Why I'm Anti-Theistic

[Dialogist]

1. Only those religions with which I'm familiar, admittedly. When it comes to all of them, I'm only familiar with a minority. However, this minority all have characteristics in common with each other. Likewise, if we examine the types of religion according to their place in history and culture, I believe you can find a pattern emerging. This pattern goes from simple explanation of the unknown (truth claims) to manipulation of those truth claims for the purpose of establishing authority/control.

2. See answer #1.

OK, thank you for the explanation.

So your argument is an inductive rather than a deductive one, which is quite understandable because there are thousands of religions and it would be quite a daunting task to examine each one and test its truth or falsity.

As you probably know, there is a huge diversity of beliefs within Christianity alone, so one cannot even fairly and practically generalize Christianity. Each "denomination" has its own doctrines, many or most of which conflict with those of other "denominations". Without even going into the reasons you explain, one can very simply reason that if each of these are professing different beliefs, then either all or all but one must hold at least some false beliefs.

 

[anonymous person]

If this is your only concern, why would you need to convince yourself, that people who disagree with your faith belief, are lying?

Loaded question. It assumes we need to convince ourselves that anti Christians are lying. We don't.

 

[bhsmte]

Loaded question. It assumes we need to convince ourselves that anti Christians are lying. We don't.

He said he thought non Christians were lying about not believing a God exists. You need to keep up.

Or, is this just another claim with no justification, to add to the list?

 

[anonymous person]

He said he thought non Christians were lying about not believing a God exists. You need to keep up.

Or, is this just another claim with no justification, to add to the list?

So????

Why does him thinking that necessarily mean that he thinks it because he needs to convince himself?

Just because a person holds a certain belief, it does not follow that they need to convince themselves of said belief.

 

[bhsmte]

So????

Why does him thinking that necessarily mean that he thinks it because he needs to convince himself?

Blanket claims with no evidence or support, is a real big clue.

When no support exists and claims are made, the psychological gymnastics enters the picture.

 

[Ana the Ist]

Speaking of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, Paul says that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.

God said it that settles it. You might disagree but that is your problem not ours. Let God be true and every man a liar.

No offense, but how is that really any different from just saying "I'm telling the truth, anyone who disagrees with me is a liar...and they know it."?

Wouldn't you expect more than that from a god? It sounds more like what a kindergartener would say when I ask him why I should believe his side of a story and not the kid he was fighting with.

 

[anonymous person]

Blanket claims with no evidence or support, is a real big clue.

When no support exists and claims are made, the psychological gymnastics enters the picture.

The above assumes there is no support for his claim.

Of course I will not ask you to support the claim that there is no support for his claim, for to do so would be to take the bait and derail the thread.

 

[bhsmte]

The above assumes there is no support for his claim.

Of course I will not ask you to support the claim that there is no support for his claim, for to do so would be to take the bait and derail the thread.

His claim, that non believers are lying about not believing a God exists. He can present his justification and evidence for this whenever he likes, no one is stopping him, except, maybe reality.

 

[bhsmte]

The above assumes there is no support for his claim.

Of course I will not ask you to support the claim that there is no support for his claim, for to do so would be to take the bait and derail the thread.

Read his posts and you are free to present the evidence he may have provided to support this claim.

 

[Archaeopteryx]

Speaking of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, Paul says that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.

God said it that settles it. You might disagree but that is your problem not ours. Let God be true and every man a liar.

Are you aware that the Quran includes a similar passage, essentially claiming that you are "without excuse" for rejecting Islam?

 

[Ana the Ist]

OK, thank you for the explanation.

So your argument is an inductive rather than a deductive one, which is quite understandable because there are thousands of religions and it would be quite a daunting task to examine each one and test its truth or falsity.

As you probably know, there is a huge diversity of beliefs within Christianity alone, so one cannot even fairly and practically generalize Christianity. Each "denomination" has its own doctrines, many or most of which conflict with those of other "denominations". Without even going into the reasons you explain, one can very simply reason that if each of these are professing different beliefs, then either all or all but one must hold at least some false beliefs.

Indeed. The reason I gave you was actually the one that led me to atheism when I was about 11. I didn't know what atheism was at the time...I just thought I figured it all out and needed to tell everyone lol.

I would figure out later that it wasn't actually a very good reason for not believing in god...but as I explored the topic more I grew in my knowledge of religion and my assessment of it hasn't changed too dramatically after all these years.

My atheism and anti-theism are tied together, but not the same.

 

[anonymous person]

No offense, but how is that really any different from just saying "I'm telling the truth, anyone who disagrees with me is a liar...and they know it."?

Paul's views allow for the one who denies God's existence to do so whilst sincerely believing they are not lying. God will allow someone to harden their heart against the work of the Spirit to such a degree that they come to the point where it can be said that they sincerely believe that He does not even exist!

Wouldn't you expect more than that from a god? It sounds more like what a kindergartener would say when I ask him why I should believe his side of a story and not the kid he was fighting with.

I would expect an all wise God to give people what they want.

 

[anonymous person]

Are you aware that the Quran includes a similar passage, essentially claiming that you are "without excuse" for rejecting Islam?

Do you have a point?

 

[Archaeopteryx]

Paul's views allow for the one who denies God's existence to do so whilst sincerely believing they are not lying. God will allow someone to harden their heart against the work of the Spirit to such a degree that they come to the point where it can be said that they sincerely believe that He does not even exist!

I would expect an all wise God to give people what they want.

Given what you said earlier, wouldn't it be God's fault for not drawing them to himself?

 

[Archaeopteryx]

Do you have a point?

My point was that you don't have a point.

 

[Ana the Ist]

One way God speaks to me is through/by my conscience.

You might have missed it the first time I asked, but I'm curious about the answer so I'll ask again...

How do you know the difference? That it's god and not just you?

 

[Ana the Ist]

Paul's views allow for the one who denies God's existence to do so whilst sincerely believing they are not lying. God will allow someone to harden their heart against the work of the Spirit to such a degree that they come to the point where it can be said that they sincerely believe that He does not even exist!




I would expect an all wise God to give people what they want.

So...Paul believes in atheists. That's a relief?

I would expect an all wise god to give an actual reason to believe that he's truthful instead of just claiming it and calling everyone else evil.

 

[Lukamu]

So why do I see things this way? Because truth. Truth is important. Truth can be ugly or beautiful...but it doesn't change according to our whims or based upon our desires/fears. Truth simply is...regardless of whether we accept it...regardless of if we even know it.

This is the same reasoning for why many Christians are believers. Interesting that it is also your reasoning for not believing!

 

[bhsmte]

Do you have a point?

I think he just made it.

 

[Ana the Ist]

This is the same reasoning for why many Christians are believers. Interesting that it is also your reasoning for not believing!

You're not the first person to point out that similarity. I think it's interesting too ...since we both claim to be concerned with the truth, yet arrive at such different conclusions.

I can only guess that the difference lies in how we each determine truth. Don't you think so?