Solomon

Hello, everyone. I am new here, so I wanted to start off by asking a simple question, just to assess the attitude and logic of the people here. My question is, as the topic title indicates, "why should I be an atheist?" I want you to show me, in your own words of course, why and how atheism is more logical and desirable than theism, or, more importantly, agnosticism. If you find the question too extensive or difficult, feel free to tell me merely why you are an atheist.

Thank you, everyone. I hope I find these forums enjoyable.

Starspun

How do you define Atheist?

Although Atheist's are the hippest, happening people on the planet, I wouldn't be one if there was any evidence for a supernatural creator. As it stands at this point in history, all the things that people created a god for (earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, et al) have been explained by science in accordance with the natural reality we live in. Are there unanswered questions? Yes, there are. The origin of life is one that I have a keen interest in. Will Abiogenisis be the answer? I don't know, but, I have no reason to think science will not show the naturalistic process that was the catalyst for life. I only hope it happens in my lifetime.
I also think an alien taking a piss in the primordial soup of Earth would be a more logical explanation to the beginning of life on Earth than a supernatural god. That's just me though.

EDIT: BTW, Welcome to II.

[ August 05, 2002: Message edited by: Starspun ]</p>

Typhon

First off, I would suggest that this thread be moved <a href="http://iidb.org/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=forum&f=45" target="_blank">here</a>.

Second, welcome to the II boards Solomon.

As for your question,

I have to say the only reason you (or anyone else) should be an "atheist" is if you have no belief in god or gods. It's that simple.

It's not a contest or a "better than this" scenario. Since atheism is the lack of belief in god or gods, it is the only logical stance that I can see for someone who does not believe in god or gods.

Not a difficult question at all, just one that suggests you're not really knowledgeable about what atheism is, or in this case, is not.

I'm an atheist because I have no god-beliefs.

Cheers,

.T.

Scotty

Probably better in MRD I would suspect.

*Logical Consistency.

(If something is logically consistent, then I am all for it. But most religions aren't.)

*Draw your own conclusions from data.

*You are on your own in life.

*Like the person you are.

That is about it, pretty simple huh?

Welcome to the boards, have a good time...

-Scott

Goliath

Solomon,

Why should I care about whether or not you become an atheist? As long as you (and all other theists on this planet) don't force your religion on anyone else, why should I care about whether or not any theist becomes an atheist?

Sincerely,

Goliath

Brian63

Chicks dig atheists.

Brian

xeren

I'm going to stray from you question a bit for a second because the quote above brings up another point.

You ask why atheism is more desirable? Well it's not. I believe that one of the largest reasons theists believe what they believe is because it is a more desirable belief believing in a god who watches over you, believing in a set of rules that, if you simply follow them, you will go to a place of infinite bliss for all eternity.

Atheism promises none of that. The only thing it does bring is more clarity than any theist could ever hope to achieve. If truth is more desirable to you than hapiness, i suggest you more carefully analyze why you believe what you believe as a theist.

To get fully back to your question, i'm an atheist because i value truth more highly than happiness.

[ August 05, 2002: Message edited by: xeren ]</p>

Bad Religion

I'm in it for the chicks......

Actually, I don't care if you are or are not an atheist. My witnessing days are over. However, to answer your question, I don't think there is a "one-size-fits-all" answer. If there was, it would sound more like a religion (i.e. I am the way the truth, and the life, no one comes to the father but through me...)

Many people throughout history have arrived at the atheistic default for varied reasons, I can't say any reason is better than the next. I think we all make our own reality, and what may be right for me, may not be right for you.

Personally, I am an atheist for many reasons.
One of the main reasons (this week) I don't believe in gods is due to my study of history. Most every culture has created their own gods and defined them in varied ways. This was done for many reasons, but at first it was to explain the unknown. This reason shrinks everyday the more science unlocks the natural world. Right now, I don't see evidence of a god/gods...this may change, but for now I don't see any reason to believe in invisible beings.

Thomas Metcalf

An atheist is a person who is not a theist. This definition, I find, is the best. But I will do you a favor and tell you why you should be a positive atheist, one who does not believe in any gods and disbelieves some gods.

There is no good argument for theism. That is why you should at least be a negative atheist. Agnosticism, I find, is better understood to appear in atheist and theist varieties. That is, a theist might believe in God but still claim not to know whether God exists or whether it's even possible to know. An atheist might feel the same way about whether God's existence is knowable, but happen not to believe.

I think you should take a stand on whether God or gods exist, however, not just whether you believe in them. For it is possible to provide good evidence against some versions of God, and to prove that other versions of God are impossible. That is why I believe one ought to be a positive atheist, a person who believes that some gods do not exist.

Whether the evidence does indeed support atheism has rather a detailed and complex answer. I recommend the library here at infidels.org. As a short answer, most theist arguments do not demonstrate that God exists, only that the universe has a certain characteristic that apologists illictly conclude to be God -- this is only if the arguments themselves are sound, and most of them aren't.

The reason we should disbelieve the god of classic monotheism is that His purported attributes are incompatible with each other and with the existence of widespread intense apparently gratuitous suffering. Again, I recommend the library at infidels.org, but for now I will simply say that no defense against the arguments from evil should be acceptable to the theist and the atheist. If you have a specific argument for theism or defense against my arguments for positive atheism, please offer it here.

Cretinist

The benefits of atheism:

1. You'll get cool supernatural powers from our Dark Lords Darwin and Sagan.

2. You'll never have to wait in line again once you get The Card.

3. You can get away with rape, murder and theft whenever you want, since we control everything via the Catholic Church.

4. Hell is a really, really swell and nice place.