We Are All Born Atheist

Why would anyone want to believe in that character when all it is, is fear mongering over being on some diety's good side or not??

Why would anyone want to believe in that character when all it is, is fear mongering over being on some diety's good side or not??

_R34LiTY_

Fear of going to hell, misinterpretation of statistical evidence, misleading arguments, denial of facts, cranky explanations of the flaws and inappropriate morals of the "big book".

Ok, but I don't really care.

Serraph105

Hmm... if we are all born as athiests how did religion come about at all?

Why would people create religion if no one knew what it was?

Silverbond

People had to do something to explain everything in the world they didn't understand. Religion conveniently solves that problem.

[QUOTE="Silverbond"]

Hmm... if we are all born as athiests how did religion come about at all?

Why would people create religion if no one knew what it was?

raynimrod

People had to do something to explain everything in the world they didn't understand. Religion conveniently solves that problem.

Humans are not born atheist. We are pretty much born "knowing nothing" as others have stated. Children are taught through the process of enculturation. We're not born believing in God. How can a newborn know anything about God unless we are taught? Everything humans do is taught by learning and example. Take an anthropology class.

toxic_jackal

Did you read his post? Atheism isn't necessarily a belief. Technically, he's right. All Atheists have no belief in a god. Babies have no belief in a god. Thus babies are atheists.

[QUOTE="toxic_jackal"]

Humans are not born atheist. We are pretty much born "knowing nothing" as others have stated. Children are taught through the process of enculturation. We're not born believing in God. How can a newborn know anything about God unless we are taught? Everything humans do is taught by learning and example. Take an anthropology class.

SgtKevali

Did you read his post? Atheism isn't necessarily a belief. Technically, he's right. All Atheists have no belief in a god. Babies have no belief in a god. Thus babies are atheists.

[QUOTE="SgtKevali"]

[QUOTE="toxic_jackal"]

Humans are not born atheist. We are pretty much born "knowing nothing" as others have stated. Children are taught through the process of enculturation. We're not born believing in God. How can a newborn know anything about God unless we are taught? Everything humans do is taught by learning and example. Take an anthropology class.

LJS9502_basic

Did you read his post? Atheism isn't necessarily a belief. Technically, he's right. All Atheists have no belief in a god. Babies have no belief in a god. Thus babies are atheists.

This is true, and besides to say a wholly egocentric baby is an atheist makes as good an argument for atheism as me saying my pet rabbit is an atheist.

[QUOTE="SgtKevali"]

[QUOTE="toxic_jackal"]

Humans are not born atheist. We are pretty much born "knowing nothing" as others have stated. Children are taught through the process of enculturation. We're not born believing in God. How can a newborn know anything about God unless we are taught? Everything humans do is taught by learning and example. Take an anthropology class.

LJS9502_basic

Did you read his post? Atheism isn't necessarily a belief. Technically, he's right. All Atheists have no belief in a god. Babies have no belief in a god. Thus babies are atheists.

That's known as strong atheism. Strong atheism is like saying "There is no god!". It is a belief. What I'm referring to is the more broad definition of atheism: weak atheism. Weak atheism is simply the lack of a belief in a god, rather than a belief in a god. So all babies are, technically, weak atheists. Ergo, all babies are atheists.

If you don't believe me or something here's a link.

[QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"][QUOTE="SgtKevali"]

Did you read his post? Atheism isn't necessarily a belief. Technically, he's right. All Atheists have no belief in a god. Babies have no belief in a god. Thus babies are atheists.

SgtKevali

That's known as strong atheism. Strong atheism is like saying "There is no god!". It is a belief. What I'm referring to is the more broad definition of atheism: weak atheism. Weak atheism is simply the lack of a belief in a god, rather than a belief in a god. So all babies are, technically, weak atheists. Ergo, all babies are atheists.

If you don't believe me or something here's a link.

[QUOTE="SgtKevali"]

[QUOTE="toxic_jackal"]

Humans are not born atheist. We are pretty much born "knowing nothing" as others have stated. Children are taught through the process of enculturation. We're not born believing in God. How can a newborn know anything about God unless we are taught? Everything humans do is taught by learning and example. Take an anthropology class.

LJS9502_basic

Did you read his post? Atheism isn't necessarily a belief. Technically, he's right. All Atheists have no belief in a god. Babies have no belief in a god. Thus babies are atheists.

Concise Oxford Dictionary: Disbelief in the existence of God or gods; Godlessness.

f. Gk atheos without God

Godlessness.

without God

jimmyjammer69

Damn, sounds like that guy is rotting in hell.

[QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"][QUOTE="SgtKevali"]

Did you read his post? Atheism isn't necessarily a belief. Technically, he's right. All Atheists have no belief in a god. Babies have no belief in a god. Thus babies are atheists.

jimmyjammer69

Concise Oxford Dictionary: Disbelief in the existence of God or gods; Godlessness.

f. Gk atheos without God

In point of fact....

1570s, from Fr. athéiste (16c.), from Gk. atheos "to deny the gods, godless," from a- "without" + theos "a god" (see Thea). A slightly earlier form is represented by atheonism (1530s) which is perhaps from It. atheo "atheist."The existence of a world without God seems to me less abs

[QUOTE="SgtKevali"]

[QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"] From the Oxford Dictionary.....atheism.... * disbelief in the existence of God or gods A disbelief is more than no belief....and thus babies cannot be atheists.LJS9502_basic

That's known as strong atheism. Strong atheism is like saying "There is no god!". It is a belief. What I'm referring to is the more broad definition of atheism: weak atheism. Weak atheism is simply the lack of a belief in a god, rather than a belief in a god. So all babies are, technically, weak atheists. Ergo, all babies are atheists.

If you don't believe me or something here's a link.

No...there are different types of atheism. Like I said, there's strong and weak atheism. I'm not making this up.

Of course different people define atheism in different ways, I'm simply using the broadest definition, and the broadest definition (the lack of a belief in a deity), and this just so happens to coincide with weak atheism.

What? Do you honestly think I made up the concepts of weak and strong atheists?

[QUOTE="jimmyjammer69"]

[QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"] From the Oxford Dictionary.....atheism.... * disbelief in the existence of God or gods A disbelief is more than no belief....and thus babies cannot be atheists.LJS9502_basic

Concise Oxford Dictionary: Disbelief in the existence of God or gods; Godlessness.

f. Gk atheos without God

It would seem more logical to say that we are born without the ability to comprehend religion, be it Atheism or Christianity.

No...there are different types of atheism. Like I said, there's strong and weak atheism. I'm not making this up.

Of course different people define atheism in different ways, I'm simply using the broadest definition, and the broadest definition (the lack of a belief in a deity), and this just so happens to coincide with weak atheism.

What? Do you honestly think I made up the concepts of weak and strong atheists?

SgtKevali

[QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"][QUOTE="jimmyjammer69"]Gah! Not again.

Concise Oxford Dictionary: Disbelief in the existence of God or gods; Godlessness.

f. Gk atheos without God

jimmyjammer69

[QUOTE="SgtKevali"]

No...there are different types of atheism. Like I said, there's strong and weak atheism. I'm not making this up.

Of course different people define atheism in different ways, I'm simply using the broadest definition, and the broadest definition (the lack of a belief in a deity), and this just so happens to coincide with weak atheism.

What? Do you honestly think I made up the concepts of weak and strong atheists?

LJS9502_basic

In modern atheistic thought and discourse (which is 100% relevant to what we're discussing), there are two types of atheism (generally): strong and weak atheism. I can't reiterate this point enough. If you still disagree, then please read the wikipedia article I linked. Maybe I'm not explaining something well.

Honestly, I'm not sure what you mean by the bolded. It gives me the indication you didn't even look into what I presented.

[QUOTE="jimmyjammer69"][QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"] And your point? A disbelief in God means there first has to be a belief in a God to measure the disbelief against. LJS9502_basic

[QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"]

[QUOTE="jimmyjammer69"]I'm not going through this again. Just define "Godlessness" for yourself.jimmyjammer69

[QUOTE="raynimrod"]

[QUOTE="Silverbond"]

Hmm... if we are all born as athiests how did religion come about at all?

Why would people create religion if no one knew what it was?

LJS9502_basic

People had to do something to explain everything in the world they didn't understand. Religion conveniently solves that problem.

Yes it does... every major religion spouts how a "God" or "Gods" created everything, control everything, are responsible for the sun rising, day and night, plants growing, life and death etc. These religions were devised back in a time where there was no other explanation for a lot of things. If you disagree that's fine, but I think it's quite blatently obvious - that because humans NEED to know how things work, religion filled that void perfectly.

[QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"][QUOTE="raynimrod"]

People had to do something to explain everything in the world they didn't understand. Religion conveniently solves that problem.

raynimrod

Yes it does... every major religion spouts how a "God" or "Gods" created everything, control everything, are responsible for the sun rising, day and night, plants growing, life and death etc. These religions were devised back in a time where there was no other explanation for a lot of things. If you disagree that's fine, but I think it's quite blatently obvious - that because humans NEED to know how things work, religion filled that void perfectly.

Don't agree. According to my Islamic faith we are born Muslims (In nature). Then we either change or stay the same. Also, if this is the default state, I wonder why would someone come up with stuff like Islam and Judaism.GazaAli

Yes it does... every major religion spouts how a "God" or "Gods" created everything, control everything, are responsible for the sun rising, day and night, plants growing, life and death etc. These religions were devised back in a time where there was no other explanation for a lot of things. If you disagree that's fine, but I think it's quite blatently obvious - that because humans NEED to know how things work, religion filled that void perfectly.

raynimrod

Well, everyone thinks about it, but not everybody is well informed, well educated and well guided. Everyone feels the need to believe in something when someone dies, and that can bring them to religion. I don't know how things work, but I have my ideas. I don't feel any need to figure that out completely, I am satisfied with the conclusions I have drawn.

[QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"][QUOTE="ihateaynrand"]He didn't say it was Webster's any more than he said it was OED.ihateaynrand

[QUOTE="raynimrod"]

[QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"] No it doesn't....alexside1

Yes it does... every major religion spouts how a "God" or "Gods" created everything, control everything, are responsible for the sun rising, day and night, plants growing, life and death etc. These religions were devised back in a time where there was no other explanation for a lot of things. If you disagree that's fine, but I think it's quite blatently obvious - that because humans NEED to know how things work, religion filled that void perfectly.

Does that automatically mean that the religion doesn't find ways to explain the creation of the universe and the cause of nature?

[QUOTE="alexside1"][QUOTE="raynimrod"]

Yes it does... every major religion spouts how a "God" or "Gods" created everything, control everything, are responsible for the sun rising, day and night, plants growing, life and death etc. These religions were devised back in a time where there was no other explanation for a lot of things. If you disagree that's fine, but I think it's quite blatently obvious - that because humans NEED to know how things work, religion filled that void perfectly.

raynimrod

Does that automatically mean that the religion doesn't find ways to explain the creation of the universe and the cause of nature?

[QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"] From the Oxford Dictionary.....atheism.... * disbelief in the existence of God or gods A disbelief is more than no belief....and thus babies cannot be atheists.ihateaynrand

I strongly disagree. We are all born neutral and as we get older and learn we learn one way or the other. When we are born, we don't not believe in god or believe in him because we don't know anything.

Pirate700

After reading some posts, this one is the correct one but I respect each others opinion though.

I really, REALLY, hate it when someone ignores your post in an internet debate instead of conceding the point or saying why they will stop. It's like they have no respect for you at all.

Well, I can hope that LJS just "missed" my post.

[QUOTE="alexside1"][QUOTE="raynimrod"]

Yes it does... every major religion spouts how a "God" or "Gods" created everything, control everything, are responsible for the sun rising, day and night, plants growing, life and death etc. These religions were devised back in a time where there was no other explanation for a lot of things. If you disagree that's fine, but I think it's quite blatently obvious - that because humans NEED to know how things work, religion filled that void perfectly.

raynimrod

Does that automatically mean that the religion doesn't find ways to explain the creation of the universe and the cause of nature?

Buddhism doesn't. As far as the Buddha was concerned he considered such questions unanswerable and thus not worth pondering.

[QUOTE="ihateaynrand"][QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"] From the Oxford Dictionary.....atheism.... * disbelief in the existence of God or gods A disbelief is more than no belief....and thus babies cannot be atheists.bloodling

[QUOTE="bloodling"]

[QUOTE="ihateaynrand"]Taking your OED-fetishism and running with it, you might like to know that one of its definitions of disbelief is 'lack of faith'.ihateaynrand

Definition of DISBELIEF: the act of disbelieving : mental rejection of something as untrue

That's my definition.

[QUOTE="ihateaynrand"][QUOTE="bloodling"]

Definition of DISBELIEF: the act of disbelieving : mental rejection of something as untrue bloodling

That's my definition.

[QUOTE="raynimrod"]

Yes it does... every major religion spouts how a "God" or "Gods" created everything, control everything, are responsible for the sun rising, day and night, plants growing, life and death etc. These religions were devised back in a time where there was no other explanation for a lot of things. If you disagree that's fine, but I think it's quite blatently obvious - that because humans NEED to know how things work, religion filled that void perfectly.

bloodling

Well, everyone thinks about it, but not everybody is well informed, well educated and well guided. Everyone feels the need to believe in something when someone dies, and that can bring them to religion. I don't know how things work, but I have my ideas. I don't feel any need to figure that out completely, I am satisfied with the conclusions I have drawn.

Of that I'm glad - I hold no prejudice towards people of faith. My comments were focusing on how or why religions were created in the first place, back in a time where explanation about even the most basic things, were lacking.

[QUOTE="bloodling"]

[QUOTE="ihateaynrand"]That's one possible definition, yes. What exactly are you hoping to achieve?ihateaynrand

That's my definition.

Good for you. My opinion against you. Who wins? Nobody.

I really, REALLY, hate it when someone ignores your post in an internet debate instead of conceding the point or saying why they will stop. It's like they have no respect for you at all.

Well, I can hope that LJS just "missed" my post.

SgtKevali

[QUOTE="ihateaynrand"][QUOTE="bloodling"]

That's my definition.

bloodling

Good for you. My opinion against you. Who wins? Nobody.

Doesn't need to.alexside1

So... you haven't negated my point?

[QUOTE="raynimrod"]

Does that automatically mean that the religion doesn't find ways to explain the creation of the universe and the cause of nature?

worlock77

Buddhism doesn't. As far as the Buddha was concerned he considered such questions unanswerable and thus not worth pondering.

I wouldn't call buddhism a religion, it's more a way of life. It doesn't really fit the standard definition, but that's just my opinion. Either way, you've found one "religion" that doesn't try to explain that. The 2 most followed religions are quite the opposite.

[QUOTE="bloodling"]

[QUOTE="ihateaynrand"]Good for you.ihateaynrand

Good for you. My opinion against you. Who wins? Nobody.

Absolutely, you are right, just like us. It's all opinion.

[QUOTE="SgtKevali"]

I really, REALLY, hate it when someone ignores your post in an internet debate instead of conceding the point or saying why they will stop. It's like they have no respect for you at all.

Well, I can hope that LJS just "missed" my post.

LJS9502_basic

In modern atheistic thought and discourse (which is 100% relevant to what we're discussing), there are two types of atheism (generally): strong and weak atheism. I can't reiterate this point enough. If you still disagree, then please read the wikipedia article I linked. Maybe I'm not explaining something well.

Honestly, I'm not sure what you mean by the bolded. It gives me the indication you didn't even look into what I presented.

SgtKevali