(June 3, 2024 at 2:09 am)Lucian Wrote:(June 2, 2024 at 5:02 pm)MR. Macabre 666 Wrote: DAMN, this conversation has gone way over my pay grade. IMO, you shouldn't have to explain the reasons why you do or don't believe in any god/gods. Philosophical arguments aren't ever going to convince me one way or the other.
I've seen zero evidence for any god to exist, so I'm an atheist, simple.
Completely agree with that last statement. I am an atheist now for the same reason that I lack belief in ghosts, yetis, loch ness monster etc. I don't want to conflate philosophical arguments for my position with the reason I believe my position, the same way that I don't belief philosophy and apologetics are the reason most Christians believe what they do
I do however think it is interesting to think through the implications of the lack of belief, and to see whether there are good arguments that can modulate how strongly I should lack that belief. At the moment I am more on the "balance of probability" part of the scale that runs from 100% confidence in the belief of gods, to 100% confidence in lack of belief. So philosophical arguments have some benefit there. Also, if I want to adopt the position of atheist that says that there are no gods, which is the definition I hold to for me, rather than just "I lack belief", and I want someone to understand that position and offer a positive case for it, then it is nice to have something to say beyond asking that person to just prove their case.
Other than the frippery bits round the edges (no tithes, it frees up your Sunday mornings, etc), I'm not sure that a positive philosophical case can be made for atheism. Atheists are not necessarily kinder, happier, more successful in business, or more moral than theists. Talents in the arts and sciences don't seem to correlate in any significant with religious belief or its lack. Atheists aren't better athletes, students, fishermen, farmers, or auto mechanics.
I don't see my atheism as something that needs philosophical justification. It simply...is.
Boru
‘I can’t be having with this.’ - Esmeralda Weatherwax
