RE: What made you become an atheist?
December 10, 2019 at 1:44 pm
(This post was last modified: December 10, 2019 at 2:00 pm by Simon Moon.)
(December 10, 2019 at 11:16 am)Atomic Lava Wrote: I don't consider myself an atheist, however more of an agnostic. I can't say that God exists, but I also can't deny it. Because I really don't know. I'm not all knowing. But I'm curious to hear why you became an atheist, or even why you are an agnostic like myself.
Let me clarify things a bit, as far as most atheists understand the terms.
Atheism and agnosticism are not mutually exclusive positions. Most atheist consider themselves agnostic-atheists.
Atheism/theism concern BELIEF. Theists believe at least one god exists, atheists do not have that belief.
Agnosticism/gnosticism concern KNOWLEDGE claims. Gnostics take the position that they KNOW that a god exists, or does not exist. Agnostics, do not claim to know if a god exists, or does not exist.
I do not claim to KNOW that gods do not exist. This makes me agnostic.
I also to not BELIEVE gods exist. This makes me an atheist.
My atheism is not a dogmatic position, it is a provisional one.
So, what made me an atheist? The continued failure of theists to meet their burden of proof to support their claim that a god exists.
As long as theists are unable to provide demonstrable and falsifiable evidence, and valid and sound logical arguments to support their god claims, I will remain an atheist.
This may clear things up:
![[Image: EbsAd2r.jpg]](https://i.imgur.com/EbsAd2r.jpg)
You'd believe if you just opened your heart" is a terrible argument for religion. It's basically saying, "If you bias yourself enough, you can convince yourself that this is true." If religion were true, people wouldn't need faith to believe it -- it would be supported by good evidence.
