What if Atheists are Wrong? Aren't You Afraid of Hell?
A common logical fallacy is argumentum ad baculum, which literally means 'argument to the stick' and which is commonly translated to mean "appeal to force." With this fallacy, an argument is accompanied by the threat of violence if the conclusions are not accepted. Many religions are based upon just such an tactic: if you don't accept this religion, you will be punished either by adherents now or in some afterlife. It's thus not surprising that theists would use this when debating atheists.
What Would it Take for Atheists to Believe in God? What Would Make You Believe?
Atheists are frequently asked what it would take for them to finally believe in the existence of some god. That's a difficult question to answer because "god" can mean so many different things. An atheist's first response should thus be to ask what the theist means by "god." That doesn't end the problem, though, because if we are talking about the traditional omnipotent, omniscient god, there doesn't seem to be any evidence that could rationally justify belief.
Atheists are frequently asked what it would take for them to finally believe in the existence of some god. That's a difficult question to answer because "god" can mean so many different things. An atheist's first response should thus be to ask what the theist means by "god." That doesn't end the problem, though, because if we are talking about the traditional omnipotent, omniscient god, there doesn't seem to be any evidence that could rationally justify belief.
Are Christians & Religious Theists are No Worse Off if They Are Wrong?
Pascal's infamous wager consists of two sides: the idea that atheists are worse off if they are wrong and the idea that theists are no worse off if they are wrong. This is supposedly what justifies saying that atheism is a "bad bet," though religious theists who raise this argument tend to focus on the suffering that awaits atheists if they are wrong. Sometimes, though, they get defensive about atheist critiques by saying that they are no worse off if they are wrong, so why do atheists care?
Pascal's infamous wager consists of two sides: the idea that atheists are worse off if they are wrong and the idea that theists are no worse off if they are wrong. This is supposedly what justifies saying that atheism is a "bad bet," though religious theists who raise this argument tend to focus on the suffering that awaits atheists if they are wrong. Sometimes, though, they get defensive about atheist critiques by saying that they are no worse off if they are wrong, so why do atheists care?
Atheism & Hell: What if You Atheists Are Wrong? Aren’t You Afraid of Hell?
Why don't you just be an atheist? If there is a god, and it is moral and loving and worthy of respect, then it won't mind if people have rational doubts about it and rational reasons for not believing in it. This god won't punish people for exercising their critical thinking skills and are skeptical of the claims of other, fallible humans. Thus, you wouldn't lose anything.
Why don't you just be an atheist? If there is a god, and it is moral and loving and worthy of respect, then it won't mind if people have rational doubts about it and rational reasons for not believing in it. This god won't punish people for exercising their critical thinking skills and are skeptical of the claims of other, fallible humans. Thus, you wouldn't lose anything.
How Can Atheists Be Certain that God Doesn't Exist? Well, How Can Theists?
When theists ask how and why atheists can be certain that no gods exist, they do so under the mistaken assumption that all atheists deny the existence or possible existence of any gods and that such denial is based upon certainty. Although this is true of some atheists, it is not true of all - indeed, it seems unlikely that it is true of most or even a significant minority of atheists. Not all atheists deny the existence of all gods and not all of those who do claim absolute certainty.
When theists ask how and why atheists can be certain that no gods exist, they do so under the mistaken assumption that all atheists deny the existence or possible existence of any gods and that such denial is based upon certainty. Although this is true of some atheists, it is not true of all - indeed, it seems unlikely that it is true of most or even a significant minority of atheists. Not all atheists deny the existence of all gods and not all of those who do claim absolute certainty.
Isn't Atheism Too Much of a Risk? Isn't it Safer to Bet on God & Christianity?
This question, which is really just a simplified version of Pascal's Wager, is one of the most popular questions which religious theists - particularly Christians - pose to atheists. It must sound very appealing, reasonable, and rational to them, otherwise atheists wouldn't have to hear it so often. Unfortunately, Christians who use this reveal that they haven't done their homework because there are a number of very obvious and easy objections to this which they seem completely unaware of.
This question, which is really just a simplified version of Pascal's Wager, is one of the most popular questions which religious theists - particularly Christians - pose to atheists. It must sound very appealing, reasonable, and rational to them, otherwise atheists wouldn't have to hear it so often. Unfortunately, Christians who use this reveal that they haven't done their homework because there are a number of very obvious and easy objections to this which they seem completely unaware of.
Intelligent People Throughout History Have Believed in God, Why Don't Atheists?
It is true that smarter people than I and many other atheists have accepted theism and religion - but so what? Smarter people than you have rejected your brand of theism and your brand of religion in favor of some other type of theism and religion. Smarter people than you have rejected theism and religion entirely, leading an entirely atheistic and irreligious life. Do you think you're better or smarter than they were? Is this a reason for you to drop your theism and religion? Of course not.
It is true that smarter people than I and many other atheists have accepted theism and religion - but so what? Smarter people than you have rejected your brand of theism and your brand of religion in favor of some other type of theism and religion. Smarter people than you have rejected theism and religion entirely, leading an entirely atheistic and irreligious life. Do you think you're better or smarter than they were? Is this a reason for you to drop your theism and religion? Of course not.
Haven't Scientists, Philosophers & Theologians Proven that God Exists?
There is a common belief among many theists that there are strong philosophical or theological arguments which have proven that God exists, thus rendering disbelief in God perverse at best. This is not a claim that there exist philosophical arguments that make theism reasonable or the existence of God plausible; rather it is a much stronger claim that theism is necessary and the existence of God definite. This is incorrect and it gives theists a false sense of security in their beliefs.
There is a common belief among many theists that there are strong philosophical or theological arguments which have proven that God exists, thus rendering disbelief in God perverse at best. This is not a claim that there exist philosophical arguments that make theism reasonable or the existence of God plausible; rather it is a much stronger claim that theism is necessary and the existence of God definite. This is incorrect and it gives theists a false sense of security in their beliefs.