atheism [aith-ee-iz-zum] n belief that there is no God, atheist n, atheistic adj. - Collins English Dictionary, 2005, International Edition (pp. 34)
While that should probably extend to God/Gods it is otherwise the standard understanding of the word. Depending on the concept it is perfectly possible to be both an atheist and believe in some kind of hell or afterlife. The two are not mutually exclusive. Atheism is not a religion and has no organized views - it simply means you don't, for what ever reason, believe in God or Gods.
But God created heaven and hell, so it makes no sense for an atheist to believe in them. They just end up making their own shit up - which is just as crazy as what they don't believe in in the first place.
No one said it had to make sense... they are still an atheist if they don't make sense but don't believe in God.
That is only ONE concept of hell. Many religions have forms of hell as do a range of philosophies. Some say that this world is a form of hell or punishment. Others believe in a form of greater unconsciousness and when one rejoins one's greater self and realises how much pain you caused others who are effectively yourself then that eternal moment of suffering is hell. You could believe in that and be an atheist as that is not a belief in god but rather in a supernatural selfhood.
Most traditional atheists believe that once you die, thats it - you're dead, and this is your chance to live - so live. So meeting an atheist that believed in an afterlife took me aback. I still think its pretty retarded - but then again, I think that about every religion.
I don't know if there is such a thing as a traditional atheist... maybe a conceptual or an ideal atheist? The issue is that atheist isn't a type of person it is just one word to describe part of a person's beliefs. I mean if the person had said "I don't believe in God but I believe in a form of hell" would you have been as shocked?
- Collins English Dictionary, 2005, International Edition (pp. 34)
While that should probably extend to God/Gods it is otherwise the standard understanding of the word. Depending on the concept it is perfectly possible to be both an atheist and believe in some kind of hell or afterlife. The two are not mutually exclusive. Atheism is not a religion and has no organized views - it simply means you don't, for what ever reason, believe in God or Gods.
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They just end up making their own shit up - which is just as crazy as what they don't believe in in the first place.
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That is only ONE concept of hell. Many religions have forms of hell as do a range of philosophies. Some say that this world is a form of hell or punishment. Others believe in a form of greater unconsciousness and when one rejoins one's greater self and realises how much pain you caused others who are effectively yourself then that eternal moment of suffering is hell. You could believe in that and be an atheist as that is not a belief in god but rather in a supernatural selfhood.
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I still think its pretty retarded - but then again, I think that about every religion.
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