Atheism 101

What is Atheism?  Many people think they know, but quite frankly, would be shocked to find out what it really means to be an Atheist.  The literal translation of 'atheist' is 'not god,' where as the meaning of 'agnostic' (just to give a reference point) is 'not know.'

Now for a brief history of the movement.  The concept of atheism traces back to Hinduism, and can be found in pre-Socratic Greek philosophy.  But I think that it should be noted that many indigenous religions, especially in Asia, do not actually have a main deity, but rather rely on a spiritual leader or the spirits of ancestors, this might allow them to be categorized among atheistic or agnostic faiths.  As for Hinduism, that is a pantheistic/polytheistic religion, in the sense that it has multiple gods but also holds animals and other living items to be holy.  It should also be noted that in Hinduism the creator of Brahma is Brahman; Brahman being the spiritual essence of the universe that is not actually a divine being, as is Brahma.

Diagoras was considered the 'first' atheist, but obviously that is always up for debate.  Mainly because it is rare to find philosophical writings pertaining to before the Greek period.  Roman philosophers considered to be atheist were Lucretius and Epicurus, however the term 'atheist' itself wasn't coined until the 16^th century, more than likely as a result of the Catholic church becoming more reformed and organized.  Then two centuries later the idea of 'positive atheism' arose, but we will talk more about that later.  It is also important to understand that the concept of atheism has changed greatly since its advent.  Originally it was thought to promote hedonism, and it was also equated with demons and Satanism.  In today's Atheism that couldn't be farther from the truth. 

So who are Atheists?  Sometimes they are called Humanists or Freethinkers, and there is absolutely no discrimination as to race, gender, class, orientation, etc. (meaning they come in all types and sizes).  The numbers are rough, but in the United States it is believed that there are about 17% of the population, which translates to about 51 million people.  In Europe, roughly 25% of the population is atheist.  The actual number is up for dispute because I'm not sure which countries were polled and what their respective populations are. 

Now, before we get into specifics, let's get a working definition of what a modern Atheist is, shall we?  In the court case Murray vs. Curlett, an Atheist is described as:

     "[A person who] loves himself and his fellow man instead of a god. An Atheist accepts that heaven is something for which we should work now - here on earth - for all men together to enjoy. An Atheist accepts that he can get no help through prayer, but that he must find in himself the inner conviction and strength to meet life, to grapple with it, to subdue it and to enjoy it. An Atheist accepts that only in a knowledge of himself and a knowledge of his fellow man can he find the understanding that will help to a life of fulfillment."

This is a loose definition and can vary greatly from person to person.  I, for example, enjoy meditation, which some people consider pray, but I don't.  For me it's more of a stress reliever, as I am not using the time to appeal or bargain to a god(s). 

So let's talk about the two main branches of Atheism, Implicit and Explicit.

Implicit Atheism, also known as Practical Atheism, would be defines as "the absence of theistic belief without the conscious rejection of it."  Which would mean that it is basically a person simply stating that they do not believe in a god(s). (If any of this seems vague, it will become much more apparent as we get into Explicit and others, these topics without comparison or context can seem vague to some people.)  These Atheists usually don't find a need for God in daily life.  They also don't actively try and disprove religious theory.  It is simply a live and let live attitude towards life.  Compared to Explicit Atheism, Implicit is usually considered 'weak' Atheism, and can include concepts like Agnosticism.

Explicit Atheism, also known as Theoretical Atheism, would be considered "conscious disbelief," and usually includes an assertion on the Atheists part that "God does not or cannot exist."  Explicit Atheism is much more in depth than Implicit, and includes a group of subcategories including Epistemological, Metaphysical, Neurotheological, Logical, Evidential, and Anthropocentric.  This is also considered the 'strong' side of Atheism and usually uses historical and scientific analysis of religious myth.  (Think Hilary Swank's character in the beginning of the movie The Reaping.)

What's interesting is that just like Theism, there are also 'paths' to Atheism.  Here are the common ways people decide to become Atheists, or realize that they are Atheists without even trying:

1. Discovery: Realizing that you do not believe in a god.  Usually comes by way of self-reflection, and through the study of religious material to choose a spiritual path.

2. Reactionary: When religion no longer fits into a person's reasoning or when one feels "let down" by religion, they choose a path of rebellion towards non-belief.

3. Indoctrinated: When Atheism is "freely or forcibly taught to the individual;" can be self-taught.

4. Natural: When someone has no knowledge of religion whatsoever, and therefore does not believe in any god. (ex. newborn babies)

Even though there are 'types' of Atheism, not everyone falls into these categories.  But there are some pretty common beliefs held by most Atheists, including:

1. No gods, goddesses, saints, angels, demons, devils, etc.

     a. With the exception of mystical/fantasy or paranormal beings.  This tends to vary from person to person.

2. No heaven or hell as separate from this reality, just consequences to actions.

3. Prayer has no divine power.

4. Self motivation, self reliance, or reliance on those directly involved in your life is key.

5. Reliance on philosophical and ethical morality.

There are some interesting points to make regarding the concept of Atheism.  Both Theism and Atheism are consequences "of what one knows and how one reasons." Therefore all religious beliefs and assumptions are determined by the knowledge one receives and the individuals own life experiences.  Atheism also stresses philosophical reasoning including free thought, humanism, materialism, objectivism, rationalism, and skepticism.

There are also many stereotypes and false assumptions made about Atheists.  Some people assume that Atheist are always angry, immoral, mentally instable, Communists, unpatriotic, or religiously intolerant.  All of these assumptions are unfounded and usually are borne out of a fear of the unknown and from misunderstandings.

In conclusion, Atheists are normal people who just don't believe in a god(s), and quite frankly can be anyone, anywhere, but don't worry because they are not to be feared.  They are good, hardworking people who just want to live in a country where their beliefs, or non-beliefs, are not going to be threatened.  So just remember, Atheists are people, too.

** I mentioned above that I would go into more detail about Positive Atheism, but this book would explain it better then I could.

http://atheistempire.com/mm_dl/text/Gora%20-%20Positive%20Atheism.pdf