The origins of atheism

[Kathryn Jensen]

II Cor 4:4 the god of this world, Satan, blinds the spiritual eyes of people

 

[GoldenBoy89]

II Cor 4:4 the god of this world, Satan, blinds the spiritual eyes of people

This looks at the world through a very one-dimensional POV. As if there aren't thousands of other religions that atheist also reject as well as you do. Perhaps you and I are both blinded by the villain of some other religious faith?

 

[Chriliman]

It depends on the question being asked. I don't turn to atheists to seek the answers to life's big questions. I don't hold anyone as an authority to those questions. I don't think they have any answers that would satisfy but neither do Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Scientologists, Satanists, Mormons, Jews, the Ancient Greeks or Romans, and so on.... No one, not one person truly knows how it all started or where it all came from or why we are all here.

You're completely correct here. That's why I'm saying only God knows all the answers and He wants to explain everything to you if your willing to listen, but it takes time to explain things to a finite person who couldn't possibly process all the information all at once.

So I don't ask that question. I really don't care for the answer as it seems to be unknowable as of yet. Religion doesn't satisfy my curiosity either. If I don't know something, I don't just shove God in there as a place holder. I simply say, "I don't know." If you are okay with that then, please go right ahead. I will continue with an open mind until I find my answers, and if I don't ever find the answer, I will have at least enjoyed my brief stint.

This is exactly why God hasn't explained anything directly to you. You have been learning about God indirectly by what has been made by God.

 

[ecco]

Hello there everyone. I am sure this has been discussed before but I would like to start a new discussion on this. I want to hear your opinions on why do you think atheism exists and its cause. I will tell mine only after I see yours.

Sorry for the late entry, but I was just invited to this thread. I've skimmed through some of the posts and I may address individual ones at some point.

Why does atheism exist? Because not everyone believes there are such things as gods. Note the plural usage. As a wise man said "I believe in one less god than you do".

Why am I an atheist? I was not indoctrinated into religion as a child. This lack of indoctrination allowed me to make a clear, logical decision at an early age. Nothing I have seen in the many intervening years has ever caused the slightest doubt about the correctness of that decision. Rather the opposite. The more I learned about gods and religions and the people who are the most fervent believers in gods and religions, the more I was convinced my decision was right.

 

[Colter]

II Cor 4:4 the god of this world, Satan, blinds the spiritual eyes of people

I notice how my Christin friends talk about the One God......but then claim Satan is the God of this world. Atheists would rightly see how that is a contradiction.

 

[Belk]

I'm not calling the set of all true facts "The Truth". I'm saying you could have all true facts and still miss the truth as the image so geniusly illustrates. I wonder if it was a theist or an atheist who came up with that graphic.

That would be Plato.

 

[Eudaimonist]

Atheism starts in the mind when the mind thinks it can figure everything out on its own without the help of any outside source.

Observations of reality, including those made by other people, and including their arguments and conclusions, are often valuable. I don't think that I can reinvent the wheel of knowledge all by myself.

You'd be closer to correct if you were to say that atheists typically reject the idea that there is a mystical (non-sensory, non-rational) source of knowledge that is effortless and that may simply be assumed to be correct.


eudaimonia,

Mark

 

[Eudaimonist]

"A-theism" - the word means against God

It means "without God" (or "godless"), not "against God".


eudaimonia,

Mark

 

[Chriliman]

That would be Plato.

See atheists are a good source for facts, but not a good source for truth that can explain existence. Plato was a theist.

 

[Davian]

To God, an atheist is like a stubborn child who thinks they can do everything on their own and don't need help from Dad. Eventually this behavior is going to get the child seriously injured or possibly killed, especially if they never ask for help from Dad. Still, Dad is always there trying to teach them what is right, even though they refuse to listen.

Atheists are interested in the philosophical truths that theism provides, just not interested in the source of the truths. Atheism provides a way to deny the source of all philosophical truths.

I do not deny your religious opinion, I just do not find it compelling.

 

[AV1611VET]

I notice how my Christin friends talk about the One God......but then claim Satan is the God of this world. Atheists would rightly see how that is a contradiction.

2 Corinthians 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

2 Corinthians 4:4 In whom the God of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

See the difference?

Which one do you think we should subscribe to?

 

[Davian]

Atheists are those who will not accept a moral authority greater then themselves.

That does not describe me. What "moral authority" did you have in mind? Might makes right?

 

[AV1611VET]

It means "without God" (or "godless"), not "against God".

All unsaved people are atheists?

 

[Belk]

See atheists are a good source for facts, but not a good source for truth that can explain existence. Plato was a theist.

You know this how?

 

[Eudaimonist]

All unsaved people are atheists?

Unsaved people can still believe in the existence of gods, and thus have gods in their worldview.


eudaimonia,

Mark

 

[Davian]

All unsaved people are atheists?

Knock Knock

• Davian
• Jan 1, 2015

 

[Chriliman]

You know this how?

Google has many facts as well, but also not the source for truth about existence.

 

[AV1611VET]

It means "without God" (or "godless"), not "against God".

All unsaved people are atheists?

Unsaved people can still believe in the existence of gods, and thus have gods in their worldview.

All atheists are unsaved people?

 

[Davian]

See atheists are a good source for facts, but not a good source for truth that can explain existence.

Atheism is not a truth claim.

Plato was a theist.

Did he believe in the same gods as you?

 

[ecco]

Just some quickies...

ObamaWoodHollyWood
Atheism as a large scale RELIGION began in 30 AD, with Jesus crucfixion. Romans and hostile Jews began to think that it was legal to kill Jews.

Why do you not understand the term "atheism"? Do you believe so strongly in your god that you just cannot fathom that some people believe in no god?

Chriliman

Atheism starts in the mind when the mind thinks it can figure everything out on its own without the help of any outside source.

Atheism starts in the mind when the mind realizes that god is no more real than Santa Claus. Atheism continues in the mind when the mind realizes no creation story is more valid, or silly, than any other creation story.

jackcv

It certainly is not because it makes any sense to think that all this organization derives from random collision of (highly organized) atoms.

Certainly not in my case. I realized the non-existence of gods long before I ever heard of the Big-Bang or evolution.

Dr Bruce Atkinson

"A-theism" - the word means against God

Puleeeeese!
a·the·ist
ˈāTHēəst/
noun
a person who disbelieves or lacks belief in the existence of God or gods.
synonyms: nonbeliever, disbeliever, unbeliever, skeptic, doubter, doubting Thomas, agnostic; nihilist​

I am not against non-existant gods. I will argue against the beliefs and some of the actions of people who do believe in gods when those beliefs and actions threaten my freedoms.

RLBeers

I believe it stems from a deep-seated fear and insecurity, based on the thought of being judged for what you have done with your life.

I am judged by the people who know me based on how I conduct my life. That doesn't give me fear or insecurity, it provides a basis for my morality. Those who only fear “God's Judgement” do bad things in the mistaken knowledge that “Jesus Forgives”.

Chriliman

Atheists are interested in the philosophical truths that theism provides, just not interested in the source of the truths. Atheism provides a way to deny the source of all philosophical truths.

Some philosophical truths from the undeniable source:

• It's BAD to eat shellfish
• It's OK to burn witches
• It's OK to own and beat slaves
• It's OK to buy a wife

I don't deny the source of these "truths". The source is the bible, stories written thousands of years ago. I do reject these "truths".