If there was hypnotherapy; some other form of psychotherapy; some form of neurosurgery; etc. that would rid you of your belief in deities, and if atheism is defined as the lack of belief in deities, then that procedure would make you an atheist. Would you choose to undergo that procedure?
Do you believe that there would be benefits to undergoing that procedure? Better mental health? Better relationships? More freedom? Less stress?
What do you think would happen to all of your other beliefs? If, say, you believe that abortion is morally wrong, do you think that ridding yourself of the belief in deities would result in you no longer believing that abortion is morally wrong? Or would all of your other beliefs remain intact?
If you are a Christian, what do you think your relationship with Christianity would be? Is Christianity entirely cognitive and therefore you would be left with only raw facts such as its name, its chronology, its social structure, etc.? Or would things like the emotions that your faith gave you, such as loving your enemies; abilities it encouraged you to develop, such as empathy; etc. still be a part of you?
Do you believe that if such a procedure were developed and able to be mass-produced that some people--Sam Harris, maybe--would try to use political resources to coerce you into undergoing it against your will?
Do you believe that there would be benefits to undergoing that procedure? Better mental health? Better relationships? More freedom? Less stress?
What do you think would happen to all of your other beliefs? If, say, you believe that abortion is morally wrong, do you think that ridding yourself of the belief in deities would result in you no longer believing that abortion is morally wrong? Or would all of your other beliefs remain intact?
If you are a Christian, what do you think your relationship with Christianity would be? Is Christianity entirely cognitive and therefore you would be left with only raw facts such as its name, its chronology, its social structure, etc.? Or would things like the emotions that your faith gave you, such as loving your enemies; abilities it encouraged you to develop, such as empathy; etc. still be a part of you?
Do you believe that if such a procedure were developed and able to be mass-produced that some people--Sam Harris, maybe--would try to use political resources to coerce you into undergoing it against your will?
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