Teenage Atheist Union

[Clone]

This is not a debate topic.

[Dutchy]

Oliver, if a child is born in a dark room, with no contact at all, does it believe in a god? No, it doesn't, that's what makes it an atheist.

[SafetyMoose]

Oliver, if a child is born in a dark room, with no contact at all, does it believe in a god? No, it doesn't, that's what makes it an atheist.

Well, being an atheist is the belief that god does not exist. A child born in a dark room does not accept or deny the existence of a god because they are unable to comprehend either option.

[ElMartu]

Toxic, if you don't want people posting their opinions, then you shouldn't have started the thread in the first place.

[Pandalink]

Well, being an atheist is the belief that god does not exist.

No.
Atheism is the lack of belief that god does exist.

There is a massive difference.

[Clone]

Toxic, if you don't want people posting their opinions, then you shouldn't have started the thread in the first place.

Okay then, I'll give my opinions too.

Anyone who believes in any form of deity has been brainwashed by their society, whether it be parents or school, they've been told that if they don't believe in this religion, they will be sent to hell after they die, essentially scaring belief into them. The afterlife I believe to be another factor in this, people are afraid of, and can't deal with the fact that when you die, you will rot in the ground and be forgotten in 100 years. People don't like the feeling of being worthless and meaningless, although they know it to be true. This makes them want to believe in a God, to take their chances at believing that when they die, they go to heaven. They ignore blatantly obvious contradictions in their holy book because they simply will not let all their apparent belief mean nothing. Check this for examples of this, every red arch is a contradiction. Another thing I find to be massively absurd is the fact that many theists say they believe in a deity because there's no other possible reason for us coming into existence. If you don't believe in the evolution theory, that's fine, but to instead turn to what a 2000 year old book tells you is just mad. Something not yet explained by science = God? No.

I could write much, much more, but I have to go to bed now. To summarize my opinion of religion, it's for the short-minded who are so brainwashed that they refuse to accept what's outside their little religious bubble.

[JDC]

Who the f*ck actually genuinely believes it except for some niche zealot groups?

Just about everyone who thinks the Bible is pure and indisputable fact. :devroll:

No.
Atheism is the lack of belief that god does exist.

There is a massive difference.

Exactly.

Believing that God does not exist is not Atheism, as you still believe in a deity, except that your belief in the deity centers on its absence. Atheism is the absence of any belief in a deity, including the aforementioned.

[Dutchy]

Well, being an atheist is the belief that god does not exist. A child born in a dark room does not accept or deny the existence of a god because they are unable to comprehend either option.

For the last time, Atheism is not a BELIEF. It is a NOT belief. Atheism isn't about not believing, it's NOT BELIEVING. Jeez.

Atheism is the absence of any belief in a deity, including the aforementioned.

Thank you!

[Pandalink]

What most people consider as atheism is actually antitheism.

[Gandalf]

Oliver, if a child is born in a dark room, with no contact at all, does it believe in a god? No, it doesn't, that's what makes it an atheist.

Actually it is very likely that like the caveman the child will develop explanation for the unknown by attributing it to the supernatural.

[Gandalf]

Before continuing the discussion one has to define what religion is, and what it does.
Religion is the belief in one or more supernatural beings who influence our lives by their presence and are responsible for our presence. A second element of religion which is universally present is hope.
Through these elements religion has been used to control people. By providing the poor people with hope of reward after death, they are less likely to revolt against society in life. Also providing strict rules for living right brings a discipline and level of control in a society.

Those who base their atheism on denouncing a single religion have not done their research very well. They may find inconsistencies in control guidelines written many ages ago, but there is only a small part of religion that will state every word of their history and guideines is correct, even those who claim it to be so.
There are many other religions who do not claim the impossible, and who do not believe in old men sitting on clouds.
Before renouncing religion based on a single one you got to know, it would be wise to explore other variants.

Atheism is a product of science, not a product of early mankind. You have to have a level of knowledge to find it unlikely that a supernatural power exists. There for the idea that people without contact to religion would be atheist is valid only if they would have our knowledge and experience. Without it, they would seek to find explanations for things they can not understand or control and attribute it to supernatural powers, naming these the equivalent of what we know as God.
To find evidence, just look at any ancient mythology, or at present tribes who have limited contact with the outside world. Almost all of them have religion. The argument that religion only exists by influence of society is there for invalid, and is correct only for the religion prevalent in that society.

The problem of atheism is not that is removes the element of a supernatural power. The problem is that it removes hope of an afterlife. This means that it drives materialism and removes caring for others and the society as a whole.
This is why in a society driven by atheism, these elements have to be provided in other ways. Most atheists there for show religious behaviour in their support of a brand or person.

[Huntsman]

You disgust me..


http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2002/01/02/soul.aspx
http://usahitman.com/photo-soul/

[Gandalf]

You disgust me..


http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2002/01/02/soul.aspx
http://usahitman.com/photo-soul/

Neither articles provide scientific proof that has been accepted without doubt. There are many unknown factors in our brains that could actually contribute to this, and the weighing of a soul has been impossilbe to be reproduced.
Even if true, the existence of a soul does not prove the existence of any religious God to be true, especially as the NDE seems to be culturally bound.

[SafetyMoose]

For the last time, Atheism is not a BELIEF. It is a NOT belief. Atheism isn't about not believing, it's NOT BELIEVING. Jeez.
Thank you!

The theory or belief that God does not exist.
- Oxford English Dictionary

Seems to be officially recognised as a belief  :roll:

[Dutchy]

The theory or belief that God does not exist.
- Oxford English Dictionary

Seems to be officially recognised as a belief  :roll:

Is the child born in a dark room without any contact, believing in a deity? No. Is there not believing in a deity? Yes. When you don't believe in a deity, you don't believe in a deity! It's not that you have to actively think about NOT believing in a deity.. Does the child say: God does not exist? No, the child says nothing, not even about a deity, which makes it NOT believe in a deity, which makes the child a fucking atheist!!