Changes

[[Atheism]], as defined by the ''Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy'', the ''[[Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy]]'', and other [[philosophy]] reference works, is the denial of the existence of [[God]].<ref>Multiple references:

[[Atheism]], as defined by the ''Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy'', the ''[[Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy]]'', and other [[philosophy]] reference works, is the denial of the existence of [[God]].<ref>Multiple references:

*Smart, J. J. C. (August 8, 2011). [http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/atheism-agnosticism "Atheism and agnosticism"]. ''The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy'' (Spring 2013 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.).  

*Smart, J. J. C. (August 8, 2011). [http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/atheism-agnosticism "Atheism and agnosticism"]. ''The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy'' (Spring 2013 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.).  

*Merriam-Webster dictionary: Atheism -  a disbelief in the existence of deity; the doctrine that there is no deity. Origin of atheism: Middle French athéisme, from athée atheist, from Greek atheos godless, from a- + theos god[http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/atheism]

*Merriam-Webster dictionary: Atheism -  a disbelief in the existence of deity; the doctrine that there is no deity. Origin of atheism: Middle French athéisme, from athée atheist, from Greek atheos godless, from a- + theos god [http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/atheism]

*Atheism: a + theos, denying god, (Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology-1966).[http://www.thedivineconspiracy.org/athart3.htm]

*Atheism: a + theos, denying god, (Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology-1966).[http://www.thedivineconspiracy.org/athart3.htm]

*Atheism: all are coined words from the Greek atheos, denying the gods, a word introduced into the Latin by [[Cicero]] in the form; atheos, a-, negative, prefix, and theos, a god, (Etymological Dictionary of English Language-1958)[http://www.thedivineconspiracy.org/athart3.htm]

*Atheism: all are coined words from the Greek atheos, denying the gods, a word introduced into the Latin by [[Cicero]] in the form; atheos, a-, negative, prefix, and theos, a god, (Etymological Dictionary of English Language-1958)[http://www.thedivineconspiracy.org/athart3.htm]

*[http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/cri/cri-jrnl/web/crj0131a.html Putting the Atheist on the Defensive] by Kenneth R. Samples, Christian Research Institute Journal, Fall 1991, and Winter 1992, page 7.

*[http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/cri/cri-jrnl/web/crj0131a.html Putting the Atheist on the Defensive] by Kenneth R. Samples, Christian Research Institute Journal, Fall 1991, and Winter 1992, page 7.

</ref>  Beginning in the latter portion of the 20th century and continuing beyond, many [[agnosticism|agnostics]]/atheists have argued that the [[definition of atheism]] should be defined as a lack of belief in God or gods.

</ref>  Beginning in the latter portion of the 20th century and continuing beyond, many [[agnosticism|agnostics]]/atheists have argued that the [[definition of atheism]] should be defined as a lack of belief in God or gods.

<ref name="Divine">Day, Donn R. (2007).  [http://www.thedivineconspiracy.org/athart3.htm "Atheism - etymology"].</ref><ref>[http://www.reasonablefaith.org/definition-of-atheism Definition of atheism] by [[William Lane Craig]]</ref>  

<ref name="Divine">Day, Donn R. (2007).  [http://www.thedivineconspiracy.org/athart3.htm "Atheism - etymology"].</ref><ref name="Definition of atheism">[http://www.reasonablefaith.org/definition-of-atheism Definition of atheism] by [[William Lane Craig]]</ref>  

<ref name="CRI">[http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/cri/cri-jrnl/web/crj0131a.html Putting the Atheist on the Defensive] by Kenneth R. Samples, Christian Research Institute Journal, Fall 1991, and Winter 1992, page 7.</ref><ref>Britain is a less religious country than the United States and the online Oxford Dictionaries offers both the narrow/broad definitions of atheism (As noted in a previous footnote the Merriam-Webster dictionary, which is a traditional American dictionary, offers a more narrow definition of atheism similar to the definition that major encyclopedias of philosophy use). Oxford Dictionaries: Disbelief or lack of belief in the existence of God or gods.[http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/atheism]</ref>  

<ref name="CRI">[http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/cri/cri-jrnl/web/crj0131a.html Putting the Atheist on the Defensive] by Kenneth R. Samples, Christian Research Institute Journal, Fall 1991, and Winter 1992, page 7.</ref><ref>Britain is a less religious country than the United States and the online Oxford Dictionaries offers both the narrow/broad definitions of atheism (As noted in a previous footnote the Merriam-Webster dictionary, which is a traditional American dictionary, offers a more narrow definition of atheism similar to the definition that major encyclopedias of philosophy use). Oxford Dictionaries: Disbelief or lack of belief in the existence of God or gods.[http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/atheism]</ref>  

One would still require justification in order to know either that God exists or that He does not exist, which is the question we’re really interested in.

One would still require justification in order to know either that God exists or that He does not exist, which is the question we’re really interested in.

So why, you might wonder, would atheists be anxious to so trivialize their position?  Here I agree with you that a [[Atheism and deception|deceptive game]] is being played by many atheists.  If atheism is taken to be a view, namely the view that there is no God, then atheists must shoulder their share of the burden of proof to support this view.<ref>[http://www.reasonablefaith.org/definition-of-atheism Definition of atheism] by [[William Lane Craig]]</ref>}}

So why, you might wonder, would atheists be anxious to so trivialize their position?  Here I agree with you that a [[Atheism and deception|deceptive game]] is being played by many atheists.  If atheism is taken to be a view, namely the view that there is no God, then atheists must shoulder their share of the burden of proof to support this view.<ref name="Definition of atheism">[http://www.reasonablefaith.org/definition-of-atheism Definition of atheism] by [[William Lane Craig]]</ref>}}

== Additional problems with the concept of weak atheism ==

== Additional problems with the concept of weak atheism ==

''See also:'' [[Atheism and purpose]]

''See also:'' [[Atheism and purpose]]

[[File:800px-Takanoyu Onsen Fall Color 164.jpg|thumb|200px|left|Fall foliage at Takanoyu Onsen, Akita Prefecture, Japan.  

[[File:800px-Takanoyu Onsen Fall Color 164.jpg|thumb|200px|left|Fall foliage at Takanoyu Onsen, Akita Prefecture, Japan.  

 

Even in atheistic [[Japan]], researchers found that Japanese children see the world [[Intelligent design|as designed]].<ref>[http://creation.com/children-see-the-world-as-designed Children see the world as designed]</ref>]]

Even in atheistic [[Japan]], researchers found that Japanese children see the world [[Intelligent design|as designed]].<ref>[http://creation.com/children-see-the-world-as-designed Children see the world as designed]</ref>]]

Prominent atheists/agnostics indicating that they repeatedly have thoughts that the world is designed/purposeful and research showing that many individuals in the general population of atheists/agnostics frequently have these thoughts also (See: [[Atheism and purpose]]).

Prominent atheists/agnostics indicating that they repeatedly have thoughts that the world is designed/purposeful and research showing that many individuals in the general population of atheists/agnostics frequently have these thoughts also (See: [[Atheism and purpose]]).

While some individuals give more thoughtful deliberation on the issue of the [[Arguments for the existence of God|existence of God]] and the purpose of life than others (see: [[Atheism and apathy]] and [[Apatheism]]), it is common for atheists/[[agnosticism|agnostics]] to dwell on the issue of purpose (see: [[Atheism and purpose]]).<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/19/opinion/sunday/does-everything-happen-for-a-reason.html ''Does everything happen for a reason?'']</ref>  

While some individuals give more thoughtful deliberation on the issue of the [[Arguments for the existence of God|existence of God]] and the purpose of life than others (see: [[Atheism and apathy]] and [[Apatheism]]), it is common for atheists/[[agnosticism|agnostics]] to dwell on the issue of purpose (see: [[Atheism and purpose]]).<ref name="nytimes.com">[http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/19/opinion/sunday/does-everything-happen-for-a-reason.html ''Does everything happen for a reason?'']</ref>  

Also, notable atheists have had the characteristic of variability and instability when it came to maintaining thoughts in accordance with atheism. For example, [[Jean-Paul Sartre]] was one of the leading proponents of atheism of the 20th Century.  He was one of several popularizers of the [[philosophy]] of [[existentialism]].  

Also, notable atheists have had the characteristic of variability and instability when it came to maintaining thoughts in accordance with atheism. For example, [[Jean-Paul Sartre]] was one of the leading proponents of atheism of the 20th Century.  He was one of several popularizers of the [[philosophy]] of [[existentialism]].  

These atheists’ responses weren’t just the product of living in America’s highly religious society. [http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/2153599X.2013.782888#.VGptUsn6dl6 Research done at Queen’s University in Belfast] by the psychologists Bethany Heywood and Jesse Bering found that [[British atheism|British atheists]] were just as likely as American atheists to believe that their life events had underlying purposes, even though Britain is far less religious than America.

These atheists’ responses weren’t just the product of living in America’s highly religious society. [http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/2153599X.2013.782888#.VGptUsn6dl6 Research done at Queen’s University in Belfast] by the psychologists Bethany Heywood and Jesse Bering found that [[British atheism|British atheists]] were just as likely as American atheists to believe that their life events had underlying purposes, even though Britain is far less religious than America.

In other studies, scheduled to be published online next week in the journal Child Development, we found that even young children show a bias to believe that life events happen for a reason — to “send a sign” or “to teach a lesson.” This belief exists regardless of how much exposure the children have had to religion at home, and even if they’ve had none at all.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/19/opinion/sunday/does-everything-happen-for-a-reason.html ''Does everything happen for a reason?'']</ref>}}

In other studies, scheduled to be published online next week in the journal Child Development, we found that even young children show a bias to believe that life events happen for a reason — to “send a sign” or “to teach a lesson.” This belief exists regardless of how much exposure the children have had to religion at home, and even if they’ve had none at all.<ref name="nytimes.com">[http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/19/opinion/sunday/does-everything-happen-for-a-reason.html ''Does everything happen for a reason?'']</ref>}}

=== Retention rate of atheists low in various populations ===

=== Retention rate of atheists low in various populations ===

[[File:China rel01.jpg|thumbnail|left|205px|Despite China's atheist government advocating atheism and engaging in religious persecution, Christianity is rapidly growing in [[China]].  See: [[Growth of Christianity in China]] ]]

[[File:China rel01.jpg|thumbnail|left|205px|Despite China's atheist government advocating atheism and engaging in religious persecution, Christianity is rapidly growing in [[China]].  See: [[Growth of Christianity in China]] ]]

In 2012, a [[Georgetown University]] study was published indicating that in the United States only about 30 percent of those who grow up in an [[Atheism|atheist]] household remain atheists as adults.<ref>[http://www.christianpost.com/news/study-atheists-have-lowest-retention-rate-compared-to-religious-groups-78029/ Study: Atheists Have Lowest 'Retention Rate' Compared to Religious Groups]</ref> According to Dr. Mark Gray, "of those raised as atheists, 30% are now affiliated with a [[Protestantism|Protestant]] denomination, 10% are Catholic, 2% are Jewish, 1% are Mormon, and 1% are Pagan."<ref>[http://www.christianpost.com/news/study-atheists-have-lowest-retention-rate-compared-to-religious-groups-78029/ Study: Atheists Have Lowest 'Retention Rate' Compared to Religious Groups]</ref>  

In 2012, a [[Georgetown University]] study was published indicating that in the United States only about 30 percent of those who grow up in an [[Atheism|atheist]] household remain atheists as adults.<ref name="christianpost.com">[http://www.christianpost.com/news/study-atheists-have-lowest-retention-rate-compared-to-religious-groups-78029/ Study: Atheists Have Lowest 'Retention Rate' Compared to Religious Groups]</ref> According to Dr. Mark Gray, "of those raised as atheists, 30% are now affiliated with a [[Protestantism|Protestant]] denomination, 10% are Catholic, 2% are Jewish, 1% are Mormon, and 1% are Pagan."<ref name="christianpost.com"/>  

Similarly, according to recent research by the Pew Research Forum on Religion and Public Life, in the United States, a majority of those surveyed who were raised in atheist or [[agnosticism|agnostic]] households, or where there was [[Nones|no specific religious attachment]], later chose to join a religious faith.<ref>http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/opinion/defectors-to-faith-mark-a-growing-trend/story-e6frg7ko-1225710667095</ref><ref>http://pewresearch.org/pubs/1204/religion-changes-affiliations-survey</ref>

Similarly, according to recent research by the Pew Research Forum on Religion and Public Life, in the United States, a majority of those surveyed who were raised in atheist or [[agnosticism|agnostic]] households, or where there was [[Nones|no specific religious attachment]], later chose to join a religious faith.<ref>http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/opinion/defectors-to-faith-mark-a-growing-trend/story-e6frg7ko-1225710667095</ref><ref>http://pewresearch.org/pubs/1204/religion-changes-affiliations-survey</ref>

[[File:John Lennox.jpg|right|thumb|200px|[[John Lennox]] ]]

[[File:John Lennox.jpg|right|thumb|200px|[[John Lennox]] ]]

In June of 2012, the UK based Dorsett [[Secular Humanism|Humanists]] wrote:

In June 2012, the UK based Dorsett [[Secular Humanism|Humanists]] wrote:

{{Cquote|There’s been a forceful backlash against the ‘[[New Atheism|new atheism]]’ of writers like [[Richard Dawkins]] and the late [[Christopher Hitchens]], inspiring a new wave of Christian apologists. This group includes: [[Alister McGrath]], Professor of Theology at King’s College London, Keith Ward, former Professor of Divinity at Oxford, and [[John Lennox]], Professor of Mathematics at the University of Oxford.

{{Cquote|There’s been a forceful backlash against the ‘[[New Atheism|new atheism]]’ of writers like [[Richard Dawkins]] and the late [[Christopher Hitchens]], inspiring a new wave of Christian apologists. This group includes: [[Alister McGrath]], Professor of Theology at King’s College London, Keith Ward, former Professor of Divinity at Oxford, and [[John Lennox]], Professor of Mathematics at the University of Oxford.

On July 24, 2013, ''CNS News'' reported about [[global atheism]]:

On July 24, 2013, ''CNS News'' reported about [[global atheism]]:

{{cquote|[[Atheism]] is in [[Global atheism|decline worldwide]], with the number of atheists falling from 4.5% of the world’s population in 1970 to 2.0% in 2010 and projected to drop to 1.8% by 2020, according to a new report by the Center for the Study of Global Christianity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in South Hamilton, Mass."<ref>http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/global-study-atheists-decline-only-18-world-population-2020 Global Study: Atheists in Decline, Only 1.8% of World Population by 2020]</ref>}}

{{cquote|[[Atheism]] is in [[Global atheism|decline worldwide]], with the number of atheists falling from 4.5% of the world’s population in 1970 to 2.0% in 2010 and projected to drop to 1.8% by 2020, according to a new report by the Center for the Study of Global Christianity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in South Hamilton, Mass."<ref>[http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/global-study-atheists-decline-only-18-world-population-2020 Global Study: Atheists in Decline, Only 1.8% of World Population by 2020]</ref>}}

Douglas S. Winnail wrote:  

Douglas S. Winnail wrote:  

''See also:'' [[Attempts to dilute the definition of atheism]]

''See also:'' [[Attempts to dilute the definition of atheism]]

[[File:Shockofgod helmet.jpg|thumbnail|175px|right|Logo for the Shockofgod YouTube channel.

[[File:Shockofgod helmet.jpg|thumbnail|175px|right|Logo for the Shockofgod YouTube channel.

 

The Christian YouTube video creator [[Shockofgod]] repeatedly posed the question "What proof and evidence do have that proves that atheism is accurate and correct?" to atheists which was very upsetting to many YouTube atheists.<ref name="youtube.com">[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjS__cWr0Y0 The question that is causing atheists to abandon atheism]</ref>]]

The Christian YouTube video creator [[Shockofgod]] repeatedly posed the question "What proof and evidence do have that proves that atheism is accurate and correct?" to atheists which was very upsetting to many YouTube atheists.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjS__cWr0Y0 The question that is causing atheists to abandon atheism]</ref>]]

The atheist Francois Tremblay wrote in his essay ''Herding Cats: Why atheism will lose'':

The atheist Francois Tremblay wrote in his essay ''Herding Cats: Why atheism will lose'':

{{cquote|Another problem of atheism qua atheism is that it does not contain its own basis. What I mean by this is that atheism is a punctual, [[ontological]] belief, which is itself the implicit or explicit result of [[metaphysics|metaphysical]] and [[Atheism and epistemology|epistemological deductions]]. Any reply to an attack on this basis cannot come directly from atheism. Concentrating oneself only on being an atheist is like trying to build a house from the second floor up. It may look less costly on paper, and for people who only build houses in their imagination this may be a good way of seeing it, but it's not good enough for a serious endeavour. And most importantly, it's too fragile. I see too many religionists attacking atheism from the bottom and atheists being unable to adequately reply to the arguments. If the atheist cannot answer to his most fundamental beliefs on the nature of reality and cognition, then his atheism is worthless in terms of validation. It is nothing more than a big paper tiger, made from the finest cardboard.

{{cquote|Another problem of atheism qua atheism is that it does not contain its own basis. What I mean by this is that atheism is a punctual, [[ontological]] belief, which is itself the implicit or explicit result of [[metaphysics|metaphysical]] and [[Atheism and epistemology|epistemological deductions]]. Any reply to an attack on this basis cannot come directly from atheism. Concentrating oneself only on being an atheist is like trying to build a house from the second floor up. It may look less costly on paper, and for people who only build houses in their imagination this may be a good way of seeing it, but it's not good enough for a serious endeavour. And most importantly, it's too fragile. I see too many religionists attacking atheism from the bottom and atheists being unable to adequately reply to the arguments. If the atheist cannot answer to his most fundamental beliefs on the nature of reality and cognition, then his atheism is worthless in terms of validation. It is nothing more than a big paper tiger, made from the finest cardboard.

One last problem that undermines any propagation of atheism is inspiration. Let's be honest here, "there is no god!" is [[Atheism and inspiration|not a very motivating call]] for most people.<ref>[http://www.liberator.net/articles/TremblayFrancois/herdingcats.html  ''Herding Cats: Why atheism will lose''] by Francois Tremblay</ref>}}

One last problem that undermines any propagation of atheism is inspiration. Let's be honest here, "there is no god!" is [[Atheism and inspiration|not a very motivating call]] for most people.<ref>[http://www.liberator.net/articles/TremblayFrancois/herdingcats.html  ''Herding Cats: Why atheism will lose''] by Francois Tremblay</ref>}}

A Christian who has doubts can rely on the experiential knowledge of God that he has experienced and evidence for the Christian worldview, but an atheist has nothing that would support a lack of belief in God. The Christian YouTube video creator [[Shockofgod]] repeatedly posed the question "What proof and evidence do have that proves that atheism is accurate and correct?" to atheists which was very upsetting to many YouTube atheists.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjS__cWr0Y0 The question that is causing atheists to abandon atheism]</ref>

A Christian who has doubts can rely on the experiential knowledge of God that he has experienced and evidence for the Christian worldview, but an atheist has nothing that would support a lack of belief in God. The Christian YouTube video creator [[Shockofgod]] repeatedly posed the question "What proof and evidence do have that proves that atheism is accurate and correct?" to atheists which was very upsetting to many YouTube atheists.<ref name="youtube.com"/>

=== Studies indicating that individuals who reject Christianity have lower self-esteem ===

=== Studies indicating that individuals who reject Christianity have lower self-esteem ===

== Notes ==

== Notes ==

{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

[[Category: Atheism]]

[[Category:Atheism]]