Atheos Get a Load of This, Part 1

Life, the universe, & everything else.

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A deity is the only possible explanation for the incontrovertible fact that the universe exists.

I'm not arguing the claim that the universe exists. Why make a point of the incontrovertibility of that fact?

That the universe’s existence is the only incontrovertible fact is an assertion without evidence.

How do you know you’re not a brain in a vat or in a matrix, like the movie?

Why? Why couldn’t the universe have always existed & there have been no deity?

You seem comfortable making such a heavy assertion & must have some extremely compelling reason.

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Anything is better than being an atheist.

Why? And how do you define atheist?

Anything is better than pretending to know something you don't know.

Many atheists would likely disagree with that statement. Is there a reason why you think this?

Wouldn't you prefer to be honest with yourself rather than lie in an attempt to gloss over a lack of understanding?

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Atheism is a religion. You have your atheistic religion & I have my theistic one.

Who cares whether atheism is a religion? I thought we were talking about whether there's good reason to believe in Gods.

How does that even make sense?

The fact that you would misrepresent atheism like that demonstrates dishonesty & closedmindedness.

Yes, atheism is a religion, but it’s a better religion than yours because it only talks about things we can actually observe.

I'm not sure we're using the same definition of 'religion'. It'd be helpful if you could explain the similarities.

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Atheism is nihilism.

Atheism & nihilism aren't related. By definition, a 'nihilist' believes in nothing, whereas an 'atheist' just doesn't believe in Gods.

Can you see that some nihilists are atheists & some atheists are nihilists?

That's simply not true. Why would you misrepresent atheists like that?

I disagree, so we must have different definitions of the word 'atheist.' How do you define that term?

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Atheists are mean, nasty, angry people.

That sounds like a prejudicial stereotype to me. Are you sure you really believe that's true?

Since the only thing all atheists share is a lack of belief in Gods, isn't it more likely there are atheists of all different dispositions?

So are theists, apparently. Meanie.

Oh, really? Have you met all atheists?

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Atheists & naturalists are overly confident in their assertions.

What makes you think that?

That’s because we're right.

This matters... because...?

An example of how you've come to that conclusion would be useful to me.

Isn't that like the pot calling the kettle black?

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Atheists worship Devils.

I don't know what you mean by 'Devils.' In any case, how could one worship something one doesn't believe in?

Are you suggesting that this would be a good reason to accept that a God or Gods actually exist? I'm not sure I follow your logic.

So, 'A-' meanswithout & 'theist' means theology. That would include Devils, yes?

Yep, we do & you should try it. The orgies are amazing!

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Believing is natural.

Yes it is & so are apophenia & faulty belief formation.

So is arsenic, right?

Are all things that are natural good for you? What about poison ivy? Does natural equate to truth?

Why is what's natural good for you? Or why does what's natural lead to the truth?

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Chance isn’t the cause of anything. It just describes what we can’t find a reason for.

Not quite: We can explain in terms of physics why a roulette ball lands where it does, but it still landed there 'by chance,' right?

I could say the same thing about your God.

That's just a straw-man argument. You're misrepresenting what atheists mean by 'chance.'

On the contrary; chance is all there is. If you believe otherwise, could you demonstrate why?

Few might assert that chance is an actual force. In this context, 'chance' is best understood as 'lack of intentional interference.'

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Darwin had a deathbed conversion!'

Yes, he did. Maybe you're right, maybe I should adopt superstitious beliefs as a result.

It's my understanding Darwin didn't. In any event, even if he did, how would that make a God claim true?

Yeah, how lame is that? He should have stuck to his guns no matter what.

This is false, but even if someone did convert on their deathbed, what's that evidence of?

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Even the fact that we can have a conversation about God is proof that your mind 'latches on' to the concept of God. God exists.

Does the fact that we can converse about Thor, or unicorns, prove that my mind latches on to these concepts & thus that they exist?

Could we not make that same claim about the concept of werewolves?

We can have a conversation about Gods, but that doesn't mean I actually have any idea what the heck you're talking about. Right?

My mind is bombarded by incessant references to the concept of God throughout society. Isn't that why it's a necessary conversation?

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Even though God can read my mind, faith alone is not enough. We need to worship Him.

Before we talk about worship, I'd be curious to hear how it is that you became convinced He actually exists.

I'd find it a lot easier & more sensible to worship something that actually exists.

So the all-powerful creator of the universe needs us to worship Him? What an ego!

Tell me, what has produced in you this profound conviction of the reality of God?

It's not even enough to trust in His reality without any good evidence? We must also devote time & energy to repeatedly praising His name?

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Everyone who lived before Jesus is going to Hell.

You clearly believe that's true. Would you mind explaining why?

No one has gone to Hell because there is no Hell. Why worry?

Wait. What about Noah, Abraham & the rest of those Old Testament folks. Did they go to Hell, then?

Well, at least they never had to deal with ignorant Christians...

I would imagine you have a good reason for that conclusion.

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For someone who doesn’t think God exists, you sure spend a lot of time talking about it.

Yes, because if there is a God then I won’t be able to discharge my homosexual urges.

Living in a democratic society, it's important to me that my fellow citizens learn to reason effectively. Isn't that important to you, too?

For someone who isn't a sinner, you sure spend a lot of time worrying about it.

An excellent way to promote reason, rationality & the public understanding of science is by helping people overcome superstitions.

I’m curious why people hold the beliefs they do. I don’t understand it; how people can be so confident in things with so little evidence?

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Free will cannot exist without a God.

Why not?

God didn't give us free will. He's an omniscient sky-dictator.

We don’t have free will. Why do you think we're not biological robots?

What's your reason for believing in a God?

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God has given everything that you have to you in your life. How can you ignore Him?

How could an external, independent observer differentiate that comment from a delusion?

Actually, I worked for what I have. No God has ever given me anything.

Yeah, I guess I just never noticed him there while I was getting all that great stuff...

I'm not ignoring Him; I've actually spent some time searching for Him—whatever He might be like.

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God is the best explanation for things we don't understand.

Is that enough? Isn't it important for an explanation to be, not merely adequate, but true?

When you don't know something, do you accept your best guess as absolute truth, or do you remain unsure until you get more information?

God is an anti-explanation. Accepting theism relegates oneself to the impossibility of genuine understanding.

Isn't positing God essentially answering a 'how' question with a 'who' answer?

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I believe. Isn’t that enough?

Is that really enough for you? Why? Other individuals might require more.

No.

Not if you care at all about truth. Do you see how childish statement is?

Isn't there any reason you believe? Surely the decision wasn't arbitrary...

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I don’t accept the fact that everything is a coincidence.

Nor do I. I look for evidence that explains the things I observe. Doesn't that seem like a good way to learn about the world?

Fine. But I've heard you claim you know precisely how the universe came to be. How are these different?

If you only had trust in reason, you would understand the facts presented to you.

Don't you understand that logical people don't either?

Do you think that reality cares whether you accept it or not?

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I don’t belong in the atheist community.

Why do you say that?

Why? Are you an idiot?

Atheists have nothing in common besides thinking there’s insufficient evidence to warrant belief in God.

Well, you don't know what you're missing. Atheists have way more fun!

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I don’t know if I’d fit in with the atheist community.

Try it. You will find that you like it. What are you afraid of?

There are no qualifiers to being an atheist, only that you lack belief in theology.

There's not really a community of people who don't collect stamps. Atheism isn't about community, it's about being true to yourself.

Large groups have tremendous diversity & atheists are no exception. Is there something specific you're worried about?

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I experience God in everything all the time.

What you think you experience is irrelevant. That says nothing about God's existence.

Does He know how to mind his own business?

Can you explain what you mean by that?

How can you distinguish the God part from the rest of your experience? Can you describe it?

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I know that my God loves me unconditionally & forever.

How do you know that?

If you want something that loves you unconditionally, get a dog.

I'd sincerely love to hear what convinced you of that.

Do you really? Or are you just hoping that's the case?