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[Leafsnail]

It doesn't really have to be a faith either.  I mean... aren't you saying that we don't have enough faith ?

The thing is... I don't see why I should need to take a leap of faith.  Or which direction I should need to take it in.  Or why there's apparently some imperitive reason which I must even though I'm fine as I am.

[fqllve]

Irreligious people simply do not care about religion at all.

irreligious
: neglectful of religion : lacking religious emotions, doctrines, or practices

This definition of irreligious seems like it would include nonpracticing theists. While your definition of "someone who doesn't care about religion" would not. Now, I would certainly call them irreligious (they aren't very religious are they?) but obviously they care some about religion otherwise they wouldn't self-identify as theists.

Irreligion is an absence of, indifference towards or hostility towards religion

Here "absence of" implies inclusion of atheism. Positions which you claim to be mutually exclusive.

And here is irreligion.org which seems less to be atheist or theological noncognitivist and more anti-theist.

And now I am wondering. Where do you get your definitions from?

[Darvi]

Now, I would certainly call them irreligious (they aren't very religious are they?) but obviously they care some about religion otherwise they wouldn't self-identify as theists.

Irreligious people don't identifiy themselves with any religion at all. It doesn't mean they are dubious worshippers or such, if they identify themselves as theists, then they are, regardless of piety. So the comparison is a bit... incoherent.

Irreligion is an absence of, indifference towards or hostility towards religion

Here "absence of" implies inclusion of atheism. Positions which you claim to be mutually exclusive.

And here is irreligion.org which seems less to be atheist or theological noncognitivist and more anti-theist.

And now I am wondering. Where do you get your definitions from?

They're not mutually exclusive, but that website was probably made by people who don't know what the term means.

[fqllve]

Irreligious means, essentially, not religious. It's an adjective and it's been used that way for centuries. Religious does not mean belief in a deity, that is what theistic means. A person can be theistic without being religious (religion usually manifesting itself through devotion or worship). Deists, would be irreligious theists as well.

[Darvi]

Ugh, this is why I hate semantics. I keep misunderstanding words >_>. Must be a cultural thing, really.

[fqllve]

Nah, that's why semantics are terrible. People quibbling over trivialities of definition.

Except for discourse semantics, those are fine.

[Shambling Zombie]

What's the difference between "actively" disbelieving and "passively" doing so?

[TolyK]

yelling that there's no god *vs* not saying anything at all
EDIT: I'm mostly atheist. I understand things by proof and theory.

[Oakenshield]

I believe the following.

1. That we live in a blindly mechanistic universe.
2. That the human condition is about as significant as a small pebble in the sahara (when compared with everything everywhere in the entire universe).
3. That the universe operates by clearly distinguished laws that don't care what you think, their going to function the way they are going to function regardless.
4. That there may or may not be 'spiritual entities' in the universe but that if there are they function under the same rubric of mechanistic, predictable laws.
5. There is no single moral ethos that is always right.
6. What we consider 'right' and 'wrong' is largely irrelevant (again when compared against everything everywhere in the entire universe).
7. That we must, knowing full well what the consequences will be, make our own way and make our own decisions independent of any external guidance but that of others who've made the same choices.
8. That the universe may eventually become completely cold, dark, and dead.
9. That arguing over semantics is largely a way of taking apart someones idea without actually directly attacking the idea with your own idea.
10. That the same blind, uncaring, predictable, and mechanistic forces that rule the universe rule everything, everywhere in it, past present and future, care nothing for their subjective ownership, and are in general unaware of the existence of anything outside of themselves.

IA IA AZATHOTH!

No but seriously, does this make me a Nihilist, an Agnostic, a Atheist, or a Cosmicist?

[G-Flex]

Agnostics are not atheists.

QFT.

More like "QFA" (quoted for ambiguity). Some agnostics could be considered atheists and some atheists could be considered agnostics. "Atheism" does not imply that you believe no god exists, just that you don't believe in one. Agnostics, by definition, do not believe in god but are open to the possibility. There is overlap between the two terms, although they aren't synonymous.

What's the difference between "actively" disbelieving and "passively" doing so?

Maybe the distinction is intended to be more between believing that there is no god, and not believing that there is any god. Yes, there is a difference.

Of course, not believing in a god is more passive if the idea was never taught to you to begin with.

[Shambling Zombie]

I think I fall into the "I want to believe, but there's no evidence, so I don't" camp with most paranormal stuff, including religion.

I mean, I'm not against the world having higher meaning. I just don't see it, in any way, and in fact see some evidence directly opposing it, which is a shame.

Nonetheless, the universe is a freaking cool place even without all that stuff, full of far more wonders, mysteries and worth than I need to be happy.

[Andir]

Atheism can only be a religion when any god proves it's existence and that Atheist still disbelieves in that god...

[ECrownofFire]

Let's just cut off all discussion about definitions of irreligion, atheism, theism, agnosticism, and whatever else.

Instead, we really need to first define "religion". Can't really argue about something if we don't know what we're arguing about.

[Askot Bokbondeler]

belief that mythical supernatural forces intervene in the universe and\or define moral values.

belief in mythical supernatural forces in general.

[Willfor]

That is not a definition of religion, that is a definition of spirituality.