How is atheism irrational?

Question

This is claimed in the following questions, but certainly not backed up:

http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AprV54K5rQrdE49FtHsBjfsgBgx.?qid=20070604033403AAZ6hqF&show=7#profile-info-3f647176bf9e1c85857251c249f010a3aa
http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Atvh62TuinOzRjxYfpK9vEAgBgx.?qid=20070604032913AAOCJ3A&show=7#profile-info-3f647176bf9e1c85857251c249f010a3aa

I fail to see how not believing in God should be irrational.

It may be just one person's unfounded claim, but I'd be interested to know if there's any basis to the claim at all.

Answer 1

I became an atheist because, as a child, I could clearly see that my Fundie parents were quite irrational about many things, especially the existence of their imaginary God. As a mature adult, a retired engineer, and an amateur scientist I cannot state categorically that God does not exist because I must always leave room for the infinitesimal (approaching zero) possibility that convincing new evidence may someday become available. However, at the moment there is not one shred of credible evidence that God is capable of existing anywhere except on a printed page and in the subjective experience of believers.

I think my position as an atheist is far more rational than the hateful prejudices and mystical superstitions of our bronze age ancestors. The true-believers I have encountered in real life are invariably solipsistic thinkers who imagine their own subjective experience is equivalent to objective reality. The inability to accept that objective reality is independent of their own mental processes forms the irrational basis of every believer's faith. Prayer, for example, is an entirely subjective experience that believers imagine can actually alter the outcome of an event occurring in objective (physical) reality. The act of deliberately confusing subjective experience with objective reality is the basis of faith and is the foundation of every religion ever created by man. (...except possibly Buddhism.)

Answer 2

Wow, where to start. First off, one of us is right, either there is a god or there is not, either way, we both have the same sort of brains, either it's all electrical signaling in a staggeringly complex network or it, well, however you think brains work in the case there is a god, what you believe does not change reality. If there is a god, there is a god, regardless of what I think, and if there is not, all the faith in the world won't bring one into existence. Fine, so everything else you said is pretty much crap. You basically claim that logic only works if there is a god, which is a pretty extraordinary claim, and yet I see absolutely no attempt to back it up. There is clearly a truth, there is a reality, and that exists without a god (how do I know, well, I can point to things which are true, and you can't point to a god, because one does not exist). Basically what you're trying to do here is to suggest that your particular conception of a supernatural sky-daddy is exactly the same thing as reality, which is patently ridiculous. If god is the universe as a whole, then it is not supernatural, and is not the god spoken of in any of the holy books I've ever seen, and if you want to go with the standard "white bearded man in the sky" thing then it must exist apart from reality because your own holy book says that it created everything, so it must be apart from it, otherwise the universe would already have existed. So basically your premise is completely false, and thus everything that follows it is also.

Answer 3

Believing in god is not necessarily irrational- but I asked myself one day- would I seriously want to worship an all powerful human being that created a world like this? I don't buy in to the whole death, sin, punishment, suffering issue. My answer was no. I can't prove there isn't a god or there is one- but if it/he/she- is a supposed creator of this world- they have made a mess of it in my opinion.

Atheists do not have proof there isn't a god, just as religious people can't conclusively prove there is one. Both sides block out the ability to look further for answers in my opinion by assuming there is a god or denying there is one. The only difference being, that atheists have no proof there is a god- so choose not to believe, religious people have no proof and do believe. So maybe atheists are more rational in the end. Would you buy an invisible car?

Answer 4

There are other writings that predate the bible by thousands of years and they describe a creation event by the annunaki who came from a distant planet called niburu, these writings were written in clay tablets and still exist today, if you want some truth search for niburu or ancient sumarians or even Z Sitchin who spent many years deciphering these writings, there is indeed a god but it may not be the one you thought! So it would seem both atheists and believers alike are wrong on this issue, dont believe it search for yourself. Seek and ye shall find, dont be scared.

Answer 5

There is a difference between not believing in God, and in believing that God does not exist.

Not believing is irrational. If there is a possibility that God exists, it is of fundamental importance to decide whether God exists or not. If you decide that God exists you are a theist. If you decide that God does not exist, you are an atheist. Both of these positions are rational.

A true atheist has no problem with religion. Those who believe in God may be regarded as amiable lunatics whose views may be dismissed along with flat-earthers and believers in fairies. The truly irrational group are those who claim to be atheist but are in fact god-haters. How can you have so much hate for something that does not exist?

Answer 6

i agree with you, the question should be that believing in god is irrational. christians can only back their claims by complete faith and hope. whereas an atheist has found that there are simply no facts to back the case for chritianity. and in all fairness if god was employed by a large international company to keep the world free of pain and suffering, and to stop waring between nations he would be sacked pretty quickly on his results.

Answer 7

I am an atheist.I do not judge anyone on there religious beliefs as that is up to them.Sorry have not read the link if some one is saying atheists are irrational has far as I am concerned there free to think what they like.Exactly how I am
& I chose not to be tied by religion.PS/Have checked the link it is not worthy of an answer.

Answer 8

It isn't. Those people who have said it is have not given any explanation to support their assertion.

Most atheist want evidence/proof of a god that will stand up to rigorous scrutiny. That is quite rational.

On the other hand, god fearing believers are prepared to go on faith.... Although I'm sure they still look before crossing the road, rather than trusting their god to save them.

Answer 9

It's not. Believing in a magical all-powerful Being who lives eternally in space-heaven, rewarding the good and punishing the wicked, is both irrational and delusional.

The problem is that Christians so whole-heatedly believe the lie, that they find it impossible to understand how anyone could reject God. Of course, God doesn't really exist. So it's quite easy, once your realize that, to reject him.

Carl is nuts. I can't see how atheism could be based on emotions. Atheists actually face the realities of life. Christians made up fairy tales so they don't have to face the realities of life: "when you die, you go to Heaven and live forever with God." Quite a comforting, but delusional, thought, that puts to rest the emotional fear of death.

Answer 10

Its irrational? I thought it was the atheists/humanists/etc that said believing in god was irrational. Not the other way around. lol

I suppose when they think they know the truth, the contrary is irrational. They see evidence we don't. I suppose its like "your soul is going to go to hell, why don't you believe in god and save your soul for all eternity". *shrugs*

If such a thing as heaven and a god(any god) exist, I'll take it up with them when I die.