Is there such a thing as an atheist worldview?

[Freddy]

I’ve some dear friends who are atheists. They have definite world views, each of them boiling down to the golden rule.

I agree. If there was one maxim with which to live by, that would be it.

What parent hasn’t said to their child, if they’d done something wrong: 'Hey, would you like it if somebody did that to you? And we’re not teaching them something new. We’re just pointing out something entirely natural.

When Jesus had His sermon on the mount, He wasn’t saying ‘I’ve got this great new idea which you need to take on board’. He was effectively saying: ‘Remember what your mum used to tell you? Well it’s still valid’.

 

[Kei]

Everyone operates under a worldview. It can be phrased as “story”, the great big underlying story.

But atheists can have different understandings or perceptions of the great big underlying story. Some may even believe in beings very much like pagan gods and hence be polytheist yet still not believe in Ultimate God who underlies all of reality, and hence be an atheist. You have Hindu atheists, Buddhist atheists, etc.
Most common in the West would probably be what I like to call materialist pantheists. To them, the material world is all there is. They don’t know this, indeed, they couldn’t know so. Reason is considered an evolutionary construct to aid in survival in some way. And this is supposed so through utilizing said construct, which means we can’t really know that either. But at least the idea of reason is useful, even if totally wrong. But ultimately, in this worldview, the world tends to be unreasonable. Philosophically, they may resort to “brute fact” rejecting other explanations etc.

So, when making big decisions, or even little ones, the different worldviews held by atheists inform them, much like anybody else.

Ultimately, while they hold worldviews, they don’t hold a monolithic worldview, unlike Christians who believe in the Logos, reason, and ultimate meaning all in all.

 

[Dan_Defender]

I won’t be engaging with you again.

As I said, it’s a waste of my time.

In my opinion and personal experience. it is pointless to engage with atheists on CAF. But for the sake of those weak in faith who read the forum and may be tempted to doubts, atheists should always be opposed. To do our part in opposing the power of darkness.

 

[PickyPicky]

Everyone operates under a worldview. It can be phrased as “story”, the great big underlying story

I’m unconvinced about this. Or at any rate I can’t identify any great big underlying story I operate under. Christians, of course, have such a story, and it is interesting that you describe atheistic worldviews as being concerned with the supernatural or its absence. Christians in this place do seem to see atheists as people deeply concerned with the denial of faith. Well I don’t believe I have a great big underlying story, but if I did I can’t see the supernatural figuring in it.

 

[Kei]

I’m unconvinced about this. Or at any rate I can’t identify any great big underlying story I operate under.

It doesn’t have to be complex. But, for instance, when you make a decision, what goes into the decision making process? Just whatever feels good? Are there any higher order desires? If so, why do you follow them? If not, why not?

It doesn’t have to be complex at all, but there’s an underlying worldview even if you don’t recognize it as such. It doesn’t have to have anything to do with anything recognized as supernatural.

 

[PickyPicky]

It doesn’t have to be complex. But, for instance, when you make a decision, what goes into the decision making process? Just whatever feels good? Are there any higher order desires? If so, why do you follow them? If not, why not

This feeds into the Catholic worldview again. Of course a Catholic worldview will have distinct views about morality and motivation. I don’t suppose my motivation or morality is a great deal different from yours. But I am not asking myself those questions all the time: they are, on the other hand, questions Catholics ask atheists in this place regularly. That’s because Catholic’s not only have a worldview, they have it written down for them. Not so me.

 

[Kei]

I don’t suppose my motivation or morality is a great deal different from yours. But I am not asking myself those questions all the time: they are, on the other hand, questions Catholics ask atheists in this place regularly. That’s because Catholic’s not only have a worldview, they have it written down for them. Not so me.

A Catholic’s motivation should be the glory of God. In such a case, an atheist simply cannot have the same motivation.

I didn’t ask you if you thought about it all the time. I’m just asking what your motivation is for anything, really. Is it to rear a child? To enjoy life before it’s gone? Be a “respectable” member of the community? Do you just go with the flow and don’t think about anything? Even the last one indicates some kind of worldview.

 

[Dan123]

A Catholic’s motivation should be the glory of God. In such a case, an atheist simply cannot have the same motivation.

I think it’s awkward to throw all decisions into one basket. When you decide if you’re going to take the highway or back roads to get to your destination, are you trying to glorify God or are you trying to get where you’re going as quick/safe/reliably as you can?

The other issue is you can often kick this proverbial can down the road too. E.g. what is your motivation for glorifying God?

 

[Kei]

I think it’s awkward to throw all decisions into one basket. When you decide if you’re going to take the highway or back roads to get to your destination, are you trying to glorify God or are you trying to get where you’re going as quick/safe/reliably as you can?

It’s an underlying consideration, not necessarily immediate/proximate. So, taking a backroad, say, can be because one desires to enjoy the countryside and glory in God’s Creation. Taking the fastest route may be to fulfill your duties that you take upon yourself, ultimately, for the Glory of God. Etc. Or when we eat we can take the idea God created the pleasure of taste, the need for moderation, health, etc., all together, ultimately leading to the glory of God.

The other issue is you can often kick this proverbial can down the road too. E.g. what is your motivation for glorifying God?

Yes, but I have no problem admitting I have an underlying worldview (I do not know why the other commenter seems to deny that he has one). My motivation for wanting to glorify God is because I believe the ultimate purpose of life is the Love of God, and desire to play my part in His concerto of the Universe.

 

[Dan123]

Yes, but I have no problem admitting I have an underlying worldview (I do not know why the other commenter seems to deny that he has one).

Honestly I think it’s definitional, I don’t think many non-religious people see a single encompassing idea at the core of all decisions we make, or at the center of how we evaluate the world around us. I don’t necessarily feel any need to have a central belief to tie together choosing the highway over the back roads, choosing the salad over the hamburger, or wearing one shirt over another.

And you pointed out something that I think illustrates why that need isn’t necessarily felt. You pointed out either decision regarding your road choice could be said to be to glorify God. You could eat the cheeseburger to enjoy the savory foods God has provided or you could eat the salad to respect the body he’s given you to care for, you could wear the shirt that makes you look professional to present yourself to the world as such, or wear the comfortable shirt that perhaps doesn’t look the best on you or isn’t really your color, but makes you feel good about yourself which brightens your day.

Any of these could be said to be glorifying God. So if you look at what you’d asked Picky:

I’m just asking what your motivation is for anything, really. Is it to rear a child? To enjoy life before it’s gone? Be a “respectable” member of the community? Do you just go with the flow and don’t think about anything?

Even if two options, such as the road choice, can glorify God, you still make a decision. So when two options both satisfy your world view, how do you make a decision? What’s your motivation?

 

[Pattylt]

My motivation for wanting to glorify God is because I believe the ultimate purpose of life is the Love of God, and desire to play my part in His concerto of the Universe.

I certainly believe that you can attach this motivation on to any decision you make but is it really at the forefront of your brain with every decision? I have a hard time believing faithful Christians operate like this all the time! In retrospect, certainly, but each daily decision?

For important decisions where I guess my worldview would come into it are usually dependent on my life experiences and upbringing. One decision is usually the better one simply by experience and logic. What’s best for me and the family, can we afford it, is it going to better our life, will it cause harm in any way? Mostly, it’s just a rational look at whatever I’m deciding and my emotions surrounding the decision. There isn’t a seeking to glorify anyone except perhaps myself and family…widening to relatives, friends or neighbors if it’s a decision that would involve them.

 

[TheLittleLady]

But atheists can have different understandings or perceptions of the great big underlying story. Some may even believe in beings very much like pagan gods and hence be polytheist yet still not believe in Ultimate God who underlies all of reality, and hence be an atheist.

A person is an atheist or they are not. It is a logical impossibility to be a polytheist atheist. One or the other.

Granted, sometimes people use the term “atheist” while they are actually some stripe of agnostic.

 

[IanAG]

‘Worldview is the outlook one has about life. It is a paradigm by which the individual or the group interprets reality and acts upon life. It is how we normally view and conceptualize the world. Worldview can be a personal-subjective endeavor or a communal-collective enterprise, depending on the social context and particular subculture – whether it is predominantly individualistic or collectivistic. Worldviews represent our pragmatic framework on existence and shapes our beliefs, attitudes, actions, and philosophies. Basically, the term worldview is used in a broad sense to entail a collection of impressions, perceptions, and phenomena and has roots in anthropology, psychology, sociology, morality, spirituality, mortality, and cosmology.’

Abi-Hashem N. (2017) Worldview, The Concept of. In: Leeming D. (eds) Encyclopedia of Psychology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. Worldview, The Concept of | SpringerLink

 

[Kei]

I don’t think many non-religious people see a single encompassing idea at the core of all decisions we make, or at the center of how we evaluate the world around us. I don’t necessarily feel any need to have a central belief to tie together choosing the highway over the back roads, choosing the salad over the hamburger, or wearing one shirt over another.

And that, my friend, is a worldview! Your worldview lacks a telos, and hence you have no need to have a guiding principle or a set of guiding principles.

Even if two options, such as the road choice, can glorify God, you still make a decision. So when two options both satisfy your world view, how do you make a decision? What’s your motivation?

This brings us to the virtue of prudence! Prudence is the virtue “that disposes practical reason to discern our true good in every circumstance and to choose the right means of achieving it”. So it depends on circumstance and adhering to right reason (always open to prayerful consideration).

It depends on moderation, circumstances, etc as to what prudence would determine is the correct choice. If there are multiple good choices that all are good to make, then that is freedom in the truest sense.

Note that I am speaking ideally.

 

[Kei]

I certainly believe that you can attach this motivation on to any decision you make but is it really at the forefront of your brain with every decision? I have a hard time believing faithful Christians operate like this all the time! In retrospect, certainly, but each daily decision?

I meant to convey that this is underlying, not that they reason so far on a literal level with every decision. It may be a general discernment at times. I cannot speak for everyone, but I may be more analytical than others.

experience and logic. What’s best for me and the family, can we afford it, is it going to better our life, will it cause harm in any way?

In this case, you utilize experience and logic, minimize harm, live inside means, etc. Most would likely agree that is simply “good sense” in most cases. For whatever reason (or perhaps despite it), you value such sense. Most would say such sense is pretty natural.
In other words, you see no conflict between your underlying worldview and following the natural inclination to “good sense”.

 

[Kei]

A person is an atheist or they are not. It is a logical impossibility to be a polytheist atheist. One or the other.

Not in the same sense. But someone can be an atheist and still believe in immaterial beings, some of whom may be called “gods”.

 

[FiveLinden]

A Catholic’s motivation should be the glory of God. In such a case, an atheist simply cannot have the same motivation.

What exactly is ‘the glory of God’?

 

[FiveLinden]

What exactly is a ‘worldview’?

 

[Kei]

What exactly is ‘the glory of God’?

In Scripture, the phrase “glory of God” has been used in different ways. It can mean His greatness, His Majesty, etc.
What I mean here is, in a general sense, to descibe living in a way pleasing to Him, trying to do what He calls me to do, in love.

A worldview is a great big underlying story, as I said, or if you wanna go by the dictionary (google): a particular philosophy of life or conception of the world. The OP put a more extensive definition a few posts up.

 

[TheLittleLady]

Then they are some sort of theists.