"I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours."
-- Stephen Roberts
What would lead a fully mature individual who had been living in a void without information regarding our own world, and who came into our own world, to believe in a God or any religion? So long as he didn't succumb to the fallacies of those who would say there is any value in faith, and understood the concepts of critical thinking, what observations could he make that would lead him to such an idea as the existence of a diety, or the validity of faith?
I submit that there are none.
If you accept that we come into this world with knowledge of nothing at all, not even a God, then you must admit that the default view of the world must be that of an atheist. Unfortunately a young child hasn't the tightest grasp on logic or critical thinking, though if he did, what then would lead him to have faith in anything, or conclude that there is a God(s). If atheism is the default view of the world, which can be kept through simple lack of evidence, then it becomes apparent that Atheism doesn't even need to be defended or supported as a position (Which is not to say that it should not be when attacked, or that it can not be), the burden of proof then lies with the religious who claim to have information which goes against that which could otherwise be clearly seen? The answer in most cases that to support religion one doesn't need information, that faith is supposed to fill that void. What is faith, though? Nothing more than belief without information. How can one draw a conclusion without knowing anything, though?
What can you offer me in support of your belief in a God, or any other mystic ideal? I'm an open minded individual, and like to keep my view of the world dynamic, though only so long as a new idea presented can be supported and logically proven.
What can you offer me to make me believe?
-- Stephen Roberts
What would lead a fully mature individual who had been living in a void without information regarding our own world, and who came into our own world, to believe in a God or any religion? So long as he didn't succumb to the fallacies of those who would say there is any value in faith, and understood the concepts of critical thinking, what observations could he make that would lead him to such an idea as the existence of a diety, or the validity of faith?
I submit that there are none.
If you accept that we come into this world with knowledge of nothing at all, not even a God, then you must admit that the default view of the world must be that of an atheist. Unfortunately a young child hasn't the tightest grasp on logic or critical thinking, though if he did, what then would lead him to have faith in anything, or conclude that there is a God(s). If atheism is the default view of the world, which can be kept through simple lack of evidence, then it becomes apparent that Atheism doesn't even need to be defended or supported as a position (Which is not to say that it should not be when attacked, or that it can not be), the burden of proof then lies with the religious who claim to have information which goes against that which could otherwise be clearly seen? The answer in most cases that to support religion one doesn't need information, that faith is supposed to fill that void. What is faith, though? Nothing more than belief without information. How can one draw a conclusion without knowing anything, though?
What can you offer me in support of your belief in a God, or any other mystic ideal? I'm an open minded individual, and like to keep my view of the world dynamic, though only so long as a new idea presented can be supported and logically proven.
What can you offer me to make me believe?
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