Almost every debate I have with Christians about religion is the same arguments that have been around for 100+ years now

not so much Christianity but the politics of those who follow it

I have heard people call themselves politically or culturally christian, but religiously atheist. Then again, that is a really dumb thing to say, so there is that.

any 'atheist' who isn't violently anti-christian is really an agnostic when you talk to them about it.

it's seen as tradition

I've never met a true atheist who wasn't holding a grudge against a religion.

I get the argument I guess, being Atheist without being a left wing loon there has to be someway to separate themselves out

I'd call myself an Atheist and I wouldn't consider myself violently anti Christian

personally I've leaned more towards Apatheism in recent years

Beemann, would you consider your position that god does not exist, or that you have no proof that god does exist?

"atheist" and "agnostic" are answers to 2 different questions. The "true atheist" you seem to describe is just a militant atheist

Those are equivalent statements

without proof you can only really assume something doesn't exist
it gets confusing because Atheist and Agnostic are 2 different things

They are not equivalent statements.

God does not exist supposes proof.

the militant Atheists are more likely Anti-theists

God may not exist doesn't.

If there is no proof of something, and I am not affected by it then it is equivalent to it not existing

there's no proof god exists so it's best to assume he doesn't

In the same sense that I do not entertain the notion of Thor or the Tooth Fairy

but if someone finds personal value in religion power to them, I don't it but whatever floats their boat

@Lord Zedd that depends on how you answer the decartes bargain.

although Descartes would disagree with that suggestion 😉

we all have to found our own way in life, mine isn't religious I think I'm missing the religious belief part of the brain, probably why I'm not a Socialist or Progressive

probably 😃

but generally people try to fill that religious hole in their heart. It happens eventually, usually after people experience some great event close to birth or death.

I don't think it's a religious hole, really

it's a need for meaning I guess

or purpose

I think people just want meaning, and some people are satisfied with someone else's answer

religion isn't always 'someone elses answer' but i agree that its a 'meaning hole'

I accepted that any purpose or meaning obtained in life is self given, it can be whatever you want it to be

but all methods of 'search for meaning' become religions. Including science.

It is always to an extent. You're accepting a grand, supernatural power on faith

Science as a search for meaning is pointless

well grand ideological might be a bit more apt

I agree, which is why I'm religious 😄

Science is a tool for explaining phenomena

it's a means not an end

science isn't a science it's an art 😄

The search for meaning doesn't have a method. It's not really method based at all