Atheism Vs. Anti-Theism

[mtk2a]

Atheists can no more prove the non-existence of god than a theist can prove his existence.

To proclaim with certainty the non-existence of god is every bit as foolish as religion.

The bottom line is: NOBODY REALLY KNOWS.

 

[Sigenrecht]

In my opinion, using terms to classify degrees to which a person does not believe in any form of divinity makes you as much of a tool as any other Theist.

 

[Good morning blues]

In my opinion, using terms to classify degrees to which a person does not believe in any form of divinity makes you as much of a tool as any other Theist.

How is whether or not you evangelize your atheist beliefs a classification of the degree to which you do not believe in any form of divinity?

 

[Ultrajoe]

In my opinion, using terms to classify degrees to which a person does not believe in any form of divinity makes you as much of a tool as any other Theist.

But it does make things a ton easier.

There's nothing wrong with categorization provided there is room to pick and choose.

 

[TOGSolid]

Atheists can no more prove the non-existence of god than a theist can prove his existence.

To proclaim with certainty the non-existence of god is every bit as foolish as religion.

The bottom line is: NOBODY REALLY KNOWS.

Pfff, everyone knows the Flying Spaghetti Monster created everything and the reason for all the world's problems (especially Global Warming) is that there aren't enough pirates.

Yarrrrr

 

[Sigenrecht]

I have seen the light.

Pfff, everyone knows the Flying Spaghetti Monster created everything and the reason for all the world's problems (especially Global Warming) is that there aren't enough pirates.

Pfff, everyone knows the Flying Spaghetti Monster created everything and the reason for all the world's problems (especially Global Warming) is that there aren't enough pirates.

Pfff, everyone knows the Flying Spaghetti Monster created everything and the reason for all the world's problems (especially Global Warming) is that there aren't enough pirates.

THE CHARTS DO NOT LIE.

 

[Sparcrypt]

because i think that people that believe in a God have made a stupid choice.... it's that simple.

I just dont see how you could not have made a stupid choice such as believe of god with the mountain of evidence against it, and the complete lack of evidence for it.

No one has provided a good argument for God based on LOGIC and FACTS.

That simple, if you believe in god, you are somewhat stupid.... regardless of intelligence.

Einstein was a dumbass too : )

Wow you're an idiot .

Lets start off with that I'm more agnostic then anything else. I certainly am not Christian, but I'm not QUITE an atheist. I'm open to the possibility, but I need something definitive before I'd say someone?s up there.

Now... I think the OP, though very well written, misses the point. It's not about atheism and anti-theism... it's simpler then that: People are intolerant and refuse to believe they are wrong about anything.

Take the genius I have quoted here, who has started by saying "Oh who can be stupid enough to believe in something with no proof?"

Have you done the research? Have you personally looked at all the scientific evidence that there may be something up there? Have you checked out every single potential 'Miracle' and come up with a scientific explanation on how it occurred or why it can't be true? Can you explain every psychic who has helped solve a crime, every ghost sighting, every encounter with the paranormal and say with absolute certainty and backed up by scientific fact that NONE of this is real or has connection to a life or being beyond this world? You can say they're all seeing things/crazy/lying/cheating - but I hope you have proof of this, or else you're just a hypocrite.

I personally can't disprove all those things. That?s why I'm agnostic and not an atheist. And unless you can, you cannot legitimately claim that there is DEFINATELY nothing there. You can of course say it is your personal belief that nothing is there and that there is no doubt some explanation that is beyond us, but is not indicative of a higher being.

So how about you grow up a little and accept that other people may not see the world as you do and decide to interpret things a little differently before putting forth your woefully inadequate arguments.

 

[The Iron Ninja]

Atheists can no more prove the non-existence of god than a theist can prove his existence.

To proclaim with certainty the non-existence of god is every bit as foolish as religion.

The bottom line is: NOBODY REALLY KNOWS.

Okay, lets pretend for a second that there is most definitely a god, not the god as Christianity teaches, but an all powerful deity that single handedly created the universe.
Now consider all the religions in the world, chances are that at if they were really lucky, one religion might have gotten it right. How is anyone to say that their version of it is correct? Because some person you didn't know thousands of years ago said so? Taking glorified speculation and defending it to (in many cases) the grave is just plain stupid.

Edit: After seeing the charts, I am now a staunch follower of the Pirate theory.

 

[Limos]

I live in a very very very religious area. Mostly mormon, but with a healthy smattering of christians of several flavors.

Anyways here are a few things that actually happened to me in school.

In science the teacher had us sort ourselves out by different characteristics. Eye color, hair color, birthdate, and finally. Religion. Knowing I was in a heavily religious group I walked off on my own to stand by myself. As I thought, I was the only Atheist in the class. A boy in the group nearest me, Catholics actually, looked over and asked me. "Why are you standing by yourself? What are you?" I replied, "I'm an Athiest." and to this he says "You worship the Devil!!!" I tried to explain to him that I was not a Satanist, but in fact did not believe in the Devil either. He apparently found this hard to accept and never spoke to me again.

One day in English, while debating some story, I can't quite remember which, the teacher brought up an allusion to the bible. We discussed back and forth and debated. Mostly between myself and a girl in front of me, Autumn (Who was actually a Wiccan) argued for Christianity, while I argued against. Then we actually reversed positions at one point where I argued the merits of one particular allusion while she argued against it. I personally enjoyed the debate immensely but apparently the Atheist and Wiccan knew much more about Christianity than all the Christians in the class. Afterwards the girl behind me asked what religion I was and I of course answered honestly that I was an Atheist. She said "What's that?" I told her that it meant I did not believe in a higher power. She apparently could not wrap her head around the concept. Hearing this a boy nearby said, "Even if you won't admit it you believe in a higher power. Everyone does." I told him "No really, I don't." he would not accept that such a fram of mind was even possible. Unlike the one from science class this boy decided to spend the rest of year trying to convert me.

The Science class was junior year in Highschool. The English example was freshman english.

 

[Ossus]

The distinction you are looking for is Atheism vs Agnosticism.

http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/atheism-agnosticism/

 

[JuniorMartin]

I am very religious, I also have nothing against Atheists. The problem when it comes to religion are the extremist of the groups. It seems that by not believing in what that other person believe to that person it is the same as telling them they are wrong. Why can't people let bygones be bygones?

When it comes to proving proof for a religion, the proof will always be put down as some religious babel or "only they can see it"

 

[Alex_P]

Atheists can no more prove the non-existence of god than a theist can prove his existence.

To proclaim with certainty the non-existence of god is every bit as foolish as religion.

The bottom line is: NOBODY REALLY KNOWS.

OMG YOU CAN'T DIRECTLY DISPROVE AN UNFALSIFIABLE CLAIM! THIS TOTALLY BLOWS ATHEISM OUT OF THE WATER!

That's not how it works, chief. I could trot out a bunch of Russell's Teapots and Flying Spaghetti Monsters and Invisible Pink Unicorns, but I think it's just easier to say that shouting "NOBODY KNOWS!" at the top of your lungs isn't smart, it's just sophistry.

-- Alex

 

[mtk2a]

Science does not adequately explain the existence of the universe or its inception. Nor does it explain the existence of physical law and natural order.

Neither, in my opinion, does it explain the purpose of Love, Beauty, or Creativity.

Chaos, is in itself, a form of order. Abstract, yet theoretically predictable.

These concepts provide evidence, but NOT proof, of some form of god.

There is no evidence or proof of the non-existence of god.

Therefore it becomes a matter of incomplete information. Mankind literally CANNOT determine whether god exists, or not.

Most people just can't accept this. Humans need to feel in control, and to do that they need to believe they have all the information. They CHOOSE to believe that god exists, or they CHOOSE to believe that god does not exist.

Very few are willing to accept the simple truth that they do not know the answer.

 

[Alex_P]

Therefore it becomes a matter of incomplete information. Mankind literally CANNOT determine whether god exists, or not.

That's because you've defined "God" in terms of a set of unfalsifiable claims.

What do humans do when presented with an unfalsifiable claim that doesn't have the weight of hundreds of years of shared culture behind it? Oh, right, we dismiss it as bullshit handwaving. Sophistry.

-- Alex

 

[Aries_Split]

Umm...What?

Science has adequately explained the existence of the universe and its inception.

That's a common Christian argument I hear, 'BIG BANG THEORY MAKE NO SENSE!"

That's because you can't be arsed to look it up.

It has explained Love, Beauty, and Creativity. They are emotions and moods, caused by chemicals released in our body.

In no way does that give evidence to a god.

 

[mtk2a]

One can define "god" any way you like. I use it as a placeholder for a hypothetical unknown force that may have created the universe and determined its function.

 

[mtk2a]

The big bang theory explains everything that happened following the big bang. It does not explain the reason for its initial existence, or the event itself.

Nor does it explain the specificity of physical law or natural order.

 

[Aries_Split]

If you mean Physics, then you are correct.

 

[JuniorMartin]

Then tell me what happen before the big bang? What concept for god are you using?

To try to define such things is the useless for there is no right answer. Science is the way man sees the world not how he lives it.

 

[Aries_Split]

*Clears throught*

Boson.

Boson happened.

Look, if your looking for concrete evidence for what happened before the big bang, your out of luck.

All I was saying was that Science has explained all the points you mentioned.

Christianity, has not.

My concept of god is a Pantheist's concept, as I myself am Buddhist.