Your stance on Hard Atheism

[trmof]

I would like to get your general opinions on the validity of hard atheism. Specifically, I would like to get the views of the agnostic atheists. The reason being, just as confrontational and irrational Christians are much more likely to seek out a bitter debate with atheists than those who follow the example of Christ, hard atheists are also more likely to seek out a bitter debate than agnostic atheists.

The problem of Christians behaving in an a manner which besmirches Christianity is often discussed, both on the internet and in the real world. However, I think the issue of hard atheists painting agnostic atheists in a bad light is hardly ever addressed, and as a consequence agnostic atheists are less likely to correct hard atheists on their rational errors than Christians are to correct their fellow Christians on theological ones.

And so a poll: Do you think that hard atheism is irrational considering that man can not know what he doesn't know?

[Aoi Magi]

I don't quite understand what you define as "hard atheism". I personally don't seek out debates with religious people because it is frustrating and pointless. But those who do that are perfectly valid because most of the time they do it out of concern for their fellow human beings.

[FatAndFaithless]

By hard atheism, do you simply mean gnostic atheism?

[Chad32]

Extremism is bad, regardless of what group you're in. I don't pay much attention to hard atheism, and I can understand why some people would fight fire with fire when it comes to the extreme beliefs of some religious people. You start talking about killing homosexuals, and saying atheists are evil, because of a book, and you'll get some people reacting to violence with violence.

I would discourage any kind of extremism, though.

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

Do you think that hard atheism is irrational considering that man can not know what he doesn't know?

No. The question as worded indicates that you don't understand what positive atheism actually is (I've never before heard the term 'hard atheism').

An atheist, as such, is one who lacks all belief in all gods, nothing more or less. It is not an insistence that gods cannot exist. Rather, it is a statement about the lack of belief of a particular individual. One doesn't need to be metaphysically certain that gods don't exist in order to be a positive atheist - all that is needed is to lack the belief that they do exist.

And for what it's worth, 'man cannot know what he doesn't know' applies perfectly well to theists. By way of example, you don't know that God exists, you simply believe that he does, which isn't the same thing at all.

Boru

[Christian]

Hard Atheism is irrational at best. They say God does not exist without an iota of proof.

[Mister Agenda]

Hard Atheism is irrational at best. They say God does not exist without an iota of proof.

Hard theism has a similar problem.

[Aoi Magi]

Christians also say other gods do not exist without an iota of proof.

[Dystopia]

Just like I know unicorns don't exist, I know god doesn't exist.

If someone asked me does Santa Klaus exist? my answer would be No and not I do not know but I lack belief in him.

By the way - Why can't I be certain of something? Why can't I claim knowledge? I possess knowledge on several subjects, I don't see any reason to treat the god hypothesis differently... If I can claim knowledge when it comes to science, I can claim knowledge when it comes to god - I'm sure gravity exists, I don't merely believe gravity is more likely to exist.

Since agnosticism tells us that we cannot possess knowledge and certainty, can we at least be certain that we can't be certain of anything? If so, perhaps we can be certain of some answers

[Alex K]

I would like to get your general opinions on the validity of hard atheism.

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Specifically, I would like to get the views of the agnostic atheists. The reason being, just as confrontational and irrational Christians are much more likely to seek out a bitter debate with atheists than those who follow the example of Christ, hard atheists are also more likely to seek out a bitter debate than agnostic atheists.

The problem of Christians behaving in an a manner which besmirches Christianity is often discussed, both on the internet and in the real world. However, I think the issue of hard atheists painting agnostic atheists in a bad light is hardly ever addressed, and as a consequence agnostic atheists are less likely to correct hard atheists on their rational errors than Christians are to correct their fellow Christians on theological ones.

And so a poll: Do you think that hard atheism is irrational considering that man can not know what he doesn't know?

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What is hard atheism according to your use?