"I think it takes more work to be an atheist than it does to be a Christian". True or false?

Question

Presumably the quote is from a theist, but I think it's probably true. Superstition is easy - it's intellectual laziness, an unwillingness to think things through, examine evidence, question what your religious leaders tell you to believe, examine your own beliefs and instincts. Rational thought is not necessarily easy, it doesn't necessarily come naturally, and that's why it's so important for us to help and encourage people to think for themselves. This is the answer to the perennial question of why atheists have to be in the R&S section - so that fewer people may think that it's OK to take the easy way out.

Answer 1

More work? Not necessarily.

A different kind of work? Most definitely. The kind of work that Galileo did when he looked through his telescope, saw the end of religion, and grabbed a pencil to write it down.

Answer 2

Actually being "intellectually lazy" directly violates the scriptural mandate to the Christian. So yes, while there are droves of Christians who are "intellectually lazy" or even weak minded that actually mitigates against their own belief system. But the same can be said of Atheists. I find that there are weak and hard minded individuals in both Theist and Atheist camps.

I don't think there is a lot of independent thought coming from Atheists in general. It's the same tired arguments that have been circulating for a long time. So, atheism can just as easily be the easy way out by settling the issue in their mind with simplistic arguments such as "evil in the world" or "I've never seen God".

Answer 3

I'd say false, though I'd rather simply be presented with the options individually rather than a true or false question, as I think it's MOSTLY true... Anyway, there ARE many an intellectually lazy atheists out there, those who simply echo Dawkins because he's eloquent or make arguments against God that make no more sense than the opposition's arguments for God. I'd say it's easier to buy into a dogma than to not, but dogma exists within all subsets of beliefs.

Answer 4

True.

Like all hard core believers in some cult or non-cult, the mind has to come up with huge quantities of rationalizations in order to force all of reality to fit into the reality tunnel of the true believer (or Non-believer in the Atheists point of view).

Meanwhile, the one with the least amount of work on their hands is the Agnostic, since they take things as they come, and try not to shove the whole universe into a tiny box full of cubicles.

Hail Eris! All Hail Discordia!

Answer 5

*I* never claimed to be rational ;-) I'm an atheist because I can't help it. That's where my spiritual journey has led me.

It isn't always easy, having to think about things and use my judgement all the time, but I think it would be harder to adhere to a moral code I think is very immoral, and worship and evil deity I don't really think is there. I don't think I could do the kinds of mental contortion necessary.

Answer 6

What a lame idea. I suppose that is why I have studied for 48 years, attended college, ministered in 5 churches, served as a missionary. Taking the easy way out. My wife is doing the same I guess. 6 years of college and 3 of seminary for her is the easy way out.

Answer 7

there is a false assumption that atheism and rationalism must go hand in hand. Though they are often linked it is not part of the definition of atheism. The Atheist simply believes that all thigns are explainable without G-d but the choice to actively try to understand everything is up to him.

Answer 8

Agreed

Answer 9

Thousands of years have prepared the lesson plans for "Church Christians". So, they are simply taught to trust (first) and then declare what they trust is the truth. - Primarily, Paul taught them that lesson plan.

Jesus taught just the opposite, he said to seek the truth (first) and then to trust the truth.

Atheists have no lesson plan. So they have to do their own homework.

I am a Christian (I follow the instructions from Jesus;not Paul), but I plan to change the name of my religion, so as not to be associated with robotic church doctrine puppets.

Answer 10

Both are probably working in the same pace. Someone to prove something and the other is to prove another thing. They will never stop barking at each other. And they are like two parallel lines whose ends will never meet.