Why atheism is irrational

[Airyaman]

It is equally irrational to not believe in fairies, leprechauns, alien abductions, ghosts, Zeus, Thor, etc. After all, the lack of evidence for these things seems to be on the same level as the various major gods. How often do we sit down and analyze what counts as evidence for these things?

[Silver]

I have yet to see Vinny provide any real evidence to support that atheism is irrational. All i have seen is mere conjecture and hooey.

[Vincenzo Vinny G.]

Atheists are desperate to rationalize their atheism, and "We find insufficient evidence" makes for the perfect cover.

Lack of evidence is a perfectly valid and rational reason to withhold belief of a claim.

But how do we know if this is the reason? How do we test to see if this hypothesis is true, rather than other, non-rational hypotheses?

We know the hypothesis is true because I (and the vast majority of atheists) have not been presented with sufficient evidence to justify belief, for us.

As of now, I have not been presented with sufficient evidence to support the claim that a god exists.

This tells me atheism is more about hatred and rage, bitterness and victimhood than merely "I don't see enough evidence."

I have none of that toward theists in general. Most of my family and friends are theists.

How many discussions do atheists have among themselves about the evidence, and what counts as evidence in an intellectually rigorous manner?

Happens all the time. Dennett, Harris, Weinberg, Sagan and many others have written books. The subject is part of any basic philosophy department.

My friends and I, some atheists, some theists have these discussions all the time.

http://atheistforums.org/thread-21022-po...#pid512545

[Simon Moon]

I have yet to see Vinny provide any real evidence to support that atheism is irrational. All i have seen is mere conjecture and hooey.

Yep.

He seems to making a case (pretty poorly, in my opinion) that SOME atheists may disbelieve for irrational reasons.

Breaking news! Stop the presses!

[Creed of Heresy]

I had some time, so I came back to pay a visit to my friends over on this forum. Sup.

And I've been thinking about rationality lately. Let me just lay it on you like butter on toast.

Almost all atheism is irrational. Why?

A lot of us point to the supposed intelligence of atheists, but what I've come to realize is that most of us have become atheists at quite a young age. Too young, honestly, to have a full grasp of our logical faculties or the world around us. Age 13 or 14 is simply not when your mind is fully developed. This includes the vast majority of atheist intellectuals who become atheists at a young age and just engage in confirmation bias throughout their academic careers.

Atheists whine. A lot. If you spend time on internet forums, you notice 98% of their time is spent hating Christians and whining about Christianity. For a "rational", "skeptical" group of people, such lack of rationality is alarmingly hypocritical.

About matters of the intellect, atheists are very superficially educated. They have a basic foundation down "EVOLUTION RULZ, GOD SUX HAHA I HAVE BIBEL VURSES THAT SUX LOL" but fundamental nuances are often glossed over or missed because their interest is not in knowing things, but in confirming what they want to be true.

"Ah but Vinny Gabagool, atheists know more about the Bible, look at the stats!" You will say, no doubt pointing to some stats. "Nonsense!" I will reply. While most religions are entirely focused on knowing about their own religion, atheists, for the most part are anti-theists. So everything they need to know is anti-religious dogma. Biblical contradictions, the euthyphro dilemma, wise-ass sayings that are actually nonsensical- these are de facto atheist teachings. So of course, they would "know more" their entire existence depends on their hatred against people who believe in a God!

When I started off as a skeptic, I started with a sense of intimidation. I was scared of all the intellectuals. Now that I'm a little older, a little smarter, a little more educated....I feel sorry for them.

...So where is the "why" in this thread titled "WHY atheism is irrational"? I saw a lot of "they just are!" But no expanation as to why that is. Just a claim.

Also we have reasons to hate christians. Little thing called "enduring prejudice from them."

[Vincenzo Vinny G.]

I had some time, so I came back to pay a visit to my friends over on this forum. Sup.

And I've been thinking about rationality lately. Let me just lay it on you like butter on toast.

Almost all atheism is irrational. Why?

A lot of us point to the supposed intelligence of atheists, but what I've come to realize is that most of us have become atheists at quite a young age. Too young, honestly, to have a full grasp of our logical faculties or the world around us. Age 13 or 14 is simply not when your mind is fully developed. This includes the vast majority of atheist intellectuals who become atheists at a young age and just engage in confirmation bias throughout their academic careers.

Atheists whine. A lot. If you spend time on internet forums, you notice 98% of their time is spent hating Christians and whining about Christianity. For a "rational", "skeptical" group of people, such lack of rationality is alarmingly hypocritical.

About matters of the intellect, atheists are very superficially educated. They have a basic foundation down "EVOLUTION RULZ, GOD SUX HAHA I HAVE BIBEL VURSES THAT SUX LOL" but fundamental nuances are often glossed over or missed because their interest is not in knowing things, but in confirming what they want to be true.

"Ah but Vinny Gabagool, atheists know more about the Bible, look at the stats!" You will say, no doubt pointing to some stats. "Nonsense!" I will reply. While most religions are entirely focused on knowing about their own religion, atheists, for the most part are anti-theists. So everything they need to know is anti-religious dogma. Biblical contradictions, the euthyphro dilemma, wise-ass sayings that are actually nonsensical- these are de facto atheist teachings. So of course, they would "know more" their entire existence depends on their hatred against people who believe in a God!

When I started off as a skeptic, I started with a sense of intimidation. I was scared of all the intellectuals. Now that I'm a little older, a little smarter, a little more educated....I feel sorry for them.

...So where is the "why" in this thread titled "WHY atheism is irrational"? I saw a lot of "they just are!" But no expanation as to why that is. Just a claim.

Also we have reasons to hate christians. Little thing called "enduring prejudice from them."

I'm surprised I need to spell it out for so many of you.

All the points I raise suggest atheism is more about irrationality and/or emotion than reason. Cumulatively, all these points just raise the probabilities higher and higher. Combined with the lack of any good arguments or scientific evidence in support of atheism, one can conclude with a high degree of confidence that most atheism is irrational.

[CleanShavenJesus]

I decided to officially call myself an atheist at age 40. Your argument is invalid.

[Cyberman]

Stimbo: Actually one might lead to the other. Hating religious people so much just might lead to learning more about them, with the goal of attacking them. But kudos on trying to think rationally.

Gibberish completely unrelated to the two words I said. And my good books are closed to you, in fact they're bundled up and donated to a charity shop, so don't even bother thinking about dreaming you might try to worm - or slug - back into them. I'm not allowed to have you on ignore anymore but nothing else has changed.

Vinny, you and Waldork should hook up.

But ... they might breed! Think of the children!

Oh Almighty Zarquon --- think of the children!!

[Vincenzo Vinny G.]

Stimbo: Actually one might lead to the other. Hating religious people so much just might lead to learning more about them, with the goal of attacking them. But kudos on trying to think rationally.

Gibberish completely unrelated to the two words I said. And my good books are closed to you, in fact they're bundled up and donated to a charity shop, so don't even bother thinking about dreaming you might try to worm - or slug - back into them. I'm not allowed to have you on ignore anymore but nothing else has changed.

Vinny, you and Waldork should hook up.

But ... they might breed! Think of the children!

Oh Almighty Zarquon --- think of the children!!

Why is it that when people have nothing intelligent to say, they get their backs up and simply call what the other person is saying "gibberish"? How infantile.

Namecalling serves as no adequate substitute for intellectual engagement. If that's the limit of your contribution, you cannot complain when you and those of your ilk are left behind in intellectual discussion. I sincerely hope you have more to share than that.

[Something completely different]

Why is it that when people have nothing intelligent to say, they get their backs up and simply call what the other person is saying "gibberish"? How infantile.

Namecalling serves as no adequate substitute for intellectual engagement. If that's the limit of your contribution, you cannot complain when you and those of your ilk are left behind in intellectual discussion. I sincerely hope you have more to share than that.

The person who wished a forum member to have cancer acuses another forum member of being childish.




so much for

intellectual engagement