Is atheism a delusion?

Question

Are those who believe:

that there is no God just because they don't see him physically;

that there is no higher power to whom they are accountable;

that people can basically do whatever they want without any certain consequences (because it APPEARS to be the case);

that there are no moral absolutes because it is more convenient that way for many;

in a state of delusion?

Answer 1

Yes, they are most definately in a state of delusion. If they took the time to study their conscience and heart, they know deep inside there is something (actually, God) telling them right from wrong, and that there is a divine plan (Creation) for the universe.

Answer 2

No. There are many other reasons for doubting the existence of something other than being able to see it. I don't see my consciousness, but I cannot doubt that I think. My higher power is almost necessarily not going to match your higher power idea, for idea. Your 3rd and 4th point are similar so I will say that many different ethical systems exist without reference to consequences. The idea that an action is right because I will be rewarded for doing it or wrong because I will be punished for not doing it, is a form of hedonism and not at the top of the moral list.

You stand the world upon its head when you claim that those who seek to understand and to discover their way through reason are deluded, while those who claim to be in personal contact with the almighty creator of all things are sober realists.

Answer 3

that there is no God just because they don't see him physically;

There is no observable evidence for the existence of God. It is entirely within the realm of faith. Even you have to admit that believing in God requires faith. Faith wouldn't be necessary if he made himself readily apparent.

An atheist does not deny the existence of wind, just because you can't see wind. You can sense it with your sense of touch, and you can observe the movement of the trees. There's a difference between not believing in something that your eyes tell you isn't there, and believing in something because the mob tells you it is there.


that there is no higher power to whom they are accountable;

What sounds better to you; a person who holds themselves accountable to themself, because doing the right thing is an end in itself, or someone who holds themself accountable to God, because if you don't do the right thing, God punishes you.


that people can basically do whatever they want without any certain consequences (because it APPEARS to be the case);

Are you really that presumptuous as to suggest that there has never been a virtuous non-christian? Haven't you ever heard of Aristotle? he wrote of the "man of virtue", with virtue being the act of doing the right thing without the threat of punishment. The Christian ethic is completely based on threats and punishments: do the right thing, or God will send you to the place of fire and brimstone and suffering.

Not to mention God is generous with forgiveness, so Christians can easily justify "cheating" ethically because, in the end, God will forgive them. An atheist who holds his own moral code as the highest value does not have such an easy crutch; cheating only hurts his own values


that there are no moral absolutes because it is more convenient that way for many

Just because some invisible dude who could kick our butts isn't spoon-feeding morality to us doesn't mean we don't believe in moral absolutes.

And before you try to pirate phrases, you should be sure that what you are trying to steal isn't well known, particularly when not too long ago there was a New York Times best seller named "The God Delusion". Trying to turn it around isn't helping your case.

Answer 4

An atheist is not necessarily a person who disbelieves in a god of any kind, usually they don't believe in churches, selling all their particular brands of religion at any price.

It also can be apparent they're much truer to their surroundings, and be very well liked personages.

A religious zealot will of course debunk this. An atheist doesn't take money from the less unfortunate on a Sunday, though they may run a red light by accident.

Answer 5

If you need a delusional, fictional or mythical character to tell you what's wrong and to prevent you from doing wrong -- you'll go to hell after all, then we are very different people.

I have no criminal record. I respect others because I that is how I choose to conduct myself. I don't need a religion to tell what allows for the goals and interests that I have in being a member of a society.

If you need that, so be it.

Ironically, most jails and prisons are populated with religious folks with a fixed moral code. The US, as another example, has a phenomenal divorce rate for a nation of people who should not be coveting one another. The sex industry and sex trade industry indicate that despite claims of being religious that the overwhelming majority are doing all sorts of things that their religions says that they shouldn't.

We could do some research and find out about consequences. How many religious people have records for the rapes, mugging, robbery, murder, etc. We could also contrast this with the number of atheists who have committed similar crimes.

Answer 6

I don't think that describing atheists as delusional is any More helpful than calling theists delusional. Every person thinks about the possibilities and comes up with their beliefs. Atheists and theists alike should be kinder and less dogmatic toward each other. I suggest avoiding the anti-other attitude and more understanding of the arguments for each side. Mean-spirited criticisms and name-calling changes nothing and is immature to boot.

BTW, this Q belongs in the R&S category bec it was not worded in a philosophical context.

Answer 7

Do you see Allah or Yu Ti or Brahma? How can you say your deity is the true one? People in the Bible claimed to see Yahweh. I know many things I do not see exist, but gods are a different story. The Bible is strong proof that its god does not exist, because it is full of contradictions and ignorant of science. You are oversimplifying. You try to make it seem anyone who disagrees with you is dumb, but you should consider that it may be the other way around. I behave much better than my Christian sister and many other hypocrites who attend church regularly. I do not need any higher power to make me behave well. It is just children or immature adults who do that. You should check on your silly assumptions here. You are violating some rules in the Bible to lie about me and try to glorify yourself at my expense. How about he Golden rule, love they neighbor and judge not lest you be judged?

Answer 8

element one, it is to no longer do with seeing him bodily, it is approximately there no longer being a shred of information for him. element 2, it is a incredibly shakey ethical attitude to account to your movements if it is basically because of the fact you experience you're in charge to a "greater means". element 3, see element 2. element 4, Morality isn't a count number of absolutes and in addition to, it is extremely people who regard it in those words that locate it handy. The delusions lie in blind faith. some people desire to question and attempt concepts, ethical and in any different case, quite than merely settle for what they have been advised.

Answer 9

perhaps it is the believers have delusions...
they base there faith mainly on:
a book written and read by old men that, despite being kind heard a voice in there head (today we put those people in mental institutions)
miracles that are rarer than shark bites (we can usually call them coincidence)
fear of persecution (in this world and the next that they think is coming)
so perhaps the atheists have lost a beautiful illusion but it is there choice and your god gave it to them.
as well crime and flexible morals are not traits of atheists those are traits of humans. animals (the extreme atheists)have never committed a crime have they?

Answer 10

Believing in something simply because you want to with no evidence to support it is the definition of "self delusion".

Answer 11

The same argument can be put to believers:

They don't see him but they say he is there

Some of them bomb abortion clinics because "God told them to"

That they can do or say anything to anyone because it is "God's will"

Are they in a state of delusion?