(October 7, 2013 at 3:36 pm)Esquilax Wrote: No atheist is an atheist born of conviction, even those who were once christians.
Dawkins has every bit as much conviction as the most fundamentalist of Christians or whoever else. He does have a bit of ignorance as well though he hasn't studied theology or philosophy.
Quote:There's no conviction because there's nothing to be convinced of: skepticism should be the default for everyone, and the only reason one should hold it regarding christianity or any other religion is the spectacular way in which those religions fail at shouldering their burden of proof.
There isn't a burden of proof to meet if it's a faith not a scientific hypothesis. The proof has to be internal within you kind of thing. You can't prove God with science anyway I keep saying this.
Quote:You may find atheists that feel strongly about their atheism, but the only necessity is a skeptical mindset that won't give god claims a free pass, not some conscious, constant decision to keep god claims out.
I'd call it a cynical mindset tbh. It's not like you know anything more than anyone else as to whether God exists or not you're just saying he doesn't and expect to be taken as humanities leading authority on the question.
Come all ye faithful joyful and triumphant.