The Making of an Atheist: How Immorality Leads to Unbelief

[Slave]

I am inclined to disagree. Theism is as natural a stance as atheism is. Neither state of mind requires brain washing to attain it, considering that there is a mounting case for the neuroscience of religious belief.

For authors such as those presented in the OP however, his faith seems to be propelled by more than his quest for truth. More like his fear of it.

ALL beliefs are inculcated. Atheism, by definition, is not a belief, it is the LACK of a specific belief.

I've read some (though by no means a lot) about the neuroscience of religionism, and it doesn't seem as if the researchers are making the case that people are born with theistic belief already instilled. Rather, they seem to be making the claim that if you flood a malleable brain with religious imagery and expressions, the brain developes pathways which are more amenable to such flooding in future.

Boru

I have read varying material on the issue and from what I have read, it is plausible to assume that the pathways you speak of for religious belief are not just instilled by our environment but that they are hardwired into our brains. Theistic belief is not limited to your upbringing, is my point.

[kılıç_mehmet]

By James S. Spiegel.

http://www.amazon.com/Making-Atheist-Imm...an+Atheist

Book description:

The new atheists are on the warpath. They come armed with arguments to show that belief in God is absurd and dangerous. In the name of societal progress, they promote purging the world of all religious practice. And they claim that people of faith are mentally ill. Some of the new atheists openly declare their hatred for the Judeo-Christian God.

Christian apologists have been quick to respond to the new atheists' arguments. But there is another dimension to the issue which begs to be addressed--the root causes of atheism. Where do atheists come from? How did such folks as Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, Daniel Dennett, and Christopher Hitchens become such ardent atheists? If we are to believe them, their flight from faith resulted from a dispassionate review of the evidence. Not enough rational grounds for belief in God, they tell us. But is this the whole story?

Could it be that their opposition to religious faith has more to do with passion than reason? What if, in the end, evidence has little to do with how atheists arrive at their anti-faith? That is precisely the claim in this book. Atheism is not at all a consequence of intellectual doubts. These are mere symptoms of the root cause--moral rebellion. For the atheist, the missing ingredient is not evidence but obedience.

The psalmist declares, "The fool says in his heart there is no God" (Ps. 14:1), and in the book of Romans, Paul makes it clear that lack of evidence is not the atheist's problem. The Making of an Atheist confirms these biblical truths and describes the moral and psychological dynamics involved in the abandonment of faith.

Them fighting words.

It could very well be what he says. To be honest, I have yet to meet an atheist in this forum which conforms with whatever moral standards the majority of the public in their country has. Not to say this for all atheists, but those who maintain this identity as their primary form of self-identification, beyond, say, family line, tribe, nation, or whatever, are generally internationalist, humanist, anti-culture and somewhat "avant-garde".
I guess this is due to the reason of their belief that they only get one life and might as well enjoy it as much as they can, so they cannot spare thought to things like public morals, or anything that goes beyond their lifetime.
But since they are always a minority wherever they are, their actions do not really have much of an importance really. The real trouble are as a matter of fact, theists who act as though they were the above mentioned people, even though their beliefs go against it.
Together, they form a portion of society who lives for the sake of living, something which I disapprove. Obviously, its not due to the personal convictions of any of the two, but atheists are more prone to fall victim to todays consumerist, cosmopolitan lifestyles, so they stand out more than those who profess a belief in a religion, or God.

[Bad Writer]

I love the Thinking Atheist. Great de-conversion tool for anyone who is brainwashed.

Wow! That video kind of reminds me of 'The Island' with Ewan Mcgregor and Scarlet Johansson when they are indoctrinating the tank grown clones!

That movie had such great potential...

[Something completely different]

By James S. Spiegel.



Them fighting words.

What kind of people deem the term "social progress" to be bad????

[Magnum]

By James S. Spiegel.

http://www.amazon.com/Making-Atheist-Imm...an+Atheist

Book description:

The new atheists are on the warpath. They come armed with arguments to show that belief in God is absurd and dangerous. In the name of societal progress, they promote purging the world of all religious practice. And they claim that people of faith are mentally ill. Some of the new atheists openly declare their hatred for the Judeo-Christian God.

Christian apologists have been quick to respond to the new atheists' arguments. But there is another dimension to the issue which begs to be addressed--the root causes of atheism. Where do atheists come from? How did such folks as Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, Daniel Dennett, and Christopher Hitchens become such ardent atheists? If we are to believe them, their flight from faith resulted from a dispassionate review of the evidence. Not enough rational grounds for belief in God, they tell us. But is this the whole story?

Could it be that their opposition to religious faith has more to do with passion than reason? What if, in the end, evidence has little to do with how atheists arrive at their anti-faith? That is precisely the claim in this book. Atheism is not at all a consequence of intellectual doubts. These are mere symptoms of the root cause--moral rebellion. For the atheist, the missing ingredient is not evidence but obedience.

The psalmist declares, "The fool says in his heart there is no God" (Ps. 14:1), and in the book of Romans, Paul makes it clear that lack of evidence is not the atheist's problem. The Making of an Atheist confirms these biblical truths and describes the moral and psychological dynamics involved in the abandonment of faith.

Them fighting words.

Sure they are right! Problem is that rebellion to christian morals is a good thing as christian morals are immoral in itself, rooted in dishonesty. Better yet is that most atheists don't demand obedience but promote freedom.

[CleanShavenJesus]

I guess this is due to the reason of their belief that they only get one life and might as well enjoy it as much as they can, so they cannot spare thought to things like public morals, or anything that goes beyond their lifetime.

I don't see any truth in that.

atheists are more prone to fall victim to todays consumerist, cosmopolitan lifestyles, so they stand out more than those who profess a belief in a religion, or God.

They are? Please do tell me more.

Wow! That video kind of reminds me of 'The Island' with Ewan Mcgregor and Scarlet Johansson when they are indoctrinating the tank grown clones!

That movie had such great potential...

No movie directed by Michael Bay has potential.

[Bad Writer]

That movie had such great potential...

No movie directed by Michael Bay has potential.

I concede the point.

[Tea Earl Grey Hot]

This is ultimately a genetic fallacy. Maybe I am reading atheist books so I can feel less guiltily when I watch porn, but that doesn't defeat the reasonableness of any arguments I might put forth.

[fr0d0]

You're right; it's natural for people who are ignorant of the answers to create answers. But for people born into modernised nations, such ignorance is impossible to retain naturally, save for brainwashing.

Modernised nations pedal their ignorance too. That brainwashing is difficult to shed naturally when everyone around is repeating the same bullshit.

[kılıç_mehmet]

I don't see any truth in that.

Neither do I.
That's why I disagree with it.

They are? Please do tell me more.

Well, do you see any other type of atheist around here? I really don't.
Same for the ones around here. Except for communists, the atheists are people who rather dwell on the simple pleasures of life. They are not bothered with anything else, and they disregard any other notions around them.