The Foundations Of Atheism.

[Theland]

Not a very good title , but presuming all atheists have varying reasons for their unbelief.
I have spent the last 38 years learning about by Christian faith.
Do Atheists make similar efforts to understand their atheism?
Is your atheism based on definitive evidence?
Hope this can be friendly

[douglas9401]

It's a lot simpler to just accept the reality of the situation and get on with life without looking over your shoulder for something that ain't coming.

[nailit]

//I have spent the last 38 years learning about by Christian faith//
You'd have thought that after 38 years learning about the Christian faith that you would have at least read the bible a few times??
Not being funny or anything but I managed to read it cover to cover in less than 6 months (as a Christian)

[woofgang]

Is there a reason why they should?

[Theland]

So I have something to prove to you?
Read or research?

[nailit]

//So I have something to prove to you? //
Don't you?

[Theland]

No. I was genuinely interested in what motivated atheism.
That OK?

[Ken4155]

As i've said before on one of your previous threads, i have read the bible from cover to cover and have a CSE in Religious Instruction (1975). So, yes, i have researched that which i have no belief in whatsoever and nothing in the intervening 40 odd years has happened to make me alter my views.

[Theland]

That's fine. Thanks for taking the time.

[naomi24]

I don’t understand your reference to a motivation for atheism. It isn’t a club or a belief system. In human beings atheism is the default. Babies aren't born with belief. Had you never heard of a god, or never been taught about a god, you wouldn’t believe in one. The idea would never have occurred to you.

[vetuste_ennemi]

//Is your atheism based on definitive evidence?//

You're misrepresenting atheism, Theland.

Atheism is not a collection of beliefs, it's the rejection of deistic explanations of the universe, our presence in it, and moral conscience.

Science can explain some of these things (the mechanisms) very well, others (origins) inadequately, and others (morality and aesthetics), - perhaps - not at all.

I'm an atheist not because I have an explanation of the world, but because I don't believe yours, Theland.

[Buenchico]

As usual, you're looking at things the wrong way round, Theland.

Years ago most people didn't believe that smoking cigarettes causes cancer (because they'd not been presented with any evidence for it) but gradually, as more and more evidence was presented, most 'non-believers' were 'converted' into 'believers'.

Similarly it's not so long ago that most people didn't believe that the actions of our species were leading to global warming and destroying many other species (again, because they'd not seen any evidence for it). However the presentation of vast reams of evidence has 'again converted' most 'non-believers' into 'believers'.

I don't believe that there are fairies at the bottom of my garden, or that there's a giant invisible rabbit looking over my shoulder as I type this, but if someone can produce definitive evidence for the existence of those fairies (and/or of that giant rabbit) I'm still open to 'conversion' from a 'non-believer' to a 'believer'.

So you're starting from a false axiom in your assumption that 'belief' is a logical starting point (with evidence then needed if a 'believer' is to become a 'non-believer'). It's far more logical not to believe in any form of god until such time as valid evidence is provided to support such a belief. (i.e. it's not for atheists to justify their atheism but for believers to justify their belief).

As far as I'm concerned, fairies, giant invisible rabbits and 'God' are all one and the same. They're all equally preposterous concepts and therefore totally unworthy of my belief in them.

[vetuste_ennemi]

...which is not the same thing as saying that we shouldn't continue the search for explanations.

[steg]

//I don’t understand your reference to a motivation for atheism. It isn’t a club or a belief system. In human beings atheism is the default. Babies aren't born with belief. Had you never heard of a god, or never been taught about a god, you wouldn’t believe in one. The idea would never have occurred to you//

But it did occur to someone

[vetuste_ennemi]

//Had you never heard of a god, or never been taught about a god, you wouldn’t believe in one. The idea would never have occurred to you//

//But it did occur to someone//


Because humans ask questions, Steg. One is How? Another one is Why?

Religion is man's attempt to answer those questions.

[steg]

//but if someone can produce definitive evidence for the existence of those fairies (and/or of that giant rabbit) I'm still open to 'conversion' from a 'non-believer' to a 'believer'. //

Google giant rabbits

[naomi24]

It certainly did occur to someone ... in fact several someones - which is why we have so many varieties. Had Theland been born in Pakistan the chances are he wouldn’t be extolling the virtues an Christianity, but Islam.

[steg]

but It did occur to some one, so to say it wouldn’t occur is wrong because it obviously must have occurred?

[naomi24]

Theland isn’t an ideas man.

[vulcan42]

Theland, have you never considered the idiocy of what you, and millions of people like you, are doing? You all waste many years studying something that has never been proved to exist. whenever I see one of your posts I am reminded of a line from the song" The Rose".
" And the soul afraid of dying, that never learns to live"

[steg]

aye fair enough, but religion was about a wee bit before theland and the religion he follows