TLDR - what’s the question mark in the following scale

Cult(-1)……………….Religion(0)……………….???(+1)

Long version (a.k.a my stupid mind’s question that is keeping me awake):

My understanding of cult is a group of people with an absurd or even possibly nefarious belief system. Like something negative.

By that definition I would put religion in the middle (though a majority of it leans towards the cult side). A group of people that is very serious about what they believe in, no matter how illogical it is.

So with this understanding what would you call the positive side ? A group of people coming together to have a tradition and belief system just for the fun of it ? Is there such thing ?

  • spittingimage@lemmy.world
    4·
    3 days ago

    Atheism is simply the state of nonbelief in a deity.

    Atheism is a spectrum too. At one end you have small-a atheists who would believe in a deity if presented with compelling proof. At the other end you have people with a fervent belief in no deities who would not be persuaded by evidence.

    • LillyPip@lemmy.ca
      9·
      3 days ago

      I think you’ll find vanishingly few even fervent atheists who wouldn’t be persuaded by actual evidence. I know some percentage of fervent atheists would say if real evidence of a god were presented, they wouldn’t follow it because it’s a monster (I’m in this camp), but I don’t believe any real percentage would stick their fingers in their ears and say lalalala. That’s kind of the opposite of what atheism is about. It’s literally about evidence.

      • spittingimage@lemmy.world
        2·
        3 days ago

        That’s kind of the opposite of what atheism is about. It’s literally about evidence.

        Maybe I’m being nitpick-y, but I think you’re pointing at one small part of the whole and saying “that’s it, right there. All of it”. Atheism is literally about what you don’t do - believe in any god. Some atheists come to that point through consideration and self-reflection. Others don’t.

        • LillyPip@lemmy.ca
          3·
          3 days ago

          You’re right, and that’s fair. I guess I was talking about general atheists in one breath, then the specific vocal atheists OP seemed to be talking about in another.

          I shouldn’t generalise like that. Atheism is simply the lack of belief in a god – any god. And there are many gods. You can be atheistic about any of them.

        • flabbergast@lemmy.worldEnglish
          2·
          3 days ago

          What you are referring to, is people who are called atheists, not atheism itself.
          Atheism is indeed just a simple definition. If anyone does not believe in any deity, they are atheists, whether they want to or not.
          It’s as simple as something being a spoon.
          Now, those atheists come in various degrees. That’s what you keep referring to. That is about a measure of intensity.
          Some atheists are not even aware they are. Others are proud to be and will declare so, in various degrees.
          Just wanted to clear that detail up.

    • snooggums@lemmy.worldEnglish
      5·
      3 days ago

      Proof of a powerful entity is just proof of something we haven’t seen before. If it can be observed directly or indirectly it becomes something that exists, which is why nothing is supernatural.

      The concept of a deity can’t exist alongside proof, as they are no longer a deity.

      I’m an atheist as far as real life goes but absolutely love deities and the supernatural in fiction/role playing games like D&D, media, etc.