Flat Earther, and other conspiracy theories. Are they mostly atheists?

[Irreligious Atheist]

She is not looking to be reasoned into a different position because this is an emotional issue for her rather than a logical one. She is holding onto this little bit of religious thinking because it provides her comfort. She made that clear when she told me to enjoy being controlled by something else. Like a theist who doesn't want to live in a world without a protective god, she doesn't want to live in a world where the self is just an illusion, and in turn free will is a fable. I admit, it can be scary sometimes knowing that whatever will be will be and "I" can't do anything to change what will be. That's reality though, and I care about what's true more than I care about what might provide a little comfort. Like Richard Dawkins says, we are merely survival machines. There is no ghost in the machine.

I'd like to know what her definition of free will is to know exactly what she means by it. Does she believe in a ghost in the machine? I've asked her to provide evidence, but clearly she can't do that because the evidence is not there to provide. All she has is a strong feeling, which is what religious people have.

I don't write any of this to put her down. She sounds like a very intelligent person. It is her lack of free will that is forcing her to believe in free will, and at one time or another most of us here have thought that we were experiencing some kind of free will. Children are generally not taught that free will is an illusion like we're taught about a round earth, and some scientists/ philosophers/ etc actually advise against telling children the truth of the matter.

I'm glad I know the truth of the matter because to me that means that hate becomes illogical. I don't hate liars or theives. I don't hate neo-Nazis. I don't hate ISIS fighters. I don't hate black identitarians who go to synagogues to murder Jews. Hating these people would be like hating a grizzly bear. I feel sympathy for all because we can't do other than what we do, and the universe will play out how it will.

She thinks you are full of shit.

Because your lack of free will forced you to think that. I forgive you.