Is Atheism a philosophy of selfishness?

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catholicgamer

**I was 37-ish. **

You’re smarter than I am! 👍
 
Charlemagne_II said:
catholicgamer
**
Simply put, looking at a selfish Atheist and concluding that Atheism is therefore selfish is fallacious as well (ad hominem). **

Atheism is not necessarily selfish, you are right. I have known giving atheists.

But atheism sabotages the influence of God in our lives, and the receiving of grace that makes us less selfish than we might otherwise be without it. The atheists I have known are only giving up to a point.

For example, you rarely see them going into a prison to provide comfort and to help reform the values of the prisoners. There is nothing in atheism that encourages such giving.

Whereas: “I was in prison and you visited me.” (Matthew 25)
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The tragic aspect of atheism is that it has no driving force or source of inspiration. Both Sartre and Camus sought refuge in humanism because they found absurdism sterile and soul-destroying in every sense of the term…
 
tonyrey said:
Faith is not entirely - or even mainly - a matter of intellectual process. 😉
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Indeed. Actually, the big issue I’m working on (…or waiting on…I dunno…) is for it to move from my head to the heart. That may take time considering were my mind has been for the past 25 years. Are you past the whole head thing yet Charlemagne? Meaning, everything in Catholicism you know…logically…is true, but do you “feel” it now as well (…I don’t mean “feel” in the popular sense…so I hope you know what I mean. )
 
Pag_Hingowa said:
If not, then what can atheism offers to the society?
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I don’t think atheists are all alike, just as theists are not all alike. And I don’t equate atheism as a philosophy of selfishness. Not all atheists have a specific philosophy or an agenda. To me, atheism is simply a non-belief in the existence of a deity or deities. The way one behaves in life may be influenced by one’s being an atheist to a degree, but there are also other influences and there are good and bad people among theists as well.
 
catholicgamer

**Are you past the whole head thing yet Charlemagne? Meaning, everything in Catholicism you know…logically…is true, but do you “feel” it now as well (…I don’t mean “feel” in the popular sense…so I hope you know what I mean. ) **

I am not past it altogether as I still am busy exploring all the ins and outs of intellectual Catholicism, which I find fascinating to discover and share with others.

I am more past it in my prayer life, which is not where it should be but is gradually improving, I hope. My Eucharistic Adoration visits provide the most heartfelt and gratifying moments of faith. I wish more Catholics would avail themselves of Eucharistic Adoration hours, at least once a week … more often if possible.
 
Originally Posted by meltzerboy
To me, atheism is simply a non-belief in the existence of a deity or deitiesl.

That is its limitation … its simplicity. It offers nothing more. 😉
 
Atheism is whatever an atheist says it is. It has no authority.
 
Kaninchen said:
the Catholic definition of ‘selfishness’.
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There is no definition, because unless it’s objectively a sin being committed or at least something sinful, then the term is hopelessly subjective; for example, my seeking above all else the salvation of my soul could be erroneously or maliciously labelled as selfish. The only equivalent words (in the legitimately pejorative sense) I can think of in the Catholic lexicon are avarice, greed/idolatry or pride. Probably greed (idolatry) is the closest equivalent idea.
 
catholicgamer said:
Indeed. Actually, the big issue I’m working on (…or waiting on…I dunno…) is for it to move from my head to the heart. That may take time considering were my mind has been for the past 25 years. )
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It won’t be difficult if you read what the saints like St Therese of Liseux have written about love…
 
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