If objective value does not exist, then why become an atheist?

[Studmuffin23]

Have fun

 

[Passacaglia]

Would you unpack 'objective value' a bit?

I'm an atheist because it makes sense.

 

[TheCheeseBurgerKing]

Becuase you're still you and you can still get enjoyment.

 

[Eska]

I fail to see the correlation between "values are subjective" and "why become an atheist?".

Why does one lead to you to question the other?

 

[Lark]

Most atheism I see in the world, online or offline, and I've seen in my 36 years of life, is something more like narcissism or apathy, there's no obligation, no effort required, its not challenging, its not unsettling or demanding, you dont need to seek forgiveness, there's no authority outside yourself, no authority greater than yourself, no authority other than yourself.

The OP seems clever, a lot of people do adopt atheism by accident or default, they dont opt for atheism so much as reject what atheism is not or what atheism is contra, thinking its free of the value judgements characteristic of religion. Although that is itself a value judgement.

 

[Passacaglia]

Most atheism I see in the world, online or offline, and I've seen in my 36 years of life, is something more like narcissism or apathy...

Well that's a rather negative way of looking at atheism. I'm awfully tempted to think of a few adjectives that paint religious folks in the worst possible light.

...there's no obligation, no effort required...

As an introvert, yes, the very idea of having to go to temple/church/mosque every week makes me shudder with boredom.

...its not challenging...

I go to a Catholic college and I've had religious friends my entire life, and I assure you it can be very challenging to live with grown adults who take history lessons from hundreds+ year-old mythology books.

...its not unsettling or demanding...

I was raised with agnosticism/atheism, so this is true enough of me. But people who come to atheism from a religious background often do find it highly unsettling, at least at first.

...you dont need to seek forgiveness, there's no authority outside yourself, no authority greater than yourself, no authority other than yourself.

There's family and state, but I'm guessing you mean 'there's no invisible deity looking over my shoulder and judging everything I do.' Which is true.

The OP seems clever, a lot of people do adopt atheism by accident or default, they dont opt for atheism so much as reject what atheism is not or what atheism is contra...

Well, atheism is a rejection of religious assumptions, so I'm not sure how else one could arrive at it. Whether one is more-or-less raised with it as I was, or comes to atheism from some religion, he or she has to at some point think "What if Hinduism, Christianity, Buddhism, Kabbalah, the Norse gods, the flying spaghetti monster, or whatever else is real?" And then conclude that "...Nah, that's silly!"

So your statement is true enough, though it's much like saying "A lot of people don't opt for religion so much as reject rational thought in favor of the religion they were born into, or whatever belief system feels comfortable to them." Not a very productive way to talk about people, wouldn't you agree? Unless of course you're looking for an argument.

...thinking its free of the value judgements characteristic of religion. Although that is itself a value judgement.

Yes, most of us atheists think that we're better able to judge right and wrong than any ancient story book. Much like most religious people think they're capable of judging right and wrong in cases not covered by their favored holy book. (And sometimes even in those cases!)

 

[prplchknz]

people like to name things and because religion exists the need to call something not religion, and really who cares? i mean people believe what makes sense to them, and at this point in history and science its all you can realistically expect. and even if god got empirically proven or disproven it would take a long ass time to get people to change their minds to whichever the truth is. humans don't change minds easily on stuff like this. a person spirtuality is shaped by their life all aspects of it including childhood (i'm including just spirtual people, religious people, atheist, and agnostics in this).

 

[Eska]

Most atheism I see in the world, online or offline, and I've seen in my 36 years of life, is something more like narcissism or apathy, there's no obligation, no effort required, its not challenging, its not unsettling or demanding, you dont need to seek forgiveness, there's no authority outside yourself, no authority greater than yourself, no authority other than yourself.

The OP seems clever, a lot of people do adopt atheism by accident or default, they dont opt for atheism so much as reject what atheism is not or what atheism is contra, thinking its free of the value judgements characteristic of religion. Although that is itself a value judgement.

[...] there's no obligation, no effort required, its not challenging, its not unsettling or demanding, you dont need to seek forgiveness, there's no authority outside yourself, no authority greater than yourself, no authority other than yourself.

Are you implying that there should be? If so, why?

 

[indra]

Atheism provides the most supreme form of objective valuation.

 

[Eska]

Atheism provides the most supreme form of objective valuation.

How does atheism provide objective valuation?

 

[Obsidius]

How does atheism provide objective valuation?

It doesn't. Either this person is a moron, or doesn't understand what objective means. And no, this is no a false dichotomy.

 

[Passacaglia]

I think it's fair to say that atheism/agnosticism allows one to evaluate and choose values without the compromising conflicts that come with religion. Not that there aren't other compromising conflicts that come from family and state, but atheists and agnostics have one less source of them to cloud their judgment.

Though I'm sure that a religious devotee would say that atheism sets an individual's values dangerously adrift in a sea of existentialism. Or something.

 

[Eska]

It doesn't. Either this person is a moron, or doesn't understand what objective means. And no, this is no a false dichotomy.

I know that he is incorrect, although, I'm interested in his point of view.