Atheism Has a Very, Very Narrow Scope, by Definition [View all]

Note: Reposted, with minor changes, after being mistakenly posted in GD

Atheism has to do only with the idea of the existence of deities. Atheists don't believe that such supernatural entities exist. Some atheists declare that they don't exist. Most simply don't or cannot believe they exist. Others say they "lack belief" in such entities.

Either way, that is the only tenet of atheism. Atheism doesn't have anything to say about other philosophical questions. Individual atheists may be humanists or royalists. Atheism can exist in democracies, socialist societies, or even in tyrannical government systems. However, atheism is not in any way about politics. It is far narrower in its scope than that. There is no broad philosophy attached to atheism. It is simply nonbelief in supernatural entities or gods.

Atheism has no doctrine. It has no scriptures. It has no central organization. It has no widely-followed leaders. It has no churches or meeting halls that attract crowds. It is an individual thing. Every atheist has his or her own world view, ethical compass, and way of life. Atheists have little in common with each other beyond a disbelief in deities.

Atheists, as individuals, believe many things about many things. They just don't believe that deities or other supernatural entities exist. That's about the only principle you can depend on an atheist to hold. Beyond that, you must ask the individual atheist how he or she thinks about other subjects.

Atheism is not a belief system. It is simply non-belief in one particular area. It cannot be expanded beyond that, either by athiests or others. Atheism is simple, and very narrowly defined.