Do athiests know that there is no God? Why do they think they are so special when they say they are athiests?

Question

If one denies something does that make it true? Does that prove it is true that something does not exist if I or someone else says so? Isn't it true that athiests only wonder just like non athiests as to what is true? Can't athiests think about the word God and if they do, don't they have to continually weigh out whether God exists the same as everyone else? What purpose does someone have to claim that they are an athiest? What does that prove? How will they act different from a non athiests when making that claim? How are they helping mankind by claiming that there is no God? How did they come to that conclusion?

Answer 1

I've heard ignorance is bliss, maybe that has something to do with it.

Answer 2

"Most of the USA forefathers believed this [Deism]" Can't be further from the truth. The Founding Fathers believing in something called Divine Providence, the working hand of God, which entirely conflicts with Deism. Adams used the term frequently, and showed a general respect for the Bible except he thought the concept of the Trinity was confusing, that is why he was a Unitarian. Jefferson wrote in a letter that he believed no one would die who wasn't a Unitarian, but Jefferson wrote his own Bible so he didn't have the same kind of respect that Adams had because Jefferson actually cut out scripture. Ben Franklin, the most respected of the Founding Fathers, was the one who added the relying upon "Divine Providence" in the Declaration of Independence. Washington wrote profusely about Providence. Oh and Franklin also wrote a newspaper article called "On the Providence of God in the Government of the World" where he totally destroyed the idea of Deism. The only apparent Deist is Thomas Paine, but even he claimed to believe in one God. No prominent Founding Father, however, held orthodox Christian beliefs, but they were not Deists, generally they were Unitarians. Upon his death though, Alexander Hamilton professed to believe in the Trinity and accepted Christ when he was receiving communion before he passed. But none of them held identical theology. Jefferson and Paine were also very different from each other because while Paine wrote publicly about religion and bitterly attacked it, Jefferson was extremely quiet about such matters even with his friends, and most of his public declarations were more favorable than his private sentiments. Since Providence is so frequently cited by the Founders, the only reply people give is "Providence meant fate or coincidence" which is entirely false. Besides "Divine Providence" is pretty descriptive.

Answer 3

To the first part of your question, the answer is 'No'. They don't know that. They're fooling themselves, but safely, because the polar alternative is also a spurious knowledge. Theists, also, do not know that god does exist. They fool themselves, too, but take it much further. They don't so much fool themselves as drive themselves insane.

As for atheists assuming they're special; I have to question that assertion. Do they think they're special? I'm not aware that they do. I think that is an arrogance which reflects on the person making the assertion. The idea of being special is a theist prejudice, not an atheist one. That covers most of the additional stuff you've added.

Finally; the bit about helping mankind. Well, it combats the destructive mindset of theists, which is a good thing to do. The theist's unfounded, prejudicial assertion that people are special is based on the intensely negative concept of original sin. To see that as a lie raises the moral platform of humanity from the outset. Maybe that's what you mistake specialness for.

Answer 4

First of all, you should know that you are mispelling it... Remember that 'atheism' is an "ism".

Atheists are in a sense in the same boat as adherents of other religions, but in the most important sense they are not. Atheism is superior to it's negation. This is because by default, atheism is correct. If you want to know why, first examine the philosophical idea of Occam's Razor... to paraphrase, "the simplest working explanation is the best explanation" (liberty taken in interpretation) You are explaining the universe by saying that there is a "god" that made it. Now you must explain what a god is, and what made him. You've only made your problem worse. It may sound like a simple explanation to say that "God made the Earth"... it's only four words, right? But the word "God" is extremely complex... it means a lot of things at once and asks more questions than it answers. Of course, the word Earth is complex in that sentence, too, but it is part of the question we are asking so we must allow it. Hope this helps...

P.S. thank you Yggdrasil... I did not know the word "adeism"

Answer 5

There are those that do not know God but that doesn't make them athiests. It just means they don't have a relationship with him. A person either knows God or doesn't and that is different than trying to convince someone else they don't believe God exists.

Answer 6

Athiests still face the question. How did they get here?. We are so complicated it defires logic to think we are the result of random mixing of components.
Take a ten piece kitchen implement like a meat mincer. Throw it in the air multiple times and see how long it takes for all those parts to fall into the correct sequence to make the mincer a working unit.
Its a bit like saying give an unlimited number of monkeys each a typewriter, and eventually they will write the full works of Shakespeare.
We are the result of a brilliant designer, not random chance.

Answer 7

When someone speaks of "Truth" should that not be based on fact? In science, or in law, it is not the job of the researcher or lawyer to prove a thing does not exist or did not happen, the entire point is to PROVE that it does exist or it did happen. I find amusing that believers like to turn the tables on logic this way. It seems to be their only defense when it comes to justifying beliefs in things not founded on facts.

Answer 8

I have had a athiest friend,they think they are so special bcoz ,they believe that their mind is clear and that they understand more than other people,they consider others as normal human beings and themselves as revolutionary,
u know they laugh at Beliefs about God simply because they have the belief that only they can be right,that they have discerned between good and bad
Many of these people live their life worring,
Believers in God can have a life of faith bcoz they cast their worries upon God's Hands

Answer 9

Okay, first of all, What purpose does someone have to claim that they are a christian? What does that prove? I mean, no we don't know if there is a God or not, but neither do Christians. And why do Christians thinks that it's thier way or no way?

Answer 10

No, atheists merely believe there is no God. They cannot prove he doesnt exist.

They think they are special because they believe God represents a type of slavery and by casting off the ball and chain of religion they think they are free.

No, they can deny all they want, it doesnt make it inherantly true.

No, belief doesnt make things any less or more true than they are.

Not necessarily, an atheist would argue that he thinks he has more of the truth than theists because he is not subscribing to something he thinks is false. To him he is more enlightened because he embraces science and himself. (the true gods of atheism)

They can think about the word of God and do. They think it is fundamentally flawed and since they do not believe it, they think they can better critique and prove it isnt true.

Their purpose is clear; living a life apart from God.

It only proves their resolve into doing what they think is good for them.

They will act anyway they feel like acting. Atheism teaches no morals nor does it condone any.

They think they are helping mankind by shedding off something they believe to be false and even harmful to humanity; religion.

They came to that conclusion by what is in their heart, by what they believe in their mind to be true and false about the universe, and by their personal distaste for religion.

Wow 12 Q's in 1! Cool! i used to be an atheist so believe me, I know atheists!!!

The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. -2 Corinthians 4:4

Answer 11

To clarify term for you:

Agnostic:Without wisdom, unsure of God and Religion
(Most Atheists actually fit here)

Atheist:Without Religion (THEOLOGY is the study of Religions)
But many misuse this to mean God.

Deism:The believe in God and little else, including that he does not perform miracles, because he is still on vacation. Most of the USA forefathers believed this.

Adeism: The complete disbelief in God. Lit. Without God.

But honestly, I'd find it difficult to image any human being that doesn't bounce around some of these categories through their lives.