Does atheism guarantee disbelief in anything unproven?

[Edwardo Piet]

Atheism is merely not believing in gods, you can believe any other paranormal, new age or supernatural crap if you're drawn into it.

[leo-rcc]

Leo do you think they just made raelism up to get laid?

The founders might have, the followers not so much. I can think of worse reasons to start a cult than that though.

[Chuff]

Atheism is merely not believing in gods, you can believe any other paranormal, new age or supernatural crap if you're drawn into it.

Hi DVF
That is the point I am getting at(or trying to!)
Atheists are, by definition, skeptical about god
Therefore, if they have already achieved that skeptical state of mind on one matter, doesn't it follow that they should also apply the same thinking to other subjects?(such as supernatural new age crap)

In my mind it is a logical conclusion, but who ever said that people were logical and I'm hoping someone will pop into this thread and prove me wrong and say they are a staunch atheist, but also believe in water dousing or something

[Edwardo Piet]

Maybe they 'should' but it doesn't mean they will or do.

[KichigaiNeko]

I am thinking that it is a reasonable expectation that atheists will not indulge in pseudo-science/ new age crap. But then...there is so much that is indoctrinated that we really can't get at because it is ephemeral.

How many of you throw spilt salt over your left shoulder?? Or knock on wood?

I wondered for ages as to WHY I did such a silly superstitious thing...answer = parental superstition developed from watching my mother from a young age.

[Oldandeasilyconfused]

Atheists are, by definition, skeptical about god

It's a bit more than skeptical. The skeptic simply questions, the atheist disbelieves.

Most atheists here make no claims, and offer neither explanations nor guarantees for anything 'as atheists'.

[Neo-Scholastic]

While atheists seem to tend toward being smarter, more rational people, there's nothing that guarantees that each individual will be.

The rejection of the man-made concept of god is not a sufficient condition for intellectual or moral emancipation. Atheists have no right to go around looking superior. They have only fulfilled the necessary condition by throwing off the infancy of the species and disclaiming a special place in the natural scheme.

--Christopher Hitchens (Introduction to The Portable Atheist)

Sounds like a good premise for a scientific study. Defining the parameters would be highly subjective. On second thought your opinion does not appear to be falsifiable.

[The Grand Nudger]

Atheism provides no garauntees. Not about god, not about anything. "I do not believe". Seems simple enough.

[Tempus]

While atheists seem to tend toward being smarter, more rational people, there's nothing that guarantees that each individual will be.

The rejection of the man-made concept of god is not a sufficient condition for intellectual or moral emancipation. Atheists have no right to go around looking superior. They have only fulfilled the necessary condition by throwing off the infancy of the species and disclaiming a special place in the natural scheme.

--Christopher Hitchens (Introduction to The Portable Atheist)

Sounds like a good premise for a scientific study. Defining the parameters would be highly subjective. On second thought your opinion does not appear to be falsifiable.

Just to be clear, I wasn't suggesting being an atheist automatically makes you smarter, merely that atheism has been correlated to higher levels of intelligence. There's been at least a few studies done on the subject. Still, as I said before, there's no reason why there wouldn't be stupid atheists. There's stupid people of every persuasion.

I would speculate that the causes of (or perhaps it's better to say 'the significant contributor to') a person's high intelligence and their atheism is a questioning attitude. Someone who is inquisitive about the world and themselves / their own beliefs will become more intelligent than someone with a dogmatic belief structure because they'll change and modify incorrect beliefs where the dogmatist won't. This would make inquisitiveness the root cause of atheism and higher-intelligence. But again, that's just speculation.

[KichigaiNeko]

I am thinking that people who have completed Higher education have a greater tendency to be atheistic in their world view,....

I would speculate that the causes of (or perhaps it's better to say 'the significant contributor to') a person's high intelligence and their atheism is a questioning attitude. Someone who is inquisitive about the world and themselves / their own beliefs will become more intelligent than someone with a dogmatic belief structure because they'll change and modify incorrect beliefs where the dogmatist won't. This would make inquisitiveness the root cause of atheism and higher-intelligence. But again, that's just speculation.

Which is why the religious get rather distressed at a person asking questions regarding their "firm" belief