Atheists Chose to be atheists?

[Skwim]

If you don't mind @Invisibilis I think this might deserve a thread.

Did atheists choose to be atheists?
I chose to be an atheist because... Do you believe atheist had a choice or something happened which caused them to become an atheist. Whatever the cause, they could not have chosen otherwise. Meaning it would have been impossible for an atheist to have made the choice to be a believer.

Or could an atheist sit aside all of their skepticism and choose to believe in God.

My first question would be which God. Atheism is really one "choice" among many possible choices. Lots of Gods one could choose to believe in. So with of all of the Gods available to believe in, could you choose a different God?

As a hard determinist I contend that nobody chooses anything, including their positions on religious issues. Therefore I have to say, No, I did not choose to be an atheist. However, I can see what brought me to my lack of belief in the existence of a god, the lack of compelling evidence. Simple as that.

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[Valjean]

In those stories lies the truth, and insights for the seekers. You call them stories, yet to me, they prove everything we need to know about the world to be guided.

You're concept of proof is clearly different from that of the intellectual crowd. To prove is not synonymous with "convince."

The Navajos, the Hindus and the Sikhs say the same thing about their stories, as did all the myriad peoples throughout history. This might have been convincing had the stories agreed, but they don't/didn't. There are even disagreements within particular religions.

Mathematicians, engineers and chemists agree with each other, everywhere in the world. No-one argues about the value of Pi or the melting point of tungsten. Why does no-one agree on theology? Because it's based on folklore rather than research. Because it's untested, indeed, testing is discouraged, if not illegal.

Your stories are based on faith, not on knowledge. They are no different from the stories of Thor or Quetzalcoatl.

 

[Valjean]

The arguments against command theory proves morality is necessary and eternal. This suffices to show neither natural selection nor sociology nor anything can create it from nothing including all hypothetical possible creators imagined. Morality is eternal and is created by truth of God's holy vision of himself with respect to his creation and his vision of creation with respect to himself.

This doesn't follow.
How do arguments against divine command prove anything?
I'm fine with morality, but it's my opinion that morality is more consequential than deontological. Divine command morality, like most moral codes, began as a useful tool to promote social cohesion, prosperity, co-operation and safety. But the rules only apply to specific cultural systems. If culture changes, so must the rules, lest they become dysfunctional ad harmful.
Nothing's writ in stone.

You exist no where but in his vision. You can't judge others or yourself except by ignorance if you cut away from God's light and his vision of who you are.

You're preaching again. Where is the evidence for this?

Not sure what your point is. I believe my thoughts came from logical reasoning.

But you are a thinking person. You enjoy exploring ideas. You post on RF.
You're not typical.

 

[Shad]

It was never a choice for me. I have no switch I can flip that magically makes me believe or not believe.

 

[Trailblazer]

There is another category.

Consider someone who grew up in an atheist, though not anti-theist, household. This person is curious about the nature of reality and the mind etc, and in his teens begins to explore things like self-hypnosis, out-of-body experiences, meditation and chanting.

The exploration sometimes results in significant altered states, and epiphanies.

This person recognises some of their experiences in writings from other traditions and cultures, and assumes there is a correlation.

All of this has happened without any belief in God.
However it has opened up the heart and mind to a deep primordial intelligence, however dimly sensed.

Not supernatural. Not reliant on belief or approval. Not required to present in any particular way.

Here is the difficulty. There is very little language about what that person experienced and is experiencing which does not sound mystical or supernatural or theistic.
Those terms immediately bring so much baggage not intended they can’t be used.

And it is very difficult to discuss the ‘out of the ordinary’ when many atheists react immediately to that as evidence of a supernaturalist world view, and religionists reject it out of hand on doctrinal grounds.

It’s the horns of a dilemma.

As I see it, such a person is caught in the middle so to speak, between atheists and theists....
But there are usually some open-minded people like me who they can talk to.

You said "All of this has happened without any belief in God.
However it has opened up the heart and mind to a deep primordial intelligence, however dimly sensed."

To this I say so what? What matters is what is in your heart and mind, how you treat others, and that you do good deeds. Belief does not make you a good person.

“Man is like unto a tree. If he be adorned with fruit, he hath been and will ever be worthy of praise and commendation. Otherwise a fruitless tree is but fit for fire.” Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 257

 

[Sandra Jayne]

If you don't mind @Invisibilis I think this might deserve a thread.

Did atheists choose to be atheists?
I chose to be an atheist because... Do you believe atheist had a choice or something happened which caused them to become an atheist. Whatever the cause, they could not have chosen otherwise. Meaning it would have been impossible for an atheist to have made the choice to be a believer.

Or could an atheist sit aside all of their skepticism and choose to believe in God.

My first question would be which God. Atheism is really one "choice" among many possible choices. Lots of Gods one could choose to believe in. So with of all of the Gods available to believe in, could you choose a different God?

I think there are are a number of reasons why someone becomes an atheist.

The academic who relies on their own intellect so can not believe that there maybe a being who knows and understands more than them, they are always swayed by science.

Someone who has had parents who have been religious zealots so that person is alienated and often despises any religion.

Those who has someone dear to them die, especially a child (Darwin a good example) so they cannot believe in a being who would allow these things to happen.

Someone lives a lifestyle they know they would have to change if they became a theist so usually either 'become' an atheist or choose some spiritual path that means they don't have to make any changes in their life.

There are small variations but these are the reasons I find most people are atheists.

 

[Evangelicalhumanist]

Atheism is a decision. Christianity is a decision. Advaita Vedanta is a decision.

Most thinking types make their choice based on their best reasoning. And most people can flip a time or two in their lifetimes as the correct position is not obvious.

And if that is the case, then there is no truth in religion. I return to gravity again -- you cannot choose (more than once) not to believe in it.

 

[Martin]

I can choose my beliefs. That's because there are many things I don't know for sure.

 

[George-ananda]

And if that is the case, then there is no truth in religion. I return to gravity again -- you cannot choose (more than once) not to believe in it.

Religion is not necessarily an all or nothing situation. It doesn't have to be 'all correct' or 'all hogwash'.

Everyone believes in gravity without controversy.

 

[Trailblazer]

And most people can flip a time or two in their lifetimes as the correct position is not obvious.

And who else but God knows what the "correct" decision is?

 

[George-ananda]

And who else but God knows what the "correct" decision is?

My thought is that in the end it is the quality of your heart that matters and not your religious decisions anyway.

 

[Milton Platt]

If you don't mind @Invisibilis I think this might deserve a thread.

Did atheists choose to be atheists?
I chose to be an atheist because... Do you believe atheist had a choice or something happened which caused them to become an atheist. Whatever the cause, they could not have chosen otherwise. Meaning it would have been impossible for an atheist to have made the choice to be a believer.

Or could an atheist sit aside all of their skepticism and choose to believe in God.

My first question would be which God. Atheism is really one "choice" among many possible choices. Lots of Gods one could choose to believe in. So with of all of the Gods available to believe in, could you choose a different God?

It depends upon why the atheist is an atheist. for most, it is a lack of sufficient evidence to support the various god claims out there. You don't really "choose" what to believe. You believe something because you have been convinced it is true (if you are rational). The difference is what kind and how much evidence an individual thinks is sufficient to believe a claim is true. The more outlandish a claim, the more and stronger evidence is needed.

 

[Invisibilis]

Can you really choose to believe ?
I call that pretending.

Belief is an agreement (choice), with self, on what seems to be true.

 

[Invisibilis]

Here's a twist (maybe):

Is everyone in a culture that doesn't hold the concept of a god an atheist? In this case, no choice was really made.

Everybody has some concept of a power greater than themselves.

 

[Trailblazer]

The more outlandish a claim, the more and stronger evidence is needed.

Hi Milton, I've missed you.

That's right, the more outlandish a claim, the more and stronger evidence is needed, but some beliefs are so outlandish that there could be no evidence that would ever support them.

 

[Trailblazer]

Everybody has some concept of a power greater than themselves.

Not everybody.
There are certain posters here who seem to think they are equal to God.

 

[Howard Is]

Belief is an agreement (choice), with self, on what seems to be true.

You came up with a definition just for this thread.

Belief is imagination.

Belief is hope.
Belief is fear.

Belief is an unconfirmed hunch.

Belief is a strategy.
Belief is a coping mechanism.

Belief is justification
Belief is rationalisation.

Belief is the death of courage and reason.
Belief is silly putty.
Belief is fake news.

 

[Howard Is]

Everybody has some concept of a power greater than themselves.

I would hope so, otherwise they have delusions of grandeur.

I don’t think most atheists consider themselves to be the greatest power in the universe.
Natural selection weeds them out, lol.

 

[Valjean]

As I see it, such a person is caught in the middle so to speak, between atheists and theists....
But there are usually some open-minded people like me who they can talk to.

How are you defining "atheist?"

 

[Trailblazer]

How are you defining "atheist?"

Anyone who does not believe God exists.