Are atheists afraid of God?

[Paul of Tarsus]

In response to Stephen Hawking's quip, "Religion is a fairy story for people afraid of the dark," apologist John Lennox said, "And atheism is a fairy story for those afraid of the light."

Do atheists fear that light aka God? I would answer no assuming I knew atheists to be completely sensible and rational in their rejection of theism, but they very often aren't sensible and rational in their unbelief. In this forum, for example, an atheist said he lost his belief in God when he realized that there are different religions. When I tried to explain to him that those conflicting faiths can be explained as some of them getting a real God wrong, well, it did me no good! It's simply illogical to conclude that God doesn't exist because some people disagree about him. His atheism is obviously based on faulty logic. What's odd about these cases involving atheists using poor reasoning to reject God is that those atheists seem quite reasonable otherwise. My guess is that they fear God and wish that he doesn't exist. Atheism is for them a sanctuary from theism and a hope that reality harbors no scary God.

[Paul of Tarsus]

How do you explain the atheists who apparently do fear God at least under some circumstances? Could there be a bit of theistic belief in the recesses of an atheist's psyche?

Sure, that's one possibility. Indoctrination, especially on children, may have long lasting effect.

That's exactly right. It's no secret that childhood trauma can cause phobias that are still evident in adulthood. Even as adults the emotional experiences we have can later manifest themselves as apparently baseless fears; we can be afraid of what we think we have no good reason to fear. Also, people often suppress thoughts they object to, and under some circumstances those thoughts may surface. So atheists fearing God fits these facts well.

[Paul of Tarsus]

[Replying to Paul of Tarsus in post #1]

I do not fear God, nor has any atheists I personally know acted in a way that indicates that they fear God.

How do you explain the atheists who apparently do fear God at least under some circumstances? Could there be a bit of theistic belief in the recesses of an atheist's psyche?

Could you give an example of such a case?

Yes. Back on post 134 I posted:

...I know of...an atheist who attempted to take his own life by downing an overdose of sleeping pills. When he began to lose consciousness he thought he was dying and became terrified of that prospect. He began calling out to God to save him, and he survived his suicide attempt. While the role that God took in these events is debatable, this atheist clearly feared God.

So do we have here at least one atheist who feared God?

[Tcg]

[Replying to Paul of Tarsus in post #1]

I do not fear God, nor has any atheists I personally know acted in a way that indicates that they fear God.

How do you explain the atheists who apparently do fear God at least under some circumstances? Could there be a bit of theistic belief in the recesses of an atheist's psyche?

Could you give an example of such a case?

Yes. Back on post 134 I posted:

...I know of...an atheist who attempted to take his own life by downing an overdose of sleeping pills. When he began to lose consciousness he thought he was dying and became terrified of that prospect. He began calling out to God to save him, and he survived his suicide attempt. While the role that God took in these events is debatable, this atheist clearly feared God.

So do we have here at least one atheist who feared God?

No. As I have already pointed out, an individual who calls out to God for salvation is NOT an atheist.

Tcg

[JoeyKnothead]

From Post 162

...
So do we have here at least one atheist who feared God?

What do ya call a Jew who worships Jesus?
A Christian.

That you continue your -ahem- crusade here indicates you will either never understand, or refuse to accept the fundamental flaw in your position.

Atheists no more fear gods than they do Satan.

[William]

From Post 162

...
So do we have here at least one atheist who feared God?

Atheists no more fear gods than they do Satan.

[Paul of Tarsus]

So do we have here at least one atheist who feared God?

No. As I have already pointed out, an individual who calls out to God for salvation is NOT an atheist.

Tell the whole truth, now. I thoroughly rebutted your claim here in several posts. You have ignored them here omitting facts that if included, would reveal the actual truth.

Ah--the amazing and blind faith of atheism.

[Paul of Tarsus]

From Post 162

...
So do we have here at least one atheist who feared God?

What do ya call a Jew who worships Jesus?
A Christian.

Is it OK if I answer that question? If a Jew worships Jesus, then I'd call her "a Jew who worships Jesus." Her worshipping Jesus doesn't change the fact that she's a Jew. The same logic applies to atheists who call out to God. Calling out to God doesn't disqualify a person as an atheist.

That you continue your -ahem- crusade here indicates you will either never understand, or refuse to accept the fundamental flaw in your position.

When all else fails, go on the personal attack! Try to make out your interlocutor to be a bad person so your readers won't agree with him. In particular, make him out to be a bad person just for debating his position. And of course, do not make similar accusations against those who debate the position you agree with.

Atheists no more fear gods than they do Satan.

I think atheists can fear Satan. Why not?

[brunumb]

So do we have here at least one atheist who feared God?

No. As I have already pointed out, an individual who calls out to God for salvation is NOT an atheist.

Tell the whole truth, now. I thoroughly rebutted your claim here in several posts. You have ignored them here omitting facts that if included, would reveal the actual truth.

Ah--the amazing and blind faith of atheism.

I'm going to play the 'No True Atheist' card at this point. You will need to establish that anyone who you claim is an atheist and is afraid of God, or calls out to God for assistance, is truly an atheist and does not believe in the existence of said God.

[Tcg]

So do we have here at least one atheist who feared God?

No. As I have already pointed out, an individual who calls out to God for salvation is NOT an atheist.

Tell the whole truth, now. I thoroughly rebutted your claim here in several posts. You have ignored them here omitting facts that if included, would reveal the actual truth.

Ah--the amazing and blind faith of atheism.

I have told the whole truth. Your choice to reject it doesn't change reality.


Tcg

[Tcg]

The same logic applies to atheists who call out to God. Calling out to God doesn't disqualify a person as an atheist.

Belief in god/gods disqualifies a person as an atheist. Only a person who believes in God would call out to God for salvation. It's obvious logic.

An individual lost in the woods who lacks belief in Bigfoot would not call out to Bigfoot for help.

An individual lost at sea who lacks belief that aliens have visited earth in UFOs would not cry out to aliens piloting UFOs for help.

An individual who lacks belief in the tooth fairy would not beg the tooth fairy to leave a thousand dollars in exchange for their tooth.

We could continue comparing examples, but the reality of this case is obvious absent a single one.

Atheists expect absolutely nothing from god/gods. Anyone who does so is not an atheist.


Tcg