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→Atheism and the unobservable by senses or instruments
Physicist Stephen Barr points out, “How ironic that, having renounced belief in God because God is not material or observable by sense or instrument, the atheist may be driven to postulate not one but an infinitude of unobservables in the material world itself.” See also: [[Multiverse]] and [[Dark matter]] and [[Dark energy]]
Physicist Stephen Barr points out, “How ironic that, having renounced belief in God because God is not material or observable by sense or instrument, the atheist may be driven to postulate not one but an infinitude of unobservables in the material world itself.” See also: [[Multiverse]] and [[Dark matter]] and [[Dark energy]]
== Atheism, reason, critical thinking and hypocrisy ==
''See also:'' [[Atheism and critical thinking]]
[[File:Richard Dawkins at Global Atheism Convention.jpg|alt=Richard Dawkins|thumbnail|260px|right|The [[Oxford University]] Professor [[Daniel Came]] wrote to the New Atheist [[Richard Dawkins]]:: "The absence of a debate with the foremost [[Christian apologetics|apologist]] for [[Christianity|Christian]] [[theism]] is a glaring omission on your [[Curriculum vitae|CV]] and is of course apt to be interpreted as cowardice on your part."<ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/8511931/Richard-Dawkins-accused-of-cowardice-for-refusing-to-debate-existence-of-God.html Richard Dawkins accused of cowardice for refusing to debate existence of God], ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'', May 14, 2011</ref> ]]
Ideologues who engage in uncritical thinking often are unaware of opposing arguments and actively avoid intellectually engaging with their opponents arguments.
In 1990, the [[atheism|atheist]] philosopher [[Michael Martin]] indicated there was a general [[Atheism and apathy|absence of an atheistic response]] to contemporary work in the [[philosophy]] of religion and in jest he indicated that it was his "cross to bear" to respond to [[theism|theistic]] arguments.<ref>''Open Questions: Diverse Thinkers Discuss God, Religion, and Faith'' by Luís F. Rodrigues, page 201</ref> Yet, in 1994, Michael Martin was criticized for his eleventh hour cancellation of his debate with [[Greg Bahnsen]] (see: [[Greg Bahnsen and debate]] and [[Press release after Michael Martin pulled out of Martin-Bahnsen debate|Bahnson-Martin debate press release]]).<ref>[http://simpleapologetics.com/thegreatdebate.html The Great Debate: Greg Bahnsen vs Gordon Stein]</ref><ref>[http://www.frame-poythress.org/frame_articles/Bahnsen.htm Bahsen at the Stein debate] by John Frame</ref>
=== Atheism, debates and critical thinking ===
''See also:'' [[Atheism debates]]
Well-structured debates have cross-examination by the participants which often can stimulate critical thinking by participants and audience members. And many debates have an audience questioning period where audience members pose questions to the debaters.
Generally speaking, atheists are often unprepared to address their opponents arguments and do poorly in debates (see: [[Atheism and debate]]). In addition, there have been notable cases of prominent atheists dodging debate offers (see: [[Atheism and cowardice]]).
At the atheist blog Common Sense Atheism, the atheist Luke Muehlhauser said of the William Laen Craig vs. [[Doug Jesseph]] debate: "A very typical debate in which Craig’s opponent is not prepared for Craig’s skill, speed, or organization, and things just get worse for Jesseph as things go along and he falls further and further behind."<ref>[http://commonsenseatheism.com/?p=392 William Lane Craig’s Debates (Reviews)] by Luke Muehlhauser at Common Sense Atheism on February 7, 2009</ref>
Thinking, especially critical thinking, requires mental effort and many atheistic cultures have are experiencing decline related to [[sloth]] (See: [[Atheism and sloth]]). Other times unpreparedness in intellectual matters is due to fear and avoidance and its attendant procrastination (see: [[Atheism and cowardice]] and [[Atheism and emotional/intrapersonal intelligence|Atheism and emotional intelligence]]).
== Bombastic proclamations about the supposed validity of atheism ==
== Bombastic proclamations about the supposed validity of atheism ==