We are all born as atheists?

Question

I have often heard the statement made: "We are born as atheists." But the way i see it, atheism is a conscious choice......an informed decison. When you are just born, your conscience is not yet developed, and you are incapable of making decisions. So basically, you cannot be born an atheist because you have not made a choice.........you simply don't know anything, and therefore you can't believe anything!

It is only when you grow older, and you are exposed to both sides of the story......only then do you consciously choose the path of Theism or Atheism. If someone grows up with absolutely no knowledge or concept of the existence of God or religion, then he obviously will not believe in God or religion, because he has not been exposed to such concepts. Yet, he cannot be an atheist because there is no choice factor. In fact, he can't be an agnostic either, because that too involves informed choice.

What do you think?

Pandabun - good point. i guess it's all up to the individual to decide when they have enough info. to make that "informed decision".

Answer 1

my first thought was that i disagreed with you, but now that i think about it i have to say i agree. atheism is defined as disbelief in the existence of a supreme being or beings. when you are born you don't have any beliefs, you don't agree or disagree with anything because the only thing on your little baby mind is eat, sleep, and be happy. in order to disbelieve you have to have something to disbelieve and when you are born you've got nothing. so i really don't think you can be born atheist, or christian, or anything because religion is a choice and the only way to make a decision is to make an informed one.

Answer 2

a·the·ist (th-st) KEY

NOUN:

One who disbelieves or denies the existence of God or gods.


Atheists do not believe in any gods or even the existence of gods. Gods are man made. Always have been always will be. Every time we cannot think of a good reason why the sun rises we make up a god that picks it up every morning and places it in the sky for us. And if there is a solar eclipse then we made the god mad at us. We know that is silly now but it was the truth then.

As our knowledge base increased our gods changed. As our society changed so did the parables that taught our children the morals and ethics that instilled in them the principles of right and wrong at an early age. Children carry those principles into adulthood and become good people.

That is the purpose of religion, not who is responsible for creation. That is a job for science.

Answer 3

Atheism simply means you don't believe in God, it's like a neutral position. With my one sentence, I pretty much debunked half of your first paragraph, and the entire last one. (Debunked wasn't quite the word I was looking for, but you get the picture) Religion, however, is a conscious choice which you can't make at birth because the brain hasn't developed to be capable of making that decision yet. Like I said, it's a neutral position until the child is old enough to make the decision or is exposed to the opportunity to make the decision him/herself.

Answer 4

Have you ever noticed that people who use religious divisions in a definitive manner are usually mistaken about the definition of said title? Paganism, atheism, and agnosticism are the major offenders, no matter what side of the fence the label is used from. I've had self-proclaimed atheists tell me that they are searching for evidence. What kind of stupidity is that? An atheist does not believe in any god. Why search for evidence of something you don't believe in? That is like spending your life searching for the tooth fairy. Agnostics don't think spiritual things can be proven in this life, so I think there are more agnostics than admit it. Paganism is not a religion, so self-proclaimed 'pagans,' (neo-pagans) are usually agnostics who like candles, black clothes, and arcane-seeming decor. Wicca is a religion. Paganism (I even hate the word!) is not.

The Japanese once believed that babies had no souls until 30 days after their birth.

Personally, I don't think babies are 'born' with any particular belief, but they get an idea of God before they are able to speak about it.

For the record, I'm an agnostic.

Answer 5

You're technically not Christian or whatever religion or an Atheist when you're born, either.

Atheists believe that there IS no God, while when you're born, you do not know of such God. Your parents influence that on you, therefore you now have a religion. Being a baby, you cannot possibly know of a religion in existance, yet be an Atheist for that matter. Like I said, Atheists do NOT believe in God, whereas when you're born, you just don't KNOW of a God.

Answer 6

No, Taking up religion is a conscious choice. When you are born you have no concept of god. God does not exist to you. So you are an atheist. No god. You said it for your self. You can't believe in anything. God is a belief, Atheism is lack of belief. A baby lacks belief.

And Dethklok, 1 person cussed and acted like an idiot. 1
So I do not know what post you are reading but it's not this one. Please don't lump us all together.

Answer 7

Belief in a god is a learned behavior. Otherwise, what would stop the baby of a Christian couple from being a Muslim? People get religion from their parents--by learning, not genetics.
BTW, you've just got to love a religion that says we're all born lost, don't you?

Answer 8

Isn't your first point kind of a given.

As to the second point, if you are only exposed to a God then does the reverse hold true? I guess the only question is, can somebody come up with the concept of a God on their own? I think so.

Answer 9

No.

Look up the definition of atheist if you are confused, but being atheist DOES NOT require a conscious choice.

It is simply the absence of belief. Therefore regardless of if you chose to be an atheist or not, if you don't believe you are an atheist.

Answer 10

this is a good question, it actually made me think, BRAVO.
this question and your explination are very paradoxal, in contrast though, doesnt everything in life begin with a choice?

but I do agree, if a person grows up isolated, with no knowlege of any belief, chances are that person would find religon absurd, but there is also a chance that because this person grew up so isolated that more primitive functions of his brain, may inheritantly perceive some type of deity.