: 9
...near-death state in heaven, saw their loved ones, some people go to hell, they all think that is real experience at that time, and then their life has changed a lot, because they are beginning to believe that the person really has a soul. Others in real life, but also that some people have the experience of familiar spirits (spirit), when they have some difficult problems, or had some strange disease, they can not help them from people. They will find some witch cast to help them, some very efficacious, because I believe that the Bible records, the devil is capable. If the real existence of the spirit world, I believe that God must exist. Second, the wisdom proves the existence of God. When I grew up to go to the city life, i see the high-rise...
Words: 1041 - Pages: 5
...Perhaps, some might bemoan the advent of a secular Ireland. Evaluate this statement. The process of ‘secularization’ can be described as the process of organizing society around non-religious values or principles. In otherwards, the state would no longer offer preferential treatment to religion from the equal rule of law. This would rather give the space for individuals of all creeds to grow their beliefs based on their own values and not the values imposed on them by the state. Secularization aims to allow each indivudal to pursue their own beliefs on religion. The value of secularism is best described by Mahatma Gandhi, who said: “If I were a dictator, religion and state would be separate. I swear by my religion. I will die for it. But it is my personal affair. The state has nothing to do with it. The state would look after your secular welfare, health, communications, foreign relations, currency and so on, but not your or my religion. That is everybody’s personal concern!” In recent years, many have questioned whether Ireland has become a secularised society. The findings of recent surveys suggest that the Irish continue to be religious but that they lack confidence in church leadership. Indeed, “Russians have more confidence in their religious leaders than the Irish”. This is said to be mainly due to the “well publicised cases of sexual and physical abuse by clergy and religious”. The lack of confidence in Churhces and religious organisations can be seen in Figure 6 in which...
Words: 1148 - Pages: 5
...It does however give rise to plausibility to the fact that the universe was created from a singular point but as Peter Atkins, a physical chemist, points out; “fine tuning” of the world may appear to be miraculous but upon further examination a naturalist explanation can be made (McGrath, 2010). Science finds answers to biological, physical and cosmological questions. Religion makes sense out of what science solves, therefore it will never find its own answer in...
Words: 1551 - Pages: 7
...LIBERTY UNIVERSITY THE GOD-IS-DEAD THEOLOGY A RESEARCH PAPER SUBMITTED TO DOCTOR RICHARD ELLIGSON PROFESSOR OF THEOLOGY IN CANDIDACY FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF CHURCH MINISTRY BY EL-FATIH J. AJALA (25927535) THEO 510 LUO LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA JULY 21, 2013 Introduction Paul Enns in his book The Moody Handbook of Theology states of theologians who profess this theology, “deny all forms of traditional ontology and allow for no sovereign and unconditioned Being but only a ‘God’ who at some point in the dialectic wills His own self-annihilation” and that, “man must learn to live without God.”[1] The lack of universal truth in our lives in this 21st century can be directly attributed to the lack of morals and moral values begun in the 19th century; and which took root in the 20th century; and might be the death of man in the 22nd century. In stating that God is dead, it has to be shown that: * Is God dead? * Science and technology can solve the world’s problems * God died as a transcendent God when Christ died * The Bible is narrative (i.e. myth) This review of the God-Is-Dead theology focuses on these four questions. Is God Dead? In an article written in the Chicago Tribune in 1963 it is stated that two men (Thomas Altizer and William Hamilton) experienced the death of...
Words: 3468 - Pages: 14
...In Canada there has been a raise in non-religious people since 2001. This has shown to be connected to the rise in scientific findings in the fields of human creation and evolution as well as the new technology coming into society at a rapid pace. The Canadian Census in 2011 showed that 23.9% of Canadians chose to be non-religious, this includes Atheism, Agnostic, Humanist, and some did not specify. This has gone up drastically since 2001 when it was just at 16.2%. This 7.7% jump was noticed the most in the Northwest Territories, where a 12.5% spike was seen in such a small period of time. The was surprising for many as the high-speed internet had not and still has not reached a major part of the territory. This drastic rise can also be attributed...
Words: 1078 - Pages: 5
