# Why No New Sects in Atheism? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 25, 2003, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-new-sects-in-atheism/150769 "2003-01-25T00:55:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2003, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-new-sects-in-atheism/150769/1 "2003-01-25T00:55:30Z")
I was wondering why there aren’t other thoughts half-way between Atheism and Agnostics? For example, what if I believe some superior being did create the heavens and the earth, etc., but somewhere we got disconnected. I keep leaving prayer messages on His voice mail, but his voice mail box is full! Anyway, could there be a group of, lert’s say, “Apathyists”? A group who have kept trying to believe, but are so brokenhearted by their beliefs, they have concluded God must have just given up on His creation. Afterall, it seems we simply just won’t learn! - Jinx Me thinks too much, so I’m going on a diet… ---
**Author:** ![Nocturne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9fc348/32.png) [@Nocturne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nocturne)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2003, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-new-sects-in-atheism/150769/2 "2003-01-25T00:57:25Z")
Um. What you’re describing is kinda like Deism. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2003, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-new-sects-in-atheism/150769/3 "2003-01-25T00:58:27Z")
Why don’t TV chefs write books about recipes they _never_ cook? ---
**Author:** ![kniz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@kniz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kniz)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2003, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-new-sects-in-atheism/150769/4 "2003-01-25T01:03:31Z")
I think you’re running low on questions **Jinx**. \*\*Take a breather. \*\* ---
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2003, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-new-sects-in-atheism/150769/5 "2003-01-25T01:06:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Nocturne \* > \*\*Um. What you’re describing is kinda like Deism. \*\* Not sure I follow… Deism is belief in a God, correct? Without question, without exception, with no breaks in continuity in the relationship between Mankind and Creator. However, I say that, perhaps, somewhere along the line, there is a discontinuity which would explain why it seems God is asleep. Maybe I shouyl call it “Narcisism”? - Jinx ---
**Author:** ![Nocturne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9fc348/32.png) [@Nocturne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nocturne)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2003, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-new-sects-in-atheism/150769/6 "2003-01-25T01:08:57Z")
Well, sort of. But Deists believe that God doesn’t interact with humankind for many reasons. 1. To protect our free will. 2. Because he simply doesn’t care. Being the two main reasons that I’ve heard. ---
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2003, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-new-sects-in-atheism/150769/7 "2003-01-25T01:09:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by kniz \* > \*\*I think you’re running low on questions **Jinx**. \*\*Take a breather. \*\* \*\* Kniz, I ask in all seriousness. People either believe, or don’t believe. Why? Why don’t we ever think that the Bible stories are certainly all true, but now God is simply tired of dealing with us. But, instead of Him destroying us, he’d rather we just slowly destroy each other. - Jinx ---
**Author:** ![gazpacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2003, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-new-sects-in-atheism/150769/8 "2003-01-25T01:13:15Z")
There is a good passage in Catch 22 (actually there are many) where Yossarian is talking to somebody’s wife (probably the wife of the guy that worried about parades). They are discussing their lack of belief in God and she says “The god I don’t belive in is a just and loving god.” ---
**Author:** ![viking](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc79bd/32.png) [@viking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/viking)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2003, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-new-sects-in-atheism/150769/9 "2003-01-25T01:18:39Z")
I always thought that it was because, on average, atheists and agnostics don’t tend to congregate and share their beliefs or lack thereof. So basically, you can believe what you want, and pick either of those labels for yourself, or invent your own label if neither suits… But if there’s no community of sharing that belief, no one knows or minds if your belief isn’t quite the same as someone else using the same label, so there’s no need to form sects. If any of that makes sense… ---
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2003, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-new-sects-in-atheism/150769/10 "2003-01-25T01:21:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Nocturne \* > \*\*Well, sort of. But Deists believe that God doesn’t interact with humankind for many reasons. > > 1. To protect our free will. > 2. Because he simply doesn’t care. > > Being the two main reasons that I’ve heard. \*\* Hmm…if one says God doesn’t care…isn’t that a direct shedding and throwing-off of one’s beliefs? Can one hold fast to religious beliefs and still say God doesn’t care? Seems kind of contradictory to me… Maybe I should have posted this in GD, sorry! How sheepish of me! :smack: - Jinx ---
**Author:** ![Snetho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a4c791/32.png) [@Snetho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snetho)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2003, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-new-sects-in-atheism/150769/11 "2003-01-25T01:21:17Z")
NULL != NULL ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2003, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-new-sects-in-atheism/150769/12 "2003-01-25T01:31:01Z")
One definition of agnostic is being skeptical about the existance of God but not professing atheism. In other words, anywhere between believing and not believing. Now you want to know why there isn’t a word to specifically define someone who is at about the three quarter mark towards being a believer? I think **kniz** is right; you need a breather. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2003, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-new-sects-in-atheism/150769/13 "2003-01-25T01:34:11Z")
These minor doctrinal disputes are not something that atheists or agnostics give any thought to. Sects are for people who care about gods. Just for the record and I didn’t make this up, the first commandment is that thou shalt have no god _before me_. It does not deny that other gods exist, only you gotta choose Yahweh first. Not that I care much one way or the other, but I don’t see where monotheism follows. ---
**Author:** ![Some\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Some\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Some_Guy)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2003, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-new-sects-in-atheism/150769/14 "2003-01-25T01:37:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by x-ray vision \* > **One definition of agnostic is being skeptical about the existance of God but not professing atheism.** Yes. The wrong one. ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2003, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-new-sects-in-atheism/150769/15 "2003-01-25T01:39:48Z")
Why the wrong one **Some Guy**? ---
**Author:** ![Davebear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@Davebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Davebear)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2003, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-new-sects-in-atheism/150769/16 "2003-01-25T02:06:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jinx \* > \*\*I was wondering why there aren’t other thoughts half-way between Atheism and Agnostics? \*\* There are. But, your premise is based on a false premise; namely, that there is some organized common belief system within which sects could form. You’re assuming atheists and agnostics are organized groups, like religions, and that they all believe/disbelieve the same things. They’re not. Therefore, sects are a non sequitur. Most people I’ve talked to who don’t believe in any of the religions they’re familiar with are not anxiously searching for a label to adopt or a group to join. These people, for the most part, couldn’t care less about the labels, except when it becomes necessary for communicating with religous people. Aside from that one special case, a label serves no purpose, and the existing labels are good enough for that. Who needs more? They most likely aren’t very interested in joining a group that would try to tell them what _not_ to believe any more than they’d want to join a group that tries to tell them what _to_ believe, either. Most “professed atheists” I’ve talked to don’t have a strong belief that “god/God/gods” don’t/doesn’t exist; they just don’t feel there’s any reason to believe he/she/they _do_ exist. In the rare cases where I’ve met someone who vehemently denied the existence of God, it has always been, specifically, the Christian God they were referring to. (Although, I suppose there are people everywhere who disbelieve the dominant religion of their area.) ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2003, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-new-sects-in-atheism/150769/17 "2003-01-25T02:09:17Z")
Interesting … Would there be a name for a belief that some being created the Universe (possibly for a purpose) but that being no longer exists? Cheers, Keithy ---
**Author:** ![Some\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Some\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Some_Guy)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2003, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-new-sects-in-atheism/150769/18 "2003-01-25T03:04:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by x-ray vision \* > \*\*Why the wrong one **Some Guy**? \*\* Because Agnosticism is the positive assertion that the question “Are there any gods?” is unanswerable. It has nothing whatsoever to do with doubt or uncertainty, except for the obvious statistical truth that a very large number of people use it to refer to such things, incorrectly. ---
**Author:** ![viking](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc79bd/32.png) [@viking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/viking)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2003, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-new-sects-in-atheism/150769/19 "2003-01-25T03:05:21Z")
keithmac: Nietzsche? ---
**Author:** ![RM\_Mentock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e274bd/32.png) [@RM\_Mentock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RM_Mentock)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2003, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-new-sects-in-atheism/150769/20 "2003-01-25T04:10:05Z")
Then there was: God and I have an agreement, I don’t believe in Him, and He doesn’t believe in me. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-new-sects-in-atheism/150769.md?page=2)