Question to Anarchists

[sictransitgloriamundi]

After a confrontation with a teacher at my school who reffered to the kids wearing "white ribbons" in protest of school policy (the confrontation started after I heard that she had refered to the movement as atheistic and cultish). She tried to cover her tracks by saying that atheism grew out of the early anarchist movement then saying from the atheistic part.. cults grew. Some nonsense like that. I know the cult one is just something to hear out of an Ann Coultier book but what about the Atheism growing out of Anarchism? Thanks.

[Eastside Revolt]

I know Bakunin wrote scathing attacks on christians in his time, however I don't think he was the founder of atheism.

[ÑóẊîöʼn]

'Atheism' is far from cultish. It is the denial of servile behaviour towards 'gods' and their earthly representatives.

[Dr. Rosenpenis]

Atheism is anti-cultish
And I reckon the Greeks came up with atheism, since the roots of the word are Greek, no?

[STI]

Socrates was executed for being an atheist (among other things), though he wasn't actually an "atheist". Whatever. I'd bet that atheism has existed for as long as people have been groaning on about "god".

[ComradeChris]

Originally posted by [email protected] 17 2004, 06:45 PM
Atheism is anti-cultish
And I reckon the Greeks came up with atheism, since the roots of the word are Greek, no?
Yes, A = denoting an absense; theos = god. THat's from Greek.

I agree religion is almost cultlike for the most part. But scientology by definition could be a cult too. I think it's a rather stupid word. You follow anything you could be labelled as a cult. :rolleyes:

[Dr. Rosenpenis]

From dictionary.com

Cult
1. A religion or religious sect generally considered to be extremist or false, with its followers often living in an unconventional manner under the guidance of an authoritarian, charismatic leader.
2. The followers of such a religion or sect.
2. A system or community of religious worship and ritual.
3. The formal means of expressing religious reverence; religious ceremony and ritual.
4. A usually nonscientific method or regimen claimed by its originator to have exclusive or exceptional power in curing a particular disease.
1. Obsessive, especially faddish, devotion to or veneration for a person, principle, or thing.
2. The object of such devotion.
6. An exclusive group of persons sharing an esoteric, usually artistic or intellectual interest.

Number 6, I assume is referring to things like a "cult movie".

And scientology is the worst word ever. Science, meaning the study of the natural world. Ology, meaning the study of.

Ridiculous.

Science essentially means the same thing as scientology. If you believe in scientology that means that you believe in science.

Atheism simply means to reject the supernatural and the repressive morals lacking in material purpose. We're not obsessed with anything, nor do we accept unproven stories completely lacking in any evidence. The theory of evolution has a very scientific basis and relies completely on concretely observed data and evidential conclusions. Something that is unknown to theology.

[ComradeChris]

And scientology is the worst word ever. Science, meaning the study of the natural world. Ology, meaning the study of.

Ridiculous.

Science essentially means the same thing as scientology. If you believe in scientology that means that you believe in science.

Who ever said people weren't redundant. Blame the guy who created the belief system.


Atheism simply means to reject the supernatural and the repressive morals lacking in material purpose. We're not obsessed with anything, nor do we accept unproven stories completely lacking in any evidence. The theory of evolution has a very scientific basis and relies completely on concretely observed data and evidential conclusions. Something that is unknown to theology.

It would still fall under number 6:

An exclusive group of persons sharing an esoteric, usually artistic or intellectual interest.

Hell anything can. That's why the word cult is by far less intelligent a creation than scientology.

[monkeydust]

I wouldn't say Socrates was an Atheist as such - he certainly didn't think like one. But there were certainly Greeks around in Athens that could be considered, in some way, Atheists.

Some of the Sophists in Athens even developed remarkably original theories about religion's social role - and the inherent need some people have to explain things through divine means.

[The Grapes of Wrath]

Well, I would have to say frankly no. I don't believe that Anarchism is the sole creator, given how it had been around for centuries prior to Anarchism inception.

Likewise, now I a may be beating a dead horse here, but I don't think that Anarchism is purely athiestic. Now, athiesm, the disbelief in the existence of god/gods may appeal to some, and probably most self-proclaim Anarchists. There is nothing wrong with declaring yourself an Anarchist, in fact I would like to encourage it more; and so it is not wrong to declare oneself as an athiest, whether an Anarchist or not.

However, I think that Anarchists can have faith in whatever diety they find fit. Now, I am not an Anarchist so forgive me if I am wrong, but to be an Anarchist, a belief in a higher power is irrelevant. Anarchists believe in the abolition of all forms of oppression. So, a church, with its hierarchical priests/pastors can be fair game to any Anarchist, however, is the idea of religion oppression? or just the insitution? Is the problem with the institutions of religion (ie the Catholic Church, Protestant churches, synagogues, mosques) or with the thoughts of religion period?

I think it is clear that churches and such institutions can be percieved as hierarchical and hence, oppressive, however, is the thought of relgion, is its mere belief oppressive? It can be argued yes. However, let us not forget, that religion is nothing more than belief, nothing more than dogma, as is the belief in Anarchism, or Socialism, or Communism, or Fascism, or any other sort of "ism". As you see, these beliefs, which don't allow for really true "free" thought, are oppressive too, along with the belief in religion.

I think it is safe to say, that in an Anarchist society, religion would still exist by those who would wish to believe in it. Afterall, many of its positive attributes are guidelines for life, such as "love your neighbor as I have loved you" (Jesus). Is this idea not aligned with similar ideas of Anarchism? They compliment eachother to an extent.

Anarchism and religion may go hand in hand, and, at the same time, maybe not. It all depends on the individual, and that is what Anarchism puts its large faith into, and to good measure. If some find it necessary to believe in a higher power, so be it, if they soon realize that things are too good to be worried about such trivial things, so be it as well. That is their right, and Anarchism should not object, if one is a good Anarchist, but also religious soul, are they in anyway diminshed? I for one, would say no.

Sorry to get off subject in a way. But I think that Anarchism's relation to religion needed to be addressed as well.

TGOW

[ComradeRed]

At any rate, Atheism did not spawn from Anarchism, nor visa-versa. Anarchism adopts Atheism, but one did not spark the other.

I heard an arguement that went along the lines of "They sound the same, therefore they are the same," I said "You sound stupid, therefore you are". :lol:

[komon]

anarchy doesn't go over questions,but rather over certainty,and facts.if you don't understand me. look around you.