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One of the most popular arguments for God's existence is the [[teleological argument]]. Derived from the Greek word ''telos'', which refers to purpose or end, this argument hinges on the idea that the world gives evidence of being designed, and concludes that a divine designer must be posited to account for the orderly world we encounter.

One of the most popular arguments for God's existence is the [[teleological argument]]. Derived from the Greek word ''telos'', which refers to [[purpose]] or end, this argument hinges on the idea that the world gives evidence of being designed, and concludes that a divine designer must be posited to account for the orderly world we encounter.

On October 17, 2014, The New York Times published an article entitled ''Does everything happen for a reason?'' which declared:

On October 17, 2014, The New York Times published an article entitled ''Does everything happen for a reason?'' which declared:

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>[https://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/19/opinion/sunday/does-everything-happen-for-a-reason.html ''Does everything happen for a reason?'']</ref>}}

Pew Research reports that 35% of [[American atheism|American atheists]] often think about the meaning and purpose of life.<ref>[http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/06/01/10-facts-about-atheists/ 10 facts about atheists], Pew Research</ref>

Pew Research reports that 35% of [[American atheism|American atheists]] often think about the meaning and purpose of life.<ref>[https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/06/01/10-facts-about-atheists/ 10 facts about atheists], Pew Research</ref>

== Children in atheistic Japan see the world as designed ==

== Children see the world as designed ==

In atheistic [[Japan]], researchers found that Japanese children see the natural world [[Intelligent design|as designed]] and purposeful and believe some kind of intelligent being is behind that purpose.<ref>[http://creation.com/children-see-the-world-as-designed Children as designed].</ref>

Researchers at [[Oxford University]] have reported finding children who, when questioned, express their understanding that there is a Creator, without having had any such teaching from parents or teachers about this matter.<ref>[https://creation.com/children-see-the-world-as-designed Children as designed].</ref>  In [[Japan]], researchers found that Japanese children see the natural world [[Intelligent design|as designed]] and purposeful and believe some kind of intelligent being is behind that purpose.<ref>[https://creation.com/children-see-the-world-as-designed Children as designed].</ref>

== Jean-Paul Sartre and teleological beliefs ==

== Jean-Paul Sartre and teleological beliefs ==

Yet Jean-Paul Sartre made this candid confession:

Yet Jean-Paul Sartre made this candid confession:

{{cquote|As for me, I don’t see myself as so much dust that has appeared in the world but as a being that was expected, prefigured, called forth. In short, as a being that could, it seems, come only from a creator; and this idea of a creating hand that created me refers me back to God. Naturally this is not a clear, exact idea that I set in motion every time I think of myself. It contradicts many of my other ideas; but it is there, floating vaguely. And when I think of myself I often think rather in this way, for wont of ''being able to think otherwise''.<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=BGU7LZ2bQ4cC&pg=PA109&lpg=PA109&dq=As+for+me,+I+don%E2%80%99t+see+myself+as+so+much+dust+that+has+appeared+in+the+world+but+as+a+being+that+was+expected,+prefigured,+called+forth.+In+short,+as+a+being+that+could,+it+seems,+come+only+from+a+creator;+and+this+idea+of+a+creating+hand+that+created+me+refers+me+back+to+God.&source=bl&ots=die9xMUdsB&sig=3dAJOK34aBalYieFKcJLdGpwFjY&hl=en&sa=X&ei=NXhqVMSmHMexyASUyYKIBw&ved=0CCwQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=As%20for%20me%2C%20I%20don%E2%80%99t%20see%20myself%20as%20so%20much%20dust%20that%20has%20appeared%20in%20the%20world%20but%20as%20a%20being%20that%20was%20expected%2C%20prefigured%2C%20called%20forth.%20In%20short%2C%20as%20a%20being%20that%20could%2C%20it%20seems%2C%20come%20only%20from%20a%20creator%3B%20and%20this%20idea%20of%20a%20creating%20hand%20that%20created%20me%20refers%20me%20back%20to%20God.&f=false ''Escape from God: The Use of Religion and Philosophy to Evade Responsibility'' By Dean Turner, page 109]</ref>}}

{{cquote|As for me, I don’t see myself as so much dust that has appeared in the world but as a being that was expected, prefigured, called forth. In short, as a being that could, it seems, come only from a creator; and this idea of a creating hand that created me refers me back to God. Naturally this is not a clear, exact idea that I set in motion every time I think of myself. It contradicts many of my other ideas; but it is there, floating vaguely. And when I think of myself I often think rather in this way, for wont of ''being able to think otherwise''.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=BGU7LZ2bQ4cC&pg=PA109&lpg=PA109&dq=As+for+me,+I+don%E2%80%99t+see+myself+as+so+much+dust+that+has+appeared+in+the+world+but+as+a+being+that+was+expected,+prefigured,+called+forth.+In+short,+as+a+being+that+could,+it+seems,+come+only+from+a+creator;+and+this+idea+of+a+creating+hand+that+created+me+refers+me+back+to+God.&source=bl&ots=die9xMUdsB&sig=3dAJOK34aBalYieFKcJLdGpwFjY&hl=en&sa=X&ei=NXhqVMSmHMexyASUyYKIBw&ved=0CCwQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=As%20for%20me%2C%20I%20don%E2%80%99t%20see%20myself%20as%20so%20much%20dust%20that%20has%20appeared%20in%20the%20world%20but%20as%20a%20being%20that%20was%20expected%2C%20prefigured%2C%20called%20forth.%20In%20short%2C%20as%20a%20being%20that%20could%2C%20it%20seems%2C%20come%20only%20from%20a%20creator%3B%20and%20this%20idea%20of%20a%20creating%20hand%20that%20created%20me%20refers%20me%20back%20to%20God.&f=false ''Escape from God: The Use of Religion and Philosophy to Evade Responsibility'' By Dean Turner, page 109]</ref>}}

== Charles Darwin often had overwhelming thoughts the world was designed ==

== Charles Darwin often had overwhelming thoughts the world was designed ==

{{See also|Ben Stein Interview with Richard Dawkins}}

{{See also|Ben Stein Interview with Richard Dawkins}}

In the movie [[Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed]], [[Ben Stein]] demonstrated the folly of [[evolutionism]] in his interview with the evolutionist and agnostic/[[New Atheism|New Atheist]] [[Richard Dawkins]] ([http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12rgtN0pCMQ A clip of the interview has been uploaded to YouTube] ).

In the movie [[Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed]], [[Ben Stein]] demonstrated the folly of [[evolutionism]] in his interview with the evolutionist and agnostic/[[New Atheism|New Atheist]] [[Richard Dawkins]] ([https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12rgtN0pCMQ A clip of the interview has been uploaded to YouTube] ).

The [[Discovery Institute]] provides an transcript of part of the interview along with some commentary:

The [[Discovery Institute]] provides an transcript of part of the interview along with some commentary:

Richard Dawkins and Rael; "clear thinking" kindred spirits!

Richard Dawkins and Rael; "clear thinking" kindred spirits!

<ref>http://www.discovery.org/a/4589</ref>}}

<ref>http://www.discovery.org/a/4589</ref>}}

== Related quotes from science publications ==

== Related quotes from science publications ==

''See also:'' [[Atheism Quotes]]

''See also:'' [[Atheism Quotes]]

" “A slew of cognitive traits predisposes us to [[faith]].”  - Pascal Boyer, in the British science journal ''Nature'' <ref>[http://www.wnd.com/2014/07/science-writer-atheists-might-not-exist Graham Lawton in the New Scientist]</ref>  

" “A slew of cognitive traits predisposes us to [[faith]].”  - Pascal Boyer, in the British science journal ''Nature'' <ref>[https://www.wnd.com/2014/07/science-writer-atheists-might-not-exist Graham Lawton in the New Scientist]</ref>  

“Atheism is psychologically impossible because of the way humans think. … They point to studies showing, for example, that even people who claim to be committed atheists tacitly hold religious beliefs, such as the existence of an immortal soul.” - Graham Lawton in the ''New Scientist'' science magazine <ref>[http://www.wnd.com/2014/07/science-writer-atheists-might-not-exist Graham Lawton in the New Scientist]</ref>

“Atheism is psychologically impossible because of the way humans think. … They point to studies showing, for example, that even people who claim to be committed atheists tacitly hold religious beliefs, such as the existence of an immortal soul.” - Graham Lawton in the ''New Scientist'' science magazine <ref>[https://www.wnd.com/2014/07/science-writer-atheists-might-not-exist Graham Lawton in the New Scientist]</ref>

== Meaninglessness and hopelessness under an atheist worldview ==

== Meaninglessness and hopelessness under an atheist worldview ==

''See also:'' [[Atheism and meaninglessness]] and [[Atheism, agnosticism and pessimism]]

''See also:'' [[Atheism and meaninglessness]] and [[Atheism and incoherency]] and [[Atheism, agnosticism and pessimism]]

[[File:Russell1907-2.jpg|right|thumbnail|200px|[[Bertrand Russell]] ]]

[[File:Russell1907-2.jpg|right|thumbnail|200px|[[Bertrand Russell]] ]]

== See also ==

== See also ==

*[[Denials that atheists exist]]

*[[Denials that atheists exist]]

*[[Atheists doubting the validity of atheism]]

*[[Atheists doubting the validity of atheism]]

*[[Atheism and beliefs]]

*[[Atheism and beliefs]]

*[[Atheism and belief]]

*[[Atheism and belief]]

== Notes ==

== Notes ==