I'm an atheist because of this:

If I got one of you Christians...and I got the Hindu who was here, and asked you to argue, you would both swear up and down yours was true, giving mountains of stories and reasons why you believe so.

Because they are all exactly equivalent (At least in my opinion, there isn't a difference between Brahmin and Jesus, Zues and God logically) Then they are either all true, all wrong, or one is correct with no way of knowing. Therefore, instead of devoting my whole life to the proverbial lottery...I just decide none are correct, because they contradict each other too much to all be true.

Everyone who is an atheist should watch this. I want to know what they think about it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=piuoGb-Nhfw

I used to consider myself Atheist. I think it was influenced by the fact that my parents are essentially nonreligious and my friends are mostly Atheist. It was events in my life that convinced me that God does exist. This incensed me to read the Bible, and I found that I really liked it and was comforted by what I read.

I'm not ignorant. I'm not like some of the fundamentalists out there (no offense) who completely negate science, but I think science lacks one key factor that can't be quantified: the human factor. I find that although some of the science behind the theory of evolution is undeniable, it's possible for it to co-exist with religious beliefs.

It was never a decision, at least not for me.

I started out Methodist because my parents are/were (I don't know if they still are). I went along with it up until my preteens because I thought it was what my parents wanted, BUT I did try to connect with God in some way. It never happened. I think sometime in 8th grade is when my views moved towards a more Taoist sort of view and back and forth between views somewhat similar to that. Eventually I realized I didn't have any real reason to believe in these views just like I didn't have a reason to beleive Christianity was true. With lack of anything else, I went to agnostic atheism.

So I guess my main reasons is nothing else logically makes sense to me.

I agree with lots of the quotes posted here and with the other members that they said it was not a decision because it wasn't for me either. I just see no viable evidence for a god of any kind. I do not believe that there is any way we can know this without some kind of actual clearly divine experience, but I don't believe there to be one. So I consider myself an atheist because none of the religions I know of make sense to me. I believe that they are ways of explaining what used to be unknown to us, much of which is now explained by modern science.

And I'm pretty sure the story in that youtube video is fake. It's one of those anecdotes that goes around in emails. Everything in it is slanted to show the evil atheist professor as a dogmatic, illogical idiot and the Christian student as calm, patient and thoughtful. I really don't see why we should take it as truthful.

This post has been edited by ThatOneGuy: Nov 2 2009, 11:38 PM

I'm Atheist because I don't understand how humans can write a book and claim it as "God's Word". Yeah, used to be Christian, then I read the Bible. No offense intended, I'm just a big skeptic.

That youtube video is stupid. The chalk obviously hit his cuff. Moron.

That student is a bloody wizard. BURN HIM!

There is a lot more truth in what you just said than you realize. Although I personaly believe there is a very big difference between me and a Hindu, Muslim etc. There is still the truth you pointed out that we contradict eachother, and cannot co-exist.

This is another debate for another time though.

It's ok, I'm sure they feel the same way.

And I find it absurd that the universe exploded out of nothing.

Me too.

This thread makes me happy to be a theist, because quite frankly, all the reasons offered are pretty bad. Especially that one about a "fairy in the sky." If that's your concept of God, I advise you to graduate from elementary school before you try and discuss whether or not God exists with someone who knows what they're talking about.

Seeing as one person previously answered the question as to why there were previously an atheist, I though I might to do the same.

I was an atheist because, quite simply, I couldn't find the reason as to why there must be a God. I didn't find it sufficient that I would like for God to exist for Him to exist, I would only believe things that evidence of some sort could be provided for.

Eventually I realized nothing comes from nothing, et voíla, I am now a theist.

I watched the first few minutes of that video. I've had that story sent to me on an email before. I can say with near certainty that that story is not true. There is no professor of philosophy who would be so stupid as to think that dropping a piece of chalk on the ground disproves God.

Yeah and he must be using some crazy brittle chalk for it to "shatter into a hundred pieces" when dropped.

Specifically brittle as well. And dropped at a specific speed. You would have thought occassionally at least it would shatter into 98, 99, 101, 104, 2 pieces etc

Incidentally, if the story about the chalk is true, that professor should be sacked for being such a moron. Can you imagine doing a whole semester on the existence of God and the conclusion is, "Chalk breaks when dropped".

Your god of the gap cosmological argument leads to deism, not theism.

My experience with chalk seems to be that if dropped from shoulder height of an average sized person, it will "shatter" into about 2 or 3 pieces, 5 tops, if it breaks at all.

Though perhaps different manufacturers produce chalks of different properties, for example a softer chalk that is easier to write with. I will gather sources & information regarding this matter.

YAY FOR MYTHBUSTER!

What were you saying about bad reasons?

Possibly. It would be cheating on behalf of the professor if he chose especially soft chalk, I feel. Unless which chalk he also bought was under the control of God.



Thank you. God speed.

In light of new evidence suggesting that atheists worship Charles Darwin, I propose instead that the word "Darwin" be put in the place of "God" in stock phrases employing the name of your deity.

Incorrectamundo!
As a Hindu, I do not argue religion or denounce other faiths.
I believe sincerely that when one prays to Jesus, to Allah, to Zues, to Maa Kali (), etc, they all go to the same spot. All religions are different ways of revering God`s light, therefore I would not "swear up and down my faith is true". There is absolutely no point.





Haha. I like how I was referred to "the Hindu who was here".

This post has been edited by Rave87: Nov 3 2009, 09:28 PM

HEATHEN, FEAR THE WRATH OF FSM!

Oh and upon further consideration with the professor chalk story, why didn't he just pick the chalk up and say "I betcha he can't do it again?"