Atheism is unnatural

[Dan_Defender]

So you don’t think family and social influence play a role here?

In some cases, but not a necessity. I would say if that were the determinant factor, there would be fewer atheists… I don’t know the statistics but it seems more common that atheists are the exception in a family rather than the whole family being atheistic.

 

[Pattylt]

it does not come naturally, otherwise it would happen more often.

But, it is happening more often now.
We tend to like answers to big questions and for thousands of years, God or gods answered them. As more big questions get answers without needing God to explain, there is less need for God to fill the gap. There are still plenty that aren’t answered, also.

It’s also more socially acceptable now. I think in years past there have always been more atheists than anyone realized. Now, they are able to come out of the closet without the severe repercussions they would have faced. I also think there are still many that have not come out yet as there are still family and societal repercussions.

 

[Dan_Defender]

My morality is a result of decisions I make and of consensus decisions in my community. This is also the way theists make moral decisions but they believe they are in some way influenced by god(s).

Supposing there existed an atheistic society, how could the moral ones impose morality on the ones who are nihilists like Nietzsche? how to justify it?

 

[JMMJ]

Atheists don’t feel the need for everyone to have the exact same morality.

 

[Zaccheus]

Given that at any point in human history, over 95% of people worldwide were/are theistic, it then follows that atheism is unnatural to the human experience.

Given that at any point in human history over 9o% of people worldwide have drunk alcohol at some point in their lives, failure to drink alcohol is unnatural.

Given that at any point in human history over 90% of adults have had sex, celibacy is unnatural.

Given that at any point in human history over 90% of people are right-handed or left-handed, ambidexterity is unnatural.

I don’t think ‘majority rules’ proves anything about this issue.

 

[Dan_Defender]

As more big questions get answers without needing God to explain, there is less need for God to fill the gap. There are still plenty that aren’t answered, also.

I don’t know about that. Astrophysicists thought they had it all figured out until the measurements pointed to the fact that the universe is still expanding in an accelerated way. That set them backwards so they had to modify the equations to include ‘dark matter’ and 'dark energy". Those two are big gaps right now.

 

[Dan_Defender]

I don’t think ‘majority rules’ proves anything about this issue.

It says something about the human experience and what we as humans have in common. I don’t agree with your other statements being analogous to the theism issue, but I leave it at that, not to go off-topic.

 

[Pattylt]

Yes, there are big gaps. Most atheists I know have no problem saying, “I don’t know”. Religions tend to answer God. But no one really knows. I’m comfortable not knowing everything, some are not.

The religious have become much more cautious proclaiming God for every unknown as answers have a tendency to become known…and every time, it doesn’t seem to be God. God seems to get pushed back a step each time science has answered an unknown. I’m sorry, but that’s how I see it.

 

[Dan_Defender]

God seems to get pushed back a step each time science has answered an unknown. I’m sorry, but that’s how I see it.

I don’t see it that way. For example, before serious DNA genetic research came along, the prevailing scientific theory was that humans could NOT be descended from a common ancestor.

 

[Dan_Defender]

I can tell you that I, as a religious person, don’t have any interest in hanging around atheist forums, so I have wondered also why atheists sometimes spend a lot of time on religious forums. Not all atheists, to be sure. Just some.

I’ve met atheists who couldn’t care less what others think. They are here to enjoy this life as much as they can because death is so final. But you are right, there are some I would call ‘preachy’ always arguing for atheism with others. To me, those are the kind they don’t want God to exist, so they are looking for validation from others.

 

[Freddy]

Freddy:

FrancisFan43:

Funny enough, most atheists believe in God enough to hate Him with a fiery passion. How can one devote so much time and emotion to someone that supposedly doesn’t exist?

Yeah. Kinda ridiculous, eh?

That seems like a broad and sweeping claim. I’m not angry at God. I don’t actually accept the existence of God at all, so being mad at him would be like being mad, from my point of view, at Santa Claus.

Maybe there are some Christians who also hate Vishnu with ‘a fiery passion’.

 

[Freddy]

FiveLinden:

My morality is a result of decisions I make and of consensus decisions in my community. This is also the way theists make moral decisions but they believe they are in some way influenced by god(s).

Supposing there existed an atheistic society, how could the moral ones impose morality on the ones who are nihilists like Nietzsche? how to justify it?

You mean how do we maintain a civil order in a secular society?

 

[FiveLinden]

Supposing there existed an atheistic society, how could the moral ones impose morality on the ones who are nihilists like Nietzsche? how to justify it?

Most western societies are now ‘atheistic’ in the sense you mean it - laws do not derive from Christian or other religious thinking. Democracy is quite a good way to sort out what we should do.

 

[Dan123]

Astrophysicists thought they had it all figured out

Citation needed.

 

[Dan123]

Supposing there existed an atheistic society, how could the moral ones impose morality on the ones who are nihilists like Nietzsche? how to justify it?

“Hey folks we all need to live together so we’re going to have a discussion about what kind of society we want to create and what rules will help us get there. Anyone who finds they disagree is welcome to form their own community elsewhere. Also expect that these ideas may grow and change over time.”

Extrapolate that out to several thousand years of human history and voila.

 

[Neithan]

It’s not excusable to abuse people because you need to “get it all out.” They should seek help, because something went psychologically wrong with them, whether or not someone to blame is religious or not.

 

[Neithan]

I realize you were being ironic, but the point is, many nones/atheists harbour some ill will.

It is also unfair to say that atheists actually have any faith, though. That also denigrates faith. What some mean, I think, is either that a metaphysically necessary existent as a logical proposition is absurd to deny, or that the vast majority of people, including atheists who accept the veridical validity of the scientific method, assumes what they cannot prove from observation or reason alone.

As for Vishnu, I’m not aware of any passionate Christian feelings towards him, but many of his followers hate us.

 

[AlNg]

As for Vishnu, I’m not aware of any passionate Christian feelings towards him, but many of his followers hate us .

And what about the attack on Hinduism by Christians who say Hindus are pagans?

The attack on Hinduism has uncanny resemblance to Christian annihilation of Paganism – A review of ‘The Darkening Age’

The current attack on Hinduism has uncanny resemblance to Christian Annihilation of Paganism | OpIndia News

www.opindia.com

Further have you read about the Goa inquisition which persecuted Hindus and others. How would you like to be burned alive at the stake or starved to death because you interfered with Portuguese attempts to convert Hindus to Catholicism? It is not fun to be burned alive and suffer these horrible flames for 6 hours from 12 noon to 6 PM. Why not leave the Hindus in peace instead of calling them pagans and demanding that they convert to Catholicism?

 

[fide]

Yes, it is in the nature of being an atheist that we do not have faith.

Yes, you do not see either the outward evidence for God - or - the point of my post: the “proof” of God that matters. That “proof” being a gift that only God can provide.

 

[Maximus1]

We exist, so there must be an explanation as to why. An ultimate explanation. Whatever that explanation, we identify it as God. Seems a perfectly natural and reasoned belief.