Why are you an atheist ?
Francois Tremblay Permalink
18 comments
I don't want any of you to answer that. What a stupid question. Asking why someone is an atheist is about as intelligent as asking why he's a round-earther, or why he thinks the sky is blue. Because we recognize the obvious !
Do we really choose to know anything ? Now, I am perhaps the stongest advocate of compatibilism you'll find, but in this case, in the sense people usually mean that, I don't choose to be an atheist any more than I choose the facts of reality. In essence, if truth is a combination of fact and method, then there is really nothing to choose here. Is there ?
We must reject any idea of description of people's beliefs as some kind of window to higher truths. If people disagree, then it means that people are irrational, not that there is a fundamental problem with rational thought. Why do we automatically assume that people are rational when we talk about what is mere preference and belief ? Derek, I'm looking at you man.
Post a Comment
18 Comments:
One of the first lessons any student encounters in introductory science courses involves different sources of knowledge. Time and time again, I am surprised at the number of students who base their beliefs about the world solely on authority (e.g., parents, church, etc.). I am becomming convinced that ignorance really is bliss.
Basically, I identified a redundancy in concept of God creating the universe.
Around eight or nine, it occurred to me how vacuous this assertion was, in that there was no evidence to even suggest that such a being exists, and that the god concept really didn't solve anything. In fact, it made it worse.
My thinking was that whether God exists or not, something exists without creation. Christians often say, "The universe can't create itself.", to which I replay, "Neither can a god."
The only difference between the universe and God, though, is that the universe is an uncreated non-consciousness, while God is an uncreated consciousness. It would seem to me that if the creator can exist without creation, then the necessity for the creator begs the question.
So I took a redundancy and reduced it to a single statement: "The universe exists." I may not know where it came from or why it exists, but it beat attributing it to ghost, whose own existence would be even more problematic. At least know that the universe exists.
What a foolish post
Franc asks: "if truth is a combination of fact and method, then there is really nothing to choose here. Is there ?"
Yes, there is still a choice to be made. We choose either to acknowledge and embrace the truth, or to evade it. Religion is simply the system of evading truth, while reason eradicates all evasion.
As for why I'm an atheist, I'm just being honest: I don't think there are any gods for the very same reason I don't think there are any square circles. I am certain that there are no square circles, and likewise I am certain that there are no gods. Why this bothers some people is what's interesting.
I love being zinged by the anonymous.
"We choose either to acknowledge and embrace the truth, or to evade it."
That is true. But the choice to evade the truth itself, is it really a choice ?
Franc: "But the choice to evade the truth itself, is it really a choice ?"
Yes.
I see your point, but epistemically, though, I don't think it really is. I don't choose the fact that evasion is evil either.
Franc: "I see your point, but epistemically, though, I don't think it really is."
I'm not sure what you're saying. Perhaps you're saying this:
1) The act of evading the truth is something one can choose, but
2) the fact that one would have to choose to evade the truth, is not itself a choice (i.e., it's a fact independent of our choices).
If that's what you mean, then yes, I agree. Was I misreading you earlier?
Franc: "I don't choose the fact that evasion is evil either."
No, I don't think this is something one chooses to be the case, either. If something is harmful for man's life, it is harmful whether anyone wants it that way or not (i.e., not open to choice). Our choices govern which actions we will take, not what conditions make our lives possible.
So Franc, why are you an atheist again?
Anon: "So Franc, why are you an atheist again?"
Why would you want to know this?
That was my whole point. There is no "why". No one should answer it.
I know, that's why I asked it! Franc, allow me to spring board off your latest post: Atheist are connection seeing retards.
Asking "Why are you an atheist?" is essentially no different from asking "Why don't you think the universe is a cartoon?"
so? my point was to ask him that after he just said he doesn't like when people ask him that. get it, Bob?
anonymous,
Hopefully I can help you out. Franc is an atheist because he recognizes reality.
So anonymous, why are you a blue-sky-ist?
"Franc is an atheist because he recognizes reality."
I would agree with you, but what does it really mean to "recognize reality", if you think about it ?
I would say I am more of an Agnostic.
<< Home