What are the strongest arguments for atheism?

harvey1 · Post by **harvey1** » Thu Jan 20, 2005 9:15 pm

You know, come to think of it. I haven't seen any arguments that support the atheist claim that God doesn't exist. Why is that? So, let's turn the tables for a second, and ask, what are the strongest arguments in support of atheism?

Btw, don't bother answering if you either don't have an argument or don't feel that you are required to support your philosophical position.

servant · Post by **servant** » Sat Dec 15, 2007 3:17 pm

The hysteric misanthrope Paul

Why would you say that he hates or mistrusts all people? Please don't use the Bible as you don't believe in it.

Goat · Post by **Goat** » Sat Dec 15, 2007 3:33 pm

servant wrote:
The hysteric misanthrope Paul
Why would you say that he hates or mistrusts all people? Please don't use the Bible as you don't believe in it.

You don't have to believe IN what the bible says , particularly the letters of paul to believe that the bible exists. I believe the New Testament exists, I just don't believe that the New Testament was inspired by God, or contains the truth.

bernee51 · Post by **bernee51** » Sat Dec 15, 2007 10:34 pm

servant wrote:
The hysteric misanthrope Paul
Why would you say that he hates or mistrusts all people? Please don't use the Bible as you don't believe in it.

All I know of Paul is his own words. Perhaps he was confabulating. What he wanted was to change the world so his warped sense of self would fit in. To that extent he certainly hated mankind.

servant · Post by **servant** » Sat Dec 15, 2007 11:06 pm

What he wanted was to change the world so his warped sense of self would fit in. To that extent he certainly hated mankind.

Funny I could say the same about the Atheist movement.

Goat · Post by **Goat** » Sat Dec 15, 2007 11:29 pm

servant wrote:
What he wanted was to change the world so his warped sense of self would fit in. To that extent he certainly hated mankind.
Funny I could say the same about the Atheist movement.

'

What atheist movement? I don't see a 'movement'

I see individuals. However, many of those individuals seem to be much more compassionate and loving that many of the people who claim they are following God.

bernee51 · Post by **bernee51** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 1:33 am

servant wrote:
What he wanted was to change the world so his warped sense of self would fit in. To that extent he certainly hated mankind.
Funny I could say the same about the Atheist movement.

Describe for me the 'atheist movement' Do you consider it (if indeed you can show it exists) misanthropic? If so, how so?

QED · Post by **QED** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 5:52 am

servant wrote:
What he wanted was to change the world so his warped sense of self would fit in. To that extent he certainly hated mankind.
Funny I could say the same about the Atheist movement.

If servant perceives "an atheist movement" maybe it'll be informative to ask when this movement started. Perhaps it was started by Copernicus or Darwin, or that French archaeologist who learned to read Egyptian hieroglyphs? But then there was that Ancient Greek (my memory is terrible today

) who, on his friends remark about the great number of tributes left to the Gods by those thankful for their rescue from peril, pointed out that they could hardly expect to see so many from those who were not saved.

Atheism, as a movement, can only really be identified through a common critical appraisal of the world -- one that is better informed about selection effects and their role in promoting superstition.

Goat · Post by **Goat** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 9:23 am

QED wrote:
servant wrote:
What he wanted was to change the world so his warped sense of self would fit in. To that extent he certainly hated mankind.
Funny I could say the same about the Atheist movement.
If servant perceives "an atheist movement" maybe it'll be informative to ask when this movement started. Perhaps it was started by Copernicus or Darwin, or that French archaeologist who learned to read Egyptian hieroglyphs? But then there was that Ancient Greek (my memory is terrible today ) who, on his friends remark about the great number of tributes left to the Gods by those thankful for their rescue from peril, pointed out that they could hardly expect to see so many from those who were not saved.

Atheism, as a movement, can only really be identified through a common critical appraisal of the world -- one that is better informed about selection effects and their role in promoting superstition.

There is also the scripture that says 'The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God." That would not have been written, unless there were those people who
felt God did not exist. The psalmist who wrote that line disagreed with them, but that does not mean they didn't exist.

stmw · Post by **stmw** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 9:09 pm

zepper899 wrote: evolution is clearly and simply shown through mcculloch's arguments

Evolution is a theory not a fact.

I think that the best evidence FOR the belief in God is the fact that we are here and God created us. However the atheist relies on evolution for our existance (some people believe in God and evolution, but since this topic is atheism, I am referring to evolution without God), but if you go further back and ask "where did the first amoeba come from?" or "where did the universe come from?" the answers become wilder. It is puzzling to me how some people believe in God (with or without evolution), while others believe in evolution only (no God). I hope someone can answer this question:

Did most atheists once had a belief in God when they were younger?

Goat · Post by **Goat** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 9:36 pm

stmw wrote:
zepper899 wrote: evolution is clearly and simply shown through mcculloch's arguments
Evolution is a theory not a fact.

I think that the best evidence FOR the belief in God is the fact that we are here and God created us. However the atheist relies on evolution for our existance (some people believe in God and evolution, but since this topic is atheism, I am referring to evolution without God), but if you go further back and ask "where did the first amoeba come from?" or "where did the universe come from?" the answers become wilder. It is puzzling to me how some people believe in God (with or without evolution), while others believe in evolution only (no God). I hope someone can answer this question:

Did most atheists once had a belief in God when they were younger?

The good old 'evolution is a theory not a fact' strawman. This is the logical fallacy known as 'equivocation'. In science , there is no higher status than a tested theory.

Evolution is both a fact, and a theory. The fact is that organisms change over the generations. The theory is about the mechanisms that cause this to happen.

Gravity is a fact and a theory too. Gravity is as much a fact as evolution.

As for your question, many of the atheists on this board had a belief in God when
they were young.

There are also many people who accept evolution who believe in God.