Why Do People Become Atheists?

While I find nothing wrong with what you wrote (good post btw) I hope you can see how your position can come across as confusing. You assert atheist beliefs but use agnostic supported explainations. But like I said good post.

 

Hmmm, I don't quite see how it's confusing. Basically, my implication is that you're staunchly looking at people like Dawkins and Hitchens as the main figures of atheism, when in fact, there are people who hold the assertion that there's no God, they also can open themselves to other beliefs.

I guess the way I word things often confuse people. For that, I'm sorry.

 

No apologies necessary. Atheism by its definiton ie Websters Dictionary is the belief that God does not exist. Leaving room to be flexible on the idea would make you an agnostic, someone who isn't sure of anything but open to different ideas.

 

No. Agnosticism is basically the position which says that the ideas of a god or gods is relatively unknowable or unknown. One can still reassure the idea that there's no god, yet still open to the debate. For an atheist, there is near certainty that there's no god.

 

That not true. A strong atheist may say that, but I'm not a strong atheist. That would make me just as bad as someone who says there is nothing than can convince them that God doesn't exist.

http://atheism.about.com/od/atheismquestions/a/strong_weak.htm

You can't say you are in an honest search for truth (which i am) if you are unwilling to admit you could be wrong.

 

I like the part where it took God 3 days to make earth but 1 day to sneeze out 500 billion galaxies.

Earth can fit in the sun 1 million times btw and it's no where near the biggest star......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bcz4vGvoxQA

Mysterious ways indeed....

 

This is exactly how interpret it.
To me, being a strong Atheist, is in of in itself a belief... there is no god, thats belief!.
An Agnostic person don't have a believe, he neither beliefs God exists, nor that he doesn't.


I don't believe that God created Earth and the universe in X amount of days.. but the more I worked as scientist I was more and more convinced that a divine being was behind it all... Hawkins is very open to that thought.
Makes sense to me, the more science I know I just think its to perfect to be a random event.

 

I came here to respond to the ignorant poster of atheist are lazy but BB Wise and a few others have just said everything that should be said about it. Adding anything would be overhead. Thanks!rayer:

 

That's a pleasant position to take. I won't argue with your position. However, I'll say this...and what Bill Maher actually said:

[YOUTUBE]7jETVUulGwc[/YOUTUBE]

You're welcome. Enjoy the video I have above this comment.

 

"You must spread some reputation around before giving it to archangel again".

 

If I had nurtured an internal belief in afterlives I might not have become so skeptical. But Christianity was something that was introduced to me is a child and as I grew older I began to realize the inconsistencies and flat-out lies of the Bible. Anybody who reads the Bible with a critical eye will automatically become an atheist.

I guess it depends on your definition of who/what "God" is though. I agree with Hawking that science can be called God.

 

Sorry but that's not true. I'm completely capable of objectivity when reading the Bible and I am not an atheist. I consider it in the context of when it was written and find nothing that makes me question the existence of God.

If you desire to be an atheist, I have no issue with that, do what works for you. However I find this attitude of superiority that many atheists and agnostics display to be ridiculous given that they want to be free to believe as they see fit, and yet cannot extend that same courtesy to Christians.

 

In all fairness Esp at least athiests and agnostics don't kill or enslave those who don't share their beliefs but then again I've always believed those who have done so were looking for an excuse.

My personal beef with Christians and the bible is that too many Christians take the bible too literally ratther than using it as a guide to lead their lives they use it as a how to manual.

 

True for the most part except for Joseph Stalin he was an athiest if my memory serves me right and he killed hella people.

 

But never in the name of athiesm fam

 

Hahahahahahaha! That's the funniest damn thing I've read in a while Andrae. I hate to tell you this but I find that the in your face Christians tend to be the ones who haven't read it at all. They only know what the preacher tells them. That's one of my biggest complaints. If you can't read and interpret what it means to you, then you need to shut up. You sure have no business talking down to anyone else.

As for killing and enslaving people. I understand that people have used religion to justify their mistreated of other people, but people will pervert whatever they can to achieve their ends. I haven't killed or enslaved anyone, and that wasn't my point. My point is that I can be tolerant of other mindsets despite being absolutely unwavering in my faith, and yet every time this subject comes up it's the atheists and agnostics that show their intolerance. They immediately question the intelligence, or logic of anyone who believes in God. I think that's ridiculous, though I understand that the concept of blind faith is clearly lost on them, that doesn't mean those of us that have it are idiots.

Honestly anytime someone's reaction involves making disparaging remarks about the other party, it just makes me think that they can't argue the subject on its merits, or their conviction isn't as strong as they'd like it to be. That's not my problem.

**Disclaimer, I realize that all atheists and agnostics haven't been hypocritical during these discussions. Please insert the Karma 'some not all' disclaimer in the appropriate places.

 

Lol I misread your original post, my bad.

 

Atheists may not kill in the literal sense, but they do damage in other ways:

Merry Christmas has pretty much been abolished from the holiday season (though that's not all on the atheists).

Pledge of Allegiance with the "under God" has been under fire for a long time.

Wanting God to be taken off money and out of the courts.

Just to name a few examples.

 

Well, to be fair...you can't really say atheists have a lot to do with all that. Let's go down the lists:

1. All points made from you basically is a reminder that there's a thing called "separation of church and state". While we recognize these days as something special, it shouldn't be part of the public places, and rightfully so. I do however, sympathize with the businesses that had to take them down for the sake of not being sued. They are private places and they should do whatever as long as they can make it accessible for everyone.

2. The "under God" didn't come into the pledge of allegiance until 1956. Prior to that, it was "E Pluribus Unum" which is translated to "Of many, we are One". Saying that we're under "God" is a contradiction to the founding fathers and the constitution. Many of their statements and writings can tell you that they wouldn't like that at all.

3. The "In God We Trust"...similar scenario with the under God phrase. Why try and "Christianize" a nation when we've always been a secular nation. Playing favoritism because 70% of the U.S. identify themselves as Christian or of a monotheistic Abrahamic belief system would prove nuts.

4. I'm very certain if a public office favored other religions, we would probably turn batshit crazy.

 

You saved me a little time fam. Good point