Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Ab_Normal · 02-03-2003, 09:28 AM

I voted "All of the above", because I can rant on each one of the other reasons at the drop of a hat.

I ate Pascal's Wafer · 02-03-2003, 09:37 AM

I voted for "all of the above". The single most important factor in me becoming and remaining as atheist is the complete lack of evidence for a deity. However, the other reasons listed also played a role in my deconversion, so they are important on some level too.

If I had to choose only one, I would have to choose 5.

-Nick

Psycho Economist · 02-03-2003, 09:42 AM

Lacking the capability to select both 5 & 6 (not that I mind), I voted for All of the above and then some...

Godless Dave · 02-03-2003, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Kind Bud
It's still #3. "God" is not an intelligible idea. I am an atheist for the same reason I am a ablobnarttfitgarblidist. I did not vote for #5 because the supernatural is also an unintelligible idea, and the question asked why I was an atheist, not why I was naturalist.

Kind Bud, you almost make me want to change my vote!

I agree that God is an unintelligible idea, but to the extent that some theists have been able to communicate their concepts of God to me, I have found no evidence that those gods exist.

Celsus · 02-03-2003, 10:24 AM

I voted #4 because "all of the above" is too easy. Really, most of these arguments only pushed me as far as agnosticism. One argument for atheism is simply that belief is too negative, and sitting on the fence is an abrogation of responsibility in fighting the negative consequences of belief. As for #5, well if there was any evidence for the supernatural, it wouldn't be "super"-natural now, would it?

Joel

christ-on-a-stick · 02-03-2003, 10:29 AM

All of the above and then some.

I would pick #5 with regard to god-belief in general, and #1 and #6 with regard to the Xian God concept.

Harumi · 02-03-2003, 12:21 PM

I chose eight.

The question was a bit confusing though. Were you asking about the initial reasons for becoming an atheist are the reasons now? Because mine have definitely changed.

Before, I preferred to not believe in God rather than hate him. Because boy, did I hate Him. The reason is obscure, and I no longer remember why, but that was what led me to atheism. I chose nonbelief over hate.

Not a very admirable reason, but it got me out of the fold!

philechat · 02-03-2003, 12:39 PM

I choose 6, because I basically invented my own religion in my childhood, and knew the myths of 3-4 different cultures early in my life. At that time I disliked Christianity because "their stories are more boring" than the Chinese and Greek counterparts.

Later I think I switched to 4, in the way that even if God existed I would probably reject him and accept hell. One gets a better company in hell as far as I know.

DarkBronzePlant · 02-03-2003, 01:29 PM

Plain and simple... there is no evidence. One can argue 'til one is blue in the face about morals, and whether god is evil, or whether religion supports or destroys human dignity, but at the end of the day, there is just no reason to believe that stories about gods and devils are anything other than fairy tales.

debater10 · 02-03-2003, 02:26 PM

Grew up in the church... realized that believing in God had no basis in evidence, and that quite a few of the people who labeled themselves as "Christian" were some of the most morally repugnant people I had ever met. Atheists, and I hesitate to say this lest I sound too trite, are generally more agreeable people.

View Poll Results: Why are you an atheist?
The problem of pain -- how can beings of such great and supernatural powers allow suffering?	0	0%
We don't need gods -- deities are not to be postulated unless they are inescapable.	2	1.63%
The meaningless of the term "god" -- which denotes an objectively invalidated entity, like "Santa" or "unicorn."	5	4.07%
The negative consequences of belief -- the illusion of gods rob us of human diginity, etc.	3	2.44%
The complete lack of evidence for anything supernatural.	53	43.09%
Most "holy books" so confusing, contradictory, and misinformed that they are obviously just recordings of oral mythology.	8	6.50%
Other (Please Specify).	3	2.44%
All of the above, and then some!	49	39.84%
Voters: 123. You may not vote on this poll

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

02-03-2003, 09:28 AM	#11
Ab_Normal Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 2,842	I voted "All of the above", because I can rant on each one of the other reasons at the drop of a hat.

02-03-2003, 09:37 AM	#12
I ate Pascal's Wafer Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Florida Posts: 1,460	I voted for "all of the above". The single most important factor in me becoming and remaining as atheist is the complete lack of evidence for a deity. However, the other reasons listed also played a role in my deconversion, so they are important on some level too. If I had to choose only one, I would have to choose 5. -Nick

02-03-2003, 09:42 AM	#13
Psycho Economist Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Peoria, IL Posts: 854	Lacking the capability to select both 5 & 6 (not that I mind), I voted for All of the above and then some...

02-03-2003, 10:24 AM	#15
Celsus Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Singapore Posts: 2,875	I voted #4 because "all of the above" is too easy. Really, most of these arguments only pushed me as far as agnosticism. One argument for atheism is simply that belief is too negative, and sitting on the fence is an abrogation of responsibility in fighting the negative consequences of belief. As for #5, well if there was any evidence for the supernatural, it wouldn't be "super"-natural now, would it? Joel

02-03-2003, 10:29 AM	#16
christ-on-a-stick Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Durango, Colorado Posts: 7,116	All of the above and then some. I would pick #5 with regard to god-belief in general, and #1 and #6 with regard to the Xian God concept.

02-03-2003, 12:21 PM	#17
Harumi Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: N/A Posts: 3,184	I chose eight. The question was a bit confusing though. Were you asking about the initial reasons for becoming an atheist are the reasons now? Because mine have definitely changed. Before, I preferred to not believe in God rather than hate him. Because boy, did I hate Him. The reason is obscure, and I no longer remember why, but that was what led me to atheism. I chose nonbelief over hate. Not a very admirable reason, but it got me out of the fold!

02-03-2003, 12:39 PM	#18
philechat Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Mind of the Other Posts: 886	I choose 6, because I basically invented my own religion in my childhood, and knew the myths of 3-4 different cultures early in my life. At that time I disliked Christianity because "their stories are more boring" than the Chinese and Greek counterparts. Later I think I switched to 4, in the way that even if God existed I would probably reject him and accept hell. One gets a better company in hell as far as I know.

02-03-2003, 01:29 PM	#19
DarkBronzePlant Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: San Francisco, CA USA Posts: 3,568	Plain and simple... there is no evidence. One can argue 'til one is blue in the face about morals, and whether god is evil, or whether religion supports or destroys human dignity, but at the end of the day, there is just no reason to believe that stories about gods and devils are anything other than fairy tales.

02-03-2003, 02:26 PM	#20
debater10 Regular Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Lynchburg, VA, USA Posts: 106	Grew up in the church... realized that believing in God had no basis in evidence, and that quite a few of the people who labeled themselves as "Christian" were some of the most morally repugnant people I had ever met. Atheists, and I hesitate to say this lest I sound too trite, are generally more agreeable people.

Freethought & Rationalism Archive

The archives are read only.