Is being an Atheist also include the choice to not believe in "anything" without substantial evidence?
Using the parachute analogy, would the Atheist have faith that the parachute will open during a weekend skydiving adventure?
Or that the bungee cord will not break when jumping off a bridge after paying a company to set up the event for yourself and possibly others?
2007-10-08 14:39:34 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
BTW "lovely"... How did you extrapolate that I have no respect for other points of view? Did you read my prior questions and answers first? Were you aware that I have Atheists in my network that I email, and that answer my questions quite thoughtfully and honestly?
2007-10-08 14:54:11 · update #1
Being an atheist means you don't believe in ANY gods or goddesses. The rest in individual choice.
Personally, I see no reason to jump out of a perfectly sound plane or to tie a rubber band around my fat *** and jump off a bridge.
2007-10-08 14:43:57 · answer #1 · answered by atheist 6 · 4⤊ 1⤋
The parachute is actually there as is the bungee cord. The faith is whether it will work properly and as it is intended. So substantial evidence in my mind doesnt apply. Its a series of events in the production of both items when they are made and if they were properly set up by the human being in each scenario. None of which have anything to do with supernatural or a deity. So its hard for me to put them in the same category. The only thing I see similar is blind faith, one in a deity and the other in hoping someone didnt screw my parachute up when he or she packed it.
2007-10-08 22:09:20 · answer #2 · answered by jason h 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sure you can have "faith" - when there is a rational basis for it.
Using the parachute analogy - parachutes have been demonstrated to work repeatedly. Same with bungee cords. There is plenty of evidence and factual data to support their reliability so that the user can have a reasonable expectation of success.
"Gods" can't be demonstrated to be reliable about anything - unless it happens to be ignoring the prayers of their followers down at the worst possible times. That's why "faith" in a god is irrational.
2007-10-08 21:50:34 · answer #3 · answered by 222 Sexy 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Parachutes are designed to open, catch the air, and reduce the acceleration caused by gravity. They have been used for nearly half a century, and have been in practice professionally, militarily, and for personal enjoyment.
In the hundreds of thousands of parachuting jumps, only a tiny, tiny fraction have ever resulted in death.
Bungee cords are designed in a similar vein. They have been tested and used for more than a quarter century, and as with parachutes have been tested, designed, retested and redesigned for optimal performance and safety. In all of the thousands of bungee jumps, only a handful have ever resulted in injury or death.
There is sufficient evidence that I would survive a parachuting or bungee jumping event.
Faith is belief in something in spite of or in contrast to evidence. I.e. jumping out of a plane naked and expecting to survive.
2007-10-08 21:53:31 · answer #4 · answered by Dark-River 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Faith has multiple meanings. It means a lot more than just believing in the supernatural.
Parents have faith in their children's abilities.
Scientists have faith in the scientific method.
People have faith in their friends.
Theists have faith in the existence of god(s).
Drawing parallels between an atheist having faith that the parachute will open and a theist having faith in god(s) is a bit of a stretch.
2007-10-08 21:48:54 · answer #5 · answered by qxzqxzqxz 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
He wouldn't have "faith" the parachute would open, he trusts the manufacturer built a decent parachute.
Faith is believing in something for which there is no evidence.
If you skydive you have evidence most parachutes open.
Of course, that doesn't mean that your parachute will open, but it likely will based on past evidence.
2007-10-08 21:46:49 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It takes just as much faith to believe in atheism as it does to believe in God. To make the absolute statement “God does not exist” is to make a claim of knowing absolutely everything there is to know about everything – and of having been everywhere in the universe there is to go – and having witnessed everything there is to be seen. of course, no atheist would make these exact claims. However, that is essentially what atheists are claiming when they state that God does not exist.
2007-10-08 22:24:33 · answer #7 · answered by Steve 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
For me, 'faith' is synonymous with ignorance.
As far as the parachute analogy, wouldn't you test it to make sure it opened before you went skydiving? Don't patent the prototype, you know. TEST IT!
2007-10-08 21:45:57 · answer #8 · answered by beztvarny 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Yes, there is 'faith' and 'Faith'. I have 'faith' that my wife and I will live happily together for the rest of our lives. Can I prove this? No I can't. But I CAN base it on a five year, wonderful foundation we have built on already. In other words, I have a foundation in which to base my faith.
Religion has 'Faith' witch is based 100% on NO foundation at all.
2007-10-08 21:44:45 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
Come on, they have more faith than Christians. I mean, honestly. Believing we exploded into existance then accidentally evolved into intelligent beings thus forming other species of life from that same evolutionary process...
2007-10-10 21:44:34 · answer #10 · answered by spinelli 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋