The World's Largest Coalition of Nontheists and Nontheist Communities!

Plan to compile a database of theist questions for atheists and our responses

Several of us from a number of atheist organizations are planning to put together a database containing the most frequent and most difficult questions or challenges that theists put to atheists along with our most cogent responses. To collect as many of these questions as possible, I am asking the members of various freethinker organizations to forward to me the most frequent or challenging questions or accusations that theists have confronted you with. Please also send your responses to these along with some key words to the subjects so that they will be searchable by fellow atheists. Also, if you have suggestions as to how we can restrict access of the planned database to only freethinkers, please include your strategy for that.

This is one way that we atheists, scattered as we are, can use our internet resources to significantly help each other. When we keep illuminating the absurd logic and farfetched arguments of theists, we strengthen our position and make them start thinking like the rational and ethical people they really are. Thanks for all your help!

Eric Stone, PhD
Westchester Atheists

1 member likes this

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Timothy on May 4, 2011 at 11:26pm

I have heard several christians refer to atheism as a religion. For example, "if atheists want us to accept their religion, then they must accept everyone else's." I can't tell you how many times I have had to say to people, "Atheism is NOT a religion."

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by eric stone on May 5, 2011 at 6:56am

Great question. We need a brief response to it.

Something like "your definition of atheism is a religious one - we atheists don't accept religious definitiions"

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Timothy on May 22, 2011 at 12:15pm

Here's one that's comes from believers and right-wing atheists:

"As an atheist, haven't you just replaced god and religion with State and government?"

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Brian Wood on May 22, 2011 at 12:59pm

'tards worship. Atheists don't "worship" anything,much less state and government. We participate in them, and follow laws for the same reasons everyone else does: we get in trouble if we don't.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Larry on May 30, 2011 at 10:33am

I reply, " I don't know anyone who worships any state or government unless they're forced to".

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by eric stone on May 30, 2011 at 10:57am

My previous reply apparently got lost in the system somewhere so I'm repeating:

State and govt are human-made and can be abolished by humans (usually via votes sometimes revolutions). God and religion are not.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by mojo5501 on May 28, 2011 at 10:22pm

There is also the tendency for religious folks to define atheists as 'anti-religious' when we can more simply define ourselves as 'without religion'. Not that I can't find reasons to criticize the things people have done in the name of Jesus/Allah/God/Yayweh/etc, etc, fill in the blank with supernatural belief system. But not every atheist is a 'militant atheist', correct?

Atheists can see why a belief system may rationalize individual behavior, provide a sense of belonging/comfort and conclude that it has good and bad components, right?

I have trouble countering the argument that religion keeps people from fearing death.... countering that (in my opinion) false sense of security that heaven exists in the afterlife. Who am I to call a person silly or irrational for a belief that keeps them from suffering from existential crisis?

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Matt VDB on May 31, 2011 at 4:31am

Can I just point out that it's a little arrogant to think that you can speak for atheists as a whole and answer questions as if atheism was some kind of monolothic entity?

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by eric stone on May 31, 2011 at 6:11am

Feel free to add your own answers.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Matt VDB on May 31, 2011 at 12:58pm

After spelling monolithic wrong I don't think I can take being asked serious questions.

But seriously, I was trying to make a serious point: atheists have vastly different philosophical, political, social and scientific perspectives so the idea that someone (or even a group of people) can make an "Atheist FAQ" is a quite weird one. Just me adding my opinion wouldn't make it that much different.

Whenever I see people talk about what "we atheists" think, it makes me a little nervous. It makes me feel like I signed up to a clique where others get to speak in my name.

I guess what I'm getting at is that right at the top of the list it should point out that these answers are by no means gospel, and that nothing guarantees that all atheists (or even a majority of atheists) adhere to it. It's just a collection of opinions to give theists an idea how these arguments might be answered by your average atheist.

And I don't mean this in a disrespectful way at all.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Park Bierbower on May 31, 2011 at 7:54am

Wouldn't it seem more prudent to get the theists to pose the questions, as opposed to the atheists?

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by eric stone on May 31, 2011 at 8:16am

Of course, Park. We're trying to compile lists of those provocative questions theists have or are currently posing to each of us or to the public in general so that we can be prepared to respond effectively.