Are you for real?

[Worldslaziestbusker]

While there are many financial and social advantages to faking faith, I can't think of any equivalent bonuses that arise from being godless, barring having met you mob. Aside from trolling atheist forums, can anyone think of a reason someone might feign atheism?
This train of thought harks back to the days of the Australian Christian Forum, wherein several kooks advised that I try pretending belief to see how things develop from there. I'm smart, charismatic, scrub up alright if I can be bothered and can talk the hind leg off a donkey (humble, too). The last thing the world wants is me dropping my scruples and pretending to believe. Taking the mentally dishonest step of trying to believe on the available evidence would just be the first step, and as it's me I'm discussing, I'm confident no-one can gainsay me using the slippery slope argument here. It would be a steep one. I discussed the possibility with a friend, joking that I should make a post it note for the fridge: Buy milk, feed cat, do not start cult. She responded, "Stop it, Matt, you're scaring me."
Thinking it through to the extent to which I have is, apparently, unusual.
If I lose it and you ever see me trying to start a cult, please do the spiritual equivalent of taking the matches off me.
Matt

[wolty]

Heh, mate of mine and I discussed it when we were single. Had to do with mostly 20 something women.

Actually it was only to do with women.

[Atheos]

Originally Posted by The Irreverent Mr Black

Feign atheism? It happens here frequently, and I have seen it on another atheist forum which made "declaration of faithlessness" a condition on signup.

I suppose it's not unthinkable for some evangelical types to want to go underground and save those of us who, in their opinion, most need it.

Apocatastasis is a fucking horse-choker of a word, but it's a doozy.

Origen, that scary biblical literalist, ironically had the balls to suggest that Teh Debbil was also to be saved:


So, perhaps a lie to us in order to confront us with their "big truth" is deemed a trifle?

I think it would be pretty difficult for a theist to pretend to be an atheist, on this forum, and get away with it, other than a commando style attack, hit and run.

[Bolero]

I think your average militant theist could convince themselves there was a covert-conversion reason to pretend atheism if they really had a hardon about getting points on the board for Jeezus. Couldn't see it working, though.

Now, starting your own cult ... hmmm, I think you may be onto something, Matt.

[DezinerAU]

Somebody might feign accommodationist atheism to try and present the middle-ground and use it as a wedge. Too often this goes along the lines of "I'm not a Christian, but Christianity is the basis of our morality", so it is easy to spot.

But to feign it and get away with it? Not likely.

[Worldslaziestbusker]

Originally Posted by DezinerAU

Somebody might feign accommodationist atheism to try and present the middle-ground and use it as a wedge. Too often this goes along the lines of "I'm not a Christian, but Christianity is the basis of our morality", so it is easy to spot.

But to feign it and get away with it? Not likely.

I've seen plenty of attempted forum subterfuge, but can't imagine anyone assembling an equivalent real life front using ersatz atheism. Julia Gillard is pants in terms of secular governance, but I don't think she's faking a lack of belief in gods, because overt atheism is more of a pain than it is a benefit. People look at you funny, fail to trust you, sometimes spit at you and so on.
With money to be made and power to be grabbed, faking theism holds far greater scope for reward, ill gotten though it may be. Brian Houston may have as much faith as I, but being on a financial winner, and coming to atheism off the back of an innately dishonest mindset, is unlikely to let on if he's not longer filled with the spirit.
Richard Dawkins has made some money on his book, but also earnt a level of open hostility I wouldn't like to live with from day to day. I think he's genuine.
Matt

[Leighjones]

They could if they took notes from this thread (And the sheep's clothing one), good job guys, we've just handed the cookoo's a weapon.

[Leighjones]

Originally Posted by The Irreverent Mr Black

It doesn't matter, LJ. We are disbelief, not an alternate belief: there's nothing here to hit!

True, but now they'll be around here, swinging their batty logic around, for longer =(.

"We are disbelief, we do not forget... expect us"

[Worldslaziestbusker]

Originally Posted by Leighjones

They could if they took notes from this thread (And the sheep's clothing one), good job guys, we've just handed the cookoo's a weapon.

J'accuse. That's exactly what someone trying to gain credibility on an atheist forum would type.

[Leighjones]

Originally Posted by Worldslaziestbusker

J'accuse. That's exactly what someone trying to gain credibility on an atheist forum would type.

This too, is exactly what somebody trying to gain credibility on an atheism forum would type! They would always be the first to raise doubts about another, in order to cast suspicion away from themselves!