I think we can agree that this comes down to semantics but yours is a Western centric point of view. In Hindu philosophy one can believe in Karma and Samsara while ascribing to Advaita Vedanta which treats Brahman (the ultimate, infinite reality underlying everything) as impersonal and not tied to a deity. These individuals refer to themselves as Hindu Atheists and have so for thousands of years. You can No True Scotsman it as much as you’d like but atheism is defined as not believing in a deity and those that ascribe to this worldview do not believe in a deity.
I think the major semantic holdup here is due to a Western centric equivocation of higher power with God due Abrahamic monotheism. Does a higher power / laws of the universe have to be or come from a God? Several conceptualizations in Eastern religious philosophy would answer no to that question.
I think its best that we leave it at your perspective on atheism being specifically exclusivist/Western centric.
No, in human philosophy, if one believes in karma and samsara, one believes in non human agency, which is believing in god with extra steps. You’re welcome to do so, you just can’t have your cake and eat it too, by calling yourself atheist. It’s quite simple.
Also, calling me a “western settler colonialist” (as you did in your mod removed reply) because your arguments hold no water is tantamount to your acceptance of that lack of substance.
You’re welcome to hold onto whatever belief system you choose. Hindu atheists have referred to themselves as such for a very long time and if you want to gatekeep the term in whatever corner of the world you happen to be in, you’re free to do so. Just dont falsely hold onto to the idea that your belief system is universal.
Using phrasing like “primitive” (which is western colonial-settler terminology intended for dehumanization) warrants being called out I’m afraid. I deleted the comment as I felt yours did not warrant a thoughtful response.
Non human agency concepts like god or other supernatural events have existed since the dawn of time. Primitive humans had these concepts, thusly, it’s not out of place to call these concepts primitive, because they are. What’s out of place are misplaced accusations of settler colonialism, especially when these colonialists used primitive concepts, like god, to justify their barbarism.
Regarding holding on to belief systems, it appears you’re projecting, it’s not me trying to turn mysticism into secularism/atheism.
I think we can agree that this comes down to semantics but yours is a Western centric point of view. In Hindu philosophy one can believe in Karma and Samsara while ascribing to Advaita Vedanta which treats Brahman (the ultimate, infinite reality underlying everything) as impersonal and not tied to a deity. These individuals refer to themselves as Hindu Atheists and have so for thousands of years. You can No True Scotsman it as much as you’d like but atheism is defined as not believing in a deity and those that ascribe to this worldview do not believe in a deity.
I think the major semantic holdup here is due to a Western centric equivocation of higher power with God due Abrahamic monotheism. Does a higher power / laws of the universe have to be or come from a God? Several conceptualizations in Eastern religious philosophy would answer no to that question.
I think its best that we leave it at your perspective on atheism being specifically exclusivist/Western centric.
No, in human philosophy, if one believes in karma and samsara, one believes in non human agency, which is believing in god with extra steps. You’re welcome to do so, you just can’t have your cake and eat it too, by calling yourself atheist. It’s quite simple.
Also, calling me a “western settler colonialist” (as you did in your mod removed reply) because your arguments hold no water is tantamount to your acceptance of that lack of substance.
You’re welcome to hold onto whatever belief system you choose. Hindu atheists have referred to themselves as such for a very long time and if you want to gatekeep the term in whatever corner of the world you happen to be in, you’re free to do so. Just dont falsely hold onto to the idea that your belief system is universal.
Using phrasing like “primitive” (which is western colonial-settler terminology intended for dehumanization) warrants being called out I’m afraid. I deleted the comment as I felt yours did not warrant a thoughtful response.
Non human agency concepts like god or other supernatural events have existed since the dawn of time. Primitive humans had these concepts, thusly, it’s not out of place to call these concepts primitive, because they are. What’s out of place are misplaced accusations of settler colonialism, especially when these colonialists used primitive concepts, like god, to justify their barbarism.
Regarding holding on to belief systems, it appears you’re projecting, it’s not me trying to turn mysticism into secularism/atheism.