What did it?

[Jackalope]

[My imaginary friend is GOD]

Okay, you're right. I'm sorry. What led you to atheism?

To me, at eight years old, the first thing that was obvious was that "God" seemed too similar to things like Santa Claus or the Boogeyman. It seemed too convenient that these were unverifiable claims, and it seemed like these myths served a purpose - to convince people to behave in a certain way. It seemed clear that these were human inventions, not real things.

[Drew_2013]

We're all born atheists. We're exposed to religion through culture. Some of us remain atheists in spite of this exposure, while others conform to their culture for a time.

Hello Futile,

It's interesting that many atheists hold this position that atheism is the defaut position of the non-thinking. Wouldn't you rather hold that your position is a well thought out, well reasoned position an infant is incapable of forming? Otherwise you could post a sign, atheists wanted no intelligence required.

[Psykhronic]

Wouldn't you rather hold that your position is a well thought out, well reasoned position an infant is incapable of forming?

The reasoning behind our position is one an infant could not form. The position itself - atheism - is the default and fucking babies do not sit there pondering about it, they simply do not believe until they are capable of understanding religious issues or outright indoctrinated.

[Zone]

Independent Non Christian sources on the existence of Christ Jesus

I don't particularly doubt that Jesus existed, neither do the Jews who don't believe Jesus to have been their Messiah or the Son of God or a prophet of God.

How does one explain what happened in Portugal at Fatima in 1917, “The Miracle of the Sun” which was witnessed by an estimated 30,000 – 70,000 people? Witnesses included Masons, Communists, Atheists and Christians.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miracle_of_the_Sun

Dawkins wrote about that one in his Magic of Reality book. Essentially if you get enough people together in a state of excitment and hysteria then they're going to experience all kinds of weird shit. So unless we can have say a video recording or something to look at there isn't a great deal you say other than it's technically possible as many other things would be from ghosts to big foot to alien abductions.

- How to explain the Apparation of Mary in Egypt Cairo 1968 witnessed by thousands called Our Lady of Zeitoun?
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Our_Lady_of_Zeitoun

Something like that can easily be rigged up and hoaxed as can video of other apparitions and flying saucers. Besides I don't know how would know that was the virgin Mary it could have been anything. It could have been a transdimensional alien or something, why not?

How to explain the miraculous healing of people in Lourdes France and in Bosnia-Hercegovina in a place called Medjugorje where 100,000’s of people go annually.

Probably the placebo effect though though the placebo effect is interesting. I don't think it would prove any specific religion to be true because they all seem to share this kind of thing in common, Hindus have their equivalent holy sites of healing as well.

How to explain the wounds on the hands, feet and side of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina
(1887 – 1968) which were those of Jesus & his ability to read people and physically heal people all in the name of Jesus.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pio_of_Pietrelcina

Again their are equivalents in other religions. I remember seeing a statue of a Hindu god that could drink milk offered to it in a bowl.

How to explain how Holy woman Alexandria da Costa (1904-1955) survived for many years only the Eucharist. Verified by independent doctors on a 40 day monitoring program
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexandrina_of_Balasar

There are holy people of other religions who can do, or claim to be able to do somethimng very similar to that where they will eat nothing at all for 40 years, sustaining themselves on sunlight. But I imagine they manage to sneak something in somehow. If it's real and we can figure out how they're doing it we could end world hunger.

How to explain how Anne Catherine Emmerich (1774 – 1824) had wounds which were those of Jesus on her body.

I think that's probably psychological or they perhaps they scratch themselves when no-ones looking. There was a Hindu girl who was able to cry blood which is probably a very similar kind of thing.

This is just a small sample of unnatural phenomena all attributed to God.

But you can see how other religions replicate these miracles and there is always the possibility that there may be naturalistic explanations. I would tend to go for the natural explanations if they can't be entirely ruled out. I don't think everyone necessarily has to do the same but that's what I do. The reason I do that is I because I want a perspective on the world that is as close to being true to reality as it possibly can be. Otherwise I would believe in demons, fairies aliens, psychic vampires and all kinds of weird shit.

[Drew_2013]

Wouldn't you rather hold that your position is a well thought out, well reasoned position an infant is incapable of forming?

The reasoning behind our position is one an infant could not form. The position itself - atheism - is the default and fucking babies do not sit there pondering about it, they simply do not believe until they are capable of understanding religious issues or outright indoctrinated.

That's why its absurd to say its a default position. If that's the case then rocks are atheists since no thinking is required. It you as an atheist who should be insulted by saying its a default non-thinking proposition.

[Simon Moon]

It's interesting that many atheists hold this position that atheism is the defaut position of the non-thinking. Wouldn't you rather hold that your position is a well thought out, well reasoned position an infant is incapable of forming? Otherwise you could post a sign, atheists wanted no intelligence required.

People are also born without beliefs in; bigfoot, UFO abductions, Ginn, Leprechauns, Loch Ness monster, and an endless number of supernatural claims. I bet you also disbelieve in all or most of them, too.

Why are you holding the position of the nonthinking? Is it your contention that the default position in all these other supernatural claims should not also be one of disbelief?

[Psykhronic]

The reasoning behind our position is one an infant could not form. The position itself - atheism - is the default and fucking babies do not sit there pondering about it, they simply do not believe until they are capable of understanding religious issues or outright indoctrinated.

That's why its absurd to say its a default position. If that's the case then rocks are atheists since no thinking is required. It you as an atheist who should be insulted by saying its a default non-thinking proposition.

Babies are processing information like motherfuckers. Let's see your precious rocks do that.

[Simon Moon]

That's why its absurd to say its a default position. If that's the case then rocks are atheists since no thinking is required. It you as an atheist who should be insulted by saying its a default non-thinking proposition.

Saying disbelief is the default position is not the same thing as saying it is the same thing as holding the same position as babies hold.

The default position on ANY extraordinary claim is disbelief until the claim is supported by demonstrable evidence, reasoned argument and valid logic.

[Minimalist]

What caused you to avert from your natural disposition and turn to atheism?

I like to think it was natural intelligence.

Really, it started because of the pompous attitude of religious fuckwits.

Then one thing led to another.