Help needed with essay on atheism

[Garmston Ansell]

Lots of things have an input on religious belief: fear, ignorance, delusion, indoctrination,peer/authoritarian pressure and 'religious experiences' which can be mostly explained as missunderstanding brain chemistry, there is a thread on near death experiences here somewhere where someone has made this error.
These are just some of the reasons for peoples beliefs in the supernatural.
Sometimes people just want to believe insomething and look around for the bullshit that best suits them.

How long have you been an atheist?

[Garmston Ansell]

Were you ever a theist?

No. I was never a theist. I never did believe in a god. Just couldn't be convinced of one.
Been atheist all my life.

Are there any theists here?

Used to be, if that helps.

Where did they go?

[ib.me.ub]

They are around, one is a moderator.

[KichigaiNeko]

http://www.atheistrev.com/

http://www.atheistrev.com/2011/04/words-...stein.html

Try these...they might help.

[theVOID]

I think perhaps brain chemistry may play a part although I also think sometimes it's just a matter of simply believing that it's likely that there's a god, or rejecting the notion, or in my case neither believing nor rejecting it. Do you think brain chemistry has anything to do with religious belief?

Brain Chemistry plays a part in a lot of it, we didn't evolve to be reason and logic orientated, being a critical thinker is somewhat "unnatural" and you don't just expect to be one, you have to work at it - A big part of that is trying to determine what biases we have as a result of that brain chemistry or culture etc and looking at ways to compensate for it - If you want specific neurological foundations for religious belief you shouldn't be looking for a single thing, but a number of things that could contribute, predator detection and Pareidolia are definitely two of them.

If you do not believe someone when they say "God exists" then you have rejected their claim, the only alternative is to accept it, which you have not - This is not the same thing as ruling it out, it is simply a tentative conclusion that can change based on new argument and evidence, at this point in time you see no reason to believe it is true, or not enough reason to believe it yourself, that is a rejection of the potion, you are an Agnostic Atheist.

[KichigaiNeko]

http://www.sodahead.com/living/does-brai...n-1160409/

http://bigthink.com/ideas/23960

http://www.disclose.tv/forum/is-capacity...42644.html

No doubt you have found these?? and others??

[Garmston Ansell]

I think perhaps brain chemistry may play a part although I also think sometimes it's just a matter of simply believing that it's likely that there's a god, or rejecting the notion, or in my case neither believing nor rejecting it. Do you think brain chemistry has anything to do with religious belief?

Brain Chemistry plays a part in a lot of it, we didn't evolve to be reason and logic orientated, being a critical thinker is somewhat "unnatural" and you don't just expect to be one, you have to work at it - A big part of that is trying to determine what biases we have as a result of that brain chemistry or culture etc and looking at ways to compensate for it - If you want specific neurological foundations for religious belief you shouldn't be looking for a single thing, but a number of things that could contribute, predator detection and Pareidolia are definitely two of them.

If you do not believe someone when they say "God exists" then you have rejected their claim, the only alternative is to accept it, which you have not - This is not the same thing as ruling it out, it is simply a tentative conclusion that can change based on new argument and evidence, at this point in time you see no reason to believe it is true, or not enough reason to believe it yourself, that is a rejection of the potion, you are an Agnostic Atheist.

I appreciate what you're saying however that's your definition, and it's fair. Would you say that atheists appreciate being defined by non atheists, or do they find it irritating?

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Thanks KichigaiNeko, I'll put those in my folder.

[Minimalist]

Whose? Are you talking about all theists or someone specifically?

Generally the ones who prance about telling others about their fucking superstitions. Frankly, the ones who keep it to themselves are below the radar.

My particular ire is drawn to those who want to pour iron age nonsense into our laws and classrooms.

[Garmston Ansell]

Whose? Are you talking about all theists or someone specifically?

Generally the ones who prance about telling others about their fucking superstitions. Frankly, the ones who keep it to themselves are below the radar.

My particular ire is drawn to those who want to pour iron age nonsense into our laws and classrooms.

So is it not acceptable to you for a theist to even talk about their views? In what ways does that make you feel uncomfortable?

[Minimalist]

So is it not acceptable to you for a theist to even talk about their views? In what ways does that make you feel uncomfortable?

Talk? Yes. Preach? No.

Do you understand the difference?