Understanding Atheism

[Voegelin]

Townhall
By Mike S. Adams

I declared myself an agnostic in 1983 and stayed that way until I declared myself an atheist in 1992 . . .

The notion that psychology might provide an explanation for atheism – rather than theism - never really occurred to me during my years as a psychology student (from 1983 until 1989 when I received my M.S. in psychology).

But, in March of 1989, a woman named Martha Hamilton (responded) to my praise of B.F. Skinner and the behaviorists with the following comment: “It just sounds like a bunch of people trying to get out of serving God.”

I must confess that I thought Mrs. Hamilton was just a simple-minded fundamentalist. Now, I realize that she was right and I was wrong.

If psychologists were really interested in the fair and balanced treatment of religion they would see the obvious connection between cognitive dissonance theory and atheism. And, of course, they would discuss it in their classes in conjunction with the application of Freudian and Skinnerian theories seeking to explain religion away . . .

http://www.townhall.com/Columnists/MikeSAdams/2007/10/29/understanding_atheism

 

[TheManeki]

Interesting article, Voeg. But if we really want to talk about cognitive dissonance, I think Michael Shermer's article "The Political Brain" in Scientific American is even more interesting.

During the run-up to the 2004 presidential election, while undergoing an fMRI bran scan, 30 men--half self-described as "strong" Republicans and half as "strong" Democrats--were tasked with assessing statements by both George W. Bush and John Kerry in which the candidates clearly contradicted themselves. Not surprisingly, in their assessments Republican subjects were as critical of Kerry as Democratic subjects were of Bush, yet both let their own candidate off the hook.

The neuroimaging results, however, revealed that the part of the brain most associated with reasoning--the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex--was quiescent. Most active were the orbital frontal cortex, which is involved in the processing of emotions; the anterior cingulate, which is associated with conflict resolution; the posterior cingulate, which is concerned with making judgments about moral accountability; and--once subjects had arrived at a conclusion that made them emotionally comfortable--the ventral striatum, which is related to reward and pleasure.

"We did not see any increased activation of the parts of the brain normally engaged during reasoning," Westen is quoted as saying in an Emory University press release. "What we saw instead was a network of emotion circuits lighting up, including circuits hypothesized to be involved in regulating emotion, and circuits known to be involved in resolving conflicts." Interestingly, neural circuits engaged in rewarding selective behaviors were activated. "Essentially, it appears as if partisans twirl the cognitive kaleidoscope until they get the conclusions they want, and then they get massively reinforced for it, with the elimination of negative emotional states and activation of positive ones," Westen said.

This could also be applicable to the religious sphere.

 

[clarksided]

Indeed, I became an atheist to get out of serving god the same way I didn't join the Charles Manson cult because I wanted to get out of serving Charles Manson.

 

[Phred]

Sigh... start with the assumption that God exists... add arrogance and one part ignorance. Stir for several thousand years. Then, whenever someone doesn't believe in your deity, which you admit is based upon faith and not evidence, condemn them as trying to escape serving your god. Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour. Serve over and over and over again.

 

[WatersMoon110]

For Fundamentalist Christians, this probably makes some sense. However, when one doesn't start with the assumption that the Bible is completely, literally, true, this really doesn't do much. Yeah, some people don't like the idea that bad things might happen to them. That doesn't mean that non-Christians are going to Fundamentalist Christian Hell. Nor does it prove that Fundamentalist Christianity is the "only true religion".

 

[Skavau]

What a pathetic thread. So you think that a lot of Atheists simply want to avoid serving God do you Voegelin?

You're not really interested in understanding Atheism at all.

 

[MrGoodBytes]

Oh yes, I decided to become an atheist mainly to escape the service of a metaphysical being I don't believe exists.

 

[selfinflikted]

Oh yes, I decided to become an atheist mainly to escape the service of a metaphysical being I don't believe exists.

Same here. Man, the OP reallynailed it. /sarc

 

[Vene]

I think that Christians follow Jesus to avoid following Eris. They just can't handle that she can be a little spiteful at times. Ironically, their Old Testament god is thousands of times worse than her.

 

[Paulos23]

Becoming Atheist doesn't get you out of your responsibilities to your country, society, fellow man, etc. Which may be why Atheists do not turn amoral when they decide to be Atheists.

It does gets rid of the need to spend extra hours praying to a God that never answers, or worrying what will happen when you die.

 

[SaintInChicago]

Sigh... start with the assumption that God exists... add arrogance and one part ignorance. Stir for several thousand years. Then, whenever someone doesn't believe in your deity, which you admit is based upon faith and not evidence, condemn them as trying to escape serving your god. Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour. Serve over and over and over again.

And a recipe for atheism:
start with the assumption that matter pops out of nowhere for no reason, add denial of the laws of thermodynamics, ignore the laws of mass conservation, OK that's too much for me. I have to stop there.

 

[selfinflikted]

And a recipe for atheism:
start with the assumption that matter pops out of nowhere for no reason, add denial of the laws of thermodynamics, ignore the laws of mass conservation, OK that's too much for me. I have to stop there.

The thing that gets me is.. Creationists are always harping on "everything must have a creator"... well, who created god?

 

[Vene]

And a recipe for atheism:
start with the assumption that matter pops out of nowhere for no reason, add denial of the laws of thermodynamics, ignore the laws of mass conservation, OK that's too much for me. I have to stop there.

Arrgh, the PRATTs, they burn! Go talk about this stuff in Creation vs. Evolution. There are plenty of posters with backgrounds in physics who can clear up your misconceptions.

 

[Skavau]

And a recipe for atheism:
start with the assumption that matter pops out of nowhere for no reason, add denial of the laws of thermodynamics, ignore the laws of mass conservation, OK that's too much for me. I have to stop there.

How is the above a recipe for Atheism? Or in fact, anything to do with it?

 

[MrGoodBytes]

And a recipe for atheism:
start with the assumption that matter pops out of nowhere for no reason, add denial of the laws of thermodynamics, ignore the laws of mass conservation, OK that's too much for me. I have to stop there.

As opposed to what? Starting with the assumption that God pops out of nowhere for no reason?

 

[TheFathersDaughter]

No, they simple value what their five senses can take in more than what they don't know is true or not. It's not a bad thing. It's a common weakness though. Atheism is a "logic" thing.

 

[flicka]

No, they simple value what their five senses can take in more than what they don't know is true or not. It's not a bad thing. It's a common weakness though. Atheism is a "logic" thing.

Since when is "logic" a weakness? Relying on something other than your 5 senses and logic can land you in a mental ward as as easily as in a church.

 

[Robbie_James_Francis]

The thing that gets me is.. Creationists are always harping on "everything must have a creator"... well, who created god?

Infinite regresses and circular reasoning apparently become logically acceptable as long as you invent an imaginary being to include in them.

 

[TheFathersDaughter]

Since when is "logic" a weakness? Relying on something other than your 5 senses and logic can land you in a mental ward as as easily as in a church.

Logic isn't the weakness. It's the fear or denial of that which defies logic. You don't have to abandon logic to believe something that's of a different logic.

 

[TeddyKGB]

If there existed only Christianity and atheism in the world, the article would be only mildly stupid instead of completely idiotic.

As it is, I have the additional attribute of not believing in any god I don't have to serve as well.