Atheism in a nutshell?

[Martin TK]

Hey Tank,

Where do I fit in your equation, am I one of the 3/4 or the 1/4?    

[Tank]

Hey Tank,

Where do I fit in your equation, am I one of the 3/4 or the 1/4?    :hmm: Emotionally in the 1/4, intellectually in the 3/4 I would say  

[Thumpalumpacus]

I see soul as an emergent property of the brain, which dies when the brain dies.

Of course, I'm not sure how different that really is from "mind", nor am I really concerned enough to examine it deeply.

[The Magic Pudding]

1)   Do atheists believe that there definitely is no God, or however you call the supposed creator and master of the world, or other deities, or do they simply not care if there are?
2)   Do atheists believe that there definitely are no souls (spirits, or whatever you wish to call them â€" that which is our conscience, if it were not just a result of the physical processes in our heads), or do they simply not care if there are?
3)   While on the subject, do atheists believe that all existence, all life, and specifically humans also, are just subatomic particles playing out a grand show ever since some starting event and state, according to a set of laws of physics?
4)   Are there any branches of atheism that deviate from the main ideas of atheism? If so, what are they called and how do they differ?
5)   Are there branches of atheism that are actually not opposed to the existence of a God, other deities, souls, etc, but are simply opposed to following any main stream religion, which they deem obviously wrong and unacceptable in its practices?
6)   And finally, if you consider yourself a true atheist, what is at the core of your beliefs? I am asking specifically regarding beliefs of the makings of the universe, the human essence, life, and so on.

1) Personally I'd say it's extremely x extremely unlikely their is a god, so I don't believe in any god.
2) Souls, I've never seen one not attached to a shoe.
I don't like this don't care stuff, I'm not a nihilist.
3) Sub atomic particles?  I suppose you could say I think I am a being temporarily utilising some full size atoms, I'm not sure though.
4) Atheism really only has the one idea, don't believe in gods, not much room for discussion.
5) I think there are atheists who are tolerant of others going about their believing, others are militant anti theists.
When you talk of branches, I think you are on the wrong track.
6) Science has provided an explanation of how life has evolved, some explanation of what we perceive as consciousness.
History shows many civilisations offering many gods.
I don't know about any human essence, orang-utan essence, or rabbit essence.
All I know about the creation of the Universe is fed to me by science popularists.
I accept what they say mostly, they may say something different 20 years on, doesn't make much difference really.

[Icarus]

Well done Tank.  You have been kind, patient, intelligent, and gentlemanly to a suspect inquirer.