2006-09-26 05:08:54 · 22 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
We're all born without belief in gods. Belief has to be taught. Atheism is our default.
2006-09-26 06:27:17 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
It's part of human nature to imagine 'agents' in the world - We are keenly aware of other creatures, whether they be human or other species. We need that kind of awareness to protect us from danger, to interact with others, to find prey animals and so on. The natural consequence of this ability is that we also have 'false positives' - i.e. we imagine entities that aren't really there. This accounts for cultural phenomena such as belief in ghosts, demons, gods and goddesses. Religion is just a more formalised system of ideas and beliefs and customs which builds upon this natural superstition.
So, in a sense we all have this flaw that can make us believe in things that aren't there - it may be much stronger in some people than in others. Rational thought is the antidote to superstition, but rational thought doesn't necessarily come easily. It's something we need to work at (most of us). The ones who are unfamiliar with a rational worldview, or who are wilfully ignorant, or intellectually lazy, are the ones who will adopt and maintain a religious worldview.
I'm not sure if that really answers your question...
2006-09-26 12:29:40 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, actually we are all born with a great feeling that we are part of the Grand Purpose of the Universe. Then later, when we want to abuse others, lie, cheat, take drugs, have sex with our sisters, kill or rape someone, steal from our friends etc, and we need a good excuse for this. So we "invent" the myth that everything is just an accident and nothing has any purpose or meaning, therefore all morality is subjective etc. "Survival of the Fittest" "Law of the Jungle" etc.
Or we learn this from our "atheistic" professors whose sole purpose in life is to snort coke, screw impressionable freshmen, and mess up young students.
There is very little "deciding" involved. Those who follow nothing but prurient self interest, tend to follow the dark nihilistic superstition that is the Atheist religion. Those who are more thoughtful, decent and honorable don't. That is why the majority of "hard" scientists today no longer consider themselves "atheist" but believe in some kind of "Intelligent Design!"
2006-09-26 12:25:25 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
I think that we are all born with a soul that remembers life before we came. As we grow older, our memory fades. Children are the best at remembering.
Personally, I think that it must, initially, take effort not to believe in God. Part of your soul knows. I have found that most of the atheist on here are very intelligent people who find belief to be illogical. I know that it is illogical, and I believe anyway.
2006-09-26 12:24:29 · answer #4 · answered by Gorgeoustxwoman2013 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No such thing as an atheist. "There is no God" is an absolute statement. In order to make that statment and be true you must posess all knowledge of everything in all of history and future so to say there is no God. No one has that much knowledget. So in all the information or evidence you have yet to come across (or may never come across) you would have to admit that there COULD be ample evidence of God (if you are intellectually honest that is). So technically you'd be an agnonstic - someone who doesn't know for sure there's a God.
2006-09-26 12:22:32 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Atheist make a choice not to believe. I think babies don't think about it at all. So it's not that they are born non-believers. It's that they are born with only naps,milk naps, cuddles,naps on their minds.
Love & Light
Sharon
One Planet = One People
2006-09-26 12:19:42 · answer #6 · answered by Soul 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it is a decision, as is Christianity or any of the other options. Even if you're born or raised a certain way, one day you must decide for yourself.
2006-09-26 12:11:33 · answer #7 · answered by Char 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are two kinds of Atheism. People always associate Ateist with the first kind, the one who has a disbelief in God.
But another kind of atheism is having a lack of a beleif in God. All children, till they acquire a belief in God, are atheists. All animals are atheists.
So, to answer your question, Yes.
2006-09-26 12:14:53 · answer #8 · answered by Byron A 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Everyone is born hungry. We'll believe anything told us by the food provider, no matter the sense of it. By the time we begin trying to make sense of things, the decisions are usually already made.
2006-09-26 12:12:11 · answer #9 · answered by NHBaritone 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Everyone is born a human being free of the conditioning that we will gain as we grow up.
Some things we believe... we learn from others.
Other things we believe... we learn for ourselves.
A new born child knows nothing.
A new born child believes in nothing.
2006-09-26 12:15:26 · answer #10 · answered by Big Daddy T 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋