Atheism vs. Anti-Theism
In my experience with religion and religious people, I’ve learned that there are many different types of belief systems out there, even outside of the realm of Christianity. I’m proud to say that in my circle of friends, I have access to many different belief systems, which generally lead to some pretty good discussions. However, I also realize that within these different belief systems, there are some undesirable people. To me, there are two different types of “non-belief” systems: atheism, and anti-theism.
In my personal definition, atheists are people who choose not to acknowledge the existence of God in their personal lives, but pretty much leave other belief systems alone. Sure, they’re more than happy to get into the philosophical discussion about the existence of God, and where the proof lies, but they also recognize that they will have just as much success changing another person’s religious views as that person will have changing theirs.
Conversely, anti-theists are militant atheists. They are the atheists that are out in the world that choose not to acknowledge the existence of God in their personal lives, and try everything in their power to rid the world of all religion. Often, anti-theists are antagonistic and will resort to ridicule and button-pushing in order to “prove” that religion is for the weak.
In my experience with these two types of people, they are generally good people. They are usually intelligent, and given any other topic, they can hold conversation. Religious beliefs generally have nothing to do with a person’s personality or their interactions with other people, so removing that aspect of a person, they are normal human beings.
However, I’m not a fan of Anti-Theism. I don’t feel it’s my place to impose my beliefs on other people, and I feel that that same courtesy should be extended by everyone onto everyone. However, most anti-theists can’t extend that same courtesy. By simply believing in a higher power, I have apparently proven myself to be an inferior person, and only if I join forces with them and campaign against all religion will I become a worthy human being.
I believe that religious beliefs are a personal decision. If you choose to be a Christian, a Buddhist, or an Atheist, that is your choice, and I can fully respect that. I may not agree with it, and I would love to discuss it further, but as far as my influence on your personal life, I have none. I can’t convince you to join my team, no matter how hard I try. I would love it, but I can’t force you to do anything.
The practice of militant atheism is a confusing and disturbing one to me. There is no high score in religion. There is no prize in the afterlife for the belief system that gathers the most recruits. So there is no point for the antagonism.
My message is one that goes out to all people, regardless of religious identification: respect the beliefs of those around you, and if you do win one over to your side, chalk it up to providing a good example and enough evidence to be convincing, and not whatever clever tactics you employed in your little game.
March 9, 2011 at 4:16 pm
Atheism vs. Anti-Theism « Just Makes Sense…
Here at World Spinner we are debating the same thing……
July 18, 2011 at 7:01 am
I have to disagree with many of your points about anti-theism, of which I have recently converted. For instance, anti-theists feel only a need to share the ‘truth’ much as Christians do the ‘Good News’ or Islam the ‘Truth’. Only difference is that there’s a nifty capitalization and that often times the facts – rather than mythos – are on our side. We don’t view theists as ‘inferior’ because many of us were born into or raised by theist families. Our friends are theists. To suggest that you are inferior is to say that we all share the same inferiorities which is more humble than anything. Indeed we are all searching for answers, and if that makes us inferior – and we all are – to what do we compare ourselves? If to God, then yes. If to animals, only depending on one’s personal hypothesis. Most people on the planet believe in some god or another, and atheists haven’t been well recieved since monotheism became more trendy than polytheism, say 480 A.D. (give or take). What has happened is that a fondness for religion has been replaced by fanatasism – and as we all know by Hollywood and music, it takes a lot of fans to keep something in the now – so that instead of lighting incense and saying a few words, people use rhetoric to belittle people for any kind of attempt to logically explain things. I’m finding my own answers, but theists find that threatening just to have me around. Why not preach? Maybe if a few of you join us, I can have a friend who doesn’t judge me a sinner and a corruptor simply because I hold a belief that’s founded on years of soul-searching and agonizing personal sacrifice.
I was brought up believing the truth was difficult to take. Nothing is harder to take than believing there’s nothing after we die.
If we don’t change the way things are, we will continue to improve slowly and we will never progress for the betterment of mankind in the here and now which is what we need to be worried about instead of a fantasy land that has no basis in reality. I hope you take the time to read this. Thank you.
March 10, 2011 at 10:51 am
Would say your definition of atheist is more or less an agnostic, not an atheist, because they are still willing to debate God’s existence or lack thereof, but aren’t attacking someone else’s viewpoints on the matter. Your definition of an anti-theist is an atheist, because their total belief is in the non-existence of God and would fight tooth and nail to establish that.
March 10, 2011 at 2:35 pm
Good point. However, I’ve based my definitions of “atheist” and “agnostic” on how convinced a person is on their beliefs. To me, an agnostic is one that doubts the existence of God, but isn’t convinced enough to declare it. An atheist is one that has the sufficient evidence they desire to declare that there is no God.
I believe that atheists are perfectly able to debate God’s existence; they just happen to take the side that God doesn’t exist, playing a sort of “Devil’s Advocate” to the Christian perspective.
November 9, 2011 at 1:04 pm
I enjoyed this post, and your way of looking at people and their preferred religious beliefs. I would disagree that all anti-theists are militant atheists, however. I am anti-theist, but would never try to change someone’s views. Generally, I wouldn’t even admit to being anti-theist, because I would feel like they would persecute me.
Of course, this IS partly due to the fact that no matter how much you try, telling someone something other than what they believe is ‘true’ isn’t going to convince them. People need to come to their own beliefs on their own terms.
I am perfectly willing to discuss religion and The Bible. I specifically name that holy book, because I have never read any other, and wouldn’t claim knowledge on something that I have none on. When in a conversation about religion, it is pretty clear when it goes from being a discussion to being an argument to being a war on converting the other person to whatever your beliefs are. I try not to go into that third realm, which usually means avoiding the second, as well. I don’t believe theism is good for the world, but I guess I’m too apathetic to convince others of that.
ALSO, I find that this chart helps clear things up a bit when it comes to defining where you stand.
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_QdYoufb0UsQ/TAimA3truGI/AAAAAAAAAA4/pcR-muRgp8c/s1600/Agnostic+v+Gnostic+v+Atheist+v+Theist.png