it just dawned on me.
the existence of god can't be proved, neither is there evidence of god's inexistence.
so, i'm neither theist neither atheist.
I consider myself an agnostic, sceptical atheist. As I mentioned previously... I
"Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence". I would say that well known expression is a big deal breaker for your new term.
it just dawned on me.
the existence of god can't be proved, neither is there evidence of god's inexistence.
so, i'm neither theist neither atheist.
Obviously this contribution is hearsay but, I know quite a few atheists;
I think all are comfortable with the label atheist... as am I. Would other self professed atheists agree with this set of statements?
it just dawned on me.
the existence of god can't be proved, neither is there evidence of god's inexistence.
so, i'm neither theist neither atheist.
I am not sure I agree with your logic.
As others have pointed out the term Absentheist does IMHO suggest a bias (although I understand it is not intended). 'Absent' conjures up the idea that although we cannot find God in this universe, God probably does exist somewhere (perhaps heaven even)!?
I also disagree with saying you "... CAN prove that God is absent", especially using the definition you proposed. In the definition a) states god is "Immaterial"... by this definition god could be sat on your lap and but you would not be able to prove he is not. Once something is defined as immaterial or spiritual - what evidence can you suggest that proves this god is absent?
I think I understand why you would like a new term, but personally I do not like absentheist. Maybe others like the idea?
it just dawned on me.
the existence of god can't be proved, neither is there evidence of god's inexistence.
so, i'm neither theist neither atheist.
the science is in: god is the answer.
research shows kids raised with spirituality are happier and healthier in the vulnerable teen years.
why arent we all signing up?.
For religion to be as successful as it is in our society there must be some benefits, otherwise it would die out; IMHO religion would die out if it was purely driven by fear.
It is an interesting study - although I would be worried the first study is suffering by a bit of confirmation bias...Lisa Miller seems to be part of the "SCP" which ...
Spirituality in Clinical Practice (SCP), a journal of the American Psychological Association, is a practice-oriented journal that encompasses spiritually-oriented psychotherapy and spirituality-sensitive cultural approaches to treatment and wellness. SCP is dedicated to integrating psychospiritual and other spiritually-oriented interventions involved in psychotherapy, consultation, coaching, health, and wellness.
It would be interesting to see if other unidentified factors were at play in the Miller study. Perhaps if the questions from the original study were followed up by "I have a healthy relationship with my parents... and I would turn to them when I need help"- I wonder if the responses to that question would yield similar results when related to depression?
Also, it would be interesting to follow up the outliers in the study... do fanatical religious groups have negative effects when compared to the study? Does the 'zeal' of one's spirituality (if that can be measured) have an effect? etc... The Dew study was interesting in this front.
Are there links between socio-economic factors and religion? That too would be interesting.
Why do I not 'sign up'? Well I realise that my two kiddies need something in their life to help them through the hard times... the something is our family, their education, their interests and hobbies which I support fully. I do not think religion would add anything. In fact if my experience is anything to go by, it would only detract.
after leaving the dub religion behind, i read everything that i could get my hands on, be it about other religions, beliefs, gods, occult, evolution - you name it - i read it.
i did this to 'catch up' and to educate myself, so that when i can to a decision it would be an intellectual / educational one.
not just because some book or person told me to believe it.. i have over time and with reading aids come to totally believe and accept evolution.
as an atheist interested in debate i have often accused religious folk of suffering cognitive dissonance on many issues.
i stupidly thought i might be immune to such dissonance.
however now i find myself in a battle for my own mind with no obvious end in sight.. i remember being taught as a young jw that the following passage in mark "the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.
as an atheist interested in debate i have often accused religious folk of suffering cognitive dissonance on many issues.
i stupidly thought i might be immune to such dissonance.
however now i find myself in a battle for my own mind with no obvious end in sight.. i remember being taught as a young jw that the following passage in mark "the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.
@Vanderhoven7
I always feel the JW's have to walk a fine line... they desperately want some of their prophesies to come true, but of course once they have judged a particular prophesy 'to have occurred', they have now used it up (if you know what I mean). Potentially they then run the risk of having to back down and admit what they thought occurred was wrong too. I suppose that is a good reason to pluck out somewhat dubious prophesies and fear monger with them!
as an atheist interested in debate i have often accused religious folk of suffering cognitive dissonance on many issues.
i stupidly thought i might be immune to such dissonance.
however now i find myself in a battle for my own mind with no obvious end in sight.. i remember being taught as a young jw that the following passage in mark "the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.
For civil and human rights to progress, religion must be removed at some point.Do you really mean 'removed' or perhaps you mean die out?
as an atheist interested in debate i have often accused religious folk of suffering cognitive dissonance on many issues.
i stupidly thought i might be immune to such dissonance.
however now i find myself in a battle for my own mind with no obvious end in sight.. i remember being taught as a young jw that the following passage in mark "the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.
@V
Thanks for the info.
I would not particularly say I am "worried" by any biblical prophesy (as I said I am atheist)... I am interested in the motivations and understanding of those that wrote the bible but that is as far as it goes.
Usually I find looking too deep into the bible is counter productive, especially when dealing with someone like myself, an unbeliever.
The primary goal of my OP was to discuss how people feel about the way religion seems to be increasingly under attack, and in my case I feel increasingly uncomfortable with that fact - despite my feelings on religion on a personal level.
