Difference between revisions of "Atheism and irrationality"

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*[http://str.typepad.com/weblog/2008/08/naturalisms-hot.html Naturalism's Hot Water]
 
*[http://str.typepad.com/weblog/2008/08/naturalisms-hot.html Naturalism's Hot Water]
 
</ref>
 
</ref>
 +
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== Irreligion and superstition ==
 +
 +
[[Image:2384975035_230a0eac30.jpg‎‎|thumb|right|170px|The [[Wall Street Journal]] reported: "A comprehensive new study released by Baylor University yesterday, shows ...that the irreligious and the members of more liberal Protestant denominations, far from being resistant to [[superstition]], tend to be much more likely to believe in the paranormal and in [[pseudoscience]] than evangelical Christians."<ref>http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122178219865054585.html</ref>]]
 +
''See also:'' [[Irreligion and superstition]]
 +
 +
In September of 2008, the [[Wall Street Journal]] reported:
 +
{{cquote|The reality is that the [[New Atheism|New Atheist]] campaign, by discouraging [[religion]], won't create a new group of intelligent, skeptical, enlightened beings. Far from it: It might actually encourage new levels of mass [[superstition]]. And that's not a conclusion to take on faith -- it's what the empirical data tell us.
 +
 +
"What Americans Really Believe," a comprehensive new study released by Baylor University yesterday, shows that [[Conservative Christianity|traditional Christian religion]] greatly decreases belief in everything from the efficacy of palm readers to the usefulness of [[astrology]]. It also shows that the irreligious and the members of more liberal Protestant denominations, far from being resistant to superstition, tend to be much more likely to believe in the paranormal and in [[pseudoscience]] than evangelical Christians....
 +
 +
This is not a new finding. In his 1983 book "The Whys of a Philosophical Scrivener," skeptic and science writer Martin Gardner cited the decline of traditional religious belief among the better educated as one of the causes for an increase in pseudoscience, cults and superstition. He referenced a 1980 study published in the magazine ''Skeptical Inquirer'' that showed irreligious college students to be by far the most likely to embrace paranormal beliefs, while born-again Christian college students were the least likely.<ref>http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122178219865054585.html</ref>}}
 +
 +
For more information, please see: [[Irreligion and superstition]]
  
 
== Formal debates and the lack of confidence of the atheist community ==
 
== Formal debates and the lack of confidence of the atheist community ==
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*''[http://www.voxday.net/mart/TIA_free.pdf The Irrational atheist]: Dissecting the Unholy Trinity of Dawkins, Harris, and Hitchens by [[Vox Day]]
 
*''[http://www.voxday.net/mart/TIA_free.pdf The Irrational atheist]: Dissecting the Unholy Trinity of Dawkins, Harris, and Hitchens by [[Vox Day]]
 
*[http://str.typepad.com/weblog/2008/08/naturalisms-hot.html Naturalism's Hot Water]
 
*[http://str.typepad.com/weblog/2008/08/naturalisms-hot.html Naturalism's Hot Water]
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+
<br />
 
=== Atheism and the laws of logic ===
 
=== Atheism and the laws of logic ===
  
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*[http://carm.org/christian-worldview-atheist-worldview-and-logic The Christian Worldview, the Atheist Worldview, and Logic] by Matt Slick
 
*[http://carm.org/christian-worldview-atheist-worldview-and-logic The Christian Worldview, the Atheist Worldview, and Logic] by Matt Slick
 
*[http://answersforhope.org/portfolio_item/can-atheism-coherently-explain-the-laws-of-logic/  Can Atheism Coherently Explain the Laws of Logic?] by Answers for Hope
 
*[http://answersforhope.org/portfolio_item/can-atheism-coherently-explain-the-laws-of-logic/  Can Atheism Coherently Explain the Laws of Logic?] by Answers for Hope
−
 
+
<br />
 
=== Transcendental argument for the existence of God ===
 
=== Transcendental argument for the existence of God ===
 
[[Image:Bahnsen.jpg‎|thumb|250px|Dr. [[Greg Bahnsen]] became known as "the man [[atheism|atheists]] fear most" due to [[Michael Martin]]'s [[Press release concerning Michael Martin pulling out of Martin-Bahnsen debate|cancellation]] of their scheduled debate.<ref>[http://simpleapologetics.com/thegreatdebate.html The Great Debate: Greg Bahnsen vs Gordon Stein]</ref>]]
 
[[Image:Bahnsen.jpg‎|thumb|250px|Dr. [[Greg Bahnsen]] became known as "the man [[atheism|atheists]] fear most" due to [[Michael Martin]]'s [[Press release concerning Michael Martin pulling out of Martin-Bahnsen debate|cancellation]] of their scheduled debate.<ref>[http://simpleapologetics.com/thegreatdebate.html The Great Debate: Greg Bahnsen vs Gordon Stein]</ref>]]
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*[http://www.butler-harris.org/tag The Transcendental Argument for God's Existence] by Michael Butler.
 
*[http://www.butler-harris.org/tag The Transcendental Argument for God's Existence] by Michael Butler.
 
*[http://carm.org/transcendental-argument The Transcendental Argument for the Existence of God] by Matt Slick.
 
*[http://carm.org/transcendental-argument The Transcendental Argument for the Existence of God] by Matt Slick.
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<br />
 
==== Debates on the transcendental argument for the existence of God ====
 
==== Debates on the transcendental argument for the existence of God ====
  
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* [http://www.frame-poythress.org/debate-with-michael-martin-on-the-transcendental-argument-for-the-non-existence-of-god/ The Martin-Frame Debate] A written debate between skeptic [[Michael Martin]] and Christian John Frame on the transcendental argument for the existence of God.
 
* [http://www.frame-poythress.org/debate-with-michael-martin-on-the-transcendental-argument-for-the-non-existence-of-god/ The Martin-Frame Debate] A written debate between skeptic [[Michael Martin]] and Christian John Frame on the transcendental argument for the existence of God.
 
* [http://reformed.org/webfiles/antithesis/v2n4/ "Is Non-Christian Thought Futile?"] A written debate between Christian Doug Jones and skeptics Keith Parsons and Michael Martin in ''Antithesis'' magazine (vol. 2, no. 4).
 
* [http://reformed.org/webfiles/antithesis/v2n4/ "Is Non-Christian Thought Futile?"] A written debate between Christian Doug Jones and skeptics Keith Parsons and Michael Martin in ''Antithesis'' magazine (vol. 2, no. 4).
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<br />
  
 +
[[File:4335281098 237ce959bd.jpg|thumbnail|right|350px|"The heavens are telling of the glory of [[God]]. And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands." (Psalm 19:1 NASB)]]
 
=== Existence of the universe ===
 
=== Existence of the universe ===
  
−
*[http://carm.org/failure-atheism-account-existence The failure of atheism to account for existence] by Matt Slick at [[CARM]]
+
*[http://carm.org/failure-atheism-account-existence The failure of atheism to account for existence]  
  
 
*[http://www.creationencounter.com/space/lawsofscience.php Can the laws of science explain the origin of the universe?]  
 
*[http://www.creationencounter.com/space/lawsofscience.php Can the laws of science explain the origin of the universe?]  
  
−
*[http://creation.com/god-created-not-quantum-fluctuation In the beginning God created—or was it a quantum fluctuation?] by Dr [[Jonathan Sarfati]]
+
*[http://creation.com/god-created-not-quantum-fluctuation In the beginning God created—or was it a quantum fluctuation?]  
−
 
 
−
*[http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/2011/03/why-is-there-something-rather-than-nothing-the-only-six-options/ Why is There Something Rather than Nothing? The Only Six Options] by C. Michael Patton
 
  
 +
*[http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/2011/03/why-is-there-something-rather-than-nothing-the-only-six-options/ Why is There Something Rather than Nothing? The Only Six Options]
 +
<br />
 
==== Argument from contingency ====
 
==== Argument from contingency ====
  
 
*[http://www.reasonablefaith.org/argument-from-contingency Argument from contingency]
 
*[http://www.reasonablefaith.org/argument-from-contingency Argument from contingency]
 
*[http://dangerousidea.blogspot.com/2006/10/aquinas-argument-from-contingency.html Aquinas' Argument from Contingency]
 
*[http://dangerousidea.blogspot.com/2006/10/aquinas-argument-from-contingency.html Aquinas' Argument from Contingency]
 +
<br />
  
 
=== Existence of consciousness ===
 
=== Existence of consciousness ===
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*[http://www.tomorrowsworld.org/magazines/2014/september-october/the-enigmatic-human-brain The enigmatic human brain]
 
*[http://www.tomorrowsworld.org/magazines/2014/september-october/the-enigmatic-human-brain The enigmatic human brain]
 
*[http://www.creationmoments.com/radio/transcripts/most-complex-structure The human brain: The most complex structure in the universe]
 
*[http://www.creationmoments.com/radio/transcripts/most-complex-structure The human brain: The most complex structure in the universe]
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<br />
 
==== Mind uploading ====
 
==== Mind uploading ====
  
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*[http://io9.com/you-ll-probably-never-upload-your-mind-into-a-computer-474941498 You Might Never Upload Your Brain Into a Computer] by George Dvorsky posted at 4/17/13 12:02pm at io9.com
 
*[http://io9.com/you-ll-probably-never-upload-your-mind-into-a-computer-474941498 You Might Never Upload Your Brain Into a Computer] by George Dvorsky posted at 4/17/13 12:02pm at io9.com
 
*[http://www.forbes.com/sites/alexknapp/2011/06/24/whats-the-likelihood-of-the-singularity-part-two-uploading-the-brain/ What's the Likelihood of the Singularity? Part Two: Uploading the Brain] by Alex Knapp, Forbes, 6/24/2011
 
*[http://www.forbes.com/sites/alexknapp/2011/06/24/whats-the-likelihood-of-the-singularity-part-two-uploading-the-brain/ What's the Likelihood of the Singularity? Part Two: Uploading the Brain] by Alex Knapp, Forbes, 6/24/2011
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<br />
 
=== C.S. Lewis's argument for reason and for the irrationality of materialism ===
 
=== C.S. Lewis's argument for reason and for the irrationality of materialism ===
  
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*[http://truthbomb.blogspot.com/2012/04/cs-lewis-on-rationality-and-materialism.html C.S. Lewis on Rationality and Materialism ]
 
*[http://truthbomb.blogspot.com/2012/04/cs-lewis-on-rationality-and-materialism.html C.S. Lewis on Rationality and Materialism ]
 
*[http://fidedubitandum.wordpress.com/2013/04/18/atheism-and-the-inability-to-think/ Atheism and the Inability to Think]
 
*[http://fidedubitandum.wordpress.com/2013/04/18/atheism-and-the-inability-to-think/ Atheism and the Inability to Think]
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<br />
 
=== Atheism and incoherence and inconsistencies ===
 
=== Atheism and incoherence and inconsistencies ===
−
 
+
[[File:JP Moreland.jpg|thumbnail|200px|right|J.P. Moreland ]]
 
*[http://grayknight.hubpages.com/hub/Top-10-Atheist-Inconsistencies 10 atheist inconsistencies]
 
*[http://grayknight.hubpages.com/hub/Top-10-Atheist-Inconsistencies 10 atheist inconsistencies]
 
*[http://www.scottmsullivan.com/why-atheism-is-incoherent/ Why atheism is inconsistent] by Dr. Scott Sullivan (podcast),  August 19th, 2014
 
*[http://www.scottmsullivan.com/why-atheism-is-incoherent/ Why atheism is inconsistent] by Dr. Scott Sullivan (podcast),  August 19th, 2014
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*[http://justandsinner.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-incoherence-of-atheism.html The incoherence of atheism]
 
*[http://justandsinner.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-incoherence-of-atheism.html The incoherence of atheism]
 
*[http://ephesians4-15.blogspot.com/2012/11/more-on-inconsistent-atheists.html More on inconsistent atheists]
 
*[http://ephesians4-15.blogspot.com/2012/11/more-on-inconsistent-atheists.html More on inconsistent atheists]
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<br />
 
'''Incoherence/inconsistency of naturalism:'''
 
'''Incoherence/inconsistency of naturalism:'''
  
−
4 part series by Dr. J.P. Moreland
+
4 part series by Dr. [[J.P. Moreland]]
−
 
 
−
*[http://vimeo.com/102663614 The Summit Lecture Series: Scientific Naturalism Worldview with J.P. Moreland, part 1]
 
−
*[http://vimeo.com/103277405 The Summit Lecture Series: Scientific Naturalism with J.P. Moreland, part 2]
 
−
*[http://vimeo.com/103865278 The Summit Lecture Series: Scientific Naturalism with J.P. Moreland, part 3]
 
−
*[http://vimeo.com/105068126 The Summit Lecture Series: Scientific Naturalism Worldview with J.P. Moreland, part 4]
 
  
−
Article relating to non-theistic [[Buddhism]] and [[Jacques Derrida]]'s [[postmodernism]] (Derrida appears to have been an atheist):
+
*[http://vimeo.com/102663614 Scientific Naturalism with J.P. Moreland, part 1]
 +
*[http://vimeo.com/103277405 Scientific Naturalism with J.P. Moreland, part 2]
 +
*[http://vimeo.com/103865278 Scientific Naturalism with J.P. Moreland, part 3]
 +
*[http://vimeo.com/105068126 Scientific Naturalism with J.P. Moreland, part 4]
 +
<br />
 +
Articles relating to [[postmodernism]] and non-theistic [[Buddhism]]  
  
−
*[http://choosinghats.org/2012/11/the-consistently-inconsistent-worldview-objection/ The Consistently Inconsistent Worldview Objection] - Non-theistic Buddhism and Jacques Derrida
+
*[http://www.normangeisler.net/Articles/PostModernPhilosophy/ResponseToPostModernism.htm A Response to Philosophical Postmodernism]
 +
*[http://choosinghats.org/2012/11/the-consistently-inconsistent-worldview-objection/ The Consistently Inconsistent Worldview Objection]
 +
<br />
  
 
=== Logic and theism/creation ===
 
=== Logic and theism/creation ===
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*[http://creation.com/if-god-created-the-universe-then-who-created-god If God created the universe, then who created God?] by Jonathan D. Sarfati
 
*[http://creation.com/if-god-created-the-universe-then-who-created-god If God created the universe, then who created God?] by Jonathan D. Sarfati
 
*[http://creation.com/the-rules-of-the-game Rules of the game] by Dr. [[Carl Wieland]]
 
*[http://creation.com/the-rules-of-the-game Rules of the game] by Dr. [[Carl Wieland]]
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<br />
 
=== Common logical fallacies that atheists employ ===
 
=== Common logical fallacies that atheists employ ===
  
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*[[Fallacy of exclusion]]
 
*[[Fallacy of exclusion]]
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<br />
 
=== Videos ===
 
=== Videos ===
  
 
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4jpIRz9CY8 Crazy Atheists Compilation (Atheists are Irrational)]
 
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4jpIRz9CY8 Crazy Atheists Compilation (Atheists are Irrational)]
 +
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yNhiDQ9lvc Proof atheism is madness - this is hilarious!!]
 +
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvxSsYRPIWM Ex-Atheist conquers atheist experience show exposing the madness of atheism]
 +
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcR6uceEEag Atheist Matt Dillahunty proves atheism is madness]
 +
<br />
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==
  
 +
*[[Rebuttals to atheist arguments]]
 
*[[Atheism and meaninglessness]]
 
*[[Atheism and meaninglessness]]
 
*[[Christian apologetics websites|Evidence for Christianity]]
 
*[[Christian apologetics websites|Evidence for Christianity]]

Revision as of 22:34, October 12, 2014

A common and legitimate criticism of the atheist worldview is that atheism is irrational.[1]

A common and legitimate criticism of the atheist worldview is that atheism is irrational.[2] In short, atheism is a fundamentally incoherent worldview with a number of inconsistencies.[3]

Atheistic worldview cannot account for the laws of logic

See also: Transcendental argument for the existence of God

The atheistic worldview cannot account for the laws of logic.[4]

Atheist worldview cannot explain consciousness

The atheist worldview cannot explain the existence of consciousness either and the theistic worldview can offer a reasonable explanation.[5]

Advocates of mind uploading (Mind uploading is the notion that someday mankind may be able to scan and upload their minds to computer storage mediums) are generally strong advocates of cryonics as well.[6] Mind uploading is not a feasible hypothesis.[7] See also: Atheism and cryonics

Naturalism is incompatible with reason

Additionally, naturalism and reason are incompatible and believing in naturalism is therefore self-defeating. In short, if naturalism is true, then we ought not to trust our capacity for reason for the human brain would be a byproduct of blind/unintelligent natural forces. [8]

Irreligion and superstition

The Wall Street Journal reported: "A comprehensive new study released by Baylor University yesterday, shows ...that the irreligious and the members of more liberal Protestant denominations, far from being resistant to superstition, tend to be much more likely to believe in the paranormal and in pseudoscience than evangelical Christians."[9]

See also: Irreligion and superstition

In September of 2008, the Wall Street Journal reported:

“ The reality is that the New Atheist campaign, by discouraging religion, won't create a new group of intelligent, skeptical, enlightened beings. Far from it: It might actually encourage new levels of mass superstition. And that's not a conclusion to take on faith -- it's what the empirical data tell us.

"What Americans Really Believe," a comprehensive new study released by Baylor University yesterday, shows that traditional Christian religion greatly decreases belief in everything from the efficacy of palm readers to the usefulness of astrology. It also shows that the irreligious and the members of more liberal Protestant denominations, far from being resistant to superstition, tend to be much more likely to believe in the paranormal and in pseudoscience than evangelical Christians....

This is not a new finding. In his 1983 book "The Whys of a Philosophical Scrivener," skeptic and science writer Martin Gardner cited the decline of traditional religious belief among the better educated as one of the causes for an increase in pseudoscience, cults and superstition. He referenced a 1980 study published in the magazine Skeptical Inquirer that showed irreligious college students to be by far the most likely to embrace paranormal beliefs, while born-again Christian college students were the least likely.[10]

”

For more information, please see: Irreligion and superstition

Formal debates and the lack of confidence of the atheist community

Despite atheists commonly adopting pretentious monikers such as rationalist, freethinker and brights (see: Atheism and arrogance), in recent years there has been a number of conspicuous examples of atheists showing a reluctance to intellectually defend atheism in formal debate (see: Atheism and cowardice).

As far as atheists lacking courage, in 2010, Professor Eric Kaufmann, who specializes in religion/irreligion/demographics/politics, wrote:

“ Worldwide, the march of religion can probably only be reversed by a renewed, self-aware secularism. Today, it appears exhausted and lacking in confidence... Secularism's greatest triumphs owe less to science than to popular social movements like nationalism, socialism and 1960s anarchist-liberalism. Ironically, secularism's demographic deficit means that it will probably only succeed in the twenty-first century if it can create a secular form of 'religious' enthusiasm."[11] ”

Atheists commonly use logical fallacies in their arguments

Atheists commonly use logical fallacies in their arguments.[12]

One of the most common logical fallacies atheists, agnostics and evolutionists employ is the fallacy of exclusion. For example, the evolutionist Dr. Scott Todd, an immunologist at Kansas State University, wrote: "Even if all the data point to an intelligent designer, such an hypothesis is excluded from science because it is not naturalistic".[13] See: Methodological naturalism and Atheism and naturalistic intelligence

Irrationality of the atheism and the logic of theism/creation

General articles:


Atheism and the laws of logic


Transcendental argument for the existence of God

Dr. Greg Bahnsen became known as "the man atheists fear most" due to Michael Martin's cancellation of their scheduled debate.[14]

See also: Transcendental argument for the existence of God


Debates on the transcendental argument for the existence of God


"The heavens are telling of the glory of God. And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands." (Psalm 19:1 NASB)

Existence of the universe


Argument from contingency


Existence of consciousness


Mind uploading

Mind uploading is the notion that someday mankind may be able to scan and upload their minds to computer storage mediums. Mind loading is not feasible.


C.S. Lewis's argument for reason and for the irrationality of materialism


Atheism and incoherence and inconsistencies

J.P. Moreland


Incoherence/inconsistency of naturalism:

4 part series by Dr. J.P. Moreland


Articles relating to postmodernism and non-theistic Buddhism


Logic and theism/creation


Common logical fallacies that atheists employ


Videos


See also

Books

  • The Atheist's Fatal Flaw: Exposing Conflicting Beliefs by Norman Geisler and Daniel J. McCoy, Baker Publishing Group, June 2014
  • The Irrational Atheist: Dissecting the Unholy Trinity of Dawkins, Harris, And Hitchens by Vox Day, March 11, 2008
  • The Victory of Reason: How Christianity Led to Freedom, Capitalism, and Western Success by Rodney Stark, September 26, 2006
  • C. S. Lewis's Dangerous Idea: In Defense of the Argument from Reason by Victor Reppert
  • C. S. Lewis and the Crisis of a Christian by Gregory S. Cootsona, September 26, 2014

References

  1. ↑ Atheism by Matt Slick
  2. ↑ Atheism by Matt Slick
  3. ↑
  4. ↑
  5. ↑ The Argument from Consciousness for the Existence of God by John Piippo, 3/20/2012
  6. ↑ Mind uploading - Thought experiments as knowledge
  7. ↑
  8. ↑
  9. ↑ http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122178219865054585.html
  10. ↑ http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122178219865054585.html
  11. ↑ Shall the religious inherit the earth? - Eric Kaufmann
  12. ↑
  13. ↑ http://creation.com/a-designer-is-unscientificeven-if-all-the-evidence-supports-one
  14. ↑ The Great Debate: Greg Bahnsen vs Gordon Stein
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