Is it even possible for an atheist to be deluded by not believing in any higher powers?

Question

What I think many non-atheists fail to realize is that their god or gods that they believe in wholeheartedly come under the broad category of non-perceivable objects. A non-atheist saying there is a god is exactly the same as someone pointing to an empty space in front of them and claiming that there is a pot of gold right there but only that person can see it. What non-atheists believe in is limited only by their imagination and if it is a task for other people to disprove what a non-atheist believes then it is a task with no end because there is an infinite number of non-perceivable objects that can be imagined. Even if I could provide you guys with indisputable proof that your beliefs are not true, you’d probably just make up some other weird stuff to believe in, like Scientology. Why don’t you people understand this? What’s wrong with you guys?

Answer 1

I highly recomend printing one of these and assembling it.
http://www.grand-illusions.com/opticalillusions/three_dragons/

This dragon illusion can be viewed on youtube but the real model is much more effective.

It demonstrates that we are all delusional, it also demonstrates just how strong and normal seeming our delusions are.

Even when you make this model illusion and understand how it works it is almost impossible to avoid the delusion our brain manages to create a live moving dragon out of.

There are implications in this for delusional thinking related to God.

It reminds me to try being a little more gentle with people who have not seen enough of the illusion to recognize their delusion, and to try to get them to look at the edges of their faith, or maybe even the back side of it.
It is true that many priests are actually atheist who regard the illusion of God as socially useful.

Answer 2

There is a big difference between an invisible entity that must exist according to modal logic and an empty space. You seem to think that all theists believe in God just "because," without any rational arguments to substantiate the belief. Nothing could be farther from the truth. I recommend that you study theistic apologetics for a while and check out the best arguments that theistic philosophers have to offer. You will still be an atheist, but at least you won't be quite so perplexed over why some people believe in God.

Answer 3

I did a quick poll to discover the way that atheists and theists may think differently.

It was interesting as all of the atheists who responded said they would believe in a god if there was sufficient undeniable evidence. Proof that they are open to having their beliefs changed.

Meanwhile all the theists (except one pagan/wiccan) stated that there could be no evidence that would change their mind. They seem to 'pre-deny' any such evidence, even in a hypothetical situation.

Answer 4

>>"come under the broad category of non-perceivable objects."<<

incorrect.

the fact that *you* cannot perceive it, does not mean its entirely inperceivable.

>>"Why don’t you people understand this?"<<

probably for the same reason you don't understand the possibility of some people being able to perceive things that you cannot.

color is a "non perceivable quality" to people who are born entirely blind. the fact that in this case, the MAJORITY happen to be "blind" does not change the validity of what the ones who can see, do see.

can you remotely imagine the possibility that perhaps you are simply unable to perceive something that is there?

do all of your perceptions rely on validation from others?

if you were one sighted person in a room with 10 people who were born entirely blind, and you saw something in color, would you doubt the validity of that perception, because none others immediately present, could perceive it?

not likely.

how many would you need to confirm it? how many "against" you, would be needed to make you doubt it? 10? 50? 100? 1000? what ratio of "belief" vs "disbelief" in the existance of color, would be neccesary to make you entirely certain? to make you doubt it?

just something to think about.

Answer 5

because of the fact they have not been taught to contemplate any opportunities previous the theory that their critiques, ideals, and teachings approximately God are the genuine actuality approximately God. To be honest, there are some atheists who additionally purchase into this fake dichotomy, arguing as though the only recommendations are the fundamentalist deity or atheism. yet, additionally to be honest, there are various theists and atheists who recognize that there are different opportunities of theory, and that we are each figuring out on the opportunities that resonate maximum with ourselves.

Answer 6

I'm not a athiest I understand what the bible teaches.

God created Angels for his amusment, he was bored in heaven. But the Angels failed to amuse him so he created men. Men refused to listen to him so he flooded the earth and millons of people drowned. They must have deserved it because they wouldn't help Noah put animals on his boat.

God was so mad he said he would give men a second chance so he placed his seed in Mary to bear his own child. God comes before any earthly mans right to not have your wife cheat on you. Joseph didn't mind that his wife had a baby with God he wasn't insecure like men of today.

God set it up so his own son would be nailed to a cross and decided he would die to show his creations they have a second chance. Now if you refuse to believe in God now he will send you to a pit in the middle of earth were it is very hot and you will burn forever, you can't die you will just burn.

God is mad at anyone that doesn't do what he say's. So say the God almighty, King of peace and love.

Answer 7

by NOT believing?

i fail to see how. thats like saying children have a better grip on reality if theyre told Santa Clause and the Tooth Fair yare 100% real.

right, the burden of proof is on those who make the claims. or as Carl Sagan said "extreme claims call for extreme evidence".

whats wrong with them is that they simply choose to beleive. most do it because they want to or need to for some reason. or they were brought up in their beleif and know no other way of thinking.

what amazes me is that with our level of intelligence and societal status we still have so many people more than willing to beleive that mythological characters are real simply because they offer the best door prizes or threaten us with pain and suffering.

the logic of children i say.....of children!!!

Answer 8

Atheism is as much a matter of faith as any bona fide religion. Or, even, non-bona fide religion.

Our experiences and emotions are what lead us to find solace in any faith. Some people find solace in the absence of a god while others feel more comfort in knowing that there is someone or something watching over us, guiding us, and supporting us.

Either way, God, gods, Scientology aliens, or no gods, it all comes down to faith. Your knowledge of what is true is every bit as legitimate as any atheists for his or her truth.

Any of us can only ever know what we know. As many atheists can be converted to any other religion as Christians can to any other religion, including atheism.

Getting all angry and self-righteous about it never does anything to change another's system of beliefs.

IMHO, it is as arrogant for a atheist to claim those with religion are mindless sheep as it is to claim that atheists or those of differing faiths (even Scientologists, desperate as they are) are deluded for their beliefs.

If you really want to try to affect change in the way others think try treating them as equals. Respect their views and their ideas. Let them try to convert you while letting them know, respectfully, your own views.

Belief comes in compelling discussions. It comes when and only when we want to believe. We can be helped in wanting to believe when we learn of things that we want to believe in.

I'm agnostic. In terms of religion I believe in nothing but I also believe in the legitimacy of all religions, faiths, and spiritualities. Well, except those that require a portion of your income or incest or the likes. Those are just very evil scams praying on others and born of very, very disturbed minds...

Anywho...

I think it is important that we, as people, explore what it means to be human and find whatever it takes (within reason) to give us reason to continue that search, to always try to become more than what we are even if we realize we can never become perfect (especially because... perfection is boring!).

What's more I think we can all become even just a little more than we are by considering the legitimacy of views, ideas, beliefs, opinions, and faiths that differ from our own.

Answer 9

hey I'm an atheist too , but don't stress yourself who cares , if people want to believe in unicorns and leprechauns in order to be good persons , then let them do it. hell , I think its kinda funny , how they desperately try and hold on to their beliefs even with all the science and technology we have today.

Answer 10

If you proved their god did not exist then they would just say it was the devil trying to lead them astray.

Isn't it curious, inventing a second imaginary being to try to defend a belief in the first. Thats just warped.