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Why is atheism untenable? [Spirituality & Religion]

“Gradually, I realized that in the twenty years since I opted for philosophical atheism, a vast, systematic literature had emerged that not only cast deep doubt on, but also, from any reasonable perspective, effectively refuted my atheistic outlook. . . . Today, it seems to me, there is no good reason for an intelligent person to embrace the illusion of atheism or agnosticism, to make the same intellectual mistakes I made.
“As recently as twenty-five years ago, a reasonable person weighing the purely scientific evidence on the issue would likely have come down on the side of skepticism. That is no longer the case. Today the concrete data point strongly in the direction of the God hypothesis. It is the simplest and most obvious solution to the anthropic puzzle.”
(Patrick Glynn)
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badminton · 61-69, MVIP
This is the best short statement on atheism I've ever read.

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Speedyman · 70-79, M
Very elegantly put. Just blinding his mind to the facts though. A typical statement of atheism based on emotion that her than reason @badminton
hippyjoe1955 · 61-69, M
@badminton All that shows me is the author was clueless. I didn't become a Christian because of heaven or hell. It never entered my mind. I was overwhelmed by the evidence that there indeed was a Creator.
badminton · 61-69, MVIP
@Speedyman Atheism only tells you what a person does not believe in, not what they do believe in. It's like saying I'm a non-astrologer. I prefer the term [i]secular humanist[/i] to describe my beliefs.
hippyjoe1955 · 61-69, M
@badminton It doesn't matter what you call yourself. If you ignore the evidence you remain ignorant.
badminton · 61-69, MVIP
@hippyjoe1955 That is a matter of opinion. I am tolerant of other's religious beliefs. I will respect theirs if they will respect mine.
hippyjoe1955 · 61-69, M
@badminton Why are you talking religion when I am talking science? Scientific evidence points to a Creator. Denying the evidence doesn't remove the evidence. it simply means the person rejecting it has a closed mind.
badminton · 61-69, MVIP
@hippyjoe1955 That opinion is is controversial. Many informed people do not accept that view.
hippyjoe1955 · 61-69, M
@badminton Many informed people are not informed at all. They simply rely on someone else's opinion and thing that that person has done the ground work. When pressed the other person denies having done the work.
Speedyman · 70-79, M
More and more informed people are reluctantly accepting it. Or going to wild theories like the multi-verse@badminton
Zaxel · 26-30, M
@hippyjoe1955 its okay to rely on other peoples groundwork and thoughts, its the very foundation on which society is built to learn from our ancestors and building upon it. that being said, you can have a smart/correct position on a matter with the work having been done by other people, and you can have a bad position on a matter that youve built up all by yourself. its having good judgement thats most important
hippyjoe1955 · 61-69, M
@Zaxel I have no problem with relying on other's work if indeed they have done the work. The sad fact is no one has done the work yet people believe it because they want to. The overwhelming evidence is that there is a Creator. There are all kinds of theories that would counter it but they are simply moving the problem farther away instead of solving it. As mentioned previously the multiverse is one such theory. The problem is simply if you can't explain how one universe started how can you explain how an infinite number of them started. Much the same as the life came to earth on comet's tails. Nice theory. Where did the comet get the life from?
Sharon · F
@hippyjoe1955 [quote]Where did the comet get the life from?[/quote]
Hypothesizing a creator to explain the universe only moves the problem further away. Where did the creator come from? If you can answer that, you can apply the same answer to the universe as a whole.
Speedyman · 70-79, M
We gave that question up when we were schoolboys@Sharon
Sharon · F
@Speedyman Some of us don't give up so easily. It's interesting that you still can't answer it.
Speedyman · 70-79, M
The point is that some of us have larger minds and realises there are more things in heaven and earth than we can comprehend. Let’s face it we don’t know how 96% of the universe works so when we think about God... @Sharon
Sharon · F
@Speedyman [quote] Let’s face it we don’t know how 96% of the universe works so when we think about God[/quote]
Science is happy to admit "we don't know". Unlike you and your ilk, we don't feel the need to invent a mythical being to explain everything.
Speedyman · 70-79, M
We are not talking about science here we are talking about relationship with the living God@Sharon
Sharon · F
@Speedyman You can have a relationship with your imaginary friend if you like. I prefer reality.
Speedyman · 70-79, M
Thanks I have reality@Sharon
Sharon · F
@Speedyman Why do you need your imaginary friend then?
Speedyman · 70-79, M
Because he is not imaginary. @Sharon
Sharon · F
@Speedyman If you really believe that, you must be suffering from delusions. I'd normally advise you to seek medical help but doctors are already overburdened with CORVID 19.
Speedyman · 70-79, M
Sharon · F
@Speedyman You're right for once. Your imaginary friend is a total waste of time and effort.
Speedyman · 70-79, M