Children Are Not Born Atheists

[Tnmusicman]

Ive heard this silly argument over and over. I don't know why anyone (even atheists) would make the claim all children are born atheist. What good does it do? If it was a refutation to a theists claim that children are born theists then you need to establish your claim, which you can't because there's no way it can be done whereas I can say children are neither atheist nor theist because logic tells me that babies are incapable of encompassing and acknowledging the elements that dictate whether one is theist or atheist.
I believe children are nothing untill they reach an age where they can understand what is being presented concerning God and beliefs ( or non beliefs ).
My issue with claiming children are atheists is that in order for children to be atheists they would have to understand and agree that there is no proof (or not enough proof ) for God ( or god/s ). I think most people can see that babies aren't capable of making such decisions. The nonsense that atheism is the default position is just dishonest. Regardless of BOP claims and all that jazz one must be informed on the actual differences between theism and atheism before such claim can be made that one is an atheist.

 

[Phantasman]

Ive heard this silly argument over and over. I don't know why anyone (even atheists) would make the claim all children are born atheist. What good does it do? If it was a refutation to a theists claim that children are born theists then you need to establish your claim, which you can't because there's no way it can be done whereas I can say children are neither atheist nor theist because logic tells me that babies are incapable of encompassing and acknowledging the elements that dictate whether one is theist or atheist.
I believe children are nothing untill they reach an age where they can understand what is being presented concerning God and beliefs ( or non beliefs ).
My issue with claiming children are atheists is that in order for children to be atheists they would have to understand and agree that there is no proof (or not enough proof ) for God ( or god/s ). I think most people can see that babies aren't capable of making such decisions. The nonsense that atheism is the default position is just dishonest. Regardless of BOP claims and all that jazz one must be informed on the actual differences between theism and atheism before such claim can be made that one is an atheist.

Well..............they have a point. An athiest doesn't believe in God. A baby doesn't either...........yet.

To me it's like saying all children are born illiterate. Duh?

But guess what? When mine get's half a brain, he ain't gonna be a athiest anymore, uh when he's about 3.

 

[paul becke]

Ive heard this silly argument over and over. I don't know why anyone (even atheists) would make the claim all children are born atheist. What good does it do? If it was a refutation to a theists claim that children are born theists then you need to establish your claim, which you can't because there's no way it can be done whereas I can say children are neither atheist nor theist because logic tells me that babies are incapable of encompassing and acknowledging the elements that dictate whether one is theist or atheist.
I believe children are nothing untill they reach an age where they can understand what is being presented concerning God and beliefs ( or non beliefs ).
My issue with claiming children are atheists is that in order for children to be atheists they would have to understand and agree that there is no proof (or not enough proof ) for God ( or god/s ). I think most people can see that babies aren't capable of making such decisions. The nonsense that atheism is the default position is just dishonest. Regardless of BOP claims and all that jazz one must be informed on the actual differences between theism and atheism before such claim can be made that one is an atheist.

You gad it, Tn.

It seems religion is not a neurotic accretion on human nature | Nick Spencer | Comment is free | guardian.co.uk

I've also heard it said that young children can never hear enough about Jesus. And why would they, indeed?

Here is another tangentially interesting article:

God not so dead: Atheism in decline worldwide

 

[Tnmusicman]

Well..............they have a point. An athiest doesn't believe in God. A baby doesn't either...........yet.

To me it's like saying all children are born illiterate. Duh?

But guess what? When mine get's half a brain, he ain't gonna be a athiest anymore, uh when he's about 3.

Yes, and I understand what they are saying but its foolish,in a way. I submit, regardless of what atheism means or doesn't mean one has to be informed on atheism and theism to make that choice and no matter what atheists would have us believe atheism is a choice.
That's all I'm saying. However, I don't know why anyone would make the claim in the first place except in cases of refuting a claim that all babies are born theist, which is also dishonest (IMO).

 

[Spiritlight]

it takes a cynical sceptical adult to create an atheist child. Most kids are born with a belief in a higher spirit we call God. Lots of primitive and isolated tribes of people have this awareness too but call their awareness different names. Its natural.

 

[Tnmusicman]

You gad it, Tn.

It seems religion is not a neurotic accretion on human nature | Nick Spencer | Comment is free | guardian.co.uk

I've also heard it said that young children can never hear enough about Jesus. And why would they, indeed?

Here is another tangentially interesting article:

God not so dead: Atheism in decline worldwide

I like how the article said " atheists are in no position to claim the moral high ground." How beautifully stated!! That's one I always hear from atheists is how good they are. I know some atheists can be good people, for Pete's sake but to suggest that by being atheist they are somehow better people or more humane is absurd. As that article you provided points out there are quite a few atheists that are naughty lads!!
Thank you for the links and your response. God bless.

 

[Soulgazer]

Ive heard this silly argument over and over. I don't know why anyone (even atheists) would make the claim all children are born atheist. What good does it do? If it was a refutation to a theists claim that children are born theists then you need to establish your claim, which you can't because there's no way it can be done whereas I can say children are neither atheist nor theist because logic tells me that babies are incapable of encompassing and acknowledging the elements that dictate whether one is theist or atheist.
I believe children are nothing untill they reach an age where they can understand what is being presented concerning God and beliefs ( or non beliefs ).
My issue with claiming children are atheists is that in order for children to be atheists they would have to understand and agree that there is no proof (or not enough proof ) for God ( or god/s ). I think most people can see that babies aren't capable of making such decisions. The nonsense that atheism is the default position is just dishonest. Regardless of BOP claims and all that jazz one must be informed on the actual differences between theism and atheism before such claim can be made that one is an atheist.

99.9 percent of atheist drank milk as children. Statistics are easy to bend in whatever manner one wishes.

 

[Tnmusicman]

it takes a cynical sceptical adult to create an atheist child. Most kids are born with a belief in a higher spirit we call God. Lots of primitive and isolated tribes of people have this awareness too but call their awareness different names. Its natural.

Yes,Spiritlight I agree with you that it takes a cynical sceptical adult to create an atheist child. Create being the operative word. I simply see no reason to claim babies are born atheist. I understand that babies have no awareness of God but they have no awareness of "lack of God" (for lack of a better way to put it) either. I rather like the idea that you put forward though. Somehow what you said and how you said it was extremely soothing to me. It was like a very nice soothing feeling came over me. Perhaps it's my wish that what you say is true.
Thank you for your response.

 

[CrashTestPoster]

It's hardly established that children are born atheist. We don't know what babies know, and what has been forgotten. The ability to retain long-term memory improves with age, but you almsot never get back what has been irrevocably lost.

 

[SonOfTheWest]

Newborns are atheists, but why sort of requires understanding all definitions of "atheist."

 

[Tnmusicman]

99.9 percent of atheist drank milk as children. Statistics are easy to bend in whatever manner one wishes.

I will have to agree with you there.

 

[CrashTestPoster]

"Newborns are atheists"

That would be a fair assessment if atheism was true.

 

[SonOfTheWest]

"Newborns are atheists"

That would be a fair assessment if atheism was true.

Actually it has nothing to do with that. It has to do with word definitions. I mean I'm sure people can be outraged at a dictionary company but that sounds a little silly.

 

[Spiritlight]

Newborns are atheists, but why sort of requires understanding all definitions of "atheist."

I want a quotation from a newborn human baby atheist denouncing his belief in God.

I wouldnt mind it as case study either comparing the testimonies of a hundred newborns.


The god of newborns...

 

[SonOfTheWest]

I want a quotation from a newborn human baby atheist denouncing his belief in God.

I wouldnt mind it as case study either comparing the testimonies of a hundred newborns.


The god of newborns...

And this is why I said it helps when you know the different definitions. No point talking to you I see.

 

[Spiritlight]

Lol I was having fun with the notion of declaring a newborn anything.

 

[paul becke]

I like how the article said " atheists are in no position to claim the moral high ground." How beautifully stated!! That's one I always hear from atheists is how good they are. I know some atheists can be good people, for Pete's sake but to suggest that by being atheist they are somehow better people or more humane is absurd. As that article you provided points out there are quite a few atheists that are naughty lads!!
Thank you for the links and your response. God bless.

Yes, and it seems a tolerance which is really a lack of convictions - to paraphrase, Chesterton - seems to be their chief claim to virtue, though they claim that Christians have been the cause of all the wars and bloodshed on the earth; when the reality is quite the opposite, most notably, of course, the two world-wars of the last century, both the work of committed atheists. They're very tolerant of what they like. But not of opposition.

What appalls me the Most, perhaps, about a certain atheist lobby with a strong sexual obsession, is their utter selfishness. There seems to be nothing they won't do to become mainstream, actually AT THE EXPENSE of the mainstream. Often no doubt having had their own sexual development messed up by their parents, they don't baulk for a second at doing the same to young children they are now able to adopt, so that they can play mummies and daddies!

 

[Phantasman]

Since children are too young to have faith, and atheists are too egotistical to have faith, those who have acquired faith only have the knowledge of knowing what happens to each at death. That in itself should be enough. Jesus tells us to love our neighbors, and doesn't leave out unbelievers. Pray that God opens their eyes.

 

[strangertoo]

Ive heard this silly argument over and over. I don't know why anyone (even atheists) would make the claim all children are born atheist. What good does it do? If it was a refutation to a theists claim that children are born theists then you need to establish your claim, which you can't because there's no way it can be done whereas I can say children are neither atheist nor theist because logic tells me that babies are incapable of encompassing and acknowledging the elements that dictate whether one is theist or atheist.
I believe children are nothing untill they reach an age where they can understand what is being presented concerning God and beliefs ( or non beliefs ).
My issue with claiming children are atheists is that in order for children to be atheists they would have to understand and agree that there is no proof (or not enough proof ) for God ( or god/s ). I think most people can see that babies aren't capable of making such decisions. The nonsense that atheism is the default position is just dishonest. Regardless of BOP claims and all that jazz one must be informed on the actual differences between theism and atheism before such claim can be made that one is an atheist.

Children BELIEVE in Love , they have no other choice, they are utterly DEPENDANT at the beginning and for longer than any other creature...

but folks can lie and so children learn to 'get' things by lying , fool others with lies, think it fun at first until the consequences kick in... a few turn back to Love, most just get worse and worse in the rat-race capitalist dog-eat-dog mentality of modern so-called civilisation ... uncivil 'civilisation' that makes wars to take advantage of whole civilisations ... almost all men lose sight of Love ,even pretend they can make it with desire, what a sad joke that is ...

anyway , God is Love , so little children do believe perfectly in Love , just don't have the words yet to say it that way...

1 John 4:8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

1 John 4:16 ... he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

so God is the spirit in every little child , but the world of men steals it away in almost all , there is a way back , ceasing from sin to Love again, but few find it [Matt 7:14], most are destroyed [Matt 7:13] :-

Matthew 19:14 But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.

Luke 18:17 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.

Mark 9:42 And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.

 

[briareos]

Yes, and I understand what they are saying but its foolish,in a way. I submit, regardless of what atheism means or doesn't mean one has to be informed on atheism and theism to make that choice and no matter what atheists would have us believe atheism is a choice.
That's all I'm saying. However, I don't know why anyone would make the claim in the first place except in cases of refuting a claim that all babies are born theist, which is also dishonest (IMO).

No one doesn't have to be informed, because atheism isn't a belief... it's the non existence of a belief in God and that's all it is according the etymology of the word (regardless of how everyone today uses it)

People who insist that atheism implies all these other things... really get on my nerves.