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Occultwiki (talk | contribs) (Created page with "'''Atheism''', in the broadest sense, is an absence of belief in the existence of deities. Less broadly, atheism is a rejection of the belief that any deities exist. In an eve...") |
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Some of the ambiguity and controversy involved in defining atheism arises from difficulty in reaching a consensus for the definitions of words like deity and god. The variety of wildly different conceptions of [[Yahweh|God]] and deities lead to differing ideas regarding atheism's applicability. The ancient Romans accused [[Christianity|Christians]] of being atheists for not worshiping the [[Paganism|pagan]] deities. Gradually, this view fell into disfavor as theism came to be understood as encompassing belief in any divinity. | Some of the ambiguity and controversy involved in defining atheism arises from difficulty in reaching a consensus for the definitions of words like deity and god. The variety of wildly different conceptions of [[Yahweh|God]] and deities lead to differing ideas regarding atheism's applicability. The ancient Romans accused [[Christianity|Christians]] of being atheists for not worshiping the [[Paganism|pagan]] deities. Gradually, this view fell into disfavor as theism came to be understood as encompassing belief in any divinity. | ||
With respect to the range of phenomena being rejected, atheism may counter anything from the existence of a deity, to the existence of any spiritual, supernatural, or transcendental concepts, such as those of [[Buddhism]], [[Hinduism]], Jainism, and Taoism. | With respect to the range of phenomena being rejected, atheism may counter anything from the existence of a deity, to the existence of any spiritual, supernatural, or transcendental concepts, such as those of [[Buddhism]], [[Hinduism]], [[Jainism]], and Taoism. | ||
Atheism has been regarded as compatible with agnosticism, but has also been contrasted with it. | Atheism has been regarded as compatible with agnosticism, but has also been contrasted with it. | ||
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==Non-theistic religions== | ==Non-theistic religions== | ||
Atheism is not mutually exclusive with respect to some religious and spiritual belief systems, including [[Hinduism]], Jainism, [[Buddhism]], Syntheism, Raëlism, and Neopagan movements such as [[Wicca]]. | Atheism is not mutually exclusive with respect to some religious and spiritual belief systems, including [[Hinduism]], [[Jainism]], [[Buddhism]], Syntheism, Raëlism, and Neopagan movements such as [[Wicca]]. | ||
Āstika schools in Hinduism hold atheism to be a valid path to moksha, but extremely difficult, for the atheist cannot expect any help from the divine on their journey. Jainism believes the universe is eternal and has no need for a creator deity, however Tirthankaras are revered beings who can transcend space and time and have more power than the god Indra. Secular Buddhism does not advocate belief in gods. Early Buddhism was atheistic as Gautama Buddha's path involved no mention of gods. Later conceptions of Buddhism consider Buddha himself a god, suggest adherents can attain godhood, and revere Bodhisattvas. | Āstika schools in Hinduism hold atheism to be a valid path to moksha, but extremely difficult, for the atheist cannot expect any help from the divine on their journey. Jainism believes the universe is eternal and has no need for a creator deity, however Tirthankaras are revered beings who can transcend space and time and have more power than the god Indra. Secular Buddhism does not advocate belief in gods. Early Buddhism was atheistic as Gautama Buddha's path involved no mention of gods. Later conceptions of Buddhism consider Buddha himself a god, suggest adherents can attain godhood, and revere Bodhisattvas. | ||