Question to atheists

[Angrboda]

Would a theist not experience doubt, if there were no atheists? I suspect they would. Your question can be interpreted in at least two ways. First, as asking if I would still be an atheist were it not for the persuasive arguments, rhetoric, and opinion of other atheists, particularly prominent ones like Dawkins and Hitchens? The opinions of prominent atheists did not influence my decision much at all. As to the arguments and rhetoric of other atheists, I was aware of that prior to becoming an atheist, but it by itself did not sway me from religion. Though it's certainly the case that knowing that such arguments were there might have had some effect. I believe it was Dawkins who said that Darwin allowed one to be an intellectually fulfilled atheist. If the position of atheism had seemed unreasonable, I might have remained religious longer, or sought out a different religion to switch to when doubt came calling. The other question would be whether the mere example of atheism, knowing that it was a possibility, influenced my becoming an atheist. It surely did. If it's near impossible to imagine living without some religion, the likelihood that one would do so is likely reduced. And yet, that's a triviality, as that really doesn't address any comparative between non-religion and religion, but is just a boring fact.