That didn't answer my question, so let's personalize it a bit. When you proclaim yourself an atheist, over and over again, are you trying to advocate and advance a personal belief set? If so, how do you differ from an evangelical?Originally Posted by UltraliteAngler
"Things should be made as simple as possible, but not one bit simpler." ~ Albert Einstein
I am trying to advocate and advance a personal disbelief set.
Also: Evangelical started out as a form of Christianity (and largely still is). Atheism did not start out as a form of Christianity.
What I am really interested in advancing and advocating is full enfranchisement in all societies of the world for Atheists.
So there is no difference then.
"Things should be made as simple as possible, but not one bit simpler." ~ Albert Einstein
Do evangelical Christians want full enfranchisement or do they want everyone to be evangelical Christians?
My wife is bigtime into music. She advocates for music in the schools. Raises money for that purpose. Lobbies our state legislators to support music in the school system. Provides music lessons to kids. Organizes concerts for children and adults to perform in.
I do the same for mathematics and science education.
So yes, we *believe* music is important, and math and science.
But it's not a religion. While it's a "belief system", it's clearly different than a religious belief system. (Well, maybe not in the case of my wife and her peculiar devotion to certain flute pieces...).
"Belief" has several different definitions, and collapsing them to a single concept, while handy in the case of arguing religion vs. atheism, or faith vs. science, is a mistake, or a clever sophistry:
Belief:
1: a state or habit of mind in which trust or confidence is placed in some person or thing
2: something believed; especially : a tenet or body of tenets held by a group
3: conviction of the truth of some statement or the reality of some being or phenomenon especially when based on examination of evidence
It doesn't matter to me what different groups proselytize about. I'd just rather they not do so on my front step.
But seriously, I'm more interested in the group dynamic. I'm a secular humanist/atheist, although I don't feel as if I'm part of a group. It seems to me that those who are part of a group are often indistinguishable from every other fraternal organization/religious denomination/special interest group/cult. It's just a matter of focus.
"Things should be made as simple as possible, but not one bit simpler." ~ Albert Einstein
This is bad ass!
Yankees fans.
I keep dragging this back to the OP, but I think Bae has it right even for those purposes. Whether it's a "belief" or a "religion", would Mrs. Bae have been happy if it turned out Bae not only didn't care about music, but much preferred that it not be played in the house? Would Bae have felt comfortable with his choice of partner if Mrs. Bae had turned to him and said "I don't get this math crap, this is not what partnership is about, I think it would be nice if you skipped the board meeting so we can spend some time together watching The Bachelor." Once, it's funny and maybe acceptable. As a lifestyle? No.
Choose Wisely, Grasshopper!
Music and mathematics were the bread and butter of early sophists. You could maybe teach me a thing or two?
"Things should be made as simple as possible, but not one bit simpler." ~ Albert Einstein
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