Before the discovery of evolution, what pumped an atheist ?

Question

Evolutions seem to address our creation and existence to an extent. While I am not completely tilted towards aethism even after reading convincing arguements from Richard Dawkins. It made me wonder, On what basis could aethist have defended themselves without the support of evolution theory?

To all who answered,Thanks and I would like to clarify the following, Please tune your response accordingly.
1. Replace the God with a creator not supreme or benevelont.
2. Atheist - Don't believe in a creator having caused our existence. Which implies they are closely locked to the idea Creator does not exist.
3. Agnostic - Keep options open.

I understand how agnostics could have existed in the early days. But what I can't understand is the confidence in Atheist asserting that Creator does not exist without a theory supporting them.

I am tending believe, there could not have been strong atheism during pre-darwin days rather agnostic atheism. Is there anybody who defies this please drop in your notes. That would answer my question.

Answer 1

You could prove evolution wrong and i still wouldn't believe in deities. There is no evidence for the existence of gods..that's all that should need to be said really..no evidence = no belief.

Here is one powerful argument for the non-existence of omnimax gods, check the date on this...way before Darwin.

“ The gods can either take away evil from the world and will not, or, being willing to do so cannot; or they neither can nor will, or lastly, they are able and willing.If they have the will to remove evil and cannot, then they are not omnipotent. If they can but will not, then they are not benevolent. If they are neither able nor willing, they are neither omnipotent nor benevolent..Lastly, if they are both able and willing to annihilate evil, why does it exist? ” -Greek philosopher Epicurus (341-270 BCE).


Atheism isn't just about having answers for all of lifes mysteries. If we don't understand something that doesn't mean we throw our hands up and say "god did it."

Here is a resource about the history of atheism.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_atheism

Also there is an excellent video series by the BBC called History of Disbelief.

http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=history+of+disbelief&hl=en
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Atheism = Lack of theism.. or lack of god belief. Theism means god belief and the A in front makes it "without god belief."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ncCNwbb5Jc&eurl=

Please tell this to your pastors that atheists are not people who say they can prove there is no god, or are unaccepting of evidence that there may be one. They are people who don't have god belief.

Answer 2

My father is an aetheist and he never uses evolution as a supporting fact. Mostly because he knows that no Creation Theory will ever be proved 100% due simply to God being uncooperative and scientists not having the time or technology. His main thought on all of it is that God was never there for him, why should he be there for God. I think that mighta been how people thought of it back before evolution came about. They didn't care if He was real or not, they had their own reasons for not believing.

Answer 3

Actually there are many theories that go back 2500 years. Even 2500 years ago there was a theory that all things started of in a great explosion of some sort. Also theories claiming that man can from animals.
Also atheist 'defended' themselves simply by pointing out the fact that religeous have never had any proof of there claims to know that a God or Gods made everything

Answer 4

Contrary to popular belief atheists don't worship evolution. Evolution happens to be part of reality and most atheists are more in touch with reality than theists. You've made a mistake in your question also... Evolution does not address our creation or existence. It simply explains how earth became populated with such a variety of species.

But more to the point, there have always been reasons to be an atheist. Common sense for one, especially after scientific advances in astronomy and microbiology. When people learn that microorganisms make them sick and not demonic possession, that gives reason to doubt.

Answer 5

The inconsistencies of the Bible and the various dogmas that sprang from it. The claims the various churches made about their own faith versus their own behavior. The madness of Christian history and its apoligists trying to defend the undefensible. The consistent effort by the conservative Christians of the day to stand in the way of technological and social development. The list goes on.

The ToE was not the beginning of atheism. It did providfe better-quality ammo against the extremeists, though.

Answer 6

Reasoning and a sense of the human need believe something that is too good to be true. I like the stakes and toasting answer, if I could vote I would vote for that one.

Answer 7

They were honest and said, "I don't know."

But you could look up epicourious for an older Atheistic definse the the existance of a creator god and an afterlife.

Answer 8

Most atheist are not trying to prove how we got here, they don't want to recognize a God figure, because then they would be accountable for there own evil actions. If there is no God, than there is no absolute right and wrong, so if one decides to be a pedophile he says who will know, they don't know God, he sees all!

Answer 9

It just did not sound correct, logical or believable to a lot of people.
By the way, UPALLNITE, persons who say "I don't know" are not atheists but agnostics.

Answer 10

Well first they had to get things to the point where the good kind and gentle christians were not tying them to stakes and toasting them.