Atheist in B5 episode 'The Parliament of Dreams'

[Darth Servo]

In the B5 episode 'The Parliament of Dreams' Sinclaire demonstrates "Earth's dominant belief system" to the aliens with a long line of people from many different religions. At the head of the line is an atheist.

Are you pleased that atheists were included, disapointed because it makes atheism look like a religious belief rather than lack of one, mixed feelings...

[HemlockGrey]

Where is the option for 'Why the fuck would you care, anyway?'

[fgalkin]

Where is the option for 'Why the fuck would you care, anyway?'

If you don't care, don't post in this thread.

[Stormbringer]

In the B5 episode 'The Parliament of Dreams' Sinclaire demonstrates "Earth's dominant belief system" to the aliens with a long line of people from many different religions. At the head of the line is an atheist.

Are you pleased that atheists were included, disapointed because it makes atheism look like a religious belief rather than lack of one, mixed feelings...

Mixed feelings. I think it's good that it was shown (JMS is an atheist) and it's a belief like religion, not a religion, but a belief worthy of as much respect as any religion.

[Shadow WarChief]

I don't really mind the inclusion of an atheist in the group of religions shown because the whole purpose of that episode was to show alien cultures about your cultures. Sorta like show and tell. I don't mindn because an atheist is different from what we've seen of the alien cultures: And that was the point.

And out of the context of the show, I've always taken the fact that the atheist was shown first was JMS's little way of showing how Atheism is the largest group in the 23rd century.

[paladin]

In the B5 episode 'The Parliament of Dreams' Sinclaire demonstrates "Earth's dominant belief system" to the aliens with a long line of people from many different religions. At the head of the line is an atheist.

Are you pleased that atheists were included, disapointed because it makes atheism look like a religious belief rather than lack of one, mixed feelings...

Why shouldn't atheism be included? If you're demostrating Earth's dominant belief system, you should include all belief systems.

[Enlightenment]

Why shouldn't atheism be included? If you're demostrating Earth's dominant belief system, you should include all belief systems.

Atheism is not a belief system. It is a lack of belief.

A good analogy would be to compare hair colors (religions) with baldness (atheism). A christian could be said to have black hair while an islamic would have blood-stained red; an atheist, however, would be bald.

[Howedar]

And out of the context of the show, I've always taken the fact that the atheist was shown first was JMS's little way of showing how Atheism is the largest group in the 23rd century.

I think it was alphabetical.

[paladin]

Why shouldn't atheism be included? If you're demostrating Earth's dominant belief system, you should include all belief systems.

Atheism is not a belief system. It is a lack of belief.

A good analogy would be to compare hair colors (religions) with baldness (atheism). A christian could be said to have black hair while an islamic would have blood-stained red; an atheist, however, would be bald.

So, you wouldn't have included atheism as a belief system? An atheist belief in the non-existence of God can be just as strong as a christian, jew, or muslim belief in God.

[Vendetta]

Why shouldn't atheism be included? If you're demostrating Earth's dominant belief system, you should include all belief systems.

Atheism is not a belief system. It is a lack of belief.

A good analogy would be to compare hair colors (religions) with baldness (atheism). A christian could be said to have black hair while an islamic would have blood-stained red; an atheist, however, would be bald.

And yet the bald guy should be included to show that not everyone has hair.

[Darth Wong]

So, you wouldn't have included atheism as a belief system? An atheist belief in the non-existence of God can be just as strong as a christian, jew, or muslim belief in God.

Maybe they should have also included non-believers in Santa Claus as a religion, since you seem to think that to not believe in something is religious "belief in nonexistence"

[Setzer]

Why the hell do people think Atheism is a religion? Atheism is merely the abscence of belief in God.

[paladin]

So, you wouldn't have included atheism as a belief system? An atheist belief in the non-existence of God can be just as strong as a christian, jew, or muslim belief in God.

Maybe they should have also included non-believers in Santa Claus as a religion, since you seem to think that to not believe in something is religious "belief in nonexistence"

I didn't state atheism was a religion just a belief system. And yes, they did have non-believers in Santa Claus represented by other belief systems.

[Darth Wong]

Maybe they should have also included non-believers in Santa Claus as a religion, since you seem to think that to not believe in something is religious "belief in nonexistence"

I didn't state atheism was a religion just a belief system. And yes, they did have non-believers in Santa Claus represented by other belief systems.

*watches Paladin carefully place another brick in a growing Wall of Ignorance*

How many times do we have to explain to you fuckwads that atheism is NOT a belief system? It is the absence of belief! Atheism is a NON-belief system. And no, they did not have non-believers in Santa Claus identified as a specific religion.

[paladin]

Maybe they should have also included non-believers in Santa Claus as a religion, since you seem to think that to not believe in something is religious "belief in nonexistence"

I didn't state atheism was a religion just a belief system. And yes, they did have non-believers in Santa Claus represented by other belief systems.

*watches Paladin carefully place another brick in a growing Wall of Ignorance*

How many times do we have to explain to you fuckwads that atheism is NOT a belief system? It is the absence of belief! Atheism is a NON-belief system. And no, they did not have non-believers in Santa Claus identified as a specific religion.

http://atheism.about.com/library/FAQs/b ... f_dict.htm

I wanted to see if I could get a better handle on atheism. I read on about.com that atheism was defined as a disbelief or denial of God or a supreme being. I agree that calling atheism a belief system was wrong. But I would still include an atheist among the representatives for Earth's belief systems. The atheist could be a counter point to the religious belief systems since the belief system recognize a higher power while atheism denies or disbeliefs in a higher power.

[Darth Wong]

I wanted to see if I could get a better handle on atheism. I read on about.com that atheism was defined as a disbelief or denial of God or a supreme being. I agree that calling atheism a belief system was wrong.

OK, concession accepted.

But I would still include an atheist among the representatives for Earth's belief systems. The atheist could be a counter point to the religious belief systems since the belief system recognize a higher power while atheism denies or disbeliefs in a higher power.

I don't necessarily disagree with including an atheist in the delegation, if only to point out that there are people on Earth who have no belief system at all and thus prevent the misconception that everyone on Earth is represented by the religionists' gallery. My problem was with your contention that atheism is a belief system.

[Arthur_Tuxedo]

Didn't vote. There should have been an option for "don't give a shit"