What else do Atheists dismiss?

Question

I know that atheists don't believe that there is a God, but I was wondering if atheists are as skeptical about other tenuous phenomena, as they are about God. So I made a list of ten things, and if you would answer yes, if you think it definitely exists, no, if you think it definitely doesn't exist, and maybe, if you think it could exist. I am curious as to how diverse the answers will be, or if atheists will have a fairly common response.

1. Aliens
2. Ghosts
3. Bigfoot
4. ESP
5. Astrology
6. Reincarnation
7. JFK Conspiracy
8. Telekinesis
9. Numerology
10. Hypnosis

And as a control:
11. God

Well, except for Trout the answers have been very consistent. Which I find very interesting. What's interesting is that Atheists, with no formal communication among themselves, have a very consistent set of beliefs, yet Christians who have had thousands of years to work their beliefs out, can't seem to agree on some of the very basic tenets of their own faith.

That I find very interesting.

I see some disension has begun to set in, perhaps all atheists don't think alike.

Interesting, very interesting.

All of these great answers make me wish that this forum allowed for a more open debate. There are so many answers to which I would like to respond, but this is not the place for it.

It's a shame.

Effettal: I looked at your evidence for hypnosis and found it to be extremely weak.
Every activity from eating to watching TV to writing to Yahoo! answers will produce a specific neurological response, this is not evidence for hypnosis at all. Also I could cite many studies refuting hypnosis as anything more than peopole who are consciously susceptible to suggestion.

But you are free to believe whatever you like, and I appreciate the input. After all, that's what I was asking for. So thank you

Answer 1

Excellent question! How about that folks, an actual thinker! I think I will find the answers as intriguing as you do, Timon... But beware, where others write sentences, I tend to write a book... :)

First let me answer the control question so you'll know where I am coming from. As to belief in God, I am agnostic. I have no empirical evidence, and thus no reason to believe that God exists. On the other hand, I think it is illogical to be an atheist, for it is equally impossible to know beyond doubt that God (or gods) does not exist. Now to your list...

1. Aliens - I think it is extremely unlikely that of all the billions or trillions of planets in the universe, that Earth is the only one that supports life. Therefore, I believe that life at all stages, from primordial self-replicating molecules to intelligences so far beyond ours that we cannot even imagine or conceive of them. That is not to say that I believe the Earth is being visited by alien life forms in UFO's. The vast, nearly inconceivable distances between stars, let alone galaxies, seems to make that extremely unlikely. On the other hand, given the possibility of those superior intelligences, that possibility cannot be ruled out.

2. Ghosts - No, I do not believe in ghosts, at least not in the ethereal, metaphysical sense. I believe there is a life energy in each of us, a part of the energy store of the universe, but I do not believe that we have a "spirit" in the sense of a "ghost" that continues our individual personalities after death. I find it even less likely that if there was some individual personality to our spirits, that they would want to hang around the Earth once freed from our bodies, just to pester and frighten the living.

3. Bigfoot - Who's to say there is not some enourmous bear or ape-like creature, either in the Pacific Northwest or in the Himalayas? I think, like in the case of Nessie, that it is extremely unlikely since no verifiable evidence of it exists.

4. ESP - I think most "seers" and "prophets" who claim to use ESP to read thoughts, and especially to talk to the dead, are simply charlatans. However, we do know the brain operates on electrical impulses, and we know that electrical impulses can be sensed at a distance by magnetic induction. So I do think that the possibility exists that some human's brains are more sensitive to the electrical impulses in the brains of other human beings, but again, there is no empirical evidence for this so it remains only in the realm of the possible, not necessarily of reality or even likelihood.

5. Astrology - Bunk

6. Reincarnation - Who is to say? When we die, the molecules of our bodies return to the Earth and to Nature, and ultimately reappear in other living things, plant, animal, or even human. If we do have an inner life force, an energy that gives us life, it is not unreasonable to believe that it too might reappear in other living things. Do I believe that I might come back as a fish, or as a galactic colonist some day, and have latent memories of this life? Not likely, but I cannot rule that out either.

7. JFK Conspiracy - I really, really want to believe that there was more to the JFK assassination than one nutcase acting alone, particularly when the same thing is said about the Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King assassinations. However, there is no unquestionable evidence, so until there is I have to believe that there was no conspiracy.

8. Telekinesis - Possible, but unlikely and if possible, extremely rare. See ESP.

9. Numerology - Bunk and nonsense.

10. Hypnosis - I do believe that people can be hypnotized, and can have post-hypnotic suggestions instilled into their consciousness, the key word being "suggestions." I do not believe that most, or any, stage hypnotists are any more real than the "magic" of David Copperfield. But I do believe that hypnosis is not only possible, but that it happens all the time in advertising for example.

Ask me what time it is, and I'll tell you how a watch is made. Hope it wasn't too boring, and that it helped with your research. It was interesting to write, at least.

Answer 2

I'm not a true atheist, but here goes:

1. Maybe
2. No
3. Maybe-but leaning towards No.
4. No
5. No
6. No
7. No
8. No
9. No
10. No

11. God of the Bible, Koran, Torah, etc.- No.
Is there a possibility there is some higher intelligence we don't know about that was here before we or the universe was? Maybe.

Answer 3

1. Yes. Impossible for them not to exist. Though I do not believe they come to Earth to give anal probes.

2. No
3. No
4. No
5. Ish - I can see some things are likely, but putting 6 billion people into 12 categories is pushing it a bit.
6. No
7. Which one?
8. Possible.
9. See five, but change 12 categories to 10.
10. Yes. Been there, done that. Regressive Hypnotherapy no.

11. No - I am an atheist after all.

Answer 4

1.no
2.no
3.no
4.no
5.no
6.no
7.maybe
8.no
9.no
10. maybe to some extent with certain individuals
11.no

Answer 5

I'm agnostic but I'll give it a shot

1. Yes
2. No
3. No
4. No
5. No
6. No
7. Not sure, I haven't really studied it.
8. No
9. No
10. Yes
11. Not sure

Answer 6

1. Life on other planets, definitely. Are they advanced enough to visit? Doubtful.
2. No
3. I think I used to have him as a neighbor.
4. No, just very good guesses.
5. LOL
6. In a previous life, I was a penguin.
7. Not today (Ask me again next week).
8. No.
9. I've told you a million times.... no.
10. Doubtful, but there are a lot of suggestible and gullible folks out there.
11. No. And no possibility, either.

Answer 7

Aliens - Don't see why not, there's enough planets that the possibility is better than not f'ing likely

Ghosts - There have been more ghost sightings than God sightings. I'd say about 10% yes.

Bigfoot - I don't think so.

ESP - Yeah I can see it.

Astrology - No.

Reincarnation - Yes, but not in the most literal of senses, kind of a returning to the essence type thing.

JFK - Meh. 9/11 look into it!

Telekinesis - Be the spoon....no

Numerology - No.

Hypnosis - Yes.

Answer 8

1. Aliens - YES, I think it is mathematically probable
2. Ghosts - DON'T KNOW. I have experienced "things", but I can't explain them so I reserve judgment
3. Bigfoot - NO
4. ESP - DON'T KNOW. I have also experienced things of this nature, but whether it was what we call esp or just coincidence, I can't say
5. Astrology - NO
6. Reincarnation - NO
7. JFK Conspiracy - DON'T KNOW enough about the conspiracy theories to have an opinion
8. Telekinesis - NO
9. Numerology - NO
10. Hypnosis - YES, to the extent that the power of suggestion can influence behavior, such as helping someone to quit smoking or recover a lost memory (not getting people to cluck like chickens at the ring of a bell or anything of that nature)
11. God - NO

Answer 9

1. Aliens (NO) life on other planets (yes)
2. Ghosts (NO)
3. Bigfoot (NO)
4. ESP (maybe...but probably NO)
5. Astrology (maybe...but probably NO)
6. Reincarnation (NO) (my friend has a great theory though)
7. JFK Conspiracy (hm...NO)
8. Telekinesis (NO)
9. Numerology (NO)
10. Hypnosis (YES)
11. God (probably NO)

Atheist in my mind
Buddhist @ heart.
Catholic with the family...

Answer 10

1. Aliens - Probable life elsewhere... as to the complexity of that life, I think the more complex, the less likely it is.
2. Ghosts - No
3. Bigfoot - No
4. ESP - Hmm. Most likely, I think what we interpret as "reading minds" is really reading environmental cues with our subconscious.
5. Astrology - No.
6. Reincarnation - No.
7. JFK Conspiracy - No.
8. Telekenesis - No.
9. Numerology - No.
10. Hypnosis - I think that making suggestions can cause a certain amount of influence to be exerted on another person. Beyond that, I don't know enough about the scientific research on the subject to make a judgment one way or the other.

11. God - The only thing you must be able to say you don't believe in to be an atheist... so yeah, definitely don't believe in a god.

Answer 11

1. Maybe (seems likely)
2. No
3. No
4. No
5. No
6. No
7. No
8. No
9. No
10. Maybe
11. Well, then I wouldn't even be able to answer your question if the answer would be "yes". Is "f*** no" a choice?