What are the strongest arguments for atheism?

[harvey1]

You know, come to think of it. I haven't seen any arguments that support the atheist claim that God doesn't exist. Why is that? So, let's turn the tables for a second, and ask, what are the strongest arguments in support of atheism?

Btw, don't bother answering if you either don't have an argument or don't feel that you are required to support your philosophical position.

[DamarisE]

Someone should get around to summarizing reasons for believing various belief to be false and then you could check them off against your own beliefs.

That would be interesting - But keep in mind that scholars, professors and writers such as C.S. Lewis, Dr. Frank Morrison, Dr. Simon Greenleaf, Josh McDowell, and General Lew Wallace all set out on a similar endeavor and became believers in the process.

Sure, and no doubt a few have gone the other way. I would like to point out that C.S.Lewis's argument about universal morality loses its clout in the light of Evolutionary Psychology and eyewitness testimony is technically hearsay and therefore Juridical apologetics operates in a very different way to regular Law Practice. Who is Dr. Frank Morrison BTW?

He was the author of the Book Who Moved the Stone? and titled the first chapter 'The Book that Refused to be written"

[DamarisE]

Someone should get around to summarizing reasons for believing various belief to be false and then you could check them off against your own beliefs.

That would be interesting - But keep in mind that scholars, professors and writers such as C.S. Lewis, Dr. Frank Morrison, Dr. Simon Greenleaf, Josh McDowell, and General Lew Wallace all set out on a similar endeavor and became believers in the process.

Sure, and no doubt a few have gone the other way. I would like to point out that C.S.Lewis's argument about universal morality loses its clout in the light of Evolutionary Psychology and eyewitness testimony is technically hearsay and therefore Juridical apologetics operates in a very different way to regular Law Practice. Who is Dr. Frank Morrison BTW?

The author of 'Who wrote the stone'. Although Many Christian apologists claim Dr Morrison was a British Lawyer, it actually was a pen name for Albert Henry Ross (1881-1950), who worked for an advertising firm in London. The book was written
in the 1930's.

I apologize. The mention that I read about Frank Morrison's experience listed him as a lawyer and journalist, and I should have researched that more before including him in my list. Apparently, Ross Clifford documents the real identity of Frank Morrison in his book Leading Lawyers Look at the Resurrection and I say apparently because I haven't read Clifford's book.

Thanks goat, for pointing that out.

[bernee51]

You cannot undo that which hasn't been yet done. I find the fact that you label yourself as a former Christian to be misleading, implying that in an earlier time you were a believer and now hold the position of an apostate. I think a better way to describe it would be 'former church-goer'

At an earlier time I was a believer. But clearly, from a distance, you can judge me not to have been a 'true christian' (tm)

Do you put sugar on your porridge?

Many years of meditation and self inquiry have lead me to the conclusion that the 'other' is in fact our own conscious self awareness. When we evolved enough in consciousness to be able to ask the question - "Who am I?" - gods were invented. This ability to ask the question is the loss of innocence that is the metaphor of the Fall in the Garden of Eden.

Your reasoning leads me to believe atheism is nothing more than a form of self-worship.

Really? How so? Because you claim it? Can you back this up, or is it merely opinion? Where is the 'worship' in my words above?

[Beto]

A 'church-goer' goes to church for reasons other than their own belief in God. You stop being a 'church-goer' and become a Christian when you accept Jesus as your savior based on your own personal experience with God.

But you think one can't "change his mind" after attaining this mindset you describe?

[DamarisE]

A 'church-goer' goes to church for reasons other than their own belief in God. You stop being a 'church-goer' and become a Christian when you accept Jesus as your savior based on your own personal experience with God.

But you think one can't "change his mind" after attaining this mindset you describe?

Your forgot to quote the first part of my post.

If he said "I thought God spoke to me and I believed and I accepted him as my savior and then I realized it was all in my head" then he could call himself a 'former Christian'

How is that saying a Christian can't "change their mind"?

[Beto]

A 'church-goer' goes to church for reasons other than their own belief in God. You stop being a 'church-goer' and become a Christian when you accept Jesus as your savior based on your own personal experience with God.

But you think one can't "change his mind" after attaining this mindset you describe?

Your forgot to quote the first part of my post.

If he said "I thought God spoke to me and I believed and I accepted him as my savior and then I realized it was all in my head" then he could call himself a 'former Christian'

How is that saying a Christian can't "change their mind"?

I was actually asking about "accepting Christ" like you believe you have. Not as a "former-Christian". Do you think that a Christian with an equivalent mindset to yours (in your understanding) can "change his mind", or become a "former-Christian"?

[DamarisE]

A 'church-goer' goes to church for reasons other than their own belief in God. You stop being a 'church-goer' and become a Christian when you accept Jesus as your savior based on your own personal experience with God.

But you think one can't "change his mind" after attaining this mindset you describe?

Your forgot to quote the first part of my post.

If he said "I thought God spoke to me and I believed and I accepted him as my savior and then I realized it was all in my head" then he could call himself a 'former Christian'

How is that saying a Christian can't "change their mind"?

I was actually asking about "accepting Christ" like you believe you have. Not as a "former-Christian". Do you think that a Christian with an equivalent mindset to yours (in your understanding) can "change his mind", or become a "former-Christian"?

My immediate answer was No. However, the bible acknowledges the possibility of this in Matthew 24:24.

"For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect."

Honestly... I'd ask that God kill me, while I can still be saved, if I should ever come close to doubting my faith.

Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. 1 Corinthians 10:12

[Beto]

Honestly... I'd ask that God kill me, while I can still be saved, if I should ever come close to doubting my faith.

If I believed in a god I'd urge you to leave the forum asap for your own sake.

[bernee51]

A 'church-goer' goes to church for reasons other than their own belief in God. You stop being a 'church-goer' and become a Christian when you accept Jesus as your savior based on your own personal experience with God.

But you think one can't "change his mind" after attaining this mindset you describe?

Your forgot to quote the first part of my post.

If he said "I thought God spoke to me and I believed and I accepted him as my savior and then I realized it was all in my head" then he could call himself a 'former Christian'

How is that saying a Christian can't "change their mind"?

I was actually asking about "accepting Christ" like you believe you have. Not as a "former-Christian". Do you think that a Christian with an equivalent mindset to yours (in your understanding) can "change his mind", or become a "former-Christian"?

Whether or not I was a 'true christian'(tm) is moot.

I am interested to hear on what grounds the self styled 'true christian' can deny the fact that their god is a logical impossibility and their religion a product of evolutionry change and a syncretism of earlier belief systems.

[bernee51]

A 'church-goer' goes to church for reasons other than their own belief in God. You stop being a 'church-goer' and become a Christian when you accept Jesus as your savior based on your own personal experience with God.

But you think one can't "change his mind" after attaining this mindset you describe?

Your forgot to quote the first part of my post.

If he said "I thought God spoke to me and I believed and I accepted him as my savior and then I realized it was all in my head" then he could call himself a 'former Christian'

How is that saying a Christian can't "change their mind"?

I was actually asking about "accepting Christ" like you believe you have. Not as a "former-Christian". Do you think that a Christian with an equivalent mindset to yours (in your understanding) can "change his mind", or become a "former-Christian"?

My immediate answer was No. However, the bible acknowledges the possibility of this in Matthew 24:24.

"For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect."

Warning against the 'others' is a tried and true method of scaring doubting believers.

Honestly... I'd ask that God kill me, while I can still be saved, if I should ever come close to doubting my faith.

That is a very sad statement. I hope you can recover.

Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. 1 Corinthians 10:12

The hysteric misanthrope Paul was in no position to admonish anyone.