(June 21, 2018 at 8:39 am)robvalue Wrote: How often do atheists seek out theists to try to tell them how wrong they are? How does this compare to theists doing the same to atheists? I'd be pretty confident in saying atheists do it less, which suggests to me that atheists are more comfortable with their beliefs and those of others. Is this emotional strength, of a sort?
I don't think that it follows, that because atheists may or may not be as assertive in their beliefs, that it is because they are more comfortable in those beliefs. In fact, I think that a pretty good case could be made for the opposite. When you are more confident that what you are saying is true, then you will be more vocal in declaring that truth and opposing those you believe are wrong. Should I conclude that the more vocal evolution supporters or global warming advocates are; the weaker their case is and the more uncomfortable they are with it?
What matters, however is why someone believes what they do, or what is their foundation for that belief. In any of the mentioned examples, it may simply be a cultural or taught thing that it is true, and they do not have any real foundation support that belief. I don't think that how loudly a group shouts is a good indicator of truth either way really. So both can hypothesis can be true (though not at the same time).
But I have often been told here; that atheism is just a lack of belief, and that they are not making any claims. In which case either theory is null and void. Because athiests aren't really saying anything; except about their own mental state.
It is said that an argument is what convinces reasonable men and a proof is what it takes to convince even an unreasonable man. - Alexander Vilenkin
If I am shown my error, I will be the first to throw my books into the fire. - Martin Luther
If I am shown my error, I will be the first to throw my books into the fire. - Martin Luther