Let's answer CARM's Questions for Atheists

[MusicLovingAtheist]

1. How would you define atheism?
Lack of belief in god or gods.
2. Do you act according to what you believe (there is no God) in or what you don't believe in (lack belief in God)?
I look at all the bullshit that religious people spew. Every argument for god that I have ever seen is either over intellectualize bullshit or rambling nonsense. I don't look at that and just believe that it's not true, often the rambling makes it clear that I can know it's not true. I lack belief in god, as I said before. So I guess I act according to what I don't believe in.
3. Do you think it is inconsistent for someone who "lacks belief" in God to work against God's existence by attempting to show that God doesn't exist?
Religion is like cancer and it needs to be killed. That's how I see it.
4. How sure are you that your atheism properly represents reality?
About as sure as I am that religion is a load of shit
5. How sure are you that your atheism is correct?
Times magic has played a roll in reality - 0%
6. How would you define what truth is?
Proof that is beyond a reasonable doubt.
7. Why do you believe your atheism is a justifiable position to hold?
Because not believing in god isn't a mental illness, it's a lack of mind control
8. Are you a materialist or a physicalist or what?
9. Do you affirm or deny that atheism is a worldview? Why or why not?
No, it's a truth.
10. Not all atheists are antagonistic to Christianity but for those of you who are, why the antagonism?
11. If you were at one time a believer in the Christian God, what caused you to deny his existence?
12. Do you believe the world would be better off without religion?
Absolutely
13. Do you believe the world would be better off without Christianity?
Double absolutely
14. Do you believe that faith in a God or gods is a mental disorder?
No. I dunno who has the blueprints for how a brain is suppose to work and who comes up with all these mental disorders now a days.
15. Must God be known through the scientific method?
Yes.
16. If you answered yes to the previous question, then how do you avoid a category mistake by requiring material evidence for an immaterial God?
Prove to me that there is an immaterial god and then we'll talk.
17. Do we have any purpose as human beings?
No.
18. If we do have purpose, can you as an atheist please explain how that purpose is determined?
19. Where does morality come from?
Nature and nurture. We're partially taught how to behave and we're partially born with innate emotional capacities for emotions.
20. Are there moral absolutes?
No.
21. If there are moral absolutes, could you list a few of them?
22. Do you believe there is such a thing as evil? If so, what is it?
Super badass metal music.
23. If you believe that the God of the Old Testament is morally bad, by what standard do you judge that he is bad?
24. What would it take for you to believe in God?
It would take me observing his existence.
25. What would constitute sufficient evidence for God’s existence?
An event that is observable by everyone including myself.
26. Must this evidence be rationally based, archaeological, testable in a lab, etc., or what?
Testable, observable, all that scientific stuff
27. Do you think that a society that is run by Christians or atheists would be safer? Why?
Atheists, because they're smarter.
28. Do you believe in free will? (free will being the ability to make choices without coercion).
Yeah. I question whether or not it's an illusion though. Whether we're just a result of the laws of nature playing out and governing my every move. It sure as hell seems like I'm responsible for my actions though.
29. If you believe in free will, do you see any problem with defending the idea that the physical brain, which is limited and subject to the neuro-chemical laws of the brain, can still produce free will choices?
Yes I do. As I said before, I have no idea how my brain works. I think it's fascinating that when I type it doesn't come out like ajksdfgakjshdgfajksdfg
30. If you affirm evolution and that the universe will continue to expand forever, then do you think it is probable that given enough time, brains would evolve to the point of exceeding mere physical limitations and become free of the physical and temporal and thereby become "deity" and not be restricted by space and time? If not, why not?
No. You need ground for electricity to travel, which I'm pretty sure is how brains send signals. Electricity doesn't just do it's own thing.
31. If you answered the previous question in the affirmative, then aren't you saying that it is probable that some sort of God exists?

[Chad32]

I'll just dismiss the belief out of hand until you can demonstrate the existence of the immaterial, and that god belongs in that set.

Here is an example of something immaterial: a hole.

What is your objection now?

What's immaterial about a hole?

[Minimalist]

I'll just dismiss the belief out of hand until you can demonstrate the existence of the immaterial, and that god belongs in that set.

Here is an example of something immaterial: a hole.

What is your objection now?

There are people walking around with bibles. We call them ass holes.

[Surgenator]

1. How would you define atheism?
The lack of a belief in any deity.
2. Do you act according to what you believe (there is no God) in or what you don't believe in (lack belief in God)?
I don't understand this question, what is difference between acting on what you believe and not acting on what you don't believe? Both, I guess.
3. Do you think it is inconsistent for someone who "lacks belief" in God to work against God's existence by attempting to show that God doesn't exist?
When the people are pushing their terrible believes onto others, NO. I don't care what Hindu's believe because they're not making religiously based laws that I have to follow.
4. How sure are you that your atheism properly represents reality?
At least 5 sigma.
5. How sure are you that your atheism is correct?
At least 5 sigma.
6. How would you define what truth is?
What comports to reality.
7. Why do you believe your atheism is a justifiable position to hold?
It's the default position when it comes to any supernatural claims. So far no supernatural claims are justifiable or plain wrong.
8. Are you a materialist or a physicalist or what?
physicalist
9. Do you affirm or deny that atheism is a worldview? Why or why not?
Deny because it answers only one question the belief in God. It doesn't address how
10. Not all atheists are antagonistic to Christianity but for those of you who are, why the antagonism?
Christian say terrible things about atheist. So when atheist fight back, christians then claim persecution.
11. If you were at one time a believer in the Christian God, what caused you to deny his existence?
Contradictions.
12. Do you believe the world would be better off without religion?
Yes
13. Do you believe the world would be better off without Christianity?
Yes
14. Do you believe that faith in a God or gods is a mental disorder?
No
15. Must God be known through the scientific method?
No, but that would prove it.
16. If you answered yes to the previous question, then how do you avoid a category mistake by requiring material evidence for an immaterial God?
This question makes too many assumptions.
17. Do we have any purpose as human beings?
Only the one we decide to make.
18. If we do have purpose, can you as an atheist please explain how that purpose is determined?
By us.
19. Where does morality come from?
From our empathy, and understading the consequences of our actions
20. Are there moral absolutes?
I don't know.
21. If there are moral absolutes, could you list a few of them?
I would think a human owning another human would be an absolutely immoral.
22. Do you believe there is such a thing as evil? If so, what is it?
Yes. Evil is the conscience actions that causes unnecessary harm upon others.
23. If you believe that the God of the Old Testament is morally bad, by what standard do you judge that he is bad?
By my definition.
24. What would it take for you to believe in God?
Evidence.
25. What would constitute sufficient evidence for God’s existence?
Logical or scientific.
26. Must this evidence be rationally based, archaeological, testable in a lab, etc., or what?
Definitely rationally based, the rest are extras.
27. Do you think that a society that is run by Christians or atheists would be safer? Why?
Atheist because they would more likely base their policy on reason and evidence.
28. Do you believe in free will? (free will being the ability to make choices without coercion).
Yes
29. If you believe in free will, do you see any problem with defending the idea that the physical brain, which is limited and subject to the neuro-chemical laws of the brain, can still produce free will choices?
They are still not coerce, so no.
30. If you affirm evolution and that the universe will continue to expand forever, then do you think it is probable that given enough time, brains would evolve to the point of exceeding mere physical limitations and become free of the physical and temporal and thereby become "deity" and not be restricted by space and time? If not, why not?
I'm going to have to say no, because I don't think there is anything beyond the physical.
31. If you answered the previous question in the affirmative, then aren't you saying that it is probable that some sort of God exists?
Good thing I answered no. But if I did answer yes, this would mean that there are Gods that exist not God.

[ShaMan]

5. How sure are you that your atheism is correct?
How sure are you that your a-islamism, your a-hinduism, your a-shamanism, and other a---isms is correct?
Yeah... that's about as sure I am.

(emphasis added)

Shout-out to my peeps

I'm not your typical shaman

[fr0d0]

If Q15/16 was a spiked pit we could've weeded out some trash here. Dang it!

[SteelCurtain]

1. How would you define atheism?
Atheism is nothing more than the lack of belief in any god hypothesis.
2. Do you act according to what you believe (there is no God) in or what you don't believe in (lack belief in God)?
My actions and decisions have nothing to do with my position on the existence of any deity.
3. Do you think it is inconsistent for someone who "lacks belief" in God to work against God's existence by attempting to show that God doesn't exist?
Way to fuck a question up. No. I will never "attempt" to show that any god doesn't exist unless you challenge me. Then I will express my knowledge on your ass.
4. How sure are you that your atheism properly represents reality?
100%. Until there is one iota, one tiny shred of evidence to the contrary, I will take the negative position.
5. How sure are you that your atheism is correct?
I feel like you asked the same dumb question twice. See #4.
6. How would you define what truth is?
Truth is that thing which represents reality accurately.
7. Why do you believe your atheism is a justifiable position to hold?
Why wouldn't it be? I literally do not believe that beings like Zeus and Jupiter exist.
8. Are you a materialist or a physicalist or what?
Naturalist.
9. Do you affirm or deny that atheism is a worldview? Why or why not?
Deny. Secular Humanism is a worldview. Atheism is a stance on one question.
10. Not all atheists are antagonistic to Christianity but for those of you who are, why the antagonism?
Not all Christians are bigoted asshats who attempt to discriminate against anyone who doesn't believe what they do, try to impose their beliefs on everyone who passes by, and attempt to stifle scientific progress and undermine science education, but for those that do, why the dumbassery?
11. If you were at one time a believer in the Christian God, what caused you to deny his existence?
Never was. Saw through the bullshit immediately.
12. Do you believe the world would be better off without religion?
I truly do not know. Probably.
13. Do you believe the world would be better off without Christianity?
Yes.
14. Do you believe that faith in a God or gods is a mental disorder?
No. I think indoctrination is a very strong force.
15. Must God be known through the scientific method?
Why not. If you claim that your god has an effect on this world, then that effect should be testable and observable, and produce predictable results.
16. If you answered yes to the previous question, then how do you avoid a category mistake by requiring material evidence for an immaterial God?
The same way you avoid special pleading by defining your god in such a way that this question makes sense to you. I don't define your god that way.
17. Do we have any purpose as human beings?
Sure. To express our genes via progeny.
18. If we do have purpose, can you as an atheist please explain how that purpose is determined?
Our genes are somewhat selfish.
19. Where does morality come from?
Society determines morality. This is why it was moral and godly thing to do to hang a black man from a tree for glancing at your wife 100 years ago. Or to sell your daughter into marital bondage 300+ years ago. Or mutilating your child's genitalia today.
20. Are there moral absolutes?
Yes.
21. If there are moral absolutes, could you list a few of them?
A person should never offer his innocent daughters up to be raped by an angry mob. A person (or deity perhaps) should never slaughter a bunch of innocent women and children because they belonged to the wrong tribe. A person should never have sex with his own family members.
22. Do you believe there is such a thing as evil? If so, what is it?
Evil is not any sort of force. There are actions that are terrible, there are people who do terrible things.
23. If you believe that the God of the Old Testament is morally bad, by what standard do you judge that he is bad?
See #19.
24. What would it take for you to believe in God?
Just a smidge of evidence. Verifiable, testable evidence that has no simpler explanation.
25. What would constitute sufficient evidence for God’s existence?
Have it show up in front of a crowd. Literally the same things that would constitute sufficient evidence for the existence of any thing ever. It's pretty easy.
26. Must this evidence be rationally based, archaeological, testable in a lab, etc., or what?
Any of the above.
27. Do you think that a society that is run by Christians or atheists would be safer? Why?
Atheists. Atheists are statistically smarter, more rational, and more accepting of all types.
28. Do you believe in free will? (free will being the ability to make choices without coercion).
Sure.
29. If you believe in free will, do you see any problem with defending the idea that the physical brain, which is limited and subject to the neuro-chemical laws of the brain, can still produce free will choices?
Those neuro-chemical processes are still governed by input. Sensory input and autonomic input. We still don't understand the process of consciousness, but we have discovered nothing that says that the "self" is not some arbitrary thing. But, guess what? If such evidence ever shows up, wonder what would happen to my answer to #29?
30. If you affirm evolution and that the universe will continue to expand forever, then do you think it is probable that given enough time, brains would evolve to the point of exceeding mere physical limitations and become free of the physical and temporal and thereby become "deity" and not be restricted by space and time? If not, why not?
This is a ridiculous hypothetical. There are an infinite number of hypotheticals like this that we could ponder. #1, we don't know that the universe will expand forever. I don't know the limitations of the human body/mind. There is nothing in what we have determined about the physical universe that suggests that matter can exist outside of space and time.
31. If you answered the previous question in the affirmative, then aren't you saying that it is probable that some sort of God exists?
I did not. And way to lead the question.

[Thumpalumpacus]

CARM has a list of questions for atheists in their website. I found it a nice exercise to go ahead and answer them and I think it would be nice if people here post their answers as well, I think it will be good to see each other's points of views on these things, maybe discuss about them, etc. Here are the questions:

1. How would you define atheism?

The lack of belief in god(s).

2. Do you act according to what you believe (there is no God) in or what you don't believe in (lack belief in God)?

I behave in such a manner as to comport my actions with reality. Whether there is or isn;t a god or gods rarely enters into that thought process. In other words, the question presuppositions my behaving according to the valuations of believers, when in fact I have a different set of criteria I look at in deciding anything.

3. Do you think it is inconsistent for someone who "lacks belief" in God to work against God's existence by attempting to show that God doesn't exist?

Yes, unless they're confronted with folk who wish to buttress their faith by seeking the agreement of strangers by way of preachments.

4. How sure are you that your atheism properly represents reality?
5. How sure are you that your atheism is correct?

These two questions are really the same, so they'll get one and only one answer: pretty goddamned sure.

6. How would you define what truth is?

That depends on what sort of truth you're asking about: is it a mathematical truth? An emotional truth? A physical truth? "Truth" has different dimensions to it.

7. Why do you believe your atheism is a justifiable position to hold?

Because in the face of no evidence, extraodinary claims ought to be discarded.

8. Are you a materialist or a physicalist or what?

Well, I think that material effects have material causes.

9. Do you affirm or deny that atheism is a worldview? Why or why not?

It is not a worldview, because it does not prescribe or describe anything other than an opinion on the existence of god(s).

10. Not all atheists are antagonistic to Christianity but for those of you who are, why the antagonism?

I'm antagonistic to believers of any stripe who deign to lecture me without listening. I'm cool with those folks who understand that faith is a private matter and, like cocks, ought not be waved around in public.

11. If you were at one time a believer in the Christian God, what caused you to deny his existence?

I don't "deny" his existence. I find it incredible due to a lack of evidence.

This is a loaded question and should be reworded, btw.

12. Do you believe the world would be better off without religion?
13. Do you believe the world would be better off without Christianity?

Yes.

14. Do you believe that faith in a God or gods is a mental disorder?

No.

15. Must God be known through the scientific method?

Anything that interacts in reality leaves evidence. The scientific process should be able to analyze that evidence.

16. If you answered yes to the previous question, then how do you avoid a category mistake by requiring material evidence for an immaterial God?

By asking how an immaterial being can have material effects. Propose a mechanism by which such an occurrence might come to pass, then we can do some logicky sciency stuff.

17. Do we have any purpose as human beings?

I do, how about you?

18. If we do have purpose, can you as an atheist please explain how that purpose is determined?

By the individual hiuman will.

By the way, your denial of this argument reveals the true purpose of your religion, to denigrate every man and make him kowtow to your god -- or more accurately, his intermediary. Do you hate yourself?

19. Where does morality come from?

From the minds of animals.

20. Are there moral absolutes?

I don't think so ... and neither do you.

21. If there are moral absolutes, could you list a few of them?

See above.

22. Do you believe there is such a thing as evil? If so, what is it?

The intentional infliction of harm upon another living being would qualify, to my mind.

23. If you believe that the God of the Old Testament is morally bad, by what standard do you judge that he is bad?

By the standard I just explicated above.

24. What would it take for you to believe in God?

Evidence.

25. What would constitute sufficient evidence for God’s existence?

Material results that can be confirmed by a nonbeleiver, or by machine sensors.

26. Must this evidence be rationally based, archaeological, testable in a lab, etc., or what?

See above.

27. Do you think that a society that is run by Christians or atheists would be safer? Why?

I don't think there'd be any difference. People are people.

28. Do you believe in free will? (free will being the ability to make choices without coercion).

Yes, unlike you.

29. If you believe in free will, do you see any problem with defending the idea that the physical brain, which is limited and subject to the neuro-chemical laws of the brain, can still produce free will choices?

Wait, "neuro-chemical laws of the brain"? What are those? That sounds like something someone pulled out of their ass trying to stick nonbelievers into a quagmi -- oh, wait.

Also, look up "emergent properties".

30. If you affirm evolution and that the universe will continue to expand forever, then do you think it is probable that given enough time, brains would evolve to the point of exceeding mere physical limitations and become free of the physical and temporal and thereby become "deity" and not be restricted by space and time? If not, why not?

I don't believe either of the two required antecedents, so thankfully, I don't have to answer this meaningless question.

31. If you answered the previous question in the affirmative, then aren't you saying that it is probable that some sort of God exists?

---

That was like walking a mile for a glass of water, goddamn.

[Esquilax]

I'll just dismiss the belief out of hand until you can demonstrate the existence of the immaterial, and that god belongs in that set.

Here is an example of something immaterial: a hole.

What is your objection now?

Oh, you got me. I now believe that god is a hole.

Two things jump out at me, the first being that a hole is not immaterial. By definition it requires a boundary around it of physical things to be a hole, the edges of the hole... unless you consider any empty space to be a hole, in which case you'd better be careful you don't fall into the hole in the middle of your room. But outside of mangling definitions beyond all sense, a hole requires a physical presence to be contrasted against to exist.

The second thing is that even a hole isn't immaterial by necessity. You can have a hole filled with anything and it'd still be a hole, because a hole isn't defined by the absence of material but by being a pit or gap demarcated in the structure of a given material entity.

[Neo-Scholastic]

Here is an example of something immaterial: a hole. What is your objection now?

A hole is not defined by what it is not, a hole is defined as the absence of that which surrounds it, which is.

Yes, the hole is defined by what surrounds it, but the hole itself is not the same as that which surrounds it. The point is that Esquilax asked for something that is intrinsically immaterial. A hole is known with respect to something material but is not itself material. Thus it is possible to know about something that is indeed immaterial through observation of something that is material. If however you insist that holes are just convenient fictions and do not really exist then that makes you an a-hole, now doesn't it?