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However, they fail to point out:

However, they fail to point out:

'''1.'''  Randal Rauser, an associate professor of historical theology at Taylor Seminary, indicates:  

'''1.'''  '''Poor survey design'''

 

Randal Rauser, an associate professor of historical theology at Taylor Seminary, indicates:  

{{cquote|The study never asked about belief in God in general, but about belief in a very personal God who answers [[prayer]]s and communicates actively and effectively with people. In other words, respondents didn’t comment on    God in general, just this specific formulation of a very personal God. The    questions would likely put many deists, as well as theists who tend to doubt people’s reports of God communicating directly with them, in the category of unbeliever...

{{cquote|The study never asked about belief in God in general, but about belief in a very personal God who answers [[prayer]]s and communicates actively and effectively with people. In other words, respondents didn’t comment on    God in general, just this specific formulation of a very personal God. The    questions would likely put many deists, as well as theists who tend to doubt people’s reports of God communicating directly with them, in the category of unbeliever...

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[[Alvin Plantinga]] is widely known for his work in philosophy of religion, [[epistemology]], [[metaphysics]] and [[Christian apologetics]].  ''Time'' magazine called him "America's leading orthodox Protestant philosopher of God". ]]

[[Alvin Plantinga]] is widely known for his work in philosophy of religion, [[epistemology]], [[metaphysics]] and [[Christian apologetics]].  ''Time'' magazine called him "America's leading orthodox Protestant philosopher of God". ]]

Furthermore, there is experimental evidence supporting the proposition that the God of the Bible does answer prayers.<ref>[http://www.christianpost.com/news/christian-apologist-10-reasons-for-the-fall-of-atheism-106531/ Christian Apologist: 10 Reasons for the Fall of Atheism] by [[Gary Habermas]]</ref> The Christian apologist [[Gary Habermas]] wrote: "Double-blind prayer experiments: where people pray for others with terminal illness. Habermas admitted that most such experiments have not worked, but the three that he knows of that have indeed worked were cases of orthodox-Christians praying for the sick."<ref>[http://www.christianpost.com/news/christian-apologist-10-reasons-for-the-fall-of-atheism-106531/ Christian Apologist: 10 Reasons for the Fall of Atheism] by [[Gary Habermas]]</ref>

Furthermore, there is experimental evidence supporting the proposition that the God of the Bible does answer prayers.<ref>[http://www.christianpost.com/news/christian-apologist-10-reasons-for-the-fall-of-atheism-106531/ Christian Apologist: 10 Reasons for the Fall of Atheism] by [[Gary Habermas]]</ref> The Christian apologist [[Gary Habermas]] wrote: "Double-blind prayer experiments: where people pray for others with terminal illness. Habermas admitted that most such experiments have not worked, but the three that he knows of that have indeed worked were cases of orthodox-Christians praying for the sick."<ref>[http://www.christianpost.com/news/christian-apologist-10-reasons-for-the-fall-of-atheism-106531/ Christian Apologist: 10 Reasons for the Fall of Atheism] by [[Gary Habermas]]</ref>

'''2.''' Strictly speaking, the existence of God is a [[Philosophy|philosophical]] question and not [[science|scientific]] question since God is supernatural and thus outside of nature.  And the majority of philosophers of religion, or those who have extensively studied the issue of the [[Arguments for the existence of God|existence of God]], are [[theism|theists]] (72 percent).<ref>[http://www.strangenotions.com/atheist-scientists/ Does it matter that many scientists are atheists?]</ref>

'''2.''' '''Existence of God: A philosophical question'''

 

Strictly speaking, the existence of God is a [[Philosophy|philosophical]] question and not [[science|scientific]] question since God is supernatural and thus outside of nature.  And the majority of philosophers of religion, or those who have extensively studied the issue of the [[Arguments for the existence of God|existence of God]], are [[theism|theists]] (72 percent).<ref>[http://www.strangenotions.com/atheist-scientists/ Does it matter that many scientists are atheists?]</ref>

 

'''3.'''The NAS website declares: "Election to NAS membership in the NAS is considered one of the highest honors that a scientist can receive."<ref>[http://www.nasonline.org/ NAS website]</ref>  Biet-Hallahmi, author of ''Atheism, A Psychological Profile'', in ''The Cambridge Companion to Atheism'', wrote, “…what these individuals [the most elite] had, in addition to their creativity and high intelligence, was a strong wish to create distance between themselves and their parents.”   

The NAS website declares: "Election to NAS membership in the NAS is considered one of the highest honors that a scientist can receive."<ref>[http://www.nasonline.org/ NAS website]</ref>  Biet-Hallahmi, author of ''Atheism, A Psychological Profile'', in ''The Cambridge Companion to Atheism'', wrote, “…what these individuals [the most elite] had, in addition to their creativity and high intelligence, was a strong wish to create distance between themselves and their parents.”   

The ''Cambridge Companion to [[Atheism]]'' which was edited by the atheist [[philosophy|philosopher]] [[Michael Martin]] declared:

The ''Cambridge Companion to [[Atheism]]'' which was edited by the atheist [[philosophy|philosopher]] [[Michael Martin]] declared:

The book ''Atheist Persona: Causes and Consequences'' by John J. Pasquini, Th.D. indicates that many of the prominent atheists (and prominent [[practical atheism|practical atheists]]) who had dysfunctional/absent fathers that he lists in his book also had dysfunctional/absent mothers.<ref>Atheist Persona: Causes and Consequences by John J. Pasquini, 2014, University Press of America, page 3</ref>  See also: [[Atheism and poor relationships with parents]] and [[Irreligion and domestic violence]] and [[Atheist marriages]]

The book ''Atheist Persona: Causes and Consequences'' by John J. Pasquini, Th.D. indicates that many of the prominent atheists (and prominent [[practical atheism|practical atheists]]) who had dysfunctional/absent fathers that he lists in his book also had dysfunctional/absent mothers.<ref>Atheist Persona: Causes and Consequences by John J. Pasquini, 2014, University Press of America, page 3</ref>  See also: [[Atheism and poor relationships with parents]] and [[Irreligion and domestic violence]] and [[Atheist marriages]]

'''4.''' Most atheists lean to the left politically (see: [[Atheism and politics]]). The [[secular left]] is far more preoccupied with the government sector and big government than conservatives who are more private sector and free enterprise oriented (see: [[Atheism and politics]]).  Therefore, an organization like the NAS, which advises the federal government, would naturally be more appealing to secular leftists/[[liberal]]s.  

'''4.''' '''NAS and politics'''

 

Most atheists lean to the left politically (see: [[Atheism and politics]]). The [[secular left]] is far more preoccupied with the government sector and big government than conservatives who are more private sector and free enterprise oriented (see: [[Atheism and politics]]).  Therefore, an organization like the NAS, which advises the federal government, would naturally be more appealing to secular leftists/[[liberal]]s.  

[[Image:Billcraig_czvx.jpg‎‎|thumb|150px|[[William Lane Craig]] ]]

[[Image:Billcraig_czvx.jpg‎‎|thumb|150px|[[William Lane Craig]] ]]

'''5.''' There is a significant segment of atheists who engage in the erroneous ideologies/worldviews of [[scientism]], nature worship and neo-paganism so a certain degree of preoccupation/obsession with [[pseudoscience]], [[Naturalism (philosophy)|naturalistic philosophy]] and scientific endeavors is not surprising within some members of the atheist community.<ref>[http://creation.com/atheism#atheism-neopaganism Atheism as nature worship or neo-paganism]</ref>

'''5.''' There is a significant segment of atheists who engage in the erroneous ideologies/worldviews of [[scientism]], nature worship and neo-paganism so a certain degree of preoccupation/obsession with [[pseudoscience]], [[Naturalism (philosophy)|naturalistic philosophy]] and scientific endeavors is not surprising within some members of the atheist community.<ref>[http://creation.com/atheism#atheism-neopaganism Atheism as nature worship or neo-paganism]</ref>

Scientism is self-refuting. [[William Lane Craig]] wrote: "Scientism tells us that we should not believe any proposition that cannot be scientifically proven. But what about that very proposition itself? It cannot itself be scientifically proven."<ref>[http://www.reasonablefaith.org/is-scientism-self-refuting Is scientism self-refuting?]</ref>

Scientism is self-refuting. [[William Lane Craig]] wrote: "Scientism tells us that we should not believe any proposition that cannot be scientifically proven. But what about that very proposition itself? It cannot itself be scientifically proven."<ref>[http://www.reasonablefaith.org/is-scientism-self-refuting Is scientism self-refuting?]</ref>

'''6.'''  Becoming a member of the NAS is a political process through election. And as noted earlier, the NAS would tend to attract individuals who skew to the left. Political processes can be influenced by corruption/discrimination.  

'''6.'''  '''Membership into NAS a political process'''

 

Becoming a member of the NAS is a political process through election. And as noted earlier, the NAS would tend to attract individuals who skew to the left. Political processes can be influenced by corruption/discrimination.  

Since [[World War II]] a majority of the most prominent and vocal defenders of the [[evolution]]ary position which employs [[methodological naturalism]] have been [[Atheism|atheists]] and [[agnosticism|agnostics]].<ref>

Since [[World War II]] a majority of the most prominent and vocal defenders of the [[evolution]]ary position which employs [[methodological naturalism]] have been [[Atheism|atheists]] and [[agnosticism|agnostics]].<ref>

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'''7.'''  Atheists are well-known for their arrogance (see: [[Atheism and arrogance]]). Joining an elitist organization is naturally more appealing to arrogant individuals.  

'''7.'''  '''NAS, elitism and atheist arrogance'''

 

Atheists are well-known for their arrogance (see: [[Atheism and arrogance]]). Joining an elitist organization is naturally more appealing to arrogant individuals.  

 

'''8.''' The [[scientific revolution]] was birthed in a Christianized Europe (see: [[Christianity and science]]). And devout Christians played a significant role in the scientific revolution.<ref>[http://www.ldolphin.org/bumbulis/#anchor5343749 Christianity and the birth of science]</ref>

The [[scientific revolution]] was birthed in a Christianized Europe (see: [[Christianity and science]]). And devout Christians played a significant role in the scientific revolution.<ref>[http://www.ldolphin.org/bumbulis/#anchor5343749 Christianity and the birth of science]</ref>

== See also ==

== See also ==