(CNN) – How many ways are there to disbelieve in
God?
At least six, according to a new study.
Two researchers at University of Tennessee at
Chattanooga found that atheists and agnostics run
the range from vocally anti-religious activists to
nonbelievers who still observe some religious
traditions.
“The main observation is that nonbelief is an
ontologically diverse community,” write doctoral
student Christopher Silver and undergraduate
student Thomas Coleman.
“These categories are a first stab at this,” Silver
told the website Raw Story. “In 30 years, we may
be looking at a typology of 32 types.”
Silver and Coleman derived their six types of
nonbelievers from 59 interviews. We’re pretty sure
we’ve spotted all six in our comments section.
1) Intellectual atheist/agnostic
This type of nonbeliever seeks information and
intellectual stimulation about atheism.
They like debating and arguing, particularly on
popular Internet sites.
(Ahem.)
They’re also well-versed in books and articles about
religion and atheism, and prone to citing those
works frequently.
2). Activist
These kinds of atheists and agnostics are not
content with just disbelieving in God; they want to
tell others why they reject religion and why society
would be better off if we all did likewise.
They tend to be vocal about political causes like gay
rights, feminism, the environment and the care of
animals.
3). Seeker-agnostic
This group is made up of people who are unsure
about the existence of a God but keep an open mind
and recognize the limits of human knowledge and
experience.
Silver and Coleman describe this group as people
who regularly question their own beliefs and “do not
hold a firm ideological position.”
That doesn’t mean this group is confused, the
researchers say. They just embrace uncertainty.
4) Anti-theist
This group regularly speaks out against religion and
religious beliefs, usually by positioning themselves
as “diametrically opposed to religious ideology,”
Silver and Coleman wrote.
“Anti-theists view religion as ignorance and see any
individual or institution associated with it as
backward and socially detrimental,” the researchers
wrote. “The Anti-Theist has a clear and – in their
view, superior – understanding of the limitations and
danger of religions.”
Anti-theists are outspoken, devoted and – at times –
confrontational about their disbelief. They believe
that “obvious fallacies in religion and belief should
be aggressively addressed in some form or another.”
5). Non-theist
The smallest group among the six are the non-
theists, people who do not involve themselves with
either religion or anti-religion.
In many cases, this comes across as apathy or
disinterest.
“A Non-Theist simply does not concern him or
herself with religion,” Silver and Coleman wrote.
“Religion plays no role or issue in one’s
consciousness or worldview; nor does a Non- Theist
have concern for the atheist or agnostic movement.”
They continue: “They simply do not believe, and in
the same right, their absence of faith means the
absence of anything religion in any form from their
mental space.”
6) Ritual atheist
They don’t believe in God, they don’t associate with
religion, and they tend to believe there is no afterlife,
but the sixth type of nonbeliever still finds useful the
teachings of some religious traditions.
“They see these as more or less philosophical
teachings of how to live life and achieve happiness
than a path to transcendental liberation,” Silver and
Coleman wrote. “For example, these individuals may
participate in specific rituals, ceremonies, musical
opportunities, meditation, yoga classes, or holiday
traditions.”
For many of these nonbelievers, their adherence to
ritual may stem from family traditions. For others, its
a personal connection to, or respect for, the
“profound symbolism” inherent within religious
rituals, beliefs and ceremonies, according the
researchers.
–
religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/07/15/the-six-types-of-atheists/

I personally am a cross between anti theist and non theist, while I'd have loved to keep my atheism to myself without bothering about religion and its adherents,the level of ignorance and superstition promoted by religion causes one to drift towards anti-theism.....I've seen what religion can do to otherwise educated and intelligent people and I hate it with so much passion,any belief that is asserted without evidence is harmful

Old.

Thread should be closed. Repetitive materialm this cnn report has been posted before

Logicboy03: Old.

Thread should be closed. Repetitive materialm this cnn report has been posted before

Oh really,never knew