If I were an Atheist

[Thumpalumpacus]

I think it was all one guy.

I'm shocked at the prospect.

[Mudhammam]

Well, I was once an atheist...and the beautiful atheists I've met along my journey in faith, is an experience I'd never trade. Not everyone can emotionally handle atheism. I was one such person. No one can prove that a deity exists, but it brings me some sense of comfort to know one just might exist. Deism resonates with me now, more than theism.

Everyone has to find their own way.

Haven't seen you in a while. Hello! I used to go back and forth between some notion of an omnipresent Eye and atheism because I thought it offered solace somehow... like a heavenly father or Santa Clause figure... until I couldn't figure how it offered me anything except a weak justification to hold onto wishful thinking while denying the evidence of reality. I'm glad you're doing well Deidre but could you perhaps elaborate on what difference deism makes in your life and why you feel that wasn't available as an atheist? Maybe make a new post about it? I genuinely don't get it.

[robvalue]

Atheist: Where's your evidence?

Theist: A magic book which is magically true.

Atheist: Ok have fun with that.

[Fidel_Castronaut]

If I were an atheist I'd tell you to fuck off.

[abaris]

First I would have to come to grips with the fact that in spite of a decline in religious attendance and participation atheism isn’t a growing movement. It’s not just an issue of popularity. There are many unpopular beliefs and facts that are believed because of a preponderance of evidence in their favor, not because the belief is popular. Many popular beliefs have been abandoned do to evidence against them. Considering many atheists equate belief in God with belief in Santa Claus how is it they’re not gaining any traction?

There's the fallacy right in this first paragraph. You're obviously talking about 322 million people otherwise called the USA.

In Europe the picture looks a whole lot different. In my country for example 59 percent of the people identify themselves as in no shape and form religious. Also what have numbers to do with anything? There have been and still are very popular movements that proved to be wrong or despicable.

So, you're probably talking about the christian god. That in itself begs the question, which one of the 40.000+ variants of christianity you hold to be true? Not to forget that the majority of Earth's population - if they are religious - don't pray to any god of christianity. There are religions that are much older than christianity or all the Abrahamic religions.

Have to say, your premise doesn't hold water to begin with.

[Vox Populi]

First I would have to come to grips with the fact that in spite of a decline in religious attendance and participation atheism isn’t a growing movement

Your right in some ways but back in the day (1998-2006) I have seen many of my friends from school throwing out that there Atheist's and alot of them belong to groups in there community. I agree the drop in religious attendance doesn't make someone an atheist. Most just get fed up with the church views and the time every sunday to go.

But, I see more and more people saying "There Atheists" then ever before.

[Alex K]

First I would have to come to grips with the fact that in spite of a decline in religious attendance and participation atheism isn’t a growing movement

Your right in some ways but back in the day (1998-2006) I have seen many of my friends from school throwing out that there Atheist's

*Whelp* (whine+yelp)

and alot of them belong to groups in there community. I agree the drop in religious attendance doesn't make someone an atheist. Most just get fed up with the church views and the time every sunday to go.

But, I see more and more people saying "There Atheists" then ever before.

Yes, and there are some important factor one shouldn't neglect - how many people know what being atheist means, what is the public perception of the label (would you want to identofy as such even if the shoe fits) and what is our definition of atheist we are using to make the statistic?

[Spooky]

Two words: Evangelical Atheist.

Lets spread the sane word to the masses

[jesus_wept]

3. Drop the bashing, marginalizing and demonizing of believers.

I know such tactics make a big splash with fellow atheists but it does nothing for those sitting on the fence and are interested in an actual debate between atheists and theists. It makes atheists look petty, smug and arrogant and that they can’t make a factual argument from the evidence.

My irony meter has just broken.



Perhaps you would like to give me a factual argument for god from the evidence first?

[KUSA]

You became a Deist? That's okay, Deism is cool in my book.

That's good. :)

What's rather cool about it is that it's about reason and not about religion.

But it's still based on a fantasy so what's the point?