Freethought & Rationalism Archive

ThinkDifferent · 05-26-2005, 05:49 AM

The below link says

Quote:

In many prominent atheists in history, we see a strong antipathy toward their fathers.

http://www.columbia.edu/cu/augustine...frear/vitz.htm

According to the author, this observation is mainly true for strong atheists.

Quote:

Bear in mind that the people I have been discussing are not agnostics or casual atheists, but people who have very strongly rejected God.

According to the author, the following are the types of fathers that such atheists tend to have

Quote:

1. The father is present, but he is weak, cowardly, unworthy of respect.

2. The father is present, but is physically, psychologically or sexually abusive.

3. The father is absent, whether through death or abandonment.

So if you are a Strong atheist...Did you hate(i mean really despise) your father?

ThinkDifferent · 05-26-2005, 05:51 AM

Oh. Forgot to mention that i am a strong atheist and really don't like my father. Thats why this question. Want to know whether this theory is true.

sleepy_ · 05-26-2005, 07:47 AM

I am strongly against the ideas of a deity, especially the judaochristian one, but I surely don't hate my dad. He wasn't a perfect guy, but I have no qualms about my childhood.
If anything, making that an issue would just further the idea that God is a fanciful construct based on past experiences. I personally think this is why the virgin mary developed - so that people who had a better experience with their mother than their father could love God more.

Eudaimonist · 05-26-2005, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThinkDifferent

So if you are a Strong atheist...Did you hate(i mean really despise) your father?

I personally love and respect my father.

braces_for_impact · 05-26-2005, 07:54 AM

My father has been absent my entire life. But considering how many fathers really do abandon their children, I would think we'd see a lot more atheists.

Hawkingfan · 05-26-2005, 07:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThinkDifferent

So if you are a Strong atheist...Did you hate(i mean really despise) your father?

Not at all.

Plognark · 05-26-2005, 08:07 AM

I'm a weak atheist, but I don't hate my father. I save my contempt and utter revulsion for my mother.

Perhaps hatred of one's mother leads to weak atheism while hatred for the father leads to strong atheism? :Cheeky:

It's a joke, relax

premjan · 05-26-2005, 08:56 AM

I think a great counterexample is the apparent historical personality of Siddhartha Gautama Buddha whose father loved him so much he sheltered his son from knowledge of all the negative aspects of life. His son was so startled to discover realities such as old age, sickness and death that he embarked upon a journey of enlightenment.

Witt · 05-26-2005, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by premjan

I think a great counterexample is the apparent historical personality of Siddhartha Gautama Buddha whose father loved him so much he sheltered his son from knowledge of all the negative aspects of life. His son was so startled to discover realities such as old age, sickness and death that he embarked upon a journey of enlightenment.

<edit>

sleepy_ · 05-26-2005, 10:17 AM

Witt,
I am not sure you can make that assertion about premjan based upon what little he said. As far as I can remember, that's a pretty accurate account of the legend. I also think he is saying that Buddha didn't hate his dad and yet he was an atheist. I could be wrong, though.

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05-26-2005, 05:51 AM	#2
ThinkDifferent Regular Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: India Posts: 193	Oh. Forgot to mention that i am a strong atheist and really don't like my father. Thats why this question. Want to know whether this theory is true.

05-26-2005, 07:47 AM	#3
sleepy_ Regular Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: FLORIDA Posts: 130	I am strongly against the ideas of a deity, especially the judaochristian one, but I surely don't hate my dad. He wasn't a perfect guy, but I have no qualms about my childhood. If anything, making that an issue would just further the idea that God is a fanciful construct based on past experiences. I personally think this is why the virgin mary developed - so that people who had a better experience with their mother than their father could love God more.

05-26-2005, 07:54 AM	#5
braces_for_impact Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: In a nondescript, black helicopter. Posts: 6,637	My father has been absent my entire life. But considering how many fathers really do abandon their children, I would think we'd see a lot more atheists.

05-26-2005, 08:07 AM	#7
Plognark Contributor Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 14,952	I'm a weak atheist, but I don't hate my father. I save my contempt and utter revulsion for my mother. Perhaps hatred of one's mother leads to weak atheism while hatred for the father leads to strong atheism? :Cheeky: It's a joke, relax

05-26-2005, 08:56 AM	#8
premjan Obsessed Contributor Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: NJ Posts: 61,538	I think a great counterexample is the apparent historical personality of Siddhartha Gautama Buddha whose father loved him so much he sheltered his son from knowledge of all the negative aspects of life. His son was so startled to discover realities such as old age, sickness and death that he embarked upon a journey of enlightenment.

05-26-2005, 10:17 AM	#10
sleepy_ Regular Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: FLORIDA Posts: 130	Witt, I am not sure you can make that assertion about premjan based upon what little he said. As far as I can remember, that's a pretty accurate account of the legend. I also think he is saying that Buddha didn't hate his dad and yet he was an atheist. I could be wrong, though.

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