Some atheists believe in a non-spiritual higher power. Like they believe in scientific forces and concepts as a higher power that shapes and controls the lives of humans and other beings. But they do not believe that there is a god pulling the strings behind the scenes. So some atheists might believe in a "higher power" but not believe in any gods. A useful thing about understanding this is that it reveals how personal belief systems are, and how dependent on language, which can be imprecise. I've also heard s dentists who maintain religious beliefs describe their beliefs in God in a similar way-- like to point to the principles of physics or natural forces and say "that is God at work " They say God, an atheist would not, but the difference in their beliefs system is to some degree semantic. Obviously many religious people and atheists are further apart than that (most atheists would not describe scientific forces as a "higher power" and many Christians are skeptical of science to begin with) but I think it's interesting that some are closer together than you'd expect. |
^ scientists, not dentists! Typo. |
Nevermind. I found it. Atheist here. I got 15 out of 15. (but I admit I was just guessing on the two Catholic questions about communion and purgatory). |
I can't see how anyone could argue that scientific forces (like gravity, centrifugal force etc.) aren't "higher powers." I'd add evolution through natural selection, but that one may be more disputed. |
NP That's been my experience with people who become atheist versus those who discover or become more religious. |
There is nothing antagonistic being posted in this thread. You should report the posts you feel are antagonizing and let the mods deal with them, they can remove them if they feel they are inappropriate or break tos. |
+1. Posts you don’t necessarily like aren’t necessarily antagonizing or escalating. Democracy is like that. |
You post about athiests and then complain because athiests are posting in a religion forum. At least you don't deny obsessing over atheism. |
I got 8 out of 15. I guess I really did daydream my way through church as a kid. |
Don’t play dumb. OP is obviously trying to stir the pot. Be careful what you ask for. |
Maybe the answer is that atheists are educated. |
Does anyone think it’s creepy that this poster, an anonymous poster as we all are, knows another anonymous poster’s post history? How would someone know what others post if we are all anonymous? Are you a mod that has access to posters posting history or something? |
They don’t know for sure. They made an overly broad statement based on your style, and now you’ve outed yourself. Most people here are just testing spaghetti. Some things stick and others fall flat. |
Some religious people, let's be honest, know very little about their religion. "Dumb as a fundamentalist Baptist" comes to mind.
Anyway, I'm an atheist and got 15 out of 15. And yes, I adore the Bible, particularly the OT as history and literature. |
Because “higher power” indicates some kind of hierarchy, and the natural world has no hierarchies. Plus it’s ridiculous new age woo woo bullcrap and it is a phrase that has no space in any scientific discussion. Even spinoza’s god or the god of the gaps. |