Are babies born atheists?

Question

A moment ago someone stated that babies are born atheists because they have not been taught about God. That is quite a contradiction compared to what most atheists on here state are their beliefs.

A child is not an atheist....unless you classify atheist meaning lacking knowledge....

So are they....or are they not?

Answer 1

An atheist is someone who lacks belief in any gods.
A baby lacks belief in any gods.

Kids don't become part of any religions until their parents indoctrinate them into the religion.

Answer 2

Actually no contradiction. Atheists don't believe in gods, supernatural beings, heaven , hell, souls and all the other religious hogwash, because there is no evidence for any of it.

Babies are born without the knowledge of those things, so technically they are atheist. The default position. Not until the kids parents start the brainwashing does a child find out about such things, thats why some say pushing that garbage on a child before he learns the skills of critical thinking, is child abuse.

Answer 3

Yes, they are, to say otherwise would be silly and no atheist believes that they aren't... One is not born ith a belief in God, so they are by all definitions an atheist before they're indoctrinated. An atheist lacks a belief, one without any knowledge or beliefs formed falls into that category easily enough... I don't see what you're saying is contradictory.

... Do you believe babies are born with a belief in God despite the fact that children in cultures without a concept for God never develop the idea at all and children that grow up outside of human society are incapable of understanding even the simplest of things, let along organized religion?...

Answer 4

If atheism is a stated belief in the non-existence of a deity, then new babies cannot truly be atheists, as they have not been given pro and con information and been given an opportunity to form such an opinion.
By the same reasoning, an almost total lack of any knowledge whatsoever outside any natural feeding responses, they could also not be agnostic. They just aren't anything at that stage of development of their lives.
It is only when provided information is stored and the ability to think and make decisions is achieved that such labels can be applied.
Sadly, it is then parental influence in the indoctrination of impressionable children that perpetuates the disease of the mind that is religion. Following onward, it then depends upon which school the child attends. Does the school teach creationism and not evolution theory? Naughty school!

Answer 5

They could be called weak atheists, those who do not believe in god. This is different from the strong atheists, such as myself, who believe that there is no god. "Not believing" and "believing there is not" are two different thoughts, since the second involves a conclusion and the first does not. Alternatively, one could argue that babies are born agnostics, since they would have no opinion one way or the other. Many people say weak atheists and agnostics can be the same thing. However, in the end, there is a logical argument that a baby could not believe in something of which he or she has no knowledge.

Answer 6

Babies are indeed born atheist, lacking a belief in god. They are a blank slate. Being an atheist doesn't necessarily mean there is an ACTIVE anti-god leaning, but just lacking the belief.

People have to be taught everything, from how to eat, how to go to the potty and how to eat... and how to believe and WHAT to believe. We learn from our environment. Some will change their belief as they grow up and gather information on their own, some won't.

Answer 7

Atheist means you don't believe in a god. A baby fits that definition. My daughter is almost four. Since we have never taught her about god, you should have seen the look on her face when I tried to explain what a church was for a few weeks back. Mind you, I never told her there wasn't a god either. I never brought the subject up. She really didn't believe me that people could think such a thing. Daddy was proud.

Answer 8

Atheist - absence of belief in a god or gods.

Does a baby believe in a god or gods?

NO! All babies are indeed born atheist.

Atheism has nothing to do with knowledge. That would be gnosticism (having knowledge) and agnosticism (lacking knowledge).

So, technically... all babies are born atheist-agnostics.

Answer 9

An atheist is anyone who either lacks the belief of(babies, animals) or denies the existence of God(s). I believe all organisms(except humans as society kicks in) are considered atheists due to their lack of belief.
An agnostic is someone who believes the mind cannot know whether God exists or not. So, babies/animals etc. would not be considered agnostic.Remember, children lack belief.

Answer 10

in no way theory i might see the day, yet i myself believe Fireball. As a former Methodist became atheist, I see this question from 2 perspectives. From the Christian perspective, do you bear in mind that passage the place Jesus says, "go through the sons and daughters to come again to me" ?? Jesus knew that the sons and daughters did not be attentive to Him and had to benefit. From the atheist perspective, that's a nicely commonly used certainty that toddler brains are fantastically plenty engaged on vehicle-pilot for no less than 3 months formerly issues start to get relatively exciting. till a new child will become particularly communicative commencing someplace around 4 to 5 years old, they won't be able to be attentive to something approximately God or Jesus. That difficulty matter is discovered, not innate. they might parrot some phrases however the phrases have not have been given any specific meaning formerly then. they're only extra names to bear in mind. in certainty, maximum childrens won't be able to understand abstractions till the onset of puberty, while the final element of human concepts progression starts off. so which you will be strictly scientific approximately it, even sons and daughters be attentive to the phrases yet have honestly no draw close of the abstracted concepts at the back of them. genuine faith probable won't be able to develop till puberty. As to what i'm basing this on, locate any textbook you opt for on early new child progression. My daughter-in-regulation has an affiliate degree in this difficulty and is presently taking instructions for her bachelor of guidance degree to grow to be an authorized elemenary college instructor. we've observed this while managing my 2 grandsons. She has discovered many articles on the difficulty. it may well be ordinary to do a internet seek for such subjects. i will pass away that as a attempt which you will do for your self. the reply to this question - agreed upon by using the two atheists and Christians - effects interior the easy certainty that non secular worship is a discovered, not an innate, habit. So the place have been YOU going to take the question and, given the unusual settlement between the two camps, how do you artwork that this relies upon on even if while you're Christian, atheist, or some thing else?

Answer 11

an athiest says there is no God. A child has not looked into the bigger picture yet. They are innocent and beautiful. They each have a conscience and can see what the Lord created. It is God who fashioned them in the womb. When they seek God they find them. God gives even children a freewill and welcomes children with loving arms.