Is there such a thing as an atheist worldview?

[Raxus]

But he would then be, in my humble opinion, acting hypocritically in supporting policies in which he did not believe.

In his case, I agree. In the case of someone joining the Church and following her teachings even though they may not personally agree with all of them, it’s a different scenario. It’s an act of the will on a journey towards living life in a different way. But then, why the Church teaches what it does has always been there for everyone to see; we’re expected to ask questions and understand, even if it takes a lifetime, not just blindly follow.

 

[Freddy]

Freddy:

But he would then be, in my humble opinion, acting hypocritically in supporting policies in which he did not believe.

In his case, I agree. In the case of someone joining the Church and following her teachings even though they may not personally agree with all of them, it’s a different scenario. It’s an act of the will on a journey towards living life in a different way. But then, why the Church teaches what it does has always been there for everyone to see; we’re expected to ask questions and understand, even if it takes a lifetime, not just blindly follow.

I just need to say that I came close to implying that some Catholics might be hypocrits in totally commiting to their faith which wasn’t my intent. I should have been more careful with the way I explained that.

 

[Raxus]

I just need to say that I came close to implying that some Catholics might be hypocrits in totally commiting to their faith which wasn’t my intent. I should have been more careful with the way I explained that.

If it helps, I saw where you were going and didn’t think there was an attack of any kind there.

 

[IanAG]

There are choices I make as a Catholic based upon my worldview that others wouldn’t, theist or otherwise.

I agree. I believe that a Catholic worldview is a subset of the Christian worldview, I just didn’t want to go to that level of detail.

 

[IanAG]

Freddy:

I just need to say that I came close to implying that some Catholics might be hypocrits in totally commiting to their faith which wasn’t my intent. I should have been more careful with the way I explained that.

If it helps, I saw where you were going and didn’t think there was an attack of any kind there.

I think we can talk here about integrity. Integrity implies that you are behaving in a way which is true to your foundational beliefs or worldview.

 

[StudentMI]

Given that I vacillate between agnosticism Catholicism, and have identified as an agnostic Catholic at one point on these forums, I’ll give this a shot.

I base my worldview mostly on Catholic theology and dogma. Of course I am by no means perfect. Even in my most agnostic moments I still identify as an Aristotelian, or Aristotelian-Thomist. I draw influence from a wide variety of thinkers.

I don’t believe there is one atheist worldview.

 

[IanAG]

I don’t see it as practical to expect a large group to all agree on numerous beliefs of that nature. As such, a predefined worldview seems like an approximation for discussion but not accurate wrt an individual.

As I’ve said, an existential worldview does not cover every possible belief…that level of granularity would be impossible…but is based on the answers to a limited number of foundational existential questions.

Behaviours which contradict one’s professed worldview would be thought of as a lack of integrity, or integration.

 

[IanAG]

Just to help everyone I’ll post the full hierarchy of questions and answers later today. That way you can follow the thread yourself. The only qualification I would make is that this approach came with a full chapter of explanation in a textbook so just posting it without this background doesn’t do it justice.

The questions are simple and not philosophically deep as the target for this approach was not philosophers but those receiving counselling. They would have been explored in more depth during the counselling sessions if the presenting problem was existential in nature.

 

[IanAG]

So here are the questions…please note my qualifier above. I’ve highlighted atheistic worldviews in bold.

Please note too that these questions relate to foundational beliefs and not statements of fact, although it is unlikely that you would believe in something that you didn’t believe to be true.

1. Is there any objective truth?
   • Yes – go to question two
   • No – relativism
2. Is it possible to know the truth?
   • Yes – go to question three
   • No– Scepticism
3. Is anything objectively good or bad?
   • Yes – go to question four
   • No – nihilism
4. Is there more than one valid religion?
   • Yes – pluralism
   • No – go to question five
5. Is there a God?
   • Yes – go to question nine
   • No – go to question six
6. Is everything ultimately one?
   • Yes – monism (includes some forms of Hinduism, Buddhism and Taoism)
   • No – go to question seven
7. Is everything ultimately material in nature?
   • Yes – materialism
   • Some things – go to question eight
   • No – go to question eight
8. Is everything ultimately mental in nature?
   • Yes – atheistic idealism
   • No – atheistic dualism
9. Is God a personal being?
   • Yes – go to question 12
   • No – go to question 10
10. Is the universe God?
    • Yes – pantheism (includes some forms of Hinduism, Buddhism and Taoism; Paganism; and New Age)
    • No – go to question 11
11. Is the universe within God?
    • Yes – panentheism (includes some forms of Hinduism)
    • No – Platonism
12. Is God a perfect being?
    • Yes – go to question 14
    • No – go to question 13
13. Is there only one God?
    • Yes – finite theism
    • No – polytheism
14. Has God communicated with humans?
    • Yes – go to question 15
    • No – Deism
15. Has God communicated openly to humans?
    • Yes – go to question 16
    • No – mysticism
16. Did Jesus of Nazareth rise from the dead?
    • Yes – go to question 17
    • No – go to question 19
17. Was Jesus of Nazareth divine?
    • Yes – go to question 18
    • No – Unitarianism
18. Do good people go to heaven and bad people go to hell?
    • Yes – Pelagianism
    • No – Christianity
19. Was Mohammed a true prophet of God?
    • Yes – Islam
    • No – go to question 20
20. What is Moses a true prophet of God?
    • Yes – Judaism
    • No – non-mainstream monotheism

 

[IanAG]

(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)

 

[Raxus]

I believe that a Catholic worldview is a subset of the Christian worldview, I just didn’t want to go to that level of detail.

I don’t know if I agree with this or not. I’ll have to think a bit on it.

 

[Raxus]

I don’t believe there is one atheist worldview.

I think it’s hard to pin down because the word “atheist” has become somewhat diluted in modern language. If you use the fairly standard definition “disbelief or lack of belief in the existence of God or gods”, then it can probably be said that the basic atheist worldview is simply “God or gods don’t exist”.

However, I’ve seen folks who call themselves atheist use the term to mean everything from “I don’t believe in the Christian God” to “I don’t believe in anything supernatural” to “there’s probably not a God or supernatural stuff, but who really knows?” (more like being agnostic, that one).

All of that muddies the water to the point that you might be right. Hard to say.

 

[Raxus]

I think we can talk here about integrity. Integrity implies that you are behaving in a way which is true to your foundational beliefs or worldview.

I would say this is true, though I’m not sure of the point as it relates to worldviews being a thing.

 

[IanAG]

I would say this is true, though I’m not sure of the point as it relates to worldviews being a thing.

Many psychological problems result from a lack of integration between deeply held beliefs and behaviours. This naturally causes internal conflict.

An important part of therapy is bringing the worldview out into the open and exploring these beliefs to understand what’s going on.

Further, many atheists attack the weaknesses or low points of faith without being prepared to explore or explain their own worldview. This is not reasonable.

My argument is that whereas people of faith profess a particular worldview, atheism is not a worldview but a category from which no comparison can be made. Thus it is necessary to explore the subject’s worldview within that category in order to make a valid comparison.

Any good debate about theism or the absence of it should compare the strengths, weaknesses and implications of each worldview rather than simply attack the weaknesses of just one.

 

[Raxus]

Many psychological problems result from a lack of integration between deeply held beliefs and behaviours. This naturally causes internal conflict.

An important part of therapy is bringing the worldview out into the open and exploring these beliefs to understand what’s going on.

Further, many atheists attack the weaknesses or low points of faith without being prepared to explore or explain their own worldview. This is not reasonable.

Any good debate about theism or the absence of it should compare the strengths, weaknesses and implications of each worldview rather than simply attack the weaknesses of just one.

All of our choices have consequences not just for ourselves but our families, our friends, and society at large.

Fair enough. Maybe a smidge off-topic, but definitely food for thought.

 

[Dan123]

I think it’s hard to pin down because the word “atheist” has become somewhat diluted in modern language. If you use the fairly standard definition “disbelief or lack of belief in the existence of God or gods”, then it can probably be said that the basic atheist worldview is simply “God or gods don’t exist”.

However, I’ve seen folks who call themselves atheist use the term to mean everything from “I don’t believe in the Christian God” to “I don’t believe in anything supernatural” to “there’s probably not a God or supernatural stuff, but who really knows?” (more like being agnostic, that one).

It’s not watered down, you quoted the actual definition. If you don’t believe God exists then you lack a believe in God, it doesn’t matter if you don’t claim he doesn’t or can’t. Agnostic and atheist aren’t mutually exclusive, for that matter agnostic and theist aren’t mutually exclusive. Knowledge and believe are not the same thing.

 

[IanAG]

It’s not watered down, you quoted the actual definition. If you don’t believe God exists then you lack a believe in God, it doesn’t matter if you don’t claim he doesn’t or can’t. Agnostic and atheist aren’t mutually exclusive, for that matter agnostic and theist aren’t mutually exclusive. Knowledge and believe are not the same thing.

Spot on…

atheist
noun

1. a person who disbelieves or lacks belief in the existence of God or gods. i.e. belief

agnostic
noun

1. a person who believes that nothing is known or can be known of the existence or nature of God. i.e. knowledge

I think it would be impossible to be a Christian agnostic though because the Christian believes that Jesus is the perfect revelation of God, so it couldn’t be claimed at the same time that you believe that nothing can be known about the existence or nature of God.

 

[lelinator]

I think it would be impossible to be a Christian agnostic though because the Christian believes that Jesus is the perfect revelation of God

And where exactly did you find this definition of “Christian”?

 

[Dan123]

I think it would be impossible to be a Christian agnostic though because the Christian believes that Jesus is the perfect revelation of God, so it couldn’t be claimed at the same time that you believe that nothing can be known about the existence or nature of God.

Indeed, it depends on how much emphasis you put on ‘known’ I suppose, and what role you feel faith has in religious conviction.

 

[IanAG]

And where exactly did you find this definition of “ Christian ”?

Christian
noun

1. a person who has received Christian baptism or is a believer in Christianity.

Christianity
noun

1. the religion based on the person and teachings of Jesus Christ, or its beliefs and practices

The Bible

Colossians 1:15-17​

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Hebrews 1:3​

He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high

John 14:9​

Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?