As an Atheist, I see a lot of misunderstandings and myths propagated against Atheism. If you had a chance to rationally speak with an Atheist and ask them any question you wanted to, what would you ask?
2006-12-14 05:38:38 · 21 answers · asked by godlessinaz 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Atheism is "a"+"theism": no belief in gods or deities, not a belief that gods and deties don't exist. An "anti-theist" is against the belief that gods or deities exist, not atheists. Subtle but important.
2006-12-14 05:59:59 · update #1
"Why don't you believe"? No verifiable, physical proof that cannot be explained in terms of naturalism.
"Where are your morals?" I have intrinsic morals, brought up in me through my evolutionary heritage. I also subscribe to secular humanism.
"How did we get here?" Condensed, charged gases, that formed archaic RNA, and replicated. Evolution took off from there.
... did I miss any more usuals?
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>> If there was anything that could change your mind about God? What could happen that would make you a believer?
Something that defies our natural laws. Arbitrarily change a natural law or universal constant without naturalistic intervention, then I will believe.
>> I would ask for their thoughts on irreducible complexity
Irreducible complexity is the worst idea ever. Behe got ripped a new one ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVRsWAjvQSg ) in court. So far, all of Behe's ideas for irreducible complexity have actually been shown to be reducible. (Flagellum - takes its base from the type-III secretory system, human blood clotting - shown in to be reducible by examining other mammals, etc.)
>> How can you know that there is no higher power?
I can't. I don't assume that I do. But I find it highly improbable based on what we know about the universe, which is the strongest leaning of atheism I can give. To be a "weak" atheist, all I need to do is say that I am not convinced of the theist's arguments.
>> who created you?
My parents when they had sexual intercourse.
>> what is your highest value?
Logical reasoning. If you can't present it to me in a series of logical statements without fallacies, I'm not believing it.
>> What holds atoms together?
Electromagnetic interaction ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromagnetic_interaction )
>> When a doctor is unable to treat you and tells you that you are going to die in a week who will you start asking help from
Nobody - but I'm sure I'll try to have one heck of a week!
>> if you do not believe in God/Jesus, or the big bang
then how to you think the Earth began?
I believe in the big bang. I just don't believe that god 'caused' it to happen, becuase god is superfluous to the model. God adds complexity where there was none before.
>> Are you sure?
Sure that whatever god you believe in is false? Yes. Just as sure you are of all the rest of the other gods that humans have come up with don't exist.
>> Are you sure there is no higher power of any kind?
Answered above.
>> Isn't it better to be safe then sorry?
No - in fact, I'd argue it's better to be an atheist. I save hours of going to church! Also, if you consider that it's theoretically possible to have an infinite amount of gods with properties of what they 'value', you'll notice that your one in infinity chance of getting it right is probabilistically just the same as my guess: 0. (lim n->oo 1/n = 0)
>> If you had a choice between doing the right thing, and doing what was the easy, but dishonest way . Which would you choose? If you would choose the right thing Why?
It is my duty to do the "right thing." Not only for myself, but for my fellow man. I respect everyone's right to existence, liberty, and justice. It is inherent in my evolutionary heritage.
2006-12-14 05:43:09 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I would ask them, Are you sure?
Are you sure there is no higher power of any kind?
Isn't it better to be safe then sorry?
I am obviously not a fundamentalist, but I met a friend working in a bakery.
And I asked her that question. She just answered me and told me that for her, she just doesn't belief, she thinks when we die we die, and she told me she doesn't have any problem with that.
I know she does lead a successful life, and I take her word for that and except her beliefs.
For me, I couldn't get by without that belief. It enriches my life and gives me hope.
But everyone's different. I think we should all just accept each other's beliefs.
Personally I think an atheist doesn't have to choose safe but sorry. I see the higher power as so loving, they would love the atheist just as much anyway.
2006-12-14 05:47:37 · answer #2 · answered by smoothsoullady 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Not being a christian, I cannot reply your query. But, to be reasonable, it does look fairly a couple of atheists ask questions of christians simply to decide on the "high-quality" reply that makes essentially the most a laugh of the christian ideals. Boy, the christians do get mad do not they? I had any person discuss with my 360 web page simply to depart me the remark: "athiest are satan". The equal any person used to be too chook to have set something up on their possess 360 web page.
2016-09-03 15:51:28 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I see the same kind of misuderstandings about Christians.
I have no questions about why you dont believe, but I have always wondered, if there was anything that could change your mind about God? What could happen that would make you a believer? And I dont ask because I would wish for it to happen, merely to see if there was anything that would.
2006-12-14 05:42:15 · answer #4 · answered by sweetie_baby 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
The same thing I ask anyone, that I'm considering starting a dialog with, "what is your highest value?"
That way I can decide if we are compatible or not. It is that easy, you know.
When someones actions are out of sync with their stated value, you know they are fooling themselves, and will soon attempt to fool you.
2006-12-14 05:44:05 · answer #5 · answered by Real Friend 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if you do not believe in God/Jesus, or the big bang
then how to you think the Earth began?
you MAY want to check out this site: www.wayofthemaster.com
To each thier own & I have no negative fealings towards you, just my faith & my thoughts are different then yours.
take care
2006-12-14 05:44:57 · answer #6 · answered by start 6-22-06 summer time Mom 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you had a choice between doing the right thing, and doing what was the easy, but dishonest way . Which would you choose? If you would choose the right thing Why?
2006-12-14 05:49:11 · answer #7 · answered by Mad Maxine 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would ask them how they are today as I am also an Atheist and therefore have no other questions to put to them!
*edit* Hey Amber wanna find out?? ;)
2006-12-14 05:42:23 · answer #8 · answered by gizmoweb666 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
When a doctor is unable to treat you and tells you that you are going to die in a week who will you start asking help from
2006-12-14 05:44:17 · answer #9 · answered by akband 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Good point old Chap. I'd ask "Got any cigarettes?!" Of course only if my girlfriend wasn't around. oh, and I'd then ask "Got a light?!" That would be so cool!
2006-12-14 05:42:18 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋