Its not uncommon to hear Christians talk about doubts. They are treated almost as an important part of humanity, and even essential to the Christian walk. In contrast, you seldom hear atheists talk about the doubts of atheism.
Do they have them? If so, what are they about?
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I practice doubt (verb) more than have doubts (noun).
Nice try but not true. Atheists who come to an understanding of atheism through religion are constantly expressing doubts, They join organizations like this to alieve those doubts. They have great difficulty not thinking about hell, eternal punishment, or damnation. They catch the old tapes playing round and round in their heads and enough return to their religiosity to make it a significant concern for organizations who try to and want to offer support.
You and I may not have any questions about the way we think and feel regarding religion and God, but until the majority of the atheists have read all the books we have read, shared the experiences we have had, and reach some sort of paradigm shifrt, where critical thinking, facts, and evidence become important, I think we will continue to see many atheists struggle with atheism.
I suppose that's true, since I've seen a few posts mention a fear of hell. Perhaps a better question would be if those that never were religious ever have doubts about their atheism.
John 6IX Breezy,
Do you have doubts about the existence of these gods?
https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2013-10/enhanced/webdr02...
https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2013-10/enhanced/webdr01...
https://discoveringegypt.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/godsAmun.jpg
https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/photo/statue-of-ganesha-a-deity-of-in...
Do you have any doubts about your disbelief in Zeus? Or are you THAT closed minded?
No, I don't.
Doubts? Without evidence? No.
But sometimes when I feel lost,alone and unable to cope, it would be great to dump everything in the lap of something that could sort it out. Then I could curl up in a ball and suck my thumb while my world goes to shit around me.
I learnt from my 30 odd years studying Zen as part of my martial art training that finding inner rest and that calm in the centre of the storm the practical way to correct my behaviour and thoughts. How we regard the world around us is the start of conflict; changing that can change the outcomes.
The premise is wrong Breezy. Christians have a belief to doubt. Atheist just don't believe what christians may or may not be doubting. Atheism isn't a belief to doubt.
@mykcob4
The premise is wrong Breezy. Christians have a belief to doubt. Atheist just don't believe what christians may or may not be doubting. Atheism isn't a belief to doubt.
Atheism is a belief. Let's say there is a closed room, into which you have no access at all, whatsoever. In such a scenario, to assert that there is someone in that room or to assert that there is nobody in that room - both are equally weighted, and both are merely dogmas. The logical position would be to say "I don't know."
"Atheism is a belief."
No it isn't.
Atheism
Noun
disbelief or lack of belief in the existence of God or gods.
Is your disbelief in Thor a belief? Or do you believe in Thor perhaps?
If you have no opinion about whether gods exist, then you are an atheist. This involves no dogma whatsoever. In addition, to say "I know" need not be any more dogmatic than to say "I don't know."
https://i.imgur.com/3MPM9I9.jpg
ROYISM,
There are countless modern ways to determine if someone is in a closed room without actually entering the room. The only reason you may not know if there is or isn't someone in a closed room in the year 2018 is because you are not using modern technology to determine the reality.
"Atheism is a belief"
i laughed at this..hahah
it only shows that......hhmm..
well i don't wanna judge..
No Royism
Atheism is NOT a belief. It is the lack of belief. You believe in a god and profess that your god is true. I don't believe that your god is real. Your scenario isn't valid. That isn't a statement that defines atheism.
The better scenario is you say there is a god, I say do you have any proof. You can't provide any and say you have to have faith. I say I don't believe you so I don't have any faith.
"Atheism is a belief. Let's say there is a closed room, into which you have no access at all, whatsoever. In such a scenario, to assert that there is someone in that room or to assert that there is nobody in that room - both are equally weighted, and both are merely dogmas. The logical position would be to say "I don't know.""
Atheism
noun
disbelief or lack of belief in the existence of God or gods.
You're wrong, and your analogy is farcical. However to put it in perspective a more accurate scenario would be a room neither of us can see into to, and you claiming to believe there is a man in it, and me saying I can't see any evidence for that and so not believing the claim.
FYI it's farcical because the truth of a claim a man is in a room has a degree of probability that is as far removed from the claim a supernatural deity exists as it's possible to imagine.
I doubt the truth of your claims.
Brilliant, I doubt I can take much more of Breezy's absurdly tedious attempts to reverse the burden of proof. As if anyone is fooled into not noticing he can demonstrate no evidence for his beliefs.
Let's face it, the idea of "Heaven " is more pleasant and easier to deal with than the idea of eternal "nothingness". Especially when you grew up with the mythology. But deep down, I know it's mythology. No doubts here. Only doubts are how many other people share my (lack of) beliefs.
Hmmm. I disagree. One can call it heaven, but once you have experienced all of these great things and the excitement is gone, but then your stuck.... For EVER, that would seem more like an eternal hell to me.
On the other hand, eternal nothingness seems not only natural, but no sweat whatsoever :)
Make no doubt about it, undoubtedly, if I had any doubts, it's seriously doubtful those doubts would be doubted by other doubters in the same doubting fashion in which said doubts would be worthy of being doubted.
Oh, I doubt that TM.
@Old Man
You're such a doubter!
Well I was never religious. And yes, I doubt that god is real (hint: that is why I'm an atheist).
@ Nyarl
Well I was never religious. And yes, I doubt that god is real (hint: that is why I'm an atheist).
If you doubt that god is real, then you aught to be agnostic not an atheist.
Agnostic
noun
a person who believes that nothing is known or can be known of the existence or nature of God.
Do you generally believe things exist that you can know nothing about? There's an invisible unicorn in front of you, it can't be detected in any empirical way. Now that I have created an un-falsifiable claim, you can only be agnostic about it, does this mean you now believe it is there?
I think people are unintentionally side stepping the question. It's easy to doubt the claims of others, and doubt the things you already don't believe. Much harder are the doubts stemming from your own claims, your own position, your own beliefs.
That is what having doubts mean after all. It's an internal loss of balance as you check the stability of your own tight ropes.
Do you ever have doubts about your atheism?
My claim: I don't think god is real.
I am 100% certain that is my claim.
That is why your question is kind of silly.
Do you really think that is what I'm asking? If you're certain that the claims you made, are made by you?
Breezy "Much harder are the doubts of your own claims, your own position, your own beliefs. Do you ever have doubts about your atheism?"
Atheism isn't a belief. How do you doubt a non-belief? Do you doubt your non-belief in Apollo?
John 6IX Breezy,
I simply don't give a rat's ass if any or all of these god characters exist = http://www.graveyardofthegods.org/deadgods/listofgods.html.
Which ones, if any, are you atheistic about?
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