Question For Fellow Atheists...

[Autolite]

In fact, apologists will often point to scientists who are credible in their field, who also believe in gods, as a means of showing that belief in gods is somehow rational.

 
Indeed.  Perhaps it would help if otherwise supposedly rational Theists had some sort of caution light that started flashing or a loud buzzer going off to warn other people that they're about to go into religious nut-bar mode...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-...Qaeda.html

[robvalue]

Offhand, I don't know. If it wasn't, then... what? Give up?

Well it's like I've already said, as Atheists we need to stop affording Theism any respect or credibility.  We should collectively encourage the attitude that Theism is no different than any delusional belief. Instead of calling it merely a 'difference of opinion' we should all be regarding it for what it really is and that is bat-shit crazy nonsense. 

Remember when we discussed the medical definition of 'delusion' and that that definition excludes religious belief?  We should challenge that definition instead of accepting it.   Dr Peter Boghossian of PSU is doing just this.  He wants to see the medical definition for delusion in the DSM revised so that it does not exclude religious belief...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIaPXtZpzBw

Sure, informally, it is a delusion. I'm totally with you there. But medically, it has different causes, manifests in different ways and doesn't respond to the same treatments as delusions caused by mental illness. Religious people are not, on the whole, mentally ill. The only reason I can think of for making such a formal change would be to try and shame people into not being religious anymore. Personally, I think that's not going to work.

I'll check out that video soon though and see what he has had to say about it.

[Rhondazvous]

In fact, apologists will often point to scientists who are credible in their field, who also believe in gods, as a means of showing that belief in gods is somehow rational.

 
Indeed.  Perhaps it would help if otherwise supposedly rational Theists had some sort of caution light that started flashing or a loud buzzer going off to warn other people that they're about to go into religious nut-bar mode...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-...Qaeda.html

When a person says they believe in god, they haven't really said anything. I mean, which god? Apologists who assume these scientists are talking about their god are really reaching for straws.

[Autolite]

The only reason I can think of for making such a formal change would be to try and shame people into not being religious anymore. Personally, I think that's not going to work.

Well I'm not necessarily suggesting that we shame Theists. We don't shame people who are mentally ill. But it might be a start if the medical community collectively agreed that religious belief is a delusion. Once that acknowledgement is made, we can then work towards a cure.

Although I must agree that it's not likely to be completely successful. Delusional people quite often refuse to admit, at least initially, that they're delusional. Here's a good book that talks a lot about how we should deal with this...

https://www.amazon.ca/Not-Sick-Dont-Need...+need+help

[Neo-Scholastic]

Delusional people quite often refuse to admit, at least initially, that they're delusional.  

You're delusional. If you deny it, that only proves that you are delusional.

[Autolite]

You're delusional. If you deny it, that only proves that you are delusional.

Not in the least. I am in perfect mental health. All my imaginary friends will back me up on this too!!!

[Pulse]

This is my first visit to your forum.  I have been a full-hard-right Atheist for at least twenty five years but I would like to ask a question that I think only another Atheist might be able to help me with.

I've spent several years discussing religion both on and offline but I think I have reached a point of 'Atheist burn-out'.  I don't think it would be a surprise to any Atheist here that such discussions rarely actually accomplish any tangible results reference changing the mind of a Theist and far more often than not usually only end up in generating a considerable amount of animosity between both parties. 

I would like to know how you other Atheists deal with and view Theists?

It seems to bother me more and more that there are so many people who continue to buy into the B.S. that is Theism.  I recently watched the 'Jesus Camp' documentary and found it unsettling and even a little depressing.  How do you fellow Atheists reconcile the fact that most of the people that you know are basically mentally 'screwed-up'.

A few weeks ago a christian neighbour of mine made a religious comment so profoundly absurd and ridiculous that it almost sent me into shock.  How do you cope knowing that many so people are this messed up?  I sometimes feel like I'm trapped in some sort of surreal 'Twilight Zone' type of parallel universe that is controlled and run by total nut-cases...

Atheism is a belief system of despair and makes no sense in view of the Evidence for Intelligent Design (The creation of the Universe, DNA molecule information pointing to Intelligent Programmer). Thus people will Never lose the sense of the Divine no

matter how hard you try, and Atheism will one day die out, for the simple fact that atheists tend to be less generous and have fewer children. Due to rules I cannot yet post links , just Google;  Why people with no religion are projected to decline as a share

of the world’s population.

[Jesster]

Atheism is a belief system

Atheism is not a belief system. It's a lack of a specific belief. I don't even have to start on the rest of your post after that.

I do, however, have a belief system, which is Secular Humanism.

[Autolite]

Atheism will one day die out, for the simple fact that atheists tend to be less generous and have fewer children.

I can definitely see this happening. This is what the Muslim community for one is counting on. We are seeing this right now with Canada. The current Liberal government under Justin Trudeau has been proactively promoting the expansion of the Muslim culture in Canada and increased immigration from Islamic countries. When Sharia law eventually comes into full force, it will be the Atheists who will be first on the list for the 'rusty bread knife treatment'...

[Cyberman]

I hope atheism does eventually die out, because that will mean theism is no longer a thing.