1. The US is a Christian Nation

Comment #237663 by accelerant on August 26, 2008 at 10:59 pm

And how exaclty does this discredit atheism? Americans can re-introduce witch burning for all I care; I'd still be an atheist.

2. Atheists are just as dogmatic as theists, and the only reasonable person is an agnostic.

Comment #237661 by accelerant on August 26, 2008 at 10:45 pm

It depends on the type of god.

a) A god that interferes in the current universe.

There is actually overwhelming evidence to suggest that this is unlikely. If such a god did really exist, we would be able to measure deviations from the "blind pitiless indifferece" of the laws of nature.

b) A pure observer god

I don't see how such a god should be in any way relevant to my life. I mean, if I can't have any interaction with him whatsoever then what's the point?

c) A creator god

That theory only compounds the problem. Who created the creator god?

So I guess you could say I'm either an atheist or an apatheist, depending on what god you're talking about.

3. People who've experienced God KNOW that God exists

Comment #237650 by accelerant on August 26, 2008 at 10:15 pm

Well of course he exists ... in your imagination. And I'm not even trying to sound condescending. The human imagination is a wonderful and powerful thing. Sometimes it can be more real and convincing than our senses.

So good for you! Now, just do me a favour please, be nice, keep Him to yourself and don't start moralising.

4. Hitler, Stalin, Mao, etc. were atheists, and they were terrible! Answer that!

Comment #237641 by accelerant on August 26, 2008 at 9:44 pm

Guilt by association.

Hitler was also a vegetarian and a painter.

Does that mean that painters and vegetarians are evil?

5. You can't be moral without God!

Comment #237640 by accelerant on August 26, 2008 at 9:39 pm

In fact, the exact opposite is true:

Religion cannot be anything *but* immoral.

A religious moral code does not need to justify *why* something is considered right or wrong. It just *is* right or wrong. Why? Well because it is. Be removing those checks and balances, religious morals become largely arbitrary. Some can end up being ethical by conincidence or through evolution, but others are invariably highly unethical.

Atheism is morally neutral. However, it is a necessary basis for contructing a moral code based on reason and observation, one that can be constantly scrutinised.

6. Why do atheists care about what others believe when it doesn't affect atheists?

Comment #237635 by accelerant on August 26, 2008 at 9:19 pm

I have no problem with the spiritual aspect of religion. I have a problem with the moralising aspect of religion.

When in a democracy, a majority of the electorate is fooled into believing in a faith-based moral code, then that *will* affect the candidates they support, which will effect the laws that are passed, which will ultimately affect me.

Laws based on faith rather than reason are, at best, silly and, at worst, unethical and detrimental to society and personal liberties.

If the government tells me that I cannot use contraception not because contraception was proven to be harmful, but because of its "faith" that contraception is wrong, then my rights have been restricted for no good reason whatsoever. In other words, we have suboptimal utility.

I would myself not try to infringe on another person's rights unless they allowed that other person to harm me. In return, I expect others not to infringe on my rights, as long as I cause no harm to them. If somebody infringes on my rights regardless, for no other reason than their faith, then I am forced to defend my rights and their faith has become my problem.

Ethics should not be based on whims and superstitions. Not even those of a majority. That would be mob rule.

7. What are your qualifications to question religion anyway? Just who are you?

Comment #237624 by accelerant on August 26, 2008 at 8:43 pm

I am a nobody. I am not qualified to question your religion. But I don't believe I need to be. Because I think everything should be questioned by everybody. What harm is there in questioning? You too can question everything I believe in. I will be glad to refute.

If your religious beliefs really are as true and beneficial as you say they are, then they should easily stand up to scrutiny from an unqualified nobody like me. So what are you so afraid of? If my doubts about your religion turn out to be totally unreasonable, then at the very least I will learned something, and your beliefs will be confirmed.