posted on Feb, 24 2010 @ 12:13 AM
reply to post by Lilitu
Well i already told you, i do not know of any religion that claims atheism as being a "good" alternative.
I really can't give you an honest answer outside of what i have already said. I mean forgive me if i come off condescending or presumptuous here,
but it sounds like you are asking for a religion (possibly christianity) to teach that the polar opposite of their belief structure is an acceptable
alternative. Religion can not endorse atheism, It can endorse aspects of Atheists who hold ideals such as Humanism and Natural Morality since they
are a secularized version of basic abrahamic laws. For example i could endorse an atheists notion that "doing unto others as you would have them do
unto you" or "thou shalt not kill" is an acceptable rule to live by as an atheist because it is universally acceptable rule in our society. It can
even help us better understand ourselves in relation to god since it encourages an objective analysis of our actions and beliefs. But ultimately it
can't be endorsed as an alternative to religion. It IS an alternative to religion, there is no denying that but it would be like asking if a
Motorcycle is a good alternative to a hover craft. They both can share a common goal (to get you from point A to B) but their principles and
applications in the real world are vastly different from eachother. I guess you could endorse Spiritual atheism as an alternative
to religion because it still operates on the notion that there is a higher (though natural and unconcious) power in our existence. I've heard
atheists make a scientifically sound hypothesis for an afterlife and even a creator.
But i think that is besides the point. As Watcher pointed out Atheism is the lack of belief or disbelief in a god or higher power. theism and by
extension religion is the presence of belief in higher powers. They are polar opposites. Although i would consider agnosticism and agnostic atheism,
(i.e. weak atheism where in one is atheist but does not rule out the possibility of god or higher powers) to be the closest secular alternative to
Theism because it acknowledges the plausibility of a creator and whatnot.
So i guess this is a conclusion we could draw.
Theism can endorse atheism given certain criteria are met, such as a mutual belief in the possibility of higher powers or synonymous moral standings.
It can not endorse atheism by itself as a belief system since it requires a lack of belief or conscious disbelief in a god. Ultimately this means that
Atheists can be endorsed by religion but atheism itself can not be since it violates the most basic requirements of religion or faith.
Either way i think you posed a good question.