Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Writer@Large · 02-03-2003, 06:01 AM

I thought I'd help Gemma out by providing a fairer, more balanced revision of her original poll, so that she can get a more accurate gauge of our atheism. Among other things, I have expanded the number of options, included an "other" catch-all, and stripped the questions of some of their presumptive biases--i.e. that atheism concerns only the belief in one, capitalized God. So ...

Of these arguments against the existence of gods, which is most convincing to you, or which is most responsible for your atheism?

--W@L

Sephiroth · 02-03-2003, 06:15 AM

I picked 5.

Jamie_L · 02-03-2003, 06:15 AM

I voted for #6, because that's what first got me started on the road to atheism. My continued atheism, however, has more to do with #5.

Jamie

VonEvilstein · 02-03-2003, 07:21 AM

I voted five. I still feel a lot of resonance with two, though.

Jack the Bodiless · 02-03-2003, 07:38 AM

Who was it who said that organizing atheists is like herding cats?

I propose a further refinement: separating why I became an atheist from why I remain an atheist.

Like many here, I am an ex-Christian. My reasons for rejecting Christianity are 1 and 6.

My reasons for not embracing another religion afterwards (I did give some consideration to a sort of mutated Wicca) is 5.

My reasons for subsequently remaining an atheist are 2, 3, 4 and 5.

I voted 5. Maybe I should have voted 8.

Godless Sodomite · 02-03-2003, 07:45 AM

All of the above. While lack of evidence maintains my lack of belief, the rest are some of the reasons why I both disbelief in deity and find that organized system of belief in things unevidenced are harmful to society.

-Jerry

Godless Dave · 02-03-2003, 08:16 AM

I just really like kitten pie, and the secret atheist meetings are the only place I can get it.

Shake · 02-03-2003, 08:26 AM

I originally voted for #3, but thanks to W@L's nice new poll, I have to go with #5. My reasons do contain elements of some of the other choices, but it's mainly #5.

Things like Biblical errancy seem to pale in comparison, IMO, to the overwhelming lack of evidence for the supernatural.

Autonemesis · 02-03-2003, 08:35 AM

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.

queue · 02-03-2003, 09:10 AM

I voted for #4 since that was what got me to examine my religion, the religion of other people that I knew, and religion in general. During this process, I found #2, #3, #5, and #6. I did not vote for "All of the above, and then some!" because the problem of pain was not a factor in my becoming atheist.

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

02-03-2003, 06:01 AM	#1
Writer@Large Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Posts: 7,198	Why are you an atheist? [Revised] I thought I'd help Gemma out by providing a fairer, more balanced revision of her original poll, so that she can get a more accurate gauge of our atheism. Among other things, I have expanded the number of options, included an "other" catch-all, and stripped the questions of some of their presumptive biases--i.e. that atheism concerns only the belief in one, capitalized God. So ... Of these arguments against the existence of gods, which is most convincing to you, or which is most responsible for your atheism? --W@L

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02-03-2003, 06:15 AM	#2
Sephiroth Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Georgia, USA Posts: 625	I picked 5.

02-03-2003, 06:15 AM	#3
Jamie_L Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: U.S. Posts: 2,565	I voted for #6, because that's what first got me started on the road to atheism. My continued atheism, however, has more to do with #5. Jamie

02-03-2003, 07:21 AM	#4
VonEvilstein Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: .nl Posts: 822	I voted five. I still feel a lot of resonance with two, though.

02-03-2003, 07:38 AM	#5
Jack the Bodiless Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: UK Posts: 5,815	Who was it who said that organizing atheists is like herding cats? I propose a further refinement: separating why I became an atheist from why I remain an atheist. Like many here, I am an ex-Christian. My reasons for rejecting Christianity are 1 and 6. My reasons for not embracing another religion afterwards (I did give some consideration to a sort of mutated Wicca) is 5. My reasons for subsequently remaining an atheist are 2, 3, 4 and 5. I voted 5. Maybe I should have voted 8.

02-03-2003, 07:45 AM	#6
Godless Sodomite Regular Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: New York Posts: 453	All of the above. While lack of evidence maintains my lack of belief, the rest are some of the reasons why I both disbelief in deity and find that organized system of belief in things unevidenced are harmful to society. -Jerry

02-03-2003, 08:16 AM	#7
Godless Dave Contributor Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: With 10,000 lakes who needs a coast? Posts: 10,762	I just really like kitten pie, and the secret atheist meetings are the only place I can get it.

02-03-2003, 08:26 AM	#8
Shake Contributor Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Folding@Home in upstate NY Posts: 14,394	I originally voted for #3, but thanks to W@L's nice new poll, I have to go with #5. My reasons do contain elements of some of the other choices, but it's mainly #5. Things like Biblical errancy seem to pale in comparison, IMO, to the overwhelming lack of evidence for the supernatural.

02-03-2003, 08:35 AM	#9
Autonemesis Contributor Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: I've left FRDB for good, due to new WI&P policy Posts: 12,048	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.

02-03-2003, 09:10 AM	#10
queue Regular Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Colorado, USA Posts: 368	I voted for #4 since that was what got me to examine my religion, the religion of other people that I knew, and religion in general. During this process, I found #2, #3, #5, and #6. I did not vote for "All of the above, and then some!" because the problem of pain was not a factor in my becoming atheist.

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