What is wrong with atheism ?

[Avi]

Hi guys,

I thought since T@0 is not here to defend the atheist position, it would be fun to write some criticism of atheism and see if anyone else tries to defend it.

You might wonder why I am putting this in the Christian section ?

I also thought it would be interesting to read a little more widely. So I visited an "Apologist" website and it did not take too much effort to find this discussion about the faults of atheism, so I thought it would be interesting to post to see your reaction.

So then my question is specificially about the Christian view of atheism, does everyone agree with this criticism of atheism ?

Atheism is, essentially, a negative position. It is not believing in a god, or actively believing there is no God, or choosing to not exercise any belief or non-belief concerning God, etc. Whichever flavor is given to atheism, it is a negative position.

In discussions with atheists, I don't hear any evidence for the validity of atheism. There are no "proofs" that God does not exist in atheist circles; at least, none that I have heard -- especially since you can't prove a negative regarding the existence of God. Of course, that isn't to say that atheists haven't attempted to offer some proofs that God does not exist. But their attempted proofs are invariably insufficient. After all, how do you prove there is no God in the universe? How do you prove that in all places and all times, there is no God? You can't. Besides, if there was proof of God's non-existence, then atheists would be continually using it. But we don't hear of any such commonly held proof supporting atheism or denying the existence of God. The atheist position is very difficult, if not impossible, to prove since it is an attempt to prove a negative. Therefore, since there are no proofs for atheism's truth, and there are no proofs that there is no God, the atheist must hold his position by faith.

Ref: An Apologetics Site, the specific site name withheld.

 

[Dream]

I think that only a narrow slice of Christians would see atheism that way. I think most Christians see it as a depressing state of living with no light at the end of the tunnel. Here is something to give you an idea:

What, after all, can the atheist expect to get out of this life, which is quite short and often painful. With no creator, what use is there for us? If all we have is this life, then what is the sense of living? What becomes of morality and hope? They become nothing but the result of chemical processes and all is nothing!!!!! Often the existence of atheists inspires one to write depressed poetry, rather than to consider atheism. What they call freedom from God really then can appear to be only a facade. You also may not know this, but sometimes people pretend to be atheists. Maybe they simply don't want to be bothered by religion and so they make it up, or maybe they have some other reason. Maybe there aren't any atheists for real, and who could stand to really accept that point of view?

I think the above is the real objection, and the rest is just talking about talking.

 

[shawn]

I see atheism as being rebellion against authoritative paternalistic religion.
The pendulum swings too far one way and there is resistance to it which is typically just as extreme, but in the opposite direction.
Thesis.........anti-thesis.......syn-thesis
The better mode is somewhere in-between.

 

[BlaznFattyz]

A man can no more diminish God's glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word, 'darkness' on the walls of his cell.

C.S. Lewis

 

[Dondi]

I see atheism as being rebellion against authoritative paternalistic religion.

Why does God have to appear as an authoritative parent? Are there not alternative ways to view the concept of God?

Let's forget a moment that there is a group of scriptures that claims to be the Word of God. Couldn't we imagine what a Creator might be like through intuition?

Suppose God created the universe and all that was in it. What can we deduce it's purpose to be? What if you were God and created the same? Would you not expect your creation to behave in a certain fashion? If you built a race car from scratch, assuming you have the technical know-how to engineer such a feat, you would expect it to have a high level of performance. If not, wouldn't you tinker around until you are satisfied?

From a Christian perspective, then, the authoritative parent in only looking to improve upon His invention.

 

[17th Angel]

Hi guys,

I thought since T@0 is not here to defend the atheist position, it would be fun to write some criticism of atheism and see if anyone else tries to defend it.

You might wonder why I am putting this in the Christian section ?

I also thought it would be interesting to read a little more widely. So I visited an "Apologist" website and it did not take too much effort to find this discussion about the faults of atheism, so I thought it would be interesting to post to see your reaction.

So then my question is specificially about the Christian view of atheism, does everyone agree with this criticism of atheism ?

How is atheism negative?

Simply because a person doesn't have a Peter Pan complex.... That is negative?


Shawn: You see atheism as a rebellion? Well... I don't believe there is a god... And I don't believe it is a "leader" or a "ruler" of anything... It is non existant.... lol.... I am rebelling agaisn't nothing.... If I choose to accept there was a this so called god lol.... And it was the supreme ruler that I was going to choose to stand agaisnt.... I wouldn't be an atheist.... I'd be some kinda schtizo christian/muslim/jew... There is no god, it isn't my ruler, my keeper. I owe it nothing... It is but a fantasy... I rebel agaisnt.... nothing.