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 Christianity Etc › Re: Renowned Evolutionist Turns Creationist And Christian by budaatum: 5:22pm On Oct 11, 2017 |
OliviaPope:I am, that I am. |
| Christianity Etc › Re: Why I Left Christ Embassy Church by budaatum: 2:42pm On Oct 11, 2017 |
Thanks op The truth, they say, has set thee free. 1 Like |
| Christianity Etc › Re: Renowned Evolutionist Turns Creationist And Christian by budaatum: 2:37pm On Oct 11, 2017 |
segunojo866:I noticed. segunojo866:I don't care. Take it back! Superman is not an illusion, you "60percent agnostic 30percent atheist,10percent Christian and ZERO percent Muslim". |
| Christianity Etc › Re: Renowned Evolutionist Turns Creationist And Christian by budaatum: 2:29pm On Oct 11, 2017 |
segunojo866:Next you'd claim Spiderman is an illusion! Or worst still, Father Christmas is an illusion! I beg if you don't know anything why don't you just...... Superman is not an illusion, you ignorant atheist! |
| Christianity Etc › Re: "Atheism Is The Dumbest, Most Stupid, Ignorant, Idiotic Thing You Could Imagine" by budaatum: 2:20pm On Oct 11, 2017 |
OLAADEGBU:What irony. Evidence shows most people "hate to hear the truth". Guess the problem is, What is truth? |
| Christianity Etc › Re: Finally, To The Atheist/ Big Bang Guys. by budaatum: 2:17pm On Oct 11, 2017 |
hopefulLandlord:At the start, op was interchanging God with big bang, making the later the creator. I'm going to have to say this! Forgive them, for they know not what they are saying. |
| Christianity Etc › Re: Finally, To The Atheist/ Big Bang Guys. by budaatum: 2:13pm On Oct 11, 2017 |
Originakalokalo:And if there isn't a "God who did these things intentionally for a purpose", we'll just create one, after all, nothing can exist without a creator! Originakalokalo:Fyi, creation myths have existed since the dawn of thought when humans have tried to explain what they see. The fact they are not well known to you does not mean they don't exist. Here is a simple List of creation myths. 1 Like |
| Christianity Etc › Re: Fellow Closet Atheists/agnostics, Describe Your Sunday Experience In Church by budaatum: 2:47am On Oct 09, 2017 |
Didn't go today, rather, Sunday, yesterday. Haven't been for 7 weeks now. First, the Japanese F1GP was on telly. No way was I going to miss Vettel winning. He didn't of course. Super duper whizzy gonzales Hamilton won, again. I'm sure he's won the Championship this year, his fourth one. What an amazing talent. Second reason is, I'm bored of going. Guess that's my experience, I didn't go. Oh, and knowing all the Church people were away, I chose to task the mind of all you sinful not go Church people atheists. The damned unbelievers! P.s. I'm no closet. Everybody knows buda would rather go to hell if believing is what it takes not to. Have a wonderful week. |
| Christianity Etc › Re: The Failure Of Atheism To Account For Existence by budaatum(op): 7:18pm On Oct 08, 2017*. Modified: 2:25am On Oct 09, 2017 |
mumumugu:I agree. We do not know how the universe came into existence. Problem is no one wants to profess their ignorance so they come up with some story. And people who know no better claim it to be so. So, here's one. The creator of the creator of t....he creator done it (continue to add creator till you tire please). It practically said, "let the Universe be". There was a big bang, and the Universe is. What!? I can't write my own mythology? |
| Christianity Etc › Re: The Failure Of Atheism To Account For Existence by budaatum(op): 7:10pm On Oct 08, 2017 |
festwiz:I won't really read what your writing because, boring. |
| Christianity Etc › Re: The Failure Of Atheism To Account For Existence by budaatum(op): 7:06pm On Oct 08, 2017*. Modified: 2:24am On Oct 09, 2017 |
gabe:Absolutely. That is indeed the error in the op ed. It claims a cause is required for bringing a thing into existence. But gives God a caveat. Why stop there, the atheist would ask? What's wrong with giving the creator of God the caveat? The post itself is claiming all things that exist are created. The universe exists so a creator must exist. It says a lot more besides but you'll have to read it to figure that out. 1 Like |
| Christianity Etc › Re: The Failure Of Atheism To Account For Existence by budaatum(op): 6:59pm On Oct 08, 2017 |
1 Like |
| Christianity Etc › Re: The Failure Of Atheism To Account For Existence by budaatum(op): 1:54pm On Oct 08, 2017*. Modified: 12:56am On Oct 11, 2017 |
gabe:Finally! A reader!! I dof my capito to thee. The exact words in the original post (op) are: If the atheist were to say that the universe brought itself into existence, then that would be illogical since something that does not exist has no nature; and with no nature, there are no attributes; and with no attributes, actions can’t be performed such as bringing itself into existence. So, that doesn’t work. If the atheist said the universe has always existed, that doesn’t work either because that would mean the universe was infinitely old. If it is infinitely old, then why hasn’t it run out of useable energy by now as the 2nd law of thermodynamics would state. Also, in order to get to the present in an infinitely old universe, an infinite amount of time would have to be crossed. But, it is impossible to cross an infinite amount of time to get to now. These problems would also mean that there could not be an infinite amount of past cycles of the universe where it expands and contracts forever. So, those explanations can’t work. Basically, nothing exists without something bringing it into existence. Things cannot just be. But further down, he claims the following What brought God into existence? The answer is simple. Nothing brought him into existence. He has always existed. He is the uncaused cause. Think about it. You cannot have an infinite regression of causes. If nothing uncaused exists, then everything that exists is caused. Surely no one can argue that the universe does not exist. If the universe does exist, it was caused. Which begs the question, What caused the universe, what was its causer? Something afterall must have brought it into existence! If the first premise that, nothing that is uncaused exists, (or the equivalent, everything that exists is caused), and as some claim, God exists, is true, would it be illogical to claim that God was caused, and that the causer of God was caused, and that the causer of the causer of God was caused, and that the causer of the causer of the causer of God was caused, and that the causer.......... an infinite regression. Spinoza argued that the universe (Nature, it was called in his day, C.1650), exists. It must be caused. Something must have brought it into existence. But despite being Jewish, he could not accept that Yahweh done it. Spinoza said God is Nature itself—the infinite, eternal, and necessarily existing substance of the universe. God or Nature just is; and whatever else is, is “in” or a part of God or Nature. Put another way, there is only Nature and its power; and everything that happens, happens in and by Nature. There is no transcendent or even immanent supernatural deity; there is nothing whatsoever outside of or distinct from Nature and independent of its processes. and for this, he was excommunicated and expelled from the people of Israel, "no one should communicate with him, not even in writing, nor accord him any favor nor stay with him under the same roof nor [come] within four cubits in his vicinity; nor shall he read any treatise composed or written by him.” Basically, if God exists, something must have brought it into existence it must have had a causer - something Pre-God that begat God. But the begatter of God must have had a begatter - a begatter of the begatter of God. But that begatter must also have a begatter - a begatter of the begatter of the begatter of God. And that begatter must have a begatter, the begatter of the begatter of the begatter........ and we're back to infinite regressing again. It is in this way that the likes of Einstein claims there is existence so there must be a causer, a something that brings that which exists into existing and into being. And its what he meant when he claims to believe in Spinoza's God, the begatter of the begatter of the begatter of the begatter....... ad infinitum. Surely this would happen over eons, or an "infinite amount of time" contrary to what is claimed in the op. And we humans can't even accurately describe the times of the first begatter. And there's the lesson for you atheists, and the reason why it is written, "The fool says in his heart there is no God". Would most people not go mad trying to work out who the begatter of the begatter of the begatter..... is? When would such a person be tilling the land and producing the food? So, I put it to you that to avoid madness, and due to compassion, there must be a God. If one doesn't exist one must be created or people will just go mad searching for the begatt....... Ok, I'll not be begatting anymore. Even you must be exhausted by now! And Church people will soon be back. Link for the excommunication of Spinoza |
| Christianity Etc › Re: What Is Atheism? by budaatum(op): 11:37am On Oct 08, 2017 |
I did not want to revive this thread but feel the need to in light of the thread The Failure Of Atheism To Account For Existence. Hopefully, being that its Sunday, it would fly under the radar of the Sabbath keepers Joke! Before anyone flays me  I was accused of not stating an opinion at the time, but those around then know this was a more hostile environment, access to the web in Nigeria was limited and I was heavily engaged elsewhere. My view is that most explanations of Atheism and what it means to be one come from theists or those who are opposed to the idea and they define it from that position. I've been back a few months now and see how much more developed the thought is. For the more curious and endeavouring, I strongly advise you follow the link to the source of the article. It has some very interesting links to further explanations that are humongously enlightening. If there is any difficulty accessing the site (BBC does not make all its stuff available to those who don't have a tv licence) let me know and I will post it here. Atheism at a glance Atheism is the absence of belief in any Gods or spiritual beings. The word Atheism comes from a, meaning without, and theism meaning belief in god or gods. Atheists don't use God to explain the existence of the universe. Atheists say that human beings can devise suitable moral codes to live by without the aid of Gods or scriptures. Reasons for non-belief People are atheist for many reasons, among them: They find insufficient evidence to support any religion. They think that religion is nonsensical. They once had a religion and have lost faith in it. They live in a non-religious culture. Religion doesn't interest them. Religion doesn't seem relevant to their lives. Religions seem to have done a lot of harm in the world. The world is such a bad place that there can't be a God. Many atheists are also secularist, and are hostile to any special treatment given to organised religion. It is possible to be both atheist and religious. Virtually all Buddhists manage it, as do some adherents of other religions, such as Judaism and Christianity. Atheists and morality Atheists are as moral (or immoral) as religious people. In practical terms atheists often follow the same moral code as religious people, but they arrive at the decision of what is good or bad without any help from the idea of God. What does it mean to be human? Atheists find their own answers to the question of what it means to be human. This discussion looks at the question from both theological and ethical viewpoints. BBC Also consider the article Reasons people choose atheism. It is one of the more informed ones I have come across. |
| Christianity Etc › Re: The Failure Of Atheism To Account For Existence by budaatum(op): 10:38am On Oct 08, 2017 |
| Christianity Etc › Re: The Failure Of Atheism To Account For Existence by budaatum(op): 10:35am On Oct 08, 2017*. Modified: 11:42am On Oct 08, 2017 |
Zodiac61:Seems to me you did not read the article and comments I advised you read in another thread. You want to look at half the evidence and conclude? In fact, conclude what? Should you conclude? Can you conclude? Should you not first at least understand before you conclude? If you can't bother, I absolutely refuse to help you. Sorry. 1 Like |
| Christianity Etc › Re: Albert Einstein Is Wiser Than God by budaatum: 1:51am On Oct 08, 2017 |
vaxx:You will forgive me. I have fallen into a trap and think when one says 'God' the God of the Christians or Muslims is meant. Spinoza is said to use God and Nature interchangeably and was accused of being an atheist. This is the God Einstein too accepted. It does not sound like Yahweh God or Allah God. Nor am I implying that Einstein is an atheist. He said he was agnostic. Here's a good link for Baruch Spinoza's ideas on God. |
| Christianity Etc › Re: The Failure Of Atheism To Account For Existence by budaatum(op): 1:19am On Oct 08, 2017*. Modified: 1:54am On Oct 08, 2017 |
vaxx: vaxx:I saw the thread when it was first posted and decided it was way above my intelligence level. Besides I lost interest when it descended into pig farms. I did think of it though, but decided it was like saying there are two types of Christians or Muslims, when everywhere I look I see millions more with various divergent beliefs. Same with atheists. They come with various colours and mixtures of thereof such that if I claim to only see two I must be blind. The article I directed to in the second post above mentions many more types of atheist. I do agree that most atheists become atheists due to some information they have considered. I have not yet come across an atheist who became one because someone preached it to them. 1 Like 1 Share |
| Christianity Etc › Re: The Failure Of Atheism To Account For Existence by budaatum(op): 1:00am On Oct 08, 2017 |
Zodiac61:I am not convoluted. What I wrote may be though. Does it not make sense as in, it has no meaning, or you do not agree with it? Please note, I have not said theism, which is the belief in the existence of god or gods, accounts for existence! I may chose to believe I have a million pounds in the bank but no one would take my belief in exchange for a spanking brand new red Ferrari! Moreso, I will not say for instance, "I believe it is raining" when rain is pissing down on my head. Whatever I decide to believe in my head has nothing to do with existence unless it matches reality, in which case why do I merely believe it? |
| Christianity Etc › Re: The Failure Of Atheism To Account For Existence by budaatum(op): 11:49pm On Oct 07, 2017 |
vaxx:I think the assumption is that one becomes an atheist because it was preached to one, as one becomes a Christian or Muslim because one has heard it preached. The idea that one can become an atheist all by oneself is not an acceptable idea for those who adopted theirs by having heard it preached to them. The whole idea of philosophy of atheism goes right over the believers head. (I sound convoluted there vaxx. I hope it makes sense!) |
| Christianity Etc › Re: The Failure Of Atheism To Account For Existence by budaatum(op): 11:07pm On Oct 07, 2017 |
Do note that the above post is part of a series, the first of which is titled What Is Atheism? As posted here. I advise you read comments for that posting too. |
| Christianity Etc › The Failure Of Atheism To Account For Existence by budaatum(op): 11:03pm On Oct 07, 2017 |
The Failure of Atheism to Account for Existence As a worldview, atheism is intellectually bankrupt and is wrought with philosophical problems. One of the biggest is its lack of ability to account for our own existence. Okay, so we exist. That's obvious. And though atheists like to tout the evolutionary flag, evolution isn't the issue here. Instead, we need to go way back and ask, where did the universe come from? You see, whatever has come into existence was caused to come into existence by something else. The universe came into existence. So, what caused it to come into existence? When answering this question, there are only two possibilities to account for the cause of the universe: an impersonal cause and a personal cause. This is an antonymic pair that exhausts all possibilities. It is either one or the other. There is no third option. Let’s first look at the atheist option to explain the universe: an impersonal cause. If the atheist were to say that the universe brought itself into existence, then that would be illogical since something that does not exist has no nature; and with no nature, there are no attributes; and with no attributes, actions can’t be performed such as bringing itself into existence. So, that doesn’t work. If the atheist said the universe has always existed, that doesn’t work either because that would mean the universe was infinitely old. If it is infinitely old, then why hasn’t it run out of useable energy by now as the 2nd law of thermodynamics would state. Also, in order to get to the present in an infinitely old universe, an infinite amount of time would have to be crossed. But, it is impossible to cross an infinite amount of time to get to now. These problems would also mean that there could not be an infinite amount of past cycles of the universe where it expands and contracts forever. So, those explanations can’t work. If the atheist says that matter and/or energy have somehow eternally existed before the universe, just in different forms, then the same issue of crossing an infinite amount of time to get to now would negate that idea. But, this explanation would pose yet another problem. If the necessary conditions for the cause of the universe have always existed within the pre-existent matter and energy, then the effect of the universe being formed is a necessary result of that matter and energy; and the universe would have been formed an infinitely long time ago. But this can’t work since it would mean the universe would have already run out of useable energy by now (entropy problem again)--not to mention the perpetual problem of crossing an infinite amount of time to get to now. So, that explanation doesn’t work either. Okay, so the universe, which is comprised of matter and energy, cannot be infinitely old in its present form or any other form. So, how did it and ultimately we get here? Atheism can’t help us here. So, let’s turn our attention to the other option: a personal cause. If there is a personal influence, which means a personal being that acted upon the universe, then we have an explanation for the cause of the universe. Let me explain. A rock doesn't suddenly change from being a rock into say an axe head unless acted upon by something else. For matter and energy to change and form something new, they must be acted upon from the outside. So we must ask what acted upon matter and energy and caused the universe to exist? Whatever caused the universe existed before the universe. Since the universe had a beginning in time and since matter and energy do not spontaneously change and arrange themselves into something new, then the best explanation for the cause of the universe is an action that was a decision. In other words, a decision to act at a specific time in the past is the best explanation of the existence of the universe. Of course, we Christians would say this decision was made by a personal being whom we call God. You see? The atheists have nothing to offer us with the important issue of explaining how we got here. Atheism can’t answer one of the most important philosophical questions pertaining to our own existence. It is deficient and lacking and at best can offer us only ignorance and guesses. Okay, finally, even though it isn’t necessary in this video, I’ll deal with one of the standard objections atheists have when this topic comes up. What brought God into existence? The answer is simple. Nothing brought him into existence. He has always existed. He is the uncaused cause. Think about it. You cannot have an infinite regression of causes. It’s like having an infinite line of dominoes falling one after another. If you go back infinitely in time to try to find the first domino that started it all, you’d never find it because you’d have to cross an infinite amount of time to get to it which is impossible to do. This would also mean that there you can’t have an infinite regression of causes. Furthermore, this would mean there would never be a first cause. If there is no first cause, then there can’t be a second, or a third, and so on; and you wouldn’t have any of them falling at all. But since they are falling, there had to be a first cause--that itself was uncaused that started the whole thing moving at a specific time in the past. So, too, with the universe. It was caused to exist at a specific point in time. The uncaused cause is God, who decided to create the universe and who, as the Bible says in Psalm 90:2, “is from everlasting to everlasting.” Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry © Matthew J. Slick, 1995 - 2017 |
| Christianity Etc › Re: 22 Year Study States Atheism In A Mental Disease? by budaatum(op): 10:13pm On Oct 07, 2017 |
ScienceWatch:Thank you. Update me when you get a response please. Meanwhile, might you consider not reporting it until we can confirm it actually exists please? |
| Christianity Etc › Re: 22 Year Study States Atheism In A Mental Disease? by budaatum(op): 5:07pm On Oct 07, 2017 |
ScienceWatch:By debunking wiki as you have done, you have at least shown that you understand what evidence is. I also put it to you that you have not provided a single source for Hans Zimmerman that is as credible as wiki. You have in fact not provided any source at all. You also claim that I present claims as facts. That's not true. I have presented what has been said about him. Surely, if you have anything to say about him apart from extolling his PhD and his wealth, which are irrelevant, you would present it. But the best you come up with is that some people made he and Hans Zimmerman disappear. Wiki is actually a very reputable source I'd have you know. Anyone can go write something there, but if others find credible source to dispute what has been written, they would amend it. Does Prof Ouweneel not have disciples who can correct wiki if it is wrong. How about you, or do you have no evidence for what you say about him? Please note that I do not take unverifiable assertions as facts that I must believe. If Christ did not check his facts and understand too, he would have made stones bread, thrown himself from the top of the temple or bowed down and worshipped satan, afterall, satan was quoting from the Bible too! Who would have been the saviour then? The entire life of Christ, and his death would be worthless if there were no rigour in my scrutiny of evidence. If you have any evidence for the existence of Hans Zimmerman or the study in which he mentioned atheisms is a mental disease, please present it. If not, do say so. |
| Christianity Etc › Re: 22 Year Study States Atheism In A Mental Disease? by budaatum(op): 3:37pm On Oct 07, 2017 |
ScienceWatch:I am sure it is, and offered my bads. You did however make a claim that we were disputing, and is the purpose of this thread. I could not let it pass. |
| Christianity Etc › Re: Albert Einstein Is Wiser Than God by budaatum: 3:34pm On Oct 07, 2017 |
vaxx:I am personally willing to discuss Newton. Newton is quoted as saying, "if I have seen farther than others, it is because I was standing on the shoulders of giants." He himself made no claim to jumpstarting anything, but that he was taking further the works of those who came before him. Newton is however irrelevant here and has no relevance to the theological views of Einstein, who's religiousity "reached an abrupt end at the age of twelve", considered much in the stories of the Bible to be untrue, "a positively fanatic orgy of freethinking coupled with the impression that youth is intentionally being deceived by the state through lies". "The word God is for me nothing more than the expression and product of human weaknesses, the Bible a collection of honourable, but still primitive legends…. For me the Jewish religion like all other religions is an incarnation of the most childish superstitions." An attitude that never left him. "He did not believe in a personal God who concerns himself with fates and actions of human beings, a view which he described as naïve. He clarified however that, "I am not an atheist", preferring to call himself an agnostic" If this is the view of a person you claim even accepts that God created the universe, then I think I should have my head seen to. |
| Christianity Etc › Re: 22 Year Study States Atheism In A Mental Disease? by budaatum(op): 3:08pm On Oct 07, 2017 |
ScienceWatch:My bad for butting in. But you have not even showed us he exists. Is that not sufficient gripe with you? |
| Christianity Etc › Re: 22 Year Study States Atheism In A Mental Disease? by budaatum(op): 3:05pm On Oct 07, 2017 |
ScienceWatch:I know nothing about Professor Willem Ouwenee. So I read up on wiki. Below are some of the views he has had: Creation and Evolution For a long time he was a young-earth creationist who believed that the earth was created no more than six to ten thousand years ago. Biologits are very unlikely to have regard for anyone, not to talk of a Ph.D holder in the subject, who holds this view. There is afterall an insurmountable amount of evidence to oppose it. He does not hold this view anymore, and is said to tend more towards a model of 'guided evolutionism' or theistic evolution, something he previously strongly opposed as "a slippery slope towards an ultimately unadulterated evolution faith. He has further gone on to say, it is claimed, that, The widely believed scientific method, the requirement of empirical and logical verifiability, etc., are nothing more than states of mind. Another view scientists would hold in utter contempt and one any scientist would never claim. If those truly are Professor Willem Ouwenee's views, it is hardly surprising that he is mocked by his peers! Even conservative evangelical Christians oppose his views! It is said that: It is not easy to get a clear picture of his opinion of theological subjects. In addition, some critics accuse him of vacillating in his writings and lectures or of contradicting what he has written in previous publications. He can of course put his money where his mouth is and publish his own books, but no sensible parent would pay for their child to study his works, in my opinion, nor would an intelligent person hold his views at any respectable level of esteem. A very confused and convoluted individual is more what Professor Willem Ouwenee sounds like. As to those "mentally diseased Atheists in powerful positions", the facts hardly support your position. It is in fact truer that there are many more people of faith in powerful positions, so many in fact, that some places have laws excluding atheists. It is also enormously harder to silence people or views today than it was in the early first century. One just has to search for the views of terrorists, to pick one, to see how almost impossible it is. Heretics were burned at the stake in past times. Best we have today is to label them or hunt them down and blow them out of existence. Atheists would hardly go to that extent, or at least I have no record that they have. Are you attempting to pass off anecdotes as evidence a la, planes crash ergo all planes crash, by any chance? Are you also passing off opinion as fact? Such reasoning is hardly sufficiently rigorous nor acceptable to be taken as evidence by anyone who has an incline of what science is. There sure is nothing scientific in it as that would at least require some level of verifiability. Please let me know in which way you watch science. It is what piqued my interest at the first read of the title of this thread as claimed by you. |
| Christianity Etc › Re: God Saved Oyedepo From Plane Crash by budaatum: 1:54pm On Oct 07, 2017 |
Judolisco:Ergo, Christians never die. 1 Like |
| Christianity Etc › Re: We Want An Oath To Jesus As God, For All Commentary On Christianity by budaatum: 1:40pm On Oct 07, 2017 |
The question ought to be why an oath has to be signed to post in the muslim section? Smells like some are more equal than others to me! Reeks of preferential treatmeat |
| Christianity Etc › Re: We Want An Oath To Jesus As God, For All Commentary On Christianity by budaatum: 12:37pm On Oct 07, 2017 |
God bless you all, and thank you. |
| Christianity Etc › Re: 22 Year Study States Atheism In A Mental Disease? by budaatum(op): 12:15pm On Oct 07, 2017 |
Please note that I found the following. It is not a study but from a blog, the opinion of the blogger. I am posting it in its entirety in case it disappears. Do note what it says about the study you mention. No, atheism is not a ‘mental disorder’ According to scientific research, the overt atheist, or those who are believed to be suffering from The Misfit Syndrome, may carry a genetic defect — and that’s the rub “There are two ways to be fooled. problem of intellectual dishonesty, wilfully deceiving the public and of just plain making things up so people could be swayed to your side is endemic to the human race, but it has a specific malignancy associated with it in countries like Pakistan. Pakistan, a largely illiterate country, where even the educated elite themselves aren’t exactly up to the mark can easily be swayed by a few choice buzzwords. Combine this with the constitutionally theocratic nature of the country and a basic conservative mindset, and you have a recipe for disaster. I recently came across this article by a “political analyst”, analysing the growing movement of apostasy and atheism, by claiming “According to scientific research, the overt atheist, or those who are believed to be suffering from The Misfit Syndrome, may carry a genetic defect”. This claim, questionable as it is, was then followed up by just as questionable evidence: a choice of quotes that were tangentially related to the topic; and a “study” from a German university without any link to the actual publication. The study, in fact, doesn’t really exist. So let us get to the basic point first: A fabricated study. The level of authoritarianism is so high in our population that we will believe anything that a supposed man in white coat tells us. However, we are not stupid, no. We will not believe anything that goes against our pre-conceived beliefs. This phenomenon is more commonly known as “confirmation bias”. This confirmation bias makes us believe that those damned dirty atheists must really be mentally ill. How else could they think anything other than what we are taught to think, collectively? This study was supposedly conducted by a supposed Dr. Hans Zimmerman MD PhD at University of Hamburg. A cursory search of the University of Hamburg faculty lists only one Dr. Zimmerman, and that is a Dr. Michael Zimmermann who teaches at the “Numata Center for Buddhist Studies”, a far cry from this mythical Social Scientist and Medical doctor who supposedly spent 22 years on “overt atheism”. There is a Hans Zimmer, excellent musician, but even he doesn’t fit the bill here. Deeper searches into the various research paper databases, like PloS One, NIH and JStor turn up no other published papers on this and no evidence of this person even existing in the scientific community. However, it would be wrong to say that this study, or this person, never existed. It did, but only in the fanciful brain of one Damien, who posted this on his personal blog on 17th of August, 2012 in an article titled ATHEISM AS A MENTAL DISORDER OR ILLNESS? NEW STUDIES SAY, “YES.” The piece in question was basically lifted from that article, which is equally baseless and provides no evidence of this supposed study whatsoever. The fact that our “analyst” lapped it up is a testament to how gullible we are and how much we are subject to our confirmation biases. The rest of the article, beyond the content of this fictional study is basically what would amount to hate speech against atheists in a civilized country, and an extremely poor way to “prove” the existence of a god, at best. Among the “evidence” cited, is a quote from Maya Angelou and the “fact” that it has never rained on a Princeton Graduation Ceremony. Again, all of those are words that have, at best, a tangential relation to the topic in the title. Finally, we have this specific section that I am quoting directly from the blog post: “Nevertheless, stressed/sickened individuals create an atmosphere of stress and sickness in collective consciousness that reciprocally affects the thinking and actions of every individual in that system (same frame of mind)…..Collective problems of society are more than just the problem of sick individuals—-such problems are more fundamentally symptoms of stress/sickness in collective consciousness (of the society) pushing our youngsters towards—Avowed-Overt- Atheism.” This, here, is a problem. Our problem isn’t the odd liberal or atheist saying what they believe on Facebook: Our problem is the man who is willing to kill a person for speaking his mind. Our problem is the gang of thugs that will shoot at fifteen year old girls because they want to go to school. Our problem is the militant religious issue that left one hundred and forty one children dead when they went to school. If you think that an atheist is a problem, and somehow they are mentally ill, you have serious priority issues, my friend. We are all human beings that can, and should, be allowed to hold different beliefs. If one of those beliefs is that the existence of a god is not probable, or that there is no evidence for the existence of a deity, then let it be. Focus on what you are doing yourself, for if a god exists, surely he, or she, will prefer that you did good things to your fellow humans rather than prostrating five times a day and thanking him for allowing you to blow up children. |
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