If you had a button that would turn all theists into atheists and agnostic?

[Shell B]

Not elite, no. Because in the UK, atheists number nearly half of the population.

And you think that none of those people have ever developed an opinion based on someone else's opinion?

No, it would make him know nothing either way. He wouldn't even be an atheist by default because he wouldn't even have the concept of god to "not believe in" or critically challenge. And of course the feral child could then show critical thinking (or not) should he later come in contact with religious people, his choice from there on in.

You do not have to know god exists to be an atheist. If you don't believe in a god or gods, you're an atheist. It doesn't matter if you know some people believe in gods or not. Just to clarify, you said previously that they think for themselves, not that they are critical thinkers. It's not quite the same.

It is true that some theists can compartmentalise their critical thinking skills so they don't think critically on religion but do on other stuff - but I never said theists weren't capable of critical thinking at all. I said atheists are.

Quite right. That is not what you were saying. You said all atheists are capable of thinking for themselves. It's just not true. All atheists do not believe in god and are human, presumably. That is all.

You disagree that's fine by me, but taking away the feral child example or long lost Amazon tribes, I think a normal person that has been exposed to some religion, ie nearly everybody on Earth, you cannot really become atheist without questioning and thinking.

Of course you can. Just because that is how you and I got here means nothing. There is almost certainly an atheist out there who is only atheist because his parents taught him to be. He didn't have to think for himself. He only had to keep disagreeing with theists.

There is no "let's" about it. Such a button is not only logically absurd, but suspension of disbelief does nothing to make it less absurd. Anyone who would push such a button is taking away the freedom of others. The idea is disgusting.

LOL, I'm not going to even respond to your outrage there. No need to take the button comment so seriously, no need at all.

My outrage? It really gets old when every noob you disagree with pats himself on the back thinking he pissed you off just because you stated your opinion. I'm not angry at all. I am stating my opinion. Just because it runs counter to yours -- I'm disagreeing, in other words -- does not mean I am angry.