Best Argument for Atheism?

leavingwt

My own faith did not survive an 'Outside Test for Faith'. Below, the author gives an example of how outsiders to most religions examine those religions critically, and dimiss them. Turning a critical eye towards my beliefs was a bit scary, but I decided it was the only proper thing to do, for me. I had been fooled before and wanted to 'take a breather' from such serious concerns and follow a course that "made sense" for me. For, if it doesn't make sense, I would simply be forcing myself into something and going through the motions.

Let’s imagine we’re sitting together having a relaxed, honest and open discussion about religion. On the table is a huge stack of white index cards and on each index card is one of thousands of different religions, gods, belief systems, along with arguments for believing in that particular religion or god. Maybe a card has a current religion, or maybe it has a older religion that no one believes in any more, or is largely forgotten. It doesn’t matter – the point is that they’re all here in this great big stack, except for the ones that you believe in – you religion’s not in this stack.

One at a time, I draw up a card and I read you the religion and god and arguments for why you should believe in it and you respond with the reasons you dismiss the arguments and why you don’t believe the religion or god, and I’ll write the responses down.

So we go through every argument ever made for every other religion, their gods, supposed holy books, witnesses, miracles, profits, saviors, prophecies, testimonies, answered prayers, faith claims, affects for good, archeological support; whatever the argument, we go through it. We note all your counter arguments and dismissals on the back on each card.

It won’t take long before we realize that there is a pattern. Your argument for dismissing one religion will likely be similar to a previous answer. We won’t need to write anything down any more – we can just refer back to a previous argument.

Once we get to the bottom of the stack, I take another card out of my pocket. This card has your religion and god on them, and all the arguments that you think support them. We go through that card and they are refuted referring back to arguments you made before, just as we did with all the previous cards.

The fact is that you’re an atheist in regards to thousands of other religions and gods. You already know everything there is to know about dismissing religious arguments. You’re an expert already. You rationally dismiss thousands of other religions or gods just like any atheist does. The difference is you don’t turn that critical side of your mind to your own beliefs.

http://www.religiouscriticism.com/2009/09/the-best-argument-for-atheism/

JWoods

For me, the best argument is the same best argument against flying saucers, the loch ness monster, or the sasquatch:

Total Lack of Demonstrative Physical Evidence

Elsewhere

Yup... something I like to say to hyperactive believers is: "There are literally thousands of gods and deities that various people believe in or have believed in. As an atheist, the only difference between you and me is I have eliminated that one final god that you are clinging to."

With the many thousands of gods out there... a person who believes in just one god is extraordinarily close to being an atheist.

PSacramento

I think that, no mater what, a certain amount of faith is needed, that part can't ever be overcome.

That said, I have respect for virtually every religion there is, they all seem to have soemthing of value to add to a person's life.

I don't think I could ever be an athiest, but that is for reason far above this discussion, but because I am open minded I have read books favouring the athiest argument and I am now currently reading some favouring the "rational belief" argument.

I can see the appeal of atheism for some, indeed for many.

leavingwt

PSac,

As an enlightened, non-Fundamentalist, you seem to fit the description of the person endowed with, "the God gene". For you, it "makes sense", while at the same time you candidly admit that "faith" is needed. I can totally respect and appreciate this, while recognizing that it wouldn't work for me -- at this stage in my journey.

-LWT

THE GLADIATOR

The difference is you don’t turn that critical side of your mind to your own beliefs.

The mind acts like this most of the time with religious and secular matters. It is selective. We do not really listen to other people we automatically edit what is said and remember the argument or discussion in the way we want to.

We are also often unaware of what we say and will swear that we did not say something, even though several witnesses assure us we did. People do this after a row when they are in a defensive mode.

We see the world in the way that makes sense to us and exclude what is inconvenient. If we were to consciously register every piece of information we hear or see we would be overwhelmed and break down.

Logically, all religions cannot be right - but they could all be wrong.

PSacramento

LWT,

Thanks for the kind words :)

It didn't always make sense to me...not by a long shot and for all I know, the "making sense" part right now could be a sever bout of shizophrenia !

See, I don't think we can ever get irrefutable proof, we can always chalk it up to this or that, I mean, how do we prove that we THINK?

Our brain works and we do things but does that prove we think? we can see brain activity but does that equal thought?

Faith MUST play a part, I don't see how it can't, but reason must all be there too.

Gladiator,

you said:Not all religions can be right

Well, I think that most religions are probably right about what we call "universal" truths and "moral law", even if they don't always follow them.

Can all religions be wrong?

Possibly, but possibility also means that ALL modes of think CAN be wrong, including atheism.

Mall Cop

Leavingwt. This is a good one. You are absolutely right. I have been reading books on the history of the world. They all have a theme about belief systems. History has demonstrated that "man" has made up his "GODS" and written so-called Holy Books in every culture, place and time on this planet.

When we honestly review the history and cultures of the world, one has to let go of all belief systems that have been proven to be taught depending where you were born and raised on this planet.

However, for those who cannot let go of their belief system for whatever reasons they have, I can understand that. I too at one time would not let go of the Catholic Church which I was born into. Then I did let it go and became a JW. Now at 65, I have let all the belief systems go.