Atheists don't "know" there is no God.....

This is to clear up a common creationist mythology... Or at least, one of the many creationist mythologies.



Atheists don't know there is no God. Atheists know that there is zero chance the worlds religious texts line up with what science has learned. There's a difference.


No atheist could claim to know that no intelligent agent was the cause of the Big Bang. It could have been some parallel universes version of the LHC or this might all be one big computer program that some intelligent being created. Who knows ? Science isn't even close to that far along yet.



What atheists know isn't possible is the mountain of crazy claims made in the bible and other religious texts. There was no global flood that killed all but one family 7 thousand years ago. DNA and archeology prove that. The sequence of creation is insane. No one could survive in the belly of a whale for even a day.


Atheists arnt opposed to a creator. We just arnt dumb enough to believe craziness just because our for fathers did.

The major difference between atheism (and science) and religion is religions refusal to accept the truth of a situation. If Jesus shows up tomorrow walking on water and such. Every scientist and atheist will convert instantly. However religion didn't redo the Noah story when we learned there was no global flood or that there are far too many animals on the planet to fit on a boat the size of the arc.


It would be nice if people would actually debate topics instead of semantic craziness like "atheism is a religion too" type garbage.

a reply to: Entreri06

I hate when people say atheism is a religion, we have no place of worship, no doctrine, no deity, no scripture or rituals, no special 'days' that a god or gods told us to take off or what ever.
It's far from a religion.

Sure there might be a creator, but all evidence leads to no creator, and since I am an atheist I lean towards evidence and truth, not faith.

a reply to: Entreri06

but that's traditionally what Atheism is. A belief that ALL monotheistic religions are wrong, don't exist, don't make sense etc.

Atheism is a lack of a belief, it can't be summed up to or referenced as a religion. Sure, there are the 'militant' atheist types that take it way too far and I could see them being part of a group, but more like a cult honestly.

I'm an Atheist. I don't believe in any of the religions that I have been exposed to in my life time. I do believe in an afterlife, but I have no ability to define it, nor do I wish to tell people about it.

I'm saving the surprise for the end of the journey. Seems like a giant waste of time to try and figure it out before then.

~Tenth

a reply to: Entreri06

Atheists don't know there is no God.

I do KNOW there is no god/goddess. God/goddess is a human concept.

No atheist could claim to know that no intelligent agent was the cause of the Big Bang. It could have been some parallel universes version of the LHC or this might all be one big computer program that some intelligent being created. Who knows ? Science isn't even close to that far along yet.

Agreed.

If Jesus shows up tomorrow walking on water and such. Every scientist and atheist will convert instantly.

Not likely. But I'd certainly be interested in having a lengthy discussion with him.

It would be nice if people would actually debate topics instead of semantic craziness like "atheism is a religion too" type garbage.

I suppose for some atheists, there lack of belief coupled with their anti-theism has become a religion in their lives. Especially when they aren't willing or able to look beyond their own bias. Then their lack of faith, becomes their faith.

the greek philosophy of moderation cautions against the "purist" method of pushing an ideology to its breaking point in the belief that the bookend at the edge will prove to be the doorstep of utopia. both ends of the spectrum here test that theory, ignoring the strain of gravity as they prop the pendulum and threaten to reinvent the clock if only they might evade the fear that perhaps the opposite team is even a little bit right.

originally posted by: Klassified
a reply to: Entreri06

Atheists don't know there is no God.

I do KNOW there is no god/goddess. God/goddess is a human concept.

No atheist could claim to know that no intelligent agent was the cause of the Big Bang. It could have been some parallel universes version of the LHC or this might all be one big computer program that some intelligent being created. Who knows ? Science isn't even close to that far along yet.

Agreed.

If Jesus shows up tomorrow walking on water and such. Every scientist and atheist will convert instantly.

Not likely. But I'd certainly be interested in having a lengthy discussion with him.

It would be nice if people would actually debate topics instead of semantic craziness like "atheism is a religion too" type garbage.

I suppose for some atheists, there lack of belief coupled with their anti-theism has become a religion in their lives. Especially when they aren't willing or able to look beyond their own bias. Then their lack of faith, becomes their faith.

The Jesus showing up and atheists converting is assuming he could prove he was the real McCoy. In that case, there wouldn't be an atheist left.

a reply to: Entreri06

You're right. Atheists don't KNOW there is no God, any more than theists KNOW there is one... That's why I identify as an agnostic atheist. I don't KNOW, but I BELIEVE there is no God, as it doesn't make scientific or logical sense.

I'm with you, Tenth. Let's start a religion, shall we?

a reply to: strongfp

SO evidence would be something you can see , feel, smell,hear, experience? For the people that do see a vision. hear a heavenly voice, experience god, are you able to take away there evidence because you didn't experience it with them?

originally posted by: Benevolent Heretic
Atheists don't KNOW there is no God, any more than theists KNOW there is one...

I know there is a God. (personal close encounter experience). I know there is a God, but I don't know Who He really is. I thought I did. But now, I have to say that I don't know Him, even though I've personally met Him.

That won't make sense to anyone unless they've had a close encounter or near death experience.


ETA -

originally posted by: tothetenthpower
Atheism is a lack of a belief, ...

I see it as an educated conscious choice.

Mad people say atheist are just disappointed because god doesn't want to talk to them.

originally posted by: Entreri06

It would be nice if people would actually debate topics instead of semantic craziness like "atheism is a religion too" type garbage.

What the heck, I enjoy a challenge. I'll pick up the gauntlet. The fictional atheist, Sheldon Cooper from TV, has a religion. I could call it scientism, but that would be too easy. Instead I'll call it comic-bookism and say that the sci-fi/comic-books/fantasy genre is to science as religion is to God.

His is what I would technically call a dysfunctional mythology. Oh sure, he has his Church (the comic-book store), he has his prophets (Stan Lee, Leonard Nimoy, etc), and he has his scientism narrative. But his religion doesn't have a mystical function. Although it could.

But neither does mainstream Christianity, which is why I would also call Christianity a dysfunctional mythology. It used to be the dominant mythology until science started taking over its functions, such as the cosmological function.

👣

Why do people care what atheists think of your invisible friend in the sky?

a reply to: FlyersFan

That won't make sense to anyone unless they've had a close encounter or near death experience.

The weird thing about it for me, is I know there is something else too, but I don't seek it out. It seems silly for me to try and understand the creator, if I haven't understood all of creation yet.

So, I understand completely and I would expect more people to these days as well. I've had some NDE's myself and have seen and heard things that could only be described as Holy.

I see it as an educated conscious choice.

Me too, but you risk alienating those you try and converse with by panting it so clearly. People take offense to the smallest of things.

~Tenth

originally posted by: Entreri06
The major difference between atheism (and science) and religion is religions refusal to accept the truth of a situation. If Jesus shows up tomorrow walking on water and such. Every scientist and atheist will convert instantly. However religion didn't redo the Noah story when we learned there was no global flood or that there are far too many animals on the planet to fit on a boat the size of the arc.

Seeing as how the likes of David Copperfield have done similar to this, I'd need a BIT more confirmation than just a man walking on water. But if the trick is legit, then it would make a believer out of me.

a reply to: Krazysh0t

Only the loaves and the fishes would do it for me.


Personally though, I think that story is a prophetical metaphor for Jesus' teachings and his influence...


Small amount of loaves and fishes (lessons taught) for 5000 people (an almost incalculable amount) benefitting from the knowledge/wisdom.




I realise you don't believe a word I just said

But I thought I'd share that in one post rather than two seperate ones.




Edit For Clarification: 5000 is obviously not incalculable, I was referring to Jesus' sphere of influence to humanity since these stories were first spread up until now, & even future followers of his teachings whether religious or not.

a reply to: Entreri06

Then you're not atheist. You're agnostic. Moving on ...

Quick question...I know I can google this, but I would like to hear opinions from you guys

From my experience with others, it seems generally that atheists believe that there is no God, there is no afterlife, we just live and then we die. And that agnostics are more against organized religion, believe in an afterlife and believe there is a God.

But I see that there are atheists who believe in an afterlife. Is that an afterlife with no God? just a place everyone goes after they die? So kind of a mix between the two?

I'm just curious on your points of view. Thanks!

Thing is this thing you call God, could just be my great great grandson who has created a simulated universe on his high powered computer. Not some super natural mysterious being

a reply to: shieldmaiden

I'm not an atheist, so I can't really speak for those who believe in an afterlife...


But the impression I've got with such atheists is that there is no problem in believing there is different planes of existence and dimensions/realms a spirit/soul may inhabit in the afterlife...

I think it stems from an idea that there is no need for a creator, or more predominantly a figure to worship, for this to be true.




However, that's just an impression.

May very well be wrong.

originally posted by: American-philosopher
a reply to: strongfp

SO evidence would be something you can see , feel, smell,hear, experience? For the people that do see a vision. hear a heavenly voice, experience god, are you able to take away there evidence because you didn't experience it with them?

So by your logic. When some one kills their whole family and says god told them to, we should consider that as evidence they are innocent because "hey no one knows maybe did god told them too".... Or I get the warm and fuzzies when I watch Barney the Dino with my toddler so maybe Barney really is a magic dinosaur!!!

That is insane logic anyway you look at it....