Comments on: Non-Theism http://www.sacredriver.org/225/non-theism Exploring a nontheistic spirituality grounded in naturalism and humanism Mon, 09 Aug 2010 18:54:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Peter Schogol http://www.sacredriver.org/225/non-theism#comment-171 Peter Schogol Tue, 21 Apr 2009 08:03:10 +0000 http://www.sacredriver.org/225/non-theism#comment-171 All the labels which define me exist in a sort of reverse telescopic arrangement. So while "atheist" is one lens it is a smaller one than "nontheist." I am a nontheist for exactly the same reason you are: that atheist connotes anti-religious, which I am not. I am a religious naturalist, which is even a larger lens than nontheist. People have told me that calling myself a nontheist is being evasive, cowardly even. Now I live in the South and work with local law enforcement. How cowardly could I be if it let it be known that I'm a socialist, pro gun control, pro-choice, a Yankee, a Jew, and gay? I don't think not calling myself an atheist is any kind of cop-out! All the labels which define me exist in a sort of reverse telescopic arrangement. So while “atheist” is one lens it is a smaller one than “nontheist.” I am a nontheist for exactly the same reason you are: that atheist connotes anti-religious, which I am not. I am a religious naturalist, which is even a larger lens than nontheist.

People have told me that calling myself a nontheist is being evasive, cowardly even. Now I live in the South and work with local law enforcement. How cowardly could I be if it let it be known that I’m a socialist, pro gun control, pro-choice, a Yankee, a Jew, and gay? I don’t think not calling myself an atheist is any kind of cop-out!

]]> By: Ash http://www.sacredriver.org/225/non-theism#comment-57 Ash Mon, 05 Jan 2009 04:50:00 +0000 http://www.sacredriver.org/225/non-theism#comment-57 The term atheism really has become a stick to hit people with…it somehow seems to discredit someone. Attached to this is the idea of having faith being a great virtue. If that is so, then not having faith must be some kind of vice. It is an insidious cultural meme that I would love to help turn around. Thanks for you comments… The term atheism really has become a stick to hit people with…it somehow seems to discredit someone. Attached to this is the idea of having faith being a great virtue. If that is so, then not having faith must be some kind of vice. It is an insidious cultural meme that I would love to help turn around.

Thanks for you comments…

]]> By: Ash http://www.sacredriver.org/225/non-theism#comment-56 Ash Mon, 05 Jan 2009 04:49:29 +0000 http://www.sacredriver.org/225/non-theism#comment-56 I’m not sure that a Buddhist or Taoist would agree with this argument, unless you do not think those traditions are religions. No one really agrees on what religion is, but most theologians do seem to agree that worship of a deity is only one common element of religion. At the same time, there is an argument that religion has nothing to do with god(s) at all; that it is all about manipulating our brains to achieve various effects, such as those things I list in “The Religious Experience”, i.e. establishing a sense of safety, connectivity, agency, understanding, and meaningful profundity. Religious Naturalists in general argue that it is possible to achieve these things without leaning on a belief in the supernatural. In other words, we hold that we can have all the riches of religion without paying the cost of abandoning reason or a maturing understanding of the universe as informed by empirical inquiry. I’m not sure that a Buddhist or Taoist would agree with this argument, unless you do not think those traditions are religions. No one really agrees on what religion is, but most theologians do seem to agree that worship of a deity is only one common element of religion. At the same time, there is an argument that religion has nothing to do with god(s) at all; that it is all about manipulating our brains to achieve various effects, such as those things I list in “The Religious Experience”, i.e. establishing a sense of safety, connectivity, agency, understanding, and meaningful profundity. Religious Naturalists in general argue that it is possible to achieve these things without leaning on a belief in the supernatural. In other words, we hold that we can have all the riches of religion without paying the cost of abandoning reason or a maturing understanding of the universe as informed by empirical inquiry.

]]> By: tnatnt http://www.sacredriver.org/225/non-theism#comment-15 tnatnt Mon, 29 Dec 2008 14:04:06 +0000 http://www.sacredriver.org/225/non-theism#comment-15 I would conclude it is hard to practice <i>Religion</i> without God/Goddess since throughout the centuries thats where most has been developed; around a supernatural entity. It appears you like some of "ideals, Practices and ethics" which are the foundation of most religions but you have this insatiable need to forego a God/Goddess basing it solely on humanism and I applaud you for it. However Ideals, practicies and ethics are not really "religious" it is more or less a structure to be developed in order for us to live in harmony...based on another form of law and ethics. Warmest regards, T I would conclude it is hard to practice Religion without God/Goddess since throughout the centuries thats where most has been developed; around a supernatural entity. It appears you like some of “ideals, Practices and ethics” which are the foundation of most religions but you have this insatiable need to forego a God/Goddess basing it solely on humanism and I applaud you for it. However Ideals, practicies and ethics are not really “religious” it is more or less a structure to be developed in order for us to live in harmony…based on another form of law and ethics.

Warmest regards,

T

]]> By: Joakim http://www.sacredriver.org/225/non-theism#comment-14 Joakim Mon, 29 Dec 2008 09:50:54 +0000 http://www.sacredriver.org/225/non-theism#comment-14 While doing research about Schopenhauer I discovered the importence of this distinction and how easy it is to miss it. For Schopenhauer it meant years of not being properly researched by philosophers of religion and theologians, because they all thought of him as an Atheist, while the truth is that religion and especially mysticism always remained important to his philosophy. So, thanks for making that thing clear! While doing research about Schopenhauer I discovered the importence of this distinction and how easy it is to miss it. For Schopenhauer it meant years of not being properly researched by philosophers of religion and theologians, because they all thought of him as an Atheist, while the truth is that religion and especially mysticism always remained important to his philosophy. So, thanks for making that thing clear!

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