Why do some people insist that "atheism" and "atheists" don't exist?

Question

I've never understood this. Apparently the argument is that, to be an atheist, a person would have to know absolutely everything about everything... have absolute knowledge, basically.

Uh... why would one have to possess absolute knowledge in order to know that ONE thing doesn't exist? For instance, Christians don't believe in Quetzalcoatl, the winged serpent deity. They either KNOW it's absolute bunk or KNOW that it's just a primitive perception of THEIR true god. Either way, they KNOW that Quetzalcoatl, as described in ancient Mesoamerican culture, does not exist.

Does this make sense to anyone? Is anyone getting this?

Russell's Teapot... anyone...?

Answer 1

I have two explanations. One is that some theists say it as a joke. "You don't believe God exists? Well, I don't believe YOU exist."

Many Christians who say this believe that their god "wrote his name" on the hearts of all men (I think the verse they quote is in Romans). Because they believe the Bible to be literal truth, they believe that all people have been "touched" by their god and are therefore incapable of being atheist.

Answer 2

Merriam-Webster's fourth definition of religion is "a cause, principle, or system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith." Therefore, atheism is a religion by definition, since it is "a disbelief in the existence of deity". Therefore, anyone who argues that an atheist must have absolute knowledge is basically ignorant and should probably learn how to use one of those fancy, new-fangled inventions called a "dictionary", or, as they would most likely call it, a "word book". Agian, just to be clear, atheism is a religion. In fact, it's my religion. And all religions are by definition, sense, and understanding, matters of belief and/or faith. As for the absolute truth, I can give you only one. I absolutely know that I do not believe in any god or other deity. You are right to question the argument set forth by those people.

Answer 3

Theology exists out edge of technological know-how. technological know-how is the technique of finding demonstrable information to objective to validate a theory employing measurable information. If technological know-how can no longer degree it then it quite is outdoors technological know-how. technological know-how isn't approximately proving something. that isn't the be all and end all of each little thing. in case you understood what technological know-how is then you definately would desire to comprehend that. Why extremely some human beings settle for Freudian good judgment is likewise outdoors technological know-how. there is not any medical explanation why it exhibits such popularity and lots to declare it quite is incorrect yet human beings have self assurance him besides. "If it exists, that is shown to, employing technological know-how." incorrect. Gravity exists yet sciences can no longer prepare the way it certainly works. If it might desire to we'd have chanced on the graviton. we've not. an identical applies for M theory and maximum cosmological physics. the actuality which you overlook approximately most of the rational solutions in this thread is yet another occasion. technological know-how can no longer see why you do one among those element yet you're doing it. "Are you claiming technological know-how *can't* come across a reconciliation to the reliable/ susceptible nuclear forces" No it may no longer. it is the which technique of the term theoretical physics that is all theorising and not a hazard to income and genuine information through fact those issues can't be detected. for this reason no longer something significant has taken place in Physics through fact the 60s different than for theorising. "that is utter tripe to declare technological know-how can no longer do issues: in theory technological know-how is infallible" So employing leaches for a therapy all is high-quality that replaced into technological know-how. asserting that the sky is a dome and would not exchange is high-quality in accordance to you. That replaced into technological know-how. The virus that led to AIDS purely got here approximately in gay adult males that was technological know-how. of direction technological know-how is fallible it is the full factor issues are examined or no longer examined and technological know-how gets a greater effective concept it is how technological know-how works via being fallible and with the flexibility to get replaced. Sorry to burst your bubble.

Answer 4

Firstly I am a Christian and if atheists/atheism don't exist then I would have to wonder who it is that I have had several debates with regarding God, evolution etc. (notice I say debates and not arguments)

The argument that to be an atheist means you have to know everything about everything is a bit silly.

For a Christian to make this argument is totally illogical, as Christians we believe God is omniscient, all knowing, so if someone is all knowing then he is God, and if being all knowing makes you an atheist then God does not believe in Himself...???

As a Christian I certainly do not know all there is to know about God, yet I am still a Christian and I believe in God. (Let there be no misunderstanding here, I am a 100% born again, Bible believing Christian)

Atheists do not know all there is to know yet do not believe in God.

I see no difference here...

JB

PS. I have been a Christian for 10 years and have never heard this argument preached from any pulpit or taught in any church.

Answer 5

Yeah, atheism is the BELIEF that there are no gods. It's the lack of a religion, it's not really a religion. But just as Christians don't KNOW for sure that God exists, Atheists don't explicitly know whether they're right either. At some point, you just have to assume either way.

Answer 6

I insist that all practiced forms of religion and atheism don't exist on the same premise: One would have to possess absolute knowledge in order to know that.

Agnosticism, the idea that the truth is inherintely unknowable, is slightly closer to existing, but not quite because although the truth is not known, it isn't necessarily unknowable.

Which came first, the chicken, or the egg?

Answer 7

I think I kind of got it. To me it seems like either side could make the argument against each other. If a theist told me that I would have to posses absolute knowledge to know that god didn't exist I would simply turn it around on them and ask That you would need to posses absolute knowledge to know god exist.

Answer 8

I think your taking the wrong angle in trying to understand why some people believe that atheism does not exist. Don't try to complicate what is very simple. They believe that atheists don't really exist because when it comes down to an atheist actually facing their own death, claiming their atheism becomes the least of their concerns............One can only understand the nature of being through the experience of being not through the accumulation of knowledge; either scientific/rationale knowledge nor spiritual/abstract knowledge......Instead it is best to absorb both kinds of knowledge while learning to experience yourself as you truly are ;-)

Answer 9

This is kinda weird but I'll try to explain it. It's basically an insult. Most people say it to belittle Atheists. Ya know, you don't believe in God so whatever title you give yourself just means you believe in nothing. Nothing is nothing so, there shouldn't be a name for it. It's just a way for narrow minded people to say that if one doesn't believe in God, they don't deserve to have a word that describes such a (non) belief.

That's how I understand it anyway. I could be totally off base but, that's just my take.

Answer 10

If I understand the somewhat twisted logic; Everyone is affected by God because even Atheists must choose to deny him.

~Don't shoot the messanger, it's not my quote.

Basically MOST Christians are so focused on what they believe that they cannot see out of the box they have put themselves in.