What non-believers DO believe
Atheism, agnosticism and the trailing pack of additional isms that are so often attached to the first two as if they were mere after thoughts are not entirely devoid of belief, not even from the most extreme beginning, atheism - the ultimate abyss of nothingness and hopelessness as god-believers might call it. Certainly, a Taoist has beliefs and yet he claims no beliefs in gods.
"Hey... What's that? Beliefs?" you say.
It's true. Even atheists have beliefs.
I'm personally not an avid reader of philosophy, yet I do have a personal philosophy that I live by. We all do. I'll refer you to Richard Carrier to argue against this, if you'd like to refute the truth of the matter. Yet here, my purpose is simply. I wish to raise the level of awareness of for readers to recognizing the fact that we non-beleivers do, in fact, believe something.
Collectively speaking, it would be a fine mess to attempt lumping all non-believers into a single pile. Our beliefs vary enough from person to person that even listing the least common denominators of our every individual philosophy ofour midst would present a task of the highest order - it might be possible, of course, but impossibility is likely its nearest up-the-street neighbor. Yet let's try. Respect for basic honesty, respect for self and others, valuing and improving upon our own critical thinking skills, and accepting irrefutable reality might head such a list, (or not). But the point, I hope, is clear. We are not, any of us, entirely without beliefs.
I urge each of you to explore your own beliefs, and then to seek that which is common and uncommon between you and the guy or gal next to you. We all need to talk about our beliefs a lot more.
"Hey... What's that? Beliefs?" you say.
It's true. Even atheists have beliefs.
I'm personally not an avid reader of philosophy, yet I do have a personal philosophy that I live by. We all do. I'll refer you to Richard Carrier to argue against this, if you'd like to refute the truth of the matter. Yet here, my purpose is simply. I wish to raise the level of awareness of for readers to recognizing the fact that we non-beleivers do, in fact, believe something.
Collectively speaking, it would be a fine mess to attempt lumping all non-believers into a single pile. Our beliefs vary enough from person to person that even listing the least common denominators of our every individual philosophy ofour midst would present a task of the highest order - it might be possible, of course, but impossibility is likely its nearest up-the-street neighbor. Yet let's try. Respect for basic honesty, respect for self and others, valuing and improving upon our own critical thinking skills, and accepting irrefutable reality might head such a list, (or not). But the point, I hope, is clear. We are not, any of us, entirely without beliefs.
I urge each of you to explore your own beliefs, and then to seek that which is common and uncommon between you and the guy or gal next to you. We all need to talk about our beliefs a lot more.
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