Atheist - great way to be, or the greatest way to be?

Question

I know i pissed some people off with the title, but seriously though, think about it. The principle of Occam's Razor states that one should not make unnecesaary assumptions about things. If i see a phenomenon that i cannot explain, i hit the internet or the books to find an answer. If no one has an answer for me, then i realize that humanity has simply not advanced far enough to answer that question. I am happy with this explanation, and eagerly await the day when someone figures it out. I do not see an unexplained phenomenon and immediately think "This must be the work of some all-powerful, inconcievable being that i can never see or have any proof of!" That would be inventing unnecessary assumptions about the situation, would it not? Surely there must be a simpler explanation than that? I'd like to hear your real opinions, but i suppose i should prepare to be flamed like every other question in this category.

Answer 1

Great way to be. Being a good person is human nature, no need for a rule book on how to treat my neighbors. Other than that religion in general how the powers control the public with fear. it's worked for thousands of years and sadly still works today. I'm glad the atheist base is growing, and giving power back to the people.

Answer 2

I suppose if I didn't agree with you, I wouldn't be an atheist.

If you take Occam's Razor to it's logical end, you end up with another principle that we all live with in ordinary life, which is that all claims are assumed to be false until there is reason to believe otherwise. This applies equally to salesmen, and things your best friend tells you, and is the basis of the concept of "burden of proof". But most people are willing to make an exception to that rule regarding religion.

A poster above claims that Occam's Razor supports agnosticism. This isn't actually true, because Occam's Razor does not mean "make no assumptions", it means "don't make unnecessary assumptions". "god" is not a necessary assumption, and is thus rightfully rejected.

All that said, Occam's Razor is just that - a razor. It isn't axiomatic, it's just a good idea.

Answer 3

I too am the same. Though many seem to paint me as being uneducated on the Bible, I was raised Catholic but felt no inclination to pursue the religion outside of the usual familial enforcement.

I typically seek to learn more and understand what I do not ... my "bookmarks" or "favorites" is filled with links to web pages I may never find the time to re-visit, but contain knowledge and information I would like to comprehend and make part of my life.

I am unsure as to whether religion and religious beliefs are a detriment to our society. While I see a great deal of misfortune come from religious practice, especially in the dehumanization of a portion of the population for not conforming, my recent thoughts on the subject lead me to believe much of the problem exists in the material of the Old Testament ... though I won't go into specifics as I am not fully composed myself and it's a long discussion.

Otherwise, religion can be a very comforting thing for some ... it brings communities together ... gives hope and promise ... and can generate a great deal of giving and generosity. Unfortunately, the PRACTICE of religion too often fall far from the actual TEACHINGS.

So, to answer you question ... I would say that whatever belief structure you have is a "great way to be", for you ... as long as you find what you desire/need to live a peaceful and productive life.

Answer 4

Here's how I see it:
Those answers of the unexplained you seek, are proof of God's existence. The fact that there is order in the universe, proves that the universe was designed, it is not random chaos.

I don't know why so many feel that Science and Religion have to be mutually exclusive. Most of the greatest minds that have been able to explain the universe have been religious people. Finding answers to the order of the universe doesn't disprove God at all. But I guess if science disproves religion to you, than you should go with that.

Answer 5

Dan i am a spiritualist but i think you are quite right .. everyone should seek the truth of something that is said without taking it on board blindly
i see no problem with atheists and if they are happy then that's all that matters
i feel everyone though should have an open mind and be open to possibilities , but i guess you are in a sense though or you would be looking for rights or wrongs on the Internet .. so that's cool

Answer 6

Well, i'm not going to accuse your or anything like that. It's your right. Personally, I'm agnostic. I just think that Atheism is too firm. I believe that there is something that guides us but it's not a god and religions aren't accurate enough to define it. However, I do agree with much of Atheists pleas like that there shouldn't be public religious showings. Religion should be left for the church and for the personal home and life of the religious family.

Answer 7

No offense, but Occam's Razor supports Agnosticism, not Atheism.

Only the agnostic makes no assumptions.

Answer 8

I agree with you.
The LAST thing I think of doing is assigning a supernatural explanation to something I cannot explain (on the very rare occasions that this happens).
I mean why waste time saying "a magic sky pixie did it" when you can actually LOOK for the answer?
It's easier sure, but intellectually, unstimulating.

Answer 9

1. Christians walk by faith - not by sight.
2. Faith is the substance of things NOT seen and the Evidence of things hoped for
3. The Bilbe also says "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean NOT to your own understanding." Translation: Just because you don't understand it - or can find no reasonable explanation for it- that has no bearing on God's capabilities.

Answer 10

Wouldn't the simpler answer be that someone is responsible for the phenomenon, rather than a long, complicated, convoluted explination that we just haven't found yet?

(Not that I don't believe in science, just trying to play Devil's advocate...so to speak.)