Saying atheism is a belief system is like saying not going skiing is a hobby.
Interpretation
Atheism should not be categorized as a belief system, similar to how not participating in an activity isn't considered a hobby.
Ricky Gervais uses this quote to emphasize that atheism, or the lack of belief in gods, is not a belief system in itself but rather a position of disbelief. He compares it to the idea that not engaging in skiing — a specific activity — cannot be viewed as a hobby, highlighting that atheism is simply the absence of belief rather than a structured doctrine or practice.
In practice
This quote can be used in a debate about belief systems.
You should make something. You should bring something into the world that wasn't in the world before. It doesn't matter what it is. It doesn't matter if it's a table or a film or gardening-everyone should create. You should do something, then sit back and say, 'I did that.'
It's better to create something that others criticise than to create nothing and criticise others. Go create, have fun!!
Science seeks the truth. And it does not discriminate. For better or worse it finds things out. Science is humble. It knows what it knows and it knows what it doesn’t know. It bases its conclusions and beliefs on hard evidence -- evidence that is constantly updated and upgraded. It doesn’t get offended when new facts come along. It embraces the body of knowledge. It doesn’t hold on to medieval practices because they are tradition.
I used to believe in God. The Christian one, that is (There are a few thousand to choose from. But I was born in a country where the dominant religion was Christianity so I believed in that one. Isn't it weird how that always happens?). Luckily I was also interested in science and nature. And reason and logic. And honesty and truth. And equality and fairness. By the age of eight I was an atheist.
People now live their lives like an open wound to be famous - they do bad things because they're rewarded for it.
A Christian telling an atheist they're going to hell is as scary as a child telling an adult they're not getting any presents from Santa.
Some African leaders actually dare to suggest that democracy is a concept alien to traditional African society. This is one of the most impudent political blasphemies I can think of.
We complain of the increased tempo of our lives, but our frenetic lives are just reflection of the economic system that we have created.
We have no right to prejudice another in his civil enjoyments because he is of another church.
When I began my work on how morality varies across the political spectrum, there was a partisan, manipulative element to it. I wanted to help the Democrats win.
The rain came down upon my head - Unshelter'd. And the wind rendered me mad and deaf and blind.
Your clothes conceal much of your beauty, yet they hide not the unbeautiful. And though you seek in garments the freedom of privacy, you may find in them a harness and a chain. Would that you could meet the sun and the wind with more of your body and less of your raiment.
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