Do you even care why I'm an atheist?

Question

Most atheists answer "for lack of evidence to the contrary" but that's not why I'm an atheist... which I can only explain by way of a parable.

If I was walking through the forest and saw a tree lieing on the ground and wondered why. I might think that lighting hit it. Or I might think that termites ate away at the roots and it fell. Or I might think it died and gravity pulled it down. Or I might think a meteor hit it (like the forest in Russia). Or I might think that a passing mudslide made it fall. Or I might think that a large animal accidently hit up against it causing it to topple. Or I might think that the owner of the land cut it down - hoping to make a log cabin out of it one day - and gave up. Or I might think some other natural cause made the tree fall but I can't think what it might be. But not for a moment would it ever cross my mind to think it is on the ground because an invisible, all powerful, diety laid it there... and the same goes for every event in history.

The Confirmed Atheist!

Go ahead and post it in your 360... I'd be honored.

Answer 1

This is great... do you mind if I post it to my 360?

Edit: Thanks, I posted a link to the question and gave you the appropriate credit as well.

Answer 2

But even though you may think of several "possible" reasons why the tree fell, you know that there is only one TRUE reason why it fell, which you do not know, because you weren't there when it happened.
Another analogy would be, if you were walking through the forest and you happen to see a watch on the ground. There are no footprints anywhere, and you are in the middle of nowhere - no villages around or anything. You would have to come to the conclusion that an intelligence made the watch, that it was not the product of random effects of the wind or rain. And you would also have to conclude that an intelligence left the watch there somehow. It would be foolish to say, "Wow, look what millions of years of dirt, wind and water caused!" Now there are living beings in this world that are far more complex and designed than a simple watch, yet people want to believe that they came about by accident. That just isn't logical.

Answer 3

This actually reminds me of some of the conversations I have with my brother-in-law, my favorite atheist. If presented with the tree in the forest scenario, he would most likely come up with even more possibilities than you did -- and we would have a lively and impassioned theological discussion for quite awhile, then go in the kitchen and make some sandwiches to share.

That's sort of how I feel about why any atheist believes (or doesn't believe) what they do (or don't). It's good to discuss and debate our widely disparate views, as long as we remember when it's time to table the discussion and just enjoy each other's company as human beings instead of representatives of opposing ideologies.

Answer 4

My answer was going to be a flippant,

"I'm an Atheist and I don't even care"

But then I opened the question and read the whole thing, Your explanation of why you are an atheist is excellent and exactly how I see it. Good argument!

NB, why do Christians think that to be an Atheist means we are "Hard Hearted, Evil, Lack morals, Don't care about others, Child molesters, and so on) Very strange, We don't believe in Satan, The point is we don't believe, For gods sake! oops!

Answer 5

But this is a "for lack of evidence to the contrary" reason.


There is reasonable evidence for termites, lightning, meteors, mudslides etc. That is why you consider these possibilities. If there is no other evidence of a mudslide then you eliminate that option. If there are no burn marks then it probably was not lightning . . . .

If ther was reasonable evidence that an invisible, all powerful, deity existed then this option would fall into your list of possible causes.

But because of the "lack of evidence to the contrary" - a lack of evidence for the existence of an invisible, all powerful, deity you disregard it.

In the same way that you disregard the fact that it was pulled up by a passing dragon because there is "a lack of evidence to the contrary" with regards to the non-existence of dragons.

Answer 6

That's great. I believe you when you say you're atheist and you can believe me when I say I'm monotheist.

Although I really like your parable I do have one thing to say. What made the lightning and who made the thing that made the lightning and what created that? It all goes down to one root and we have yet to discover that one root. God or not, it's something.

I mean it doesn't end there, you as a scientist should know that. Say you are looking for life on another planet and you look at a handful of them without success, do you stop looking and say "there is no other life besides us in the Universe"? You don't stop looking until you either

A) find life on another planet

or

B) exhaust all the resources

But you NEVER EVER say that there isn't life anywhere else in the Universe.

Answer 7

Ok that sounds about right but because you do not believe doesn't make your belief right now does it. Lets say we use the tree as an example again. Now you never saw the one who planted it there but its there in your way or you choose to cut it down for whatever. That doesn't mean the one who planted it does not exits because you do not see them. Like wise with everything else like wind, oxygen, and many authors of books. You do not see the wind but because you feel it , you know its there. You may not see oxygen but you have no choice to believe you can't live without it, right? Now the library in any city has many books by different authors but because you do not eat with them, you do not say they never exited but you say that of the bible . How come you believe that there can be no invisible being (at least to us he is) way up in the Highest heaven ??? How come you refuse to take him at his word and live by faith in Him and not sight??? I fully believe like many of us on here, that if you stop doubting and seek him , you will find HIm even as Jesus is qouted saying. I have took an interest in Atheist because I almost was one but I found Him my soul loveth like King Solomon in Song of Solomon 3:1-4. It was truly just a little while and like a rabbit coming out of a hate, he said HERE AM I.

Answer 8

Just try reading a small sample of Christian postings on here!!! Intolerant, egotistical, hate filled and bigoted!! Eschewing education, science, evolution works of fiction and much, much more. Christians are the only religion opposing human rights and persecuting gays, pro choice and so much more - but far worse whilst they demand freedom of religion they deny it to all non Christians and persecute them!!! How can any christian think this intolerance, hatred and love of persecuting can possibly be linked to care?!! But whilst atheists repudiate the terrible human emotions from the BAD christians they do all they can to protect and support the small number of GOOD christians that believe in a loving god and act like it!!!

Answer 9

People are theists for lots of reasons. Some of those reasons are pretty bad because they are not rational. The argument from design is one of them. I think I understand what Aquinas was after when he set it to pen and paper, but I don't think it is at all correct.

People are atheists for lots of reason, but I do not think yours is a good one even though it may work for you. To say, "I do not believe X, because in the situation where others believe X it would never have occurred to me to believe X" is rather like saying "I do not believe in calculus because it the situation Newton was in where he started to believe, it never would have occurred to me." At least, that is how I take your point.

Good arguments for atheism are very hard to come by, perhaps even harder that for theism. There are a number of atheists whose views I respect because they grasp how hard it is; so, I commend your willingness to grapple with the issue. However, I remain unconvinced by your argument.

HTH

Charles

Answer 10

Ughhh... This situation is disgusting. This man here is trying to explain why he's Atheist, and I whole-hartedly, as a Christian, would like to hear their side of a topic. It pisses me off that Christians are simply saying, 'You're wrong'. This is why sometimes being a part of the Christian religion makes me ashamed. Because I finally see why so many Atheists do not like Christians. Because we Christians mostly generalize and try to force our own beliefs onto others, simply saying "God said so" as our motive and pushing them further away from a civilized discussion. Quit behaving like narrow-minded fundamentalists and listen before you speak. And when you do speak, give rationality a chance. Atheists are just people who are giving a view of the world, only to be met with threats of Damnation and ignorant people. Am I the only sane person here?

Answer 11

Your parable is fine. I would actually think the same thing for the most part. I think 'good karma' is a blessing from God but, that's my opinion.

You simply realize that mankind is master of its own destiny. I do too. The only difference is between you and I is what we think lies at the end of the journey.