Difference between revisions of "Atheist worldview"
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The atheist is faced with the problem of evil, and crime and violence prevention, but does not attribute the cause of evil to the devil or to human sin, only to the mystery of human [[behavioral psychology]] and [[genetics]].<ref>[http://www.beliefnet.com/Faiths/Facing-Evil.aspx Facing Evil: Why Christians and Atheists Need Each Other] (beliefnet.com}</ref> | The atheist is faced with the problem of evil, and crime and violence prevention, but does not attribute the cause of evil to the devil or to human sin, only to the mystery of human [[behavioral psychology]] and [[genetics]].<ref>[http://www.beliefnet.com/Faiths/Facing-Evil.aspx Facing Evil: Why Christians and Atheists Need Each Other] (beliefnet.com}</ref> | ||
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=== Atheism and meaninglessness === | === Atheism and meaninglessness === | ||
Revision as of 21:34, December 30, 2015
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.[1] See also: Definition of atheism
Although many atheists deny that atheism is a worldview, atheists commonly share a number of beliefs such as naturalism, belief in evolution/abiogenesis.[2]
Some attributes of the atheist worldview
Atheists, naturalism and life after death
See also: Naturalism
A majority of atheists hold to the philosophy of naturalism which rejects the miraculous.
Atheism and death
See also: Atheism and death
Science Daily reported that Death anxiety increases atheists' unconscious belief in God.[4] In a Psychology Today article, Dr. Nathan A. Heflick reported similar results in other studies.[5]
The website the Skeptics Guide declared:
| “ | A survey compiled in 2014 by The Austin Institute for the Study of Family and Culture (AISFC) reveals that 32 percent of Americans who identified themselves as agnostics and atheists believe in an afterlife of some kind. In addition, 6 percent of the same non-theistic group expressed a belief in a “bodily resurrection”. These numbers were taken from a sample of 15,738 Americans, all of which were between the ages of 18 and 60. According to the data, 13.2 percent of Americans identify themselves as atheist, agnostic, or some other variation of non-believing.
I found these results to be quite surprising. Having been immersed in circles of atheists and agnostics for the past 20 years, the numbers revealed by this study are higher than I would have guessed, by quite a lot. What stands out the most is that 6% expressed a belief in resurrection. It could be a statistical anomaly of some sort (perhaps the respondents did not understand the question about bodily resurrection?) Why an atheist or agnostic would believe that a dead person could come back to life seems entirely contrary to their worldview.[6] |
” |
Atheism and evolution
See also: Atheism and evolution
The vast majority of Western World atheists are evolutionists. Since World War II a majority of the most prominent and vocal defenders of the theory of evolution which employs methodological naturalism have been atheists or agnostics.[8] As far as nontheist Buddhism, as no major beliefs/principles of Buddhism are contrary to it, many Buddhists are also evolutionists.[9] See: Atheism and evolution
The atheist philosopher of science Michael Ruse admitted: "Evolution is a religion. This was true of evolution in the beginning, and it is true of evolution still today."[10] In the their Question evolution! campaign, Creation Ministries International asks as a part of their 15 questions for evolutionists: "Why is a fundamentally religious idea, a dogmatic belief system that fails to explain the evidence, taught in science classes?...If “you can’t teach religion in science classes”, why is evolution taught?[11]
Atheism and morality
See also: Atheism and morality
Not possessing a religious basis for morality, which can provide a legitimate basis for objective morality, atheists are fundamentally incapable of having a coherent system of morality.[12] For example, atheists have been the biggest mass murderers in history (see: Atheism and mass murder).
For more information, please see:
Theodicy: the problem of evil
See also: Atheism and the problem of evil
The atheist is faced with the problem of evil, and crime and violence prevention, but does not attribute the cause of evil to the devil or to human sin, only to the mystery of human behavioral psychology and genetics.[13]
Atheism and meaninglessness
Under an atheist worldview, there is no objective meaning or purpose in life.[14] Through Jesus Christ, Christianity offers objective meaning and purpose to life.[15] See: Atheism and meaninglessness
Atheism and epistemology
See also: Atheism and epistemology
Atheism provides no ultimate starting point for knowledge.[16] In addition, atheism lacks proof and evidence that it is a valid worldview (see: Attempts to dilute the definition of atheism). For more information, please see: Atheism and epistemology
See also
- Atheism and belief
- Atheism and depression
- Atheism and hedonism
- Atheist hypocrisy
- Atheist mindset
- Evolution
- Hedonism
- Hypocrisy
- Liberal hedonism
- Naturalism (philosophy)
- Origin of life
- Pragmatism
- Suicide
- Utilitarianism
Atheism is a religion:
Commonly raised issues relating to the atheist worldview:
- Evidence for Christianity
- Atheism and morality
- List of the moral failings of the atheist community
- Atheism and irrationality
- Atheism and the problem of evil
- Atheist worldview, nature and futility
- Hopelessness of atheism
- Atheism and death
Causes of atheism:
Arguments against atheism:
External links
- Is atheism a worldview? by Matt Slick of CARM
- The Christian Worldview, the Atheist Worldview, and Logic by Matt Sliok
- Is Matt Dillahunty’s Atheism a Worldview? by Rob Lundberg
- Defining Worldviews -- Atheistic Versus Theistic
- Atheism: An irrational worldview by Dr. Jason Lisle
- The Scandanavian Sceptic (or Why Atheism Is a Belief System) by Ravi Zacharias International Ministries
- Atheism—no objective morality?
- The Inevitable Consequence of An Atheistic Worldview
- I Was An Atheist In A Foxhole
References
- ↑ Multiple references:
- Smart, J. J. C. (August 8, 2011). "Atheism and agnosticism". The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Spring 2013 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.).
- Sarfati, Jonathan, Ph.D. (23 June 2007). "Atheism is more rational?". See Creation Ministries International, Jonathan Sarfati.
- Day, Donn R. (2007). "Atheism - etymology".
- Definition of atheism by William Lane Craig
- ↑
- ↑ Fear of death: worst if you’re a little religious?, World of Science]
- J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2005, Jul;60(4):P207-14. Does religiousness buffer against the fear of death and dying in late adulthood? Findings from a longitudinal study. Wink P1, Scott J.
- ↑ Death anxiety increases atheists' unconscious belief in God, Science Daily, Date: April 2, 2012
- ↑ Atheists, Death and Belief in God The Effects of Death Reminders on Atheists' Supernatural Beliefs, Psychology Today, Published on May 25, 2012 by Nathan A. Heflick, Ph.D. in The Big Questions
- ↑ Survey: 32% of Atheists & Agnostics Believe in an Afterlife
- ↑ http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/teleological-arguments/notes.html
- ↑ Multiple references:
- Batten, Dr. Don (December 1997). "A Who’s Who of evolutionists". Creation Ministries International. Originally published in Creation 20(1):32.
- Sarfati, Jonathan, Ph.D., F.M. (1999). "Chapter 1: Facts and bias", Refuting Evolution.
- ↑
- Religious Differences on the Question of Evolution
- Evolution doesn't bother Buddhists, Chicago Tribune, December 23, 2013
- ↑ Ruse, M. (May 13, 2000). "How evolution became a religion: creationists correct?" National Post, pp. B1, B3, B7.
- ↑ Batten, Don (2011). "15 questions for evolutionists". Creation Ministries International.
- ↑
Paul Copan
- Can Moral Objectivism Do Without God? by Peter S. Williams
- Atheists and the Quest for Objective Morality by Chad Meister
- The failure of atheism to account for morality
- ↑ Facing Evil: Why Christians and Atheists Need Each Other (beliefnet.com}
- ↑
- Can Life Have Meaning Without God? by James Anderson
- Atheism’s Universe is Meaningless and Valueless by J.W. Wartick, January 3, 2011
- Can atheists have meaning and purpose in life?
- Why atheism by Katie Galloway, 2014
- Heat Death and Atheist Inconsistency (or, Isn’t It Ironic?)
- Atheism and Death: Why the atheist must face death with despair By Dustin Shramek
- Apathy, Atheism, and the Absurdity of Life Without God by Aaron Brake
- The Meaningless Life Of Atheism by Daniel Prayson, 2010
- ↑
- ↑ The Epistemological Argument against Atheism