It's a lack of belief. It's "I don't believe", rather than "I do believe".
Saying that atheism is a belief is the same as saying that NOT collecting stamps is a hobby.
- "Do you have a hobby?"
- "As a matter of fact, I do! I don't collect stamps!"
Atheism is just the default position. It's how people are before they're taught to believe in a god. Believing in a god is a belief. But what comes before that isn't a belief. It's a lack of belief. It's where you stay when you don't ever form a belief. It's the same as how you probably feel about Zeus, or Ganesha, or Isis. You just haven't ever bothered to develop a belief in their divinity. It's as simple as that. Would I say that you were a believer in no Isis? Or that you have a belief in the non-existence of Ganesha? Of course not.
The god that Christians believe in is just one more of the thousands and thousands of gods that people have believed in throughout human history. I'm sure you don't have a belief in most of those gods, and neither do I. It's not that I believe there are no gods; it's that I don't know of a god who is worth believing in. I've never seen any evidence that causes me to believe in a god. Any of them. So I don't. And sorry, but that's not a belief. It's just like if I asked you if you believe in a fairy princess who lives on the moon and rides an invisible purple dragon, and you said no. It's not necessary for you to form a belief that such a being definitely doesn't exist. You just don't have a belief in the fairy princess and her invisible dragon, so when I ask you, you say no.
Isn't the definition of Atheism the "lack of belief in the existence of God or gods"? Isn't it possible to have a religious or spiritual belief that does not include God or gods? Can't you be both a Buddhist and a Atheist at the same time?
If you look a atheist as "non-theist" then yes, you could be spiritual or religious without believing in any deity. That said, there's a common conception of it also implying a disbelief in the supernatural.
Most people think of agnosticism as a lack of belief and atheism as active disbelief. Agnostics would say they don't know, and atheists would argue that there is no god.
Having spent a few weeks working in China, I can testify that making money is their true religion. They work long hours, so there's no room for all the time sucking requirements of Mormonism.
Google Taiping Rebellion. 20 million killed from 1850 to 1864 trying to establish Christ's Kingdom in China. Christians were the agressors for this one.
Protestants and Catholics are the only 2 quasi-christian religions recognized in China. They estimate over 100 million of them. Hoaks says the TSCC has thousands. Chinese would be attracted to the temple and genealogy. but TSCC is way behind the curve. I would like to know why LDS, JW and SDA are not recognized - interesting.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/22/2014 08:17PM by popeyes.
I had a family member who lived there for several months (due to his job) a few years ago. He said that the only Mormons in China are the American ones who moved there. Chinese people are NOT interested in becoming Mormons. Mormon philosophy and practices seem crazy to them, although that apparently doesn't stop the transplanted American Mos from trying.
I don't think there's going to be an explosion of Mo-ism there. Ever.
I was recently in China. Before my trip I had the had the belief that Christians in China had to meet in someone's home with the curtains closed and the lights dimmed.
However, one day while visiting the fish market I notice a large Christian church (not a relic from the colonial days) behind the market so it appears Christianity is tolerated. Buddhism and Taoism is alive and well in China too.
Chinese concept of family and the superficial mormon concept of family are not really compatible. Because in Chinese culture family really does come first. Family in China almost has a religious like devotion in Chinese culture. Mormons are anti-family and pro-cult. Show me a chapel full of Mormons and I will show you a chapel full of broken and divided families.
Money would be an issue too. I just don't see Chinese giving up 10 percent of their wealth. To the West it may seem that is selfish, but it is actually very pro family and beneficial to the society as a whole since families take care of their own and don't rely on government or others.
I too cannot see mormonism being popular in China. Can you see teenage missionaries from a church not 200 years old telling people from a culture 1000s of years old that drinking tea is bad and sinful? Do the Chinese work on Sundays? Mormonism doesn't change to fit the culture. It expects a culture to change to fit it.